Proposed by Councillor Tom Anderson

Seconded by Councillor Wendy Clements

This Council welcomes the result of the Scottish referendum and is pleased that the people of Scotland voted to stay within the United Kingdom.

Council notes that the coalition government has agreed to produce legislation by January 2015 to devolve additional powers and responsibilities to Scotland and the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

Council supports the principle that decisions on the needs of Wirral and the Liverpool City Region are best made by locally elected members rather than ministers and civil servants in Whitehall.

Council therefore believes that a key part of the proposed legislation should include measures to devolve more powers and funding from Whitehall to City Regions and local authorities in England.

Council urges the government to refuse to pander to right-wing Tory backbenchers who wish to use the result of the Scottish referendum for party political advantage.

Council therefore agrees to lobby the government for greater devolution to Wirral Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and to write to the four Wirral MPs to request them to support this stance.

Two amendments which had been circulated in advance of the meeting were submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:

First amendment -

Proposed by Councillor Geoffrey Watt

Seconded by Councillor Adam Sykes

To the existing first paragraph add: ‘Council notes the Prime Minister’s determination to meet the commitments made by the leaders of the three main parties at Westminster through the ‘Better Together’ campaign’.

To the existing second paragraph add: ‘on the basis of fairness’.

From the existing third paragraph delete: ‘the Liverpool City Region’ and replace with ‘neighbouring authorities’.

From the existing fourth paragraph delete: ‘City Regions and’.

Delete the entire fifth paragraph and replace with: ‘Council welcomes the enthusiasm expressed by the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP, Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, for a Northern Powerhouse and looks forward to Wirral playing a full part in such an initiative’.

From the sixth paragraph delete: ‘the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’ and replace with ‘neighbouring authorities’.

Second amendment -

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell

Add:

Council recognises that both the LGA (in its document ‘Investing in our Nation’s future’)  and the ‘Core Cities‘ group look forward to devolution of funding associated with the work programme, with the  commissioning of investment in apprenticeships, training and other funds being brought  together in ‘Place based settlements’.

Council notes that these steps would remove the responsibility of running this funding from the Civil Service and take control of that funding from central Government.

In achieving democratic control over and accountability for these potential funding streams:

a.  the open nature of the Combined Authority and its decision making must be assured;

b.  the ability of councillors and constituents to develop policy and properly influence the direction of  spending should be enshrined;

c.  any funding, duties and responsibilities should be democratically  accountable and not fall into the hands of an elected Mayor.

Prior to debating this motion, Councillor Phil Davies moved, it was duly seconded and –

Resolved – That Standing Order 9 be suspended until after three debates had taken place.

Following a debate and Councillor Phil Davies having replied, the first amendment was put and lost (19:41) (One abstention).

The second amendment was put and carried (41:19) (One abstention).

The substantive motion as amended was put and carried (41:19) (One abstention).

Resolved (41:19) (One abstention) –

(1)  This Council welcomes the result of the Scottish referendum and is pleased that the people of Scotland voted to stay within the United Kingdom.

(2)  Council notes that the coalition government has agreed to produce legislation by January 2015 to devolve additional powers and responsibilities to Scotland and the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

(3)  Council supports the principle that decisions on the needs of Wirral and the Liverpool City Region are best made by locally elected members rather than ministers and civil servants in Whitehall.

(4)  Council therefore believes that a key part of the proposed legislation should include measures to devolve more powers and funding from Whitehall to City Regions and local authorities in England.

(5)  Council urges the government to refuse to pander to right-wing Tory backbenchers who wish to use the result of the Scottish referendum for party political advantage.

(6)  Council therefore agrees to lobby the government for greater devolution to Wirral Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and to write to the four Wirral MPs to request them to support this stance.

(7)  Council recognises that both the LGA (in its document ‘Investing in our Nation’s future’)  and the ‘Core Cities‘ group look forward to devolution of funding associated with the work programme, with the  commissioning of investment in apprenticeships, training and other funds being brought  together in ‘Place based settlements’.

(8)  Council notes that these steps would remove the responsibility of running this funding from the Civil Service and take control of that funding from central Government.

(9)  In achieving democratic control over and accountability for these potential funding streams:

a.  the open nature of the Combined Authority and its decision making must be assured;

b.  the ability of councillors and constituents to develop policy and properly influence the direction of  spending should be enshrined;

c.  any funding, duties and responsibilities should be democratically  accountable and not fall into the hands of an elected Mayor.

The Mayor stated that Councillor Green had declared a prejudicial interest in this item and left the Chamber during the debate.

Proposed by Councillor Tom Anderson

Seconded by Councillor Wendy Clements

Council acknowledges the overwhelming public opposition to a fire station on the site of Greasby Library.

Council notes that this concern relates to the specific site, not to the policy of merging of fire stations.

Council impresses upon Cabinet: 

(1)  not to gift, sell, lease the land concerned at the centre of Greasby, because of  the value it has for the community; and

(2)  to ask officers to work co-operatively with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in identifying and facilitating a more suitable site for operational purposes and to maintain the amenity of the local people.

Following an intervention from the Mayor, the Head of Legal and Member Services advised the Council that the issues raised by Councillor Anderson in his address did not give rise to any particular issues for members of the Planning Committee.

Following a combined debate and Councillor Tom Anderson having waived his right to reply, the motion was put and carried (60:1) (one abstention).