Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

(1)  Council welcomes:

(a)  the historic signing in China of an agreement to deliver record investment in the proposed International Trade Centre.

(b)  Government support for the automotive industries at Jaguar Landrover and the announcement that Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant will produce the new generation Astra.

(c)  the extra investment and new jobs that will be created at the historic home of Unilever in Port Sunlight.

(d)  the unprecedented success of ‘The Contact Company’ and the other Small and Medium sized Enterprises brought into or developed and growing in Wirral.

(e)  the granting of the turnaround cruise liner terminal in Liverpool and the continued success of the tourism industry in Wirral.

(2)  that this has been achieved in times of considerable economic difficulty and recognises the role partnership and cooperation between all parties and administrations in Wirral, Government and business has played in this success;

(3)  and thanks the Government and local businesses for their continued support and expresses our pride in the Council’s own role in bringing investment to Wirral and for doing so much to expand private enterprise in Wirral and the wider Liverpool City Region which will not only protect existing jobs but will also create thousands of new opportunities for work and investment.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 (2)

Proposed by Councillor Pat Hackett

Seconded by Councillor Jean Stapleton

Delete paragraph (3) and insert the following:

(3)  the latest Job Seekers Allowance claimant count for Wirral is 8,783 or 4.6% of the working age population (compared with 3.9% for England);

(4)  Council is concerned that in overall terms the economy is still flat-lining with little evidence of sustained growth;

(5)  Council believes that the government is cutting too far and too fast and that an economic policy based on austerity will not help Wirral or the country; and

(6)  Council therefore calls on the government to change course as a matter of urgency and adopt measures which will stimulate the economy and produce growth.

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

The amendment was put and carried (34:26) (one abstention)

The substantive motion was put and carried (34:26) (one abstention)

Resolved (34:26) (one abstention) –

(1)  Council welcomes:

(a)  the historic signing in China of an agreement to deliver record investment in the proposed International Trade Centre;

(b)  Government support for the automotive industries at Jaguar Landrover and the announcement that Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant will produce the new generation Astra;

(c)  the extra investment and new jobs that will be created at the historic home of Unilever in Port Sunlight;

(d)  the unprecedented success of ‘The Contact Company’ and the other Small and Medium sized Enterprises brought into or developed and growing in Wirral;

(e)  the granting of the turnaround cruise liner terminal in Liverpool and the continued success of the tourism industry in Wirral;

(2)  that this has been achieved in times of considerable economic difficulty and recognises the role partnership and cooperation between all parties and administrations in Wirral, Government and business has played in this success;

(3)  the latest Job Seekers Allowance claimant count for Wirral is 8,783 or 4.6% of the working age population (compared with 3.9% for England);

(4)  Council is concerned that in overall terms the economy is still flat-lining with little evidence of sustained growth;

(5)  Council believes that the government is cutting too far and too fast and that an economic policy based on austerity will not help Wirral or the country; and

(6)  Council therefore calls on the government to change course as a matter of urgency and adopt measures which will stimulate the economy and produce growth.