Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Leslie Rennie

“Council notes that there are two million more jobs in the country since 2010 - the highest rate of employment on record.

Council further notes that over 31 million people up and down the country are in work, receiving a regular pay packet for themselves and their families.

Council congratulates the Conservative Government and the predecessor Coalition Government on the successful delivery of their long term economic plan to date.

Council realises that a strong and stable economy is vital to pay for the services that all our residents deserve and expect.

Council welcomes the tangible benefits that are being realised in Wirral from a strong and stable economy; Cammell Laird’s has recently announced that it has secured the contract to build a £200 million polar research ship for the Government-funded Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). 

Council is delighted that this project will secure around 500 local jobs and further contribute to the brighter economic outlook Government policies have secured.

Council notes that the Conservative Government has not only developed sound economic policies to guarantee economic recovery but has also committed significant  investment across the City Region including:

£250 million for the New Alder Hey Hospital

£470 million for The Mersey Gateway Crossing

£429 million for the new Royal Liverpool Hospital

£232 million for the City Region’s Growth Deal

£400 million for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

£50 million to support Transport for the North

£150 million to support the delivery of smart and integrated ticketing across local transport and rail services in the North

Council therefore welcomes the commitment within its 2020 Plan to increase employment opportunities for Wirral residents and the refreshing of its Regeneration Strategy to support the achievement of this objective. 

Council calls upon all Members to do all that we can to ensure the opportunities provided by the Government’s long-term economic plan and Northern Powerhouse are taken and not squandered to benefit Wirral families.”

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

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Pat Williams

“Insert at end of para 3 (ends "……plan to date)

, noting that the plan was substantially revised and adjusted to cope with the uncertain state of the UK economy, the need to rebalance it and a recognition that there had to be a regional strategy.

Insert at end of para 4 (ends "……and expect)

but remains wary of unrealistic assumptions that could rebound  on and damage the Wirral economy and the nation's finances.

Delete in para 6 "and further contribute to the brighter economic outlook Government policies have secured."

Delete in para 7 "Council notes that the Conservative Government has not only developed sound economic policies to guarantee economic recovery but has also committed significant investment across the City Region including:"

And replace with new para 7:

“Council notes that a number of significant capital projects are now in hand, some with long lead-in times over many years and begun under the Coalition Government. The  recently announced projects are in their early stages and have arisen from consistent pressure to close the north south divide.  These include:”

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 9 the Council did not debate the matter.

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put and lost (4:53) (One abstention).

The Conservative motion was put and lost (17:40) (One abstention).