Having previously declared a pecuniary interest in the item, Councillor Phillip Brightmore vacated the Chamber and did not take part in the voting thereon, as did Councillor Brian Kenny who had declared a personal and prejudicial interest (Minute No. 61 refers).

Prior to consideration of the motion, the Civic Mayor sought Council’s consent for the acceptance of a corrected amendment recently circulated to Members.

Following a challenge on procedural grounds from Councillor Chris Blakeley, acceptance of the corrected amendment was put and carried (56:0) (Two abstentions).

Councillor Paul Hayes then moved and Councillor Ian Lewis seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

“Council welcomes the government investment of more than £2 billion since 2010 and notes the Post Office now has:

·  a stable network of around 11,600 branches

·  modernised more than 7,500 branches with new technology

·  extended opening hours on weekdays and at weekends

·  become the UK’s largest Sunday retailer with more than 4,400 branches open

·  ensured 93% of people now live within one mile of their nearest branch.

Council however regrets that Post Office branches in Wallasey Village, New Brighton and Upton are among those currently closed, due to national ‘audit’ and system irregularities and requests the Chief Executive writes to the Post Office to relay these concerns and request urgent and speedy resolution to enable all Wirral residents to have access to a local Post Office, serving their communities.”

Amendment

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

Paragraph 1 and bullet points:

Delete the words:

“welcomes the government investment of more than £2 billion since 2010 and notes the Post Office now has:

·  a stable network of around 11,600 branches

·  modernised more than 7,500 branches with new technology

·  extended opening hours on weekdays and at weekends

·  become the UK’s largest Sunday retailer with more than 4,400 branches open

·  ensured 93% of people now live within one mile of their nearest branch.”

Replace with:

“congratulates the Communication Workers Union on their campaign to protect the vital services provided by the Post Office in contrast to the Government owned network being decimated”

Paragraph 2: 

Delete the words “however regrets”, and insert “believes”

Delete the words “due to national ‘audit’ and system irregularities”

Delete the words “and request urgent and speedy…” and insert “ and requests urgently that the Post Office ends its programme of Crown Office closures and moves to implement a speedy…”

Delete “,serving their communities.” and insert “,that not only serve our community but provides secure well paid employment that is vital to generating a thriving local economy”.

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

The amendment was put and carried (54:3) (One abstention).

The substantive motion, as amended, was put and carried (56:0) (One abstention).

Resolved (56:0) (One abstention) –

Council congratulates the Communication Workers Union on their campaign to protect the vital services provided by the Post Office in contrast to the Government owned network being decimated.

Council believes that Post Office branches in Wallasey Village, New Brighton and Upton are among those currently closed, and requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Post Office to relay our concerns and requests urgently that the Post Office ends its programme of Crown Office closures and moves to implement a speedy resolution to enable all Wirral residents to have access to a local Post Office, that not only serves our community but provides secure well paid employment that is vital to generating a thriving local economy.