At the meeting of the Council held on 17 October 2016 (minute 67 (4) refers), the attached Notice of Motion, ‘Treating all residents fairly and equitably’ proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Steve Williams was referred by the Mayor to the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

Councillors Blakeley and Williams, as members of the Committee, will have an opportunity to explain the Motion.

Prior to consideration of this item Councillor Jean Stapleton withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was considered having declared a personal and prejudicial interest (see minute 32 ante).

The Assistant Director: Law and Governance reported that at the meeting of the Council held on 17 October, 2016 (minute 67 (4) refers), the following Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Steve Williams was referred by the Mayor to this Committee for consideration –

TREATING ALL RESIDENTS FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY

“Council notes the overwhelming opposition by local residents to the proposal by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to build a fire station on green belt land in Saughall Massie. To date, 2,561 people have signed a petition, 542 people have objected online and a further 524 letters and emails have been received by the Planning Department. Council also thanks the Saughall Massie Village Area Conservation Society and the Wirral Society for their opposition views.

Council further notes that when a proposal for a fire station in Greasby was proposed, the Leader of the Council instructed Council Officers to withdraw the land from consideration, saying 'Having listened to the views of local residents in Greasby and representations made by Labour’s Parliamentary candidate in Wirral West, Margaret Greenwood, I believe the council-owned land in the centre of Greasby would be inappropriate for a fire station and would remove a much-loved local green space.'

Council believes that all residents and communities of the Borough should be treated fairly and equitably and therefore, recognising the massive opposition and the value of this much-loved green belt land, requests Officers to withdraw this piece of land with immediate effect and further requests that officers continue to work with the fire service to find an acceptable alternative.”

The Chair invited Councillor Blakeley to explain his motion.

Councillor Blakeley stated that if the Council was going to be fair it must be seen to be fair. More people had objected to the proposal for a Fire Station in Saughall Massie, currently 3,721, than had objected to a proposal for one in Greasby, which was subsequently withdrawn for consideration as a possible site by the Leader of the Council. People should be treated fairly; the people of Greasby were listened to and now the people of Saughall Massie should be listened to also.

The Chair responded that the matter was currently going through the Planning process with a site visit planned and planning should be allowed its due process.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Abbey, that –

“The matter be left to the Planning Committee to see what decision was made there.”

It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Steve Williams, that –

“The Notice of Motion be fully supported.”

The amendment was put and lost (5:7) (Two abstentions).

(The following Councillors asked that their votes be recorded - Councillors C Blakeley, G Ellis, J Hale, T Pilgrim and S Williams voting in favour; Councillor C Muspratt abstaining).

The motion was then put and carried (8:5) (One abstention).

Resolved (8:5) (One abstention) (The following Councillors asked that their votes be recorded - Councillors C Blakeley, G Ellis, J Hale, T Pilgrim and S Williams voting against; Councillor C Muspratt voting in favour) – That the matter be left to the Planning Committee to see what decision was made there.