Proposed by Councillor Tom Harney

Seconded by Councillor Pat Williams

(1)  Council recognises its duty to involve the people of Wirral in shaping the services it provides. The surveys carried out by the Council in the last two years have shown its commitment.

(2)  It thanks all those involved in this work. It also acknowledges the work of those who have organised Area Forums over a number of years. They have provided another opportunity for the public to be involved.

(3)  Council believes that the time is right to bring together these and other means of involving the public into a strategy which will ensure that all of our residents have the opportunity to be involved in our decision making processes.

(4)  In view of developments, such as the Localism Act 2011, Council believes that the time is right to relaunch the Forums, ensuring that they are fit for purpose.

(5)  Council further recognises that if they are to involve a greater proportion of the population, then the Forums will need to be fully involved in this, and be enabled to drive the process.

(6)  It also recognises that there is a need to work closely with partners providing statutory services in involving the widest part of the public.

(7)  Council asks the Leader to ensure that an Action Plan is drawn up by the appropriate people which will draw up proposals for the development of an updated consultation strategy, with Forums playing a major part. In particular the following need to be considered –

1.  differing ways of involving people of differing needs. The many techniques such as Planning for Real and Future Search need to be considered.

2.  the drawing up of neighbourhood plans as envisaged by the Localism Act.

3.  ways in which the Council can work with partners in consultation on common issues.

4.  the possibility of an annual programme of consultation and decision making, resulting in an open and transparent process.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Ann McLachlan

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

Delete everything and replace with the following:

(1)  Council is committed to an open and transparent approach to all its decision making processes and notes the progress made in recent months via actions under the Council’s Improvement Plan.

(2)  Council further notes that the “What Really Matters” consultation process has been the most successful and wide ranging engagement with the public of Wirral ever undertaken.

(3)  Council seeks to build on this success by ensuring at the next meeting of the Democracy Working Party its terms of reference are adjusted to widen the scope of its work into reviewing the way Council engages with the residents of Wirral and all our community partners and neighbourhoods.

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

The amendment was put and carried (54:7) (One abstention).

The substantive motion was put and carried (61:0) (One abstention).

Resolved (61:0) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council is committed to an open and transparent approach to all its decision making processes and notes the progress made in recent months via actions under the Council’s Improvement Plan.

(2)  Council further notes that the “What Really Matters” consultation process has been the most successful and wide ranging engagement with the public of Wirral ever undertaken.

(3)  Council seeks to build on this success by ensuring at the next meeting of the Democracy Working Party its terms of reference are adjusted to widen the scope of its work into reviewing the way Council engages with the residents of Wirral and all our community partners and neighbourhoods.