Having previously declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item, Councillors Steve Foulkes and Jeff Green vacated the Council Chamber and did not take part in the voting thereon (minute 40 refers).

Councillor George Davies moved and Councillor Phil Davies seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

(1)  Council notes the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published new data indicating that Wirral will require 7,155 new homes by 2035, and that this is a significant reduction from the original figure of 12,000 new homes derived from the Government’s national formula.

(2)  Council recognises that this revised figure vindicates the view of the administration, councillors and many concerned residents that the original figure was too high and was leading to a miscalculation of housing needs which threatened Wirral’s Green Belt.

(3)  Council further notes that the Leader of the Council had previously written to the minister arguing that the calculation was incorrect, and advocating that Wirral should not have to slavishly follow the Government’s national housebuilding formula and Council is currently awaiting confirmation from the Secretary of State that this new target more accurately reflects the housing needs of Wirral.

(4)  In light of the new ONS figures, Council agrees that work on the Local Plan should proceed with the aim of delivering new homes on brownfield sites and avoiding development on Green Belt land.

Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Stuart Kelly seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the Motion be approved subject to –

In point (4), delete the words 'and avoiding development on Green Belt land' and insert

“...paying full regard to the content of Chapter 13 of the July 2018 National Planning Policy Framework entitled "Protecting Green Belt Land" which includes paragraph 143 which reiterates that 'inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances’.”

Add new point (5)...

“(5)  Council, therefore, requests that work on the identification and study and potential release of the Green Belt sites identified by Cabinet in July 2018 in Appendix 6 of Item 17 should be suspended. Council places on record its thanks to all those who have responded to the consultation and fully recognises the anxiety and stress caused to those who were pressed to submit objections.”

Councillor Cherry Povall moved and Councillor Mary Jordan seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the Motion be approved subject to –

Add:

“(5) Welcomes the unanimous resolution of the three parties represented on the Wirral South Constituency Committee (Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat) held on 4 October:

(1)  That in light of the new figures obtained in regards to housing requirements in Wirral, the period of consultation be extended by a period of at least three weeks; and

(2)  revised figures be published on the council’s website and appropriate social media outlet

And requests Cabinet implement these recommendations.”

Having applied the guillotine, the Council did not debate this matter.

The amendment moved by Councillor Gilchrist was put and lost (6:51) (One abstention).

The amendment moved by Councillor Cherry Povall was put and lost (24:35) (One abstention).

The motion was put and carried (59:0) (One abstention).

Resolved (59:0) (One abstention) –

(1)  Council notes the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published new data indicating that Wirral will require 7,155 new homes by 2035, and that this is a significant reduction from the original figure of 12,000 new homes derived from the Government’s national formula.

(2)  Council recognises that this revised figure vindicates the view of the administration, councillors and many concerned residents that the original figure was too high and was leading to a miscalculation of housing needs which threatened Wirral’s Green Belt.

(3)  Council further notes that the Leader of the Council had previously written to the minister arguing that the calculation was incorrect, and advocating that Wirral should not have to slavishly follow the Government’s national housebuilding formula and Council is currently awaiting confirmation from the Secretary of State that this new target more accurately reflects the housing needs of Wirral.

(4)  In light of the new ONS figures, Council agrees that work on the Local Plan should proceed with the aim of delivering new homes on brownfield sites and avoiding development on Green Belt land.