Proposed by Councillor Phil Davies

Seconded by Councillor Bernie Mooney

“At the hands of this Tory Government, and the Coalition before, the people of Wirral have endured the longest period of falling incomes since records began. People are poorer under the Conservatives – and they feel poorer.

Chancellor Philip Hammond had the opportunity to deliver a budget offering real hope and change – and he bungled it.

This budget offered little for families in Wirral. The Chancellor offered little in the way of help to the least well-off: he failed to provide any vision for how, in the face of Brexit, we can hope to kick-start our economy out of its current doldrums. The Chancellor even denied unemployment exists, so little surprise the Tories have no message for those looking to return to work or further their careers.

For local government the story was the same. Less money available while demand rises. Our communities who need our help most are being failed by the Tories as a direct consequence of their broken austerity experiment.

One of the few measures directed at alleviating the financial stresses faced by councils up and down this country was the ability to charge an extra 100% council tax on properties which have been empty for more than two years.

While this may be impactful in central London where absentee overseas landlords sit on thousands of empty properties – this is of little consequence in Wirral. To put this in perspective – while Wirral has been forced to slash £200million from our budgets since 2010, this measure is understood to raise just £12,000 - unlikely to make much of an impact.

Mr Hammond tinkered with the economy when it needs turbo-charging. As his cabinet colleagues currently dither in their half-hearted negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU the chancellor too has shirked his responsibilities. If ever we needed a grand plan and strong leadership that moment is now but instead we have a man whose best idea is to introduce a new rail card for those people who need a home.

Once again it is clear. Only Labour can be trusted to act in the best interests of the people of Wirral.

Council agrees to write to Wirral’s 4 MPs and ask them to arrange a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him to look again at the issues facing local authorities up and down the country, including Wirral, and to take immediate action to avert the national crisis in children’s social care by providing adequate funding and make serious and real interventions to protect the collapsing housing markets with real assistance which will help Wirral residents find suitable housing.”

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 Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Alan Brighouse

“Delete ‘and the Coalition before’ from paragraph 1.

Insert at the end of paragraph 1…

‘The resignations from the Board of the Social Mobility Commission, including those of the former Labour Health Secretary, Alan Milburn, along with the former Conservative Education Secretary, Baroness Gillian Shephard, illustrate a growing lack of confidence in the Government’s willingness or capacity to address social problems.

It should be recognised that the Liberal Democrats, during the Coalition period, secured progress on raising the Income Tax personal allowance, delivered the ‘triple lock’ on the State Pension, saw the introduction of the Pupil Premium and extended the coverage of free school meals.'

Delete paragraph 8 (beginning ‘Once again it is clear…’)

Insert new paragraphs 8 & 9…

'Council notes and endorses the criticisms of the Autumn Budget of November 2017 as set out by the Local Government Association, especially their comment that…

‘It is hugely disappointing that the Budget offered nothing to ease the financial crisis facing local services. Funding gaps and rising demand for our adult social care and children’s services are threatening the vital services which care for our elderly and disabled, protect children and support families. This is also having a huge knock-on effect on other services our communities rely on.’

Council earnestly hopes that the forthcoming Local Government ‘settlement’ will correct this situation but fears that the chaos and uncertainty surrounding Brexit risks undermining the economy and its ability to fund services.”

Following a debate and Councillor Phil Davies having replied, the amendment was put and lost (4:51) (One abstention).

The motion was put and carried (33:22) (One abstention).

Resolved (33:22) (One abstention)

At the hands of this Tory Government, and the Coalition before, the people of Wirral have endured the longest period of falling incomes since records began. People are poorer under the Conservatives – and they feel poorer.

Chancellor Philip Hammond had the opportunity to deliver a budget offering real hope and change – and he bungled it.

This budget offered little for families in Wirral. The Chancellor offered little in the way of help to the least well-off: he failed to provide any vision for how, in the face of Brexit, we can hope to kick-start our economy out of its current doldrums. The Chancellor even denied unemployment exists, so little surprise the Tories have no message for those looking to return to work or further their careers.

For local government the story was the same. Less money available while demand rises. Our communities who need our help most are being failed by the Tories as a direct consequence of their broken austerity experiment.

One of the few measures directed at alleviating the financial stresses faced by councils up and down this country was the ability to charge an extra 100% council tax on properties which have been empty for more than two years.

While this may be impactful in central London where absentee overseas landlords sit on thousands of empty properties – this is of little consequence in Wirral. To put this in perspective – while Wirral has been forced to slash £200million from our budgets since 2010, this measure is understood to raise just £12,000 - unlikely to make much of an impact.

Mr Hammond tinkered with the economy when it needs turbo-charging. As his cabinet colleagues currently dither in their half-hearted negotiations on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU the chancellor too has shirked his responsibilities. If ever we needed a grand plan and strong leadership that moment is now but instead we have a man whose best idea is to introduce a new rail card for those people who need a home.

Once again it is clear. Only Labour can be trusted to act in the best interests of the people of Wirral.

Council agrees to write to Wirral’s 4 MPs and ask them to arrange a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking him to look again at the issues facing local authorities up and down the country, including Wirral, and to take immediate action to avert the national crisis in children’s social care by providing adequate funding and make serious and real interventions to protect the collapsing housing markets with real assistance which will help Wirral residents find suitable housing.