A.   To receive petitions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 21.

B.   The following petition is referred to the Council for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 34 –

  A petition of some 3,297 signatories, submitted by Mr Richard Shield, of the Wirral Needs Campaign, asking the Council to oppose all privatisation and cuts to Wirral Council and NHS funding by the Tory Government.

The front sheet of the petition is attached and, in accordance with the Petition Scheme, the petition organiser has been invited to address the Council for up to five minutes. The Council should debate the matter for a maximum of 15 minutes before deciding how to respond to the petition.

A.  In accordance with Standing Order 21, the Mayor received petitions submitted by –

(i).  Councillor Chris Carubia on behalf of 45 residents objecting to access to Acre Lane development from Meadowside Road, Bromborough.

(ii).Councillor Pat Cleary on behalf of 189 residents requesting effective traffic calming measures along the Oxton stretch of Woodchurch Road.

B.  The following petition was referred to the Council in accordance with Standing Order 34 (1), having exceeded the threshold of 3000 signatures to trigger a Council debate, in accordance with the Petition Scheme –

A petition of some 3,297 signatures, submitted by Mr Shield of the Wirral Needs Campaign, asking the Council to oppose all privatisation and cuts to Wirral Council and NHS funding by the Tory Government.

Mr P Shield addressed the Council on behalf of the petitioners.

On conclusion of the debate, it was moved by Councillor Phil Davies and seconded by Councillor George Davies that –

“This Labour Council has consistently fought against attacks on public services by successive Tory governments since 2010. Council agrees that the return of a Labour government is essential to ensuring we have adequate and fair funding for local government, and in the meantime, Council supports the efforts of the current Labour Administration to ensure priority is given to protecting vulnerable people and communities and protecting front-line public services.

Council cannot and does not support the petition entitled ‘Wirral Needs’ on the grounds that the Plan it promotes for 2018/19 would push the authority into a position where it will be unable to set a legal and sustainable budget by failing to address the £61m funding gap. It would also be contrary to Labour Party policy.

Council reaffirms its support for delivering the 20 Pledges in the Wirral Plan and believes that we will achieve these goals through the policies and strategies developed and delivered with partner organisations across Wirral and the Liverpool City Region.”

An amendment was put by Councillor Ian Lewis, seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie that –

“Council thanks the 3,297 people who have signed the petition organised by the Wirral Needs campaign and welcomes their contribution to the debate

Council calls upon the Leader to meet with the petition organisers to discuss the options proposed in more detail and hopes that the Wirral Labour Group will welcome the opportunity to meet with Socialist campaigners in the Borough.”

A second amendment was put by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, seconded by Councillor Stuart Kelly that:

“Council will prepare a legal budget within the resources known to be available and press the Government to provide additional resources for the needs of Children’s services and the vulnerable.”

Prior to the vote on the Conservative amendment, Councillor Blakeley and five Conservative Members rose to request a ‘card vote’.

A ‘card vote’ was then taken and the Council divided as follows:

For the amendment (19) Councillors T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, D Burgess-Joyce, P Cleary, W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, J Green, P Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, I Lewis, C Povall, L Rennie, L Rowlands, A Sykes, G Watt and S Williams.

Against the amendment (38) Councillors R Abbey, A Brighouse, P Brightmore, C Carubia, A Davies, G Davies, P Davies, P Doughty, S Foulkes, P Gilchrist, P Hackett, AER Jones, C Jones, S Kelly, B Kenny, A Leech, M McLaughlin, J McManus, C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, L Reecejones, PA Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, P Stuart, M Sullivan, T Usher, J Walsh, W Ward, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams, J Williamson and G Wood.

One abstention – Councillor A McLachlan (Civic Mayor)

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

Prior to the Labour Motion being put to the vote, Councillor Blakeley and five Conservative Members rose to request a ‘card vote’.

A ‘card vote’ was then taken and the Council divided as follows:

For the motion (34) Councillors R Abbey, P Brightmore, A Davies, G Davies, P Davies, P Doughty, S Foulkes, P Hackett, AER Jones, C Jones, B Kenny, A Leech, M McLaughlin, J McManus, C Meaden, B Mooney, C Muspratt, T Norbury, M Patrick, D Realey, L Reecejones, PA Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, P Stuart, M Sullivan, T Usher, J Walsh, W Ward, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams, J Williamson and G Wood.

Against the motion (23) Councillors T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, A Brighouse, D Burgess-Joyce, C Carubia, P Cleary, W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, P Gilchrist, J Green, P Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, S Kelly, I Lewis, C Povall, L Rennie, L Rowlands, A Sykes, G Watt and S Williams.

One abstention – Councillor A McLachlan (Civic Mayor)

Resolved (34:23) (One abstention) –

This Labour Council has consistently fought against attacks on public services by successive Tory governments since 2010. Council agrees that the return of a Labour government is essential to ensuring we have adequate and fair funding for local government, and in the meantime, Council supports the efforts of the current Labour Administration to ensure priority is given to protecting vulnerable people and communities and protecting front-line public services.

Council cannot and does not support the petition entitled ‘Wirral Needs’ on the grounds that the Plan it promotes for 2018/19 would push the authority into a position where it will be unable to set a legal and sustainable budget by failing to address the £61m funding gap. It would also be contrary to Labour Party policy.

Council reaffirms its support for delivering the 20 Pledges in the Wirral Plan and believes that we will achieve these goals through the policies and strategies developed and delivered with partner organisations across Wirral and the Liverpool City Region.