Agenda item

MOTION: ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY IN WIRRAL

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

 

(1)  Council believes that annual local elections provide our residents with an essential opportunity to give a verdict on the work of individual Councillors in representing their views, working on their behalf to improve their community and assisting in solving problems they might have.

 

(2)  Council notes the Labour Administration’s proposal to abolish local elections in Wirral will also remove the opportunity for the residents of Wirral, on an annual basis, to pass judgement on the policies pursued by those chosen to lead the Council and their stewardship of the money taken from the public’s pocket in local and national taxation.

 

(3)  Council therefore believes the Labour administration’s proposal to abolish annual local elections to be fundamentally undemocratic and a return to its authoritarian ways.

 

(4)  Council expresses its opposition to this proposal and calls on the administration to stop wasting time and resident’s money on taking it any further.

 

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

 

Proposed by Councillor Tony Smith

Seconded by Councillor Stuart Whittingham

 

Delete everything and replace with the following:

 

(1)  Council does not agree that moving to all out elections every four years is an ‘attack on democracy’. This model is used widely throughout England by Councils of all political persuasions.

 

(2)  Elections every four years have the potential to deliver more stable administrations and avoid frequent lurches in policies which is often the outcome of annual elections where rapid changes in political control take place.

 

(3)  Council notes that a move to all out elections every four years will result in a saving to the authority of £100,000.

 

(4)  Council further notes that this budget option was supported by almost 75% of respondents in the ‘What Really Matters’ consultation.

 

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

 

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Stuart Kelly

 

In paragraph (1), replace the words “annual local elections provide” with “an established pattern of elections provides”.

 

In paragraph (2), replace the word “annual” with “regular”.

 

Delete paragraphs (3) and (4) and insert:

 

(3)  Council believes that alternative options can be considered that maintain regular local elections, such as reducing the size of the Council to 60 members, comprising 30 two Member wards elected every two years, and asks LDWP to consider all available options and report their findings to Cabinet and subsequently to Council.

 

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

 

The amendment proposed by Councillor Gilchrist was put and lost (7:55) (One abstention).

 

The amendment proposed by Councillor Tony Smith was put and carried (35:27) (One abstention).

 

The substantive motion was put and carried (35:27) (One abstention)

 

Resolved (35:27) (One abstention) –

 

(1)  Council does not agree that moving to all out elections every four years is an ‘attack on democracy’. This model is used widely throughout England by Councils of all political persuasions.

 

(2)  Elections every four years have the potential to deliver more stable administrations and avoid frequent lurches in policies which is often the outcome of annual elections where rapid changes in political control take place.

 

(3)  Council notes that a move to all out elections every four years will result in a saving to the authority of £100,000.

 

(4)  Council further notes that this budget option was supported by almost 75% of respondents in the ‘What Really Matters’ consultation.