Proposed by Councillor Steve Foulkes

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

This Council:

(1)  Welcomes the recommendations in the AKA report regarding corporate governance.

(2)  Supports the steps which have been taken by the administration to begin to implement these recommendations, i.e.

(i)  Setting up a Cabinet Committee including the Leaders of the opposition groups;

(ii)  developing a work programme including ten key lines of enquiries based on the AKA report;

(iii)inviting all members of the Council to get involved in contributing to the work programme;

(iv)  Setting up a dedicated Change Team to drive this forward;

(v)  holding an initial meeting with the Local Government Association to explore external support which is available.

(3)  Records its appreciation to Ms Anna Klonowski for agreeing to provide additional support to enable the Council to put the necessary measures in place to improve our corporate governance and for providing a helpful presentation at the recent members’ seminar.

(4)  Re-iterates the importance of elected members putting aside political differences and working together with staff, the public and other key stakeholders to deliver good corporate governance.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

Insert an additional paragraph:

(5) Acknowledges that at the Local Elections in May 2011, the people of Wirral voted that no one political party should run this Council. In order to reflect the wishes of our electorate and work to achieve excellent Corporate Governance the Leader of the Council, if he truly believes that all political differences should be put aside, could mend this ‘Broken Council’ by immediately forming a Cabinet made up of members from ALL political groups.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Tom Harney

Seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Add new paragraph to end:

(5) However, Council is concerned:

(i)  The current Administration has so far failed to consult the public and carry out meaningful consultation on next year’s Budget, leaving the authority at risk of legal challenge.

(ii)  The current Administration has failed to engage and involve the Council’s OSCs in the development of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework, despite previous assurances by the Leader that he would do so.

(iii)At the removal of the results of the Budget Simulator from public view from the Council’s website after the closure of the Simulator.

(iv)  The current Administration has repeatedly failed to produce and publish important Cabinet reports in good time, prior to those meetings taking place, reducing the opportunities for elected members to constructively challenge recommendations and performance.

(v)  Important decisions on governance improvements are being made without full publication of all the relevant information.

(vi)  That, until the current Administration changes the way it works, poor governance is likely to continue.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment proposed by Councillor Green was put and lost (26:38) (One abstention).

The amendment proposed by Councillor Harney was put and carried (35:29) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (35:29) (One abstention).

Resolved (35:29) (One abstention) –

This Council:

(1)  Welcomes the recommendations in the AKA report regarding corporate governance.

(2)  Supports the steps which have been taken by the administration to begin to implement these recommendations, i.e.

(i)  Setting up a Cabinet Committee including the Leaders of the opposition groups;

(ii)  developing a work programme including ten key lines of enquiries based on the AKA report;

(iii)inviting all members of the Council to get involved in contributing to the work programme;

(iv)Setting up a dedicated Change Team to drive this forward;

(v)  holding an initial meeting with the Local Government Association to explore external support which is available.

(3)  Records its appreciation to Ms Anna Klonowski for agreeing to provide additional support to enable the Council to put the necessary measures in place to improve our corporate governance and for providing a helpful presentation at the recent members’ seminar.

(4)  Re-iterates the importance of elected members putting aside political differences and working together with staff, the public and other key stakeholders to deliver good corporate governance.

(5) However, Council is concerned:

(i)  The current Administration has so far failed to consult the public and carry out meaningful consultation on next year’s Budget, leaving the authority at risk of legal challenge.

(ii)  The current Administration has failed to engage and involve the Council’s OSCs in the development of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework, despite previous assurances by the Leader that he would do so.

(iii)At the removal of the results of the Budget Simulator from public view from the Council’s website after the closure of the Simulator.

(iv)The current Administration has repeatedly failed to produce and publish important Cabinet reports in good time, prior to those meetings taking place, reducing the opportunities for elected members to constructively challenge recommendations and performance.

(v)  Important decisions on governance improvements are being made without full publication of all the relevant information.

(vi)That, until the current Administration changes the way it works, poor governance is likely to continue.