Proposed by Councillor David Elderton

Seconded by Councillor John Hale

Council:

(1)  Notes the failure of the previous Government to end ‘boom and bust’ and that increases in public sector spending were outstripping economic growth in the rest of the economy.

(2)  Believes that we are all in this together and that all parties must recognise the scale of the debt crisis facing the economy if urgent and necessary action to restore public finances is to succeed.

(3)  Therefore welcomes the decision by Ed Miliband and Ed Balls to accept the reductions in public spending being made by the Coalition Government and calls on Labour politicians in Wirral to accept the need for reductions in public spending.

(4)  Also notes that the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Chancellor have also committed to support the limits on public sector pay and wishes them success in persuading their paymasters in the trade unions to also accept this pay restraint.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Bernie Mooney

Seconded by Councillor Paul Doughty

Delete everything and replace with the following:

This Council:-

(1)  Supports the actions of the previous Labour government to invest public money in improving schools, hospitals, and other vital public services.

(2)  Recognises that the UK’s economic problems were the result of irresponsible bankers and a global recession;

(3)  Believes that the Tory/LibDem coalition government is cutting too far and too fast and, as a consequence, is presiding over record levels of borrowing and appalling levels of unemployment.

(4)  Rejects the government’s argument that ‘we are all in this together’ when they cut benefits for the poorest members of society and refuse to deal effectively with bank bonuses.

(5)  Supports Labour’s plan for jobs and growth:

(a)  A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs

(b)  Bringing forward long-term investment projects

(c)  Reversing January’s damaging VAT rise

(d)  A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements

(e)  A one year national insurance break

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Dave Mitchell

Seconded by Councillor Pat Williams

Add additional paragraph:

(5)  Finally, Council notes that, despite the economic difficulties faced by the country, the Liberal Democrats in Government have been working hard to deliver real benefits to the British people, working hard to ensure that the burden of the country's economic difficulties are shared fairly and to protect the most vulnerable in our society:

·  Income Tax - Nearly 900,000 of the lowest earners were lifted out of paying tax altogether in 2011 and a further 23 million people received a £200 tax cut. This will happen again this April, and again the April after that, until no one pays any income tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

·  Pupil Premium - 2011 saw the Pupil Premium take effect, giving schools extra money for the most disadvantaged children. The Pupil Premium will double to £1.25 billion in 2012 and rise every year until 2015, when it will be worth £2.5 billion. Liberal Democrats also extended free early years education to the 140,000 poorest two-year-olds and have announced the doubling of provision for next year.

·  Apprenticeships - More than 440,000 new apprenticeships started in 2010/11, a 50% increase on the previous year. Lib Dems have now announced a £1 billion 'Youth Contract' to help every young person who wants it to get work or training, including 410,000 new work places for 18-24 year-olds over three years.

·  Pensions - Thanks to the Lib Dem 'triple lock', the Basic State Pension was raised by £4.50 per week in 2011 and will rise again by a record £5.30 per week from April this year. Under Labour in 2000, pensioners only received a 75p per week rise.

·  Banks - In 2011, the £2.5 billion bank levy was introduced and the Coalition Government has accepted in full, proposals championed by the Lib Dems to separate high street and casino-style investment banking.

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

The amendment proposed by Councillor Mooney was put and lost (29:36) (One abstention).

The amendment proposed by Councillor Mitchell was put and carried (36:29) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (36:29) (One abstention).

Resolved (36:29) (One abstention) –

Council:

(1)  Notes the failure of the previous Government to end ‘boom and bust’ and that increases in public sector spending were outstripping economic growth in the rest of the economy.

(2)  Believes that we are all in this together and that all parties must recognise the scale of the debt crisis facing the economy if urgent and necessary action to restore public finances is to succeed.

(3)  Therefore welcomes the decision by Ed Miliband and Ed Balls to accept the reductions in public spending being made by the Coalition Government and calls on Labour politicians in Wirral to accept the need for reductions in public spending.

(4)  Also notes that the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Chancellor have also committed to support the limits on public sector pay and wishes them success in persuading their paymasters in the trade unions to also accept this pay restraint.

(5)  Finally, Council notes that, despite the economic difficulties faced by the country, the Liberal Democrats in Government have been working hard to deliver real benefits to the British people, working hard to ensure that the burden of the country's economic difficulties are shared fairly and to protect the most vulnerable in our society:

·  Income Tax - Nearly 900,000 of the lowest earners were lifted out of paying tax altogether in 2011 and a further 23 million people received a £200 tax cut. This will happen again this April, and again the April after that, until no one pays any income tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

·  Pupil Premium - 2011 saw the Pupil Premium take effect, giving schools extra money for the most disadvantaged children. The Pupil Premium will double to £1.25 billion in 2012 and rise every year until 2015, when it will be worth £2.5 billion. Liberal Democrats also extended free early years education to the 140,000 poorest two-year-olds and have announced the doubling of provision for next year.

·  Apprenticeships - More than 440,000 new apprenticeships started in 2010/11, a 50% increase on the previous year. Lib Dems have now announced a £1 billion 'Youth Contract' to help every young person who wants it to get work or training, including 410,000 new work places for 18-24 year-olds over three years.

·  Pensions - Thanks to the Lib Dem 'triple lock', the Basic State Pension was raised by £4.50 per week in 2011 and will rise again by a record £5.30 per week from April this year. Under Labour in 2000, pensioners only received a 75p per week rise.

·  Banks - In 2011, the £2.5 billion bank levy was introduced and the Coalition Government has accepted in full, proposals championed by the Lib Dems to separate high street and casino-style investment banking.