Proposed by Councillor Phil Davies

Seconded by Councillor Ann McLachlan

“This Council recognises the Referendum result to withdraw from the EU has important implications for Wirral and the wider City region.

Council is concerned that the Government appears to have no plan to deal with the potential impact on Wirral’s finances of this decision.

Council recognises that since the 1990s Wirral and Merseyside has been a beneficiary of significant amounts of European funding.

Council recalls the Conservative Government of the mid-eighties decision to allow Merseyside to descend into ‘managed decline’ and the financial support the EU offered which helped to fill this funding vacuum.

Council is concerned that more than £200m was scheduled to be invested by the EU in the Liverpool City Region in the next 5 years and that following the referendum this funding is now in doubt.

Council supports the Leader of the Council in demanding central government lives up to the promises made by ‘Brexiters’ during the Referendum campaign to match pound for pound any EU monies lost as a consequence of the Referendum outcome.”

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 Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Adam Sykes

Delete paragraphs 2, 4, 5, 6

Renumber remaining paragraphs 1 and 2

After paragraphs 1 and 2 add:

(3)  Council recognises that emotions are still running high within the community and welcomes the Chairman of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s suggestion for a period of data gathering and quiet reflection.

(4)  Council believes that the three areas of focus should be:

(a)  Economic – what are the threats and opportunities provided by the referendum result to leave the EU, particularly around our large employers and the knowledge economy?

(b)  Political – how can all parties avoid immature points scoring and work together to engage with the EU Commission and Her Majesty’s Government to press for no detriment in terms of devolution funding and the Northern Powerhouse?

(c)  Social – again Council believes that immature name-calling, artificial divisions and tribal behaviour is not an example we should seek to demonstrate to our residents.

(5)  Council further believes the evidence of acts of racism and casual bigotry demand a united response from police, public servants and all politicians, national and local.

(6)  Council would recommend to the Leader of the Council to avoid negative and stereotypical behaviour suggesting Wirral and Greater Merseyside cannot survive without European funding.

(7)  Finally Council requests that the Leader of the Council works in a cross-party fashion to reassure current and potential new investors to the area of our united will to do all we can to see new businesses start, thrive and grow for the benefit of all the people of Wirral.

Second amendment

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell

Paragraph 4, delete:

“decision to allow Merseyside to descend into ‘managed decline’”

And replace with:

“came close to writing off Merseyside. There was a serious conversation that risked leaving our City and its neighbours to face a ‘managed decline’, only averted by the intervention of Michael Heseltine”…

Add after final paragraph:

Council welcomes the recent initiative by the Chair of the Combined Authority to bring together the Leaders of all the political Groups represented in the Region to consider and address the funding issues arising from the outcome of the referendum.

Council supports continuing work on these lines to reduce and remove the uncertainty surrounding the future funding for our Region.

Council is also clear that the Wirral, the regional and the national economy all benefit from the contribution made by EU nationals working in all sectors. Our country, our economy, our communities and our services are all the better for their contribution. Council believes, as clearly stated by Tim Farron and MPs from across the political spectrum that it is essential that EU nationals residing in the UK are given complete assurances that they will have the right to stay in the UK indefinitely”.

Following a debate and Councillor Phil Davies having replied, a voted was taken on the first amendment

The first amendment was then put and lost (17:41) (One abstention)

The second amendment was then put and lost (6:52) (One abstention)

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion

Resolved: (41:17) (One abstention)

(1)  Council recognises the Referendum result to withdraw from the EU has important implications for Wirral and the wider City region.

(2)  Council is concerned that the Government appears to have no plan to deal with the potential impact on Wirral’s finances of this decision.

(3)  Council recognises that since the 1990s Wirral and Merseyside has been a beneficiary of significant amounts of European funding.

(4)  Council recalls the Conservative Government of the mid-eighties decision to allow Merseyside to descend into ‘managed decline’ and the financial support the EU offered which helped to fill this funding vacuum.

(5)  Council is concerned that more than £200m was scheduled to be invested by the EU in the Liverpool City Region in the next 5 years and that following the referendum this funding is now in doubt.

(6)  Council supports the Leader of the Council in demanding central government lives up to the promises made by ‘Brexiters’ during the Referendum campaign to match pound for pound any EU monies lost as a consequence of the Referendum outcome.