THE ECONOMY

Proposed by Councillor Mountney

Seconded by Councillor Rowlands

(1)  This Council notes the impact the current economic climate is having, and will continue to have, on Wirral businesses and residents alike.

(2)  Council further notes that National Government has provided little effective direct support to local businesses and residents of the Wirral.

(3)  Council requests that the Chief Executive reports to the Cabinet and relevant scrutiny committees at the earliest possible opportunity, following urgent discussions with his senior officers and Wirral businesses, on the feasibility of introducing the following measures on Wirral:

(i)  Merseyside Special Investment Fund to be requested to make emergency loans available to support businesses for cash-flow purposes and not just capital or revenue expansion plans;

(ii)  support for businesses on how to take up business rate relief;

(iii)  that Council run a campaign to highlight the poor uptake of benefits across the Wirral, and that this Council should work with the Department of Work and Pensions to encourage the uptake of benefits, including pensions credits and income support, through the better use of our housing and council tax records;

(iv)  that this Council further investigate the formation and support of a wider network of Credit Unions, the benefit of which would bring longer-term stability to both the businesses and residents of the Wirral;

(v)  the establishment of a Winter Warmth Partnership (Wirral MBC, Social Care, PCT, Health Service, Fire Service).  An emergency fund should be established that should step in when an individual’s health is at risk. This partnership should also make referrals for benefit checks and fire safety checks through its partner members;

(vi)  establish a website that promotes and advertises council contracts and encourages local companies to tender for them;

(vii)  from 1 January 2009, this Council revising its payment terms from 30 days to 10 days for all small businesses that provide goods and services to the Council;

(viii)  the Council consider the removal or reduction of parking charges at our shopping centres.

(4)  Council further requests that officers work with local businesses and employers to ensure their needs are effectively communicated to central Government.

Proposed by Councillor Mountney

Seconded by Councillor Rowlands

(1)  This Council notes the impact the current economic climate is having, and will continue to have, on Wirral businesses and residents alike.

(2)  Council further notes that National Government has provided little effective direct support to local businesses and residents of the Wirral.

(3)  Council requests that the Chief Executive reports to the Cabinet and relevant scrutiny committees at the earliest possible opportunity, following urgent discussions with his senior officers and Wirral businesses, on the feasibility of introducing the following measures on Wirral:

(i)  Merseyside Special Investment Fund to be requested to make emergency loans available to support businesses for cash-flow purposes and not just capital or revenue expansion plans;

(ii)  support for businesses on how to take up business rate relief;

(iii)  that Council run a campaign to highlight the poor uptake of benefits across the Wirral, and that this Council should work with the Department of Work and Pensions to encourage the uptake of benefits, including pensions credits and income support, through the better use of our housing and council tax records;

(iv)  that this Council further investigate the formation and support of a wider network of Credit Unions, the benefit of which would bring longer-term stability to both the businesses and residents of the Wirral;

(v)  the establishment of a Winter Warmth Partnership (Wirral MBC, Social Care, PCT, Health Service, Fire Service).  An emergency fund should be established that should step in when an individual’s health is at risk. This partnership should also make referrals for benefit checks and fire safety checks through its partner members;

(vi)  establish a website that promotes and advertises council contracts and encourages local companies to tender for them;

(vii)  from 1 January 2009, this Council revising its payment terms from 30 days to 10 days for all small businesses that provide goods and services to the Council;

(viii)  the Council consider the removal or reduction of parking charges at our shopping centres.

(4)  Council further requests that officers work with local businesses and employers to ensure their needs are effectively communicated to central Government.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(3):

Proposed by Councillor Jean Stapleton

Seconded by Councillor Kelly

Delete all after paragraph 1 and insert:

(2)  Council acknowledges the initiatives already under way to help businesses and residents during the current economic crisis:

the ‘Free after Three’ parking arrangements from 4 December enabling Christmas shoppers to benefit from free parking after 3.00pm every Thursday during the run-up to Christmas in shoppers’ car parks in Birkenhead, Liscard, Heswall and West Kirby; along with free all-day parking on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to attract shoppers to the Christmas and New Year sales;

the “Health Through Warmth” (HTW) initiative, with which the Council has been actively involved since 2003, which operates through locally based partnerships that seek to help vulnerable people whose health is adversely affected by cold, damp living conditions, achieved by facilitating the installation of appropriate energy efficiency and heating measures (sometimes as an emergency), along with the provision of related advice and information. Clients are referred by health and other key community workers who have attended locally based awareness sessions offered by HTW;

the Fuel Poverty training seminar for members held on 21October 2008, which brought together: Health Through Warmth; Energy Projects Plus; Firefighters from the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Community Safety Team; the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Wirral Borough Council, and agreed to further collaboration between those partners, the Primary Care Trust, and the Joint Director of Public Health, to tackle fuel poverty and health-related issues in Wirral.

(3)  Council further asks the Chief Executive to ensure that:

businesses continue to be informed about how to take up business rate relief, and that such information is sent out, as normal, with the rates bills, and also given to any business struggling to pay its bills that might benefit;

the Council continues its campaign to increase the take up of benefits and works closely with the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure that those who are entitled to benefits receive them, including pension credits and income support;

wherever possible the Council exceeds its target of paying small businesses within thirty days, aiming to pay bills wherever possible in a much shorter timescale, and ensures that all appropriate employees are made aware that rapid payment of bills by the Council in times of recession can play a major part in ensuring a healthy cash flow for small businesses;

officers work with local businesses and employers as appropriate and ensure that their needs are effectively communicated to Central Government.

(4)  Council welcomes the move by the North West Regional Development Agency to set up a special fund to assist businesses who may face difficulties in the current financial crisis.

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter.  The amendment was put and carried and it was –

Resolved (39:25:1) – That

(1)  This Council notes the impact the current economic climate is having, and will continue to have, on Wirral businesses and residents alike.

(2)  Council acknowledges the initiatives already under way to help businesses and residents during the current economic crisis:

the ‘Free after Three’ parking arrangements from 4 December enabling Christmas shoppers to benefit from free parking after 3.00pm every Thursday during the run-up to Christmas in shoppers’ car parks in Birkenhead, Liscard, Heswall and West Kirby; along with free all-day parking on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to attract shoppers to the Christmas and New Year sales;

the “Health Through Warmth” (HTW) initiative, with which the Council has been actively involved since 2003, which operates through locally based partnerships that seek to help vulnerable people whose health is adversely affected by cold, damp living conditions, achieved by facilitating the installation of appropriate energy efficiency and heating measures (sometimes as an emergency), along with the provision of related advice and information. Clients are referred by health and other key community workers who have attended locally based awareness sessions offered by HTW;

the Fuel Poverty training seminar for members held on 21October 2008, which brought together: Health Through Warmth; Energy Projects Plus; Firefighters from the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Community Safety Team; the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Wirral Borough Council, and agreed to further collaboration between those partners, the Primary Care Trust, and the Joint Director of Public Health, to tackle fuel poverty and health-related issues in Wirral.

(3)  Council further asks the Chief Executive to ensure that:

(a)  businesses continue to be informed about how to take up business rate relief, and that such information is sent out, as normal, with the rates bills, and also given to any business struggling to pay its bills that might benefit;

(b)  the Council continues its campaign to increase the take up of benefits and works closely with the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure that those who are entitled to benefits receive them, including pension credits and income support;

(c)  wherever possible the Council exceeds its target of paying small businesses within thirty days, aiming to pay bills wherever possible in a much shorter timescale, and ensures that all appropriate employees are made aware that rapid payment of bills by the Council in times of recession can play a major part in ensuring a healthy cash flow for small businesses;

(d)  officers work with local businesses and employers as appropriate and ensure that their needs are effectively communicated to Central Government.

(4)  Council welcomes the move by the North West Regional Development Agency to set up a special fund to assist businesses who may face difficulties in the current financial crisis.

NB.  The following Councillors requested that their vote against the amendment be recorded:

Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, SL Clarke, WA Duffey, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, Mrs L Fraser, JE Green, J Hale, Karen Hayes, Paul Hayes, AC Hodson, PSC Johnson, J Keeley, D Kirwan, I Lewis, SD Moseley, SR Mountney, C Povall, A Pritchard, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, Sue Taylor, GCJ Watt, and Mrs K Wood.