Proposed by Councillor Warren Ward

Seconded by Councillor Irene Williams

Council expresses its outrage that it is over six months since New Ferry was shaken to its core by an explosion in the town centre – leaving many people homeless, businesses damaged or destroyed and people nearby in terror, and the Government has still provided no financial assistance.

This Council commends the actions of its officers who have worked tirelessly to help restore order and normality to the community, and help residents and small businesses to get their lives back on track. Council support has included £300,000 from its scarce reserves.

Despite a long-awaited visit months after the explosion by the minister, Jake Berry MP, during which he heard of the heart-breaking stories of those affected by the blast, Council is astonished that the minister has taken the view that the explosion in New Ferry was not sufficiently serious to qualify for Government assistance and that the cost of recovering from the explosion should fall on the shoulders of Wirral Council Tax payers.

Council also condemns the u-turn by Wirral Conservatives, who, having originally backed Labour’s call for Government to provide financial assistance, is now arguing that Wirral Council Tax payers should provide the funding.

Council also notes that the Government has taken a very different stance in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, where substantial public funding has been made available to help residents with urgent needs such as housing.

Council agrees that The Leader of the Council should write to Chancellor of the Exchequer, highlighting the impact which the explosion is still having, and requesting him to include funding in the forthcoming Autumn Statement to deal with emergency needs of residents and businesses in New Ferry and the wider regeneration plans which have been drawn up.

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

One 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 Adam Sykes

Seconded by Councillor Andrew Hodson

Paragraph 1: delete: ‘expresses its outrage that it is over’ and insert ‘notes that in the’

Paragraph 1: delete: ‘Government has still provided no financial assistance’ and insert: ‘Cabinet has agreed that the costs of recovery would be met from the Councils own resources (Cabinet, 17^th July 2017, p.9 Revenue Monitoring 2017/2018 to June 2017 refers).’

‘Council further notes that in the Strategic Regeneration Framework agreed by Cabinet on 2^nd October 2017 that “High level discussions with Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government have taken place to secure investment for the area.”’

Paragraph 2: delete ‘its scarce’ and insert ‘reserves of £9.4 million allocated for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances’

Paragraph 4: delete all after ‘Council’ and insert ‘notes the contents of the letter from the Leader of the Conservative Group to the Leader of the Council concerning New Ferry which included the paragraph:  “While you continue to have all-Party support to seek assistance from the DCLG, I would hope that you will now proceed, without delay, to ensure the needs of people in New Ferry are met using the funds that your Administration has for this purpose.”  Council regrets that the Leader of the Council has rejected the offer from the Leader of the Conservative Group to work with him on this issue.’

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

The original motion was then put and carried (41:17) (One abstention).

RESOLVED (41:17) (One abstention) -

Council expresses its outrage that it is over six months since New Ferry was shaken to its core by an explosion in the town centre – leaving many people homeless, businesses damaged or destroyed and people nearby in terror, and the Government has still provided no financial assistance.

This Council commends the actions of its officers who have worked tirelessly to help restore order and normality to the community, and help residents and small businesses to get their lives back on track. Council support has included £300,000 from its scarce reserves.

Despite a long-awaited visit months after the explosion by the minister, Jake Berry MP, during which he heard of the heart-breaking stories of those affected by the blast, Council is astonished that the minister has taken the view that the explosion in New Ferry was not sufficiently serious to qualify for Government assistance and that the cost of recovering from the explosion should fall on the shoulders of Wirral Council Tax payers.

Council also condemns the u-turn by Wirral Conservatives, who, having originally backed Labour’s call for Government to provide financial assistance, is now arguing that Wirral Council Tax payers should provide the funding.

Council also notes that the Government has taken a very different stance in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, where substantial public funding has been made available to help residents with urgent needs such as housing.

Council agrees that The Leader of the Council should write to Chancellor of the Exchequer, highlighting the impact which the explosion is still having, and requesting him to include funding in the forthcoming Autumn Statement to deal with emergency needs of residents and businesses in New Ferry and the wider regeneration plans which have been drawn up.