Councillor Tom Anderson moved and Councillor Jenny Johnson seconded a motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.

Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Stuart Kelly seconded the following amendment, submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.3:

Paragraph 1 – insert after ‘…rely upon ‘:

‘but recognises that this has become more difficult in this period of high inflation, increased material costs and shortages, along with fluctuating energy prices.’

Paragraph 1 – insert at the start of the second sentence:

‘Council recognises that’

Paragraph 1 – insert at end of second sentence:

‘and supports the ongoing programme of reducing overheads and the number of buildings.’

Paragraph 3 - insert after ‘…is performing ‘:

‘so welcomes plans to secure a closer working relationship with its contractors to manage and target resources that are under pressure.’

Paragraph 5 – insert after ‘…income families..’:

‘due, in the main, to the valuations used in this unfair system which is overdue for overhaul or replacement.   However, it is clear that final budgets and Council Tax levels can only be finalised in the full knowledge of the settlement expected to be announced by the Government on or around 19 December.’

Paragraph 6 – insert after ‘…can afford.’:

‘In so doing, Council recognises the very real constraints that have been made clear by Cllr Izzy Seccombe, the Leader of the Conservative Group on the Local Government Association, when she set out her honest assessment of the situation facing us all…

‘Without immediate additional funding, councils will face increasingly difficult decisions about which services to stop providing, meaning not just isolated closures of individual facilities but significant cuts to the services people rely on, including those to the most vulnerable. It is important that we are honest with central government about these pressures’

(https://conservativehome.com/2022/11/18/izzi-seccombe-local-government-is-ready-to-step-up-to-the-financial-challenge-by-championing-innovation-and-partnership-working/)’

Councillor Janette Williamson moved and Councillor Liz Grey seconded the following amendment, submitted in accordance with Standing Order 13.3:

Delete second sentence of first paragraph and insert instead:

‘However, Council recognises that in 2011, the Tory led council made 1100 staff redundant, and it has relied upon a diminished but committed workforce ever since, and we thank them for that.

Replace second paragraph with:

‘Council notes that despite the Conservative Group not supporting the Wirral Plan Update, Council remains committed to working to achieve:’

Insert at end of third paragraph:

‘Council also recognises that to protect and deliver these services at their current levels it needs adequate funding from a government that has inflicted 11 years of austerity on local councils which looks to resume following the impending public sector cuts of £35bn, who have lost 60p in every £1.

Insert at end of fourth paragraph:

‘They expect the vulnerable to be cared for with high-quality social care, to be protected with vital and life-saving public health measures and to address the growing climate emergency which Full Council agreed in 2019.’

Delete after first word of fifth paragraph:

‘welcomes the statement by the Leader of the Council reported in the local media that a “Council tax rise ‘is not on the cards’ in Wirral” and’

Insert at end of fifth paragraph:

‘and deplores the recent Autumn Statement by Jeremy Hunt which seeks to balance the £55bn black hole in the economy, as reported in the media to have been caused by the Truss/Kwarteng ‘mini-budget’ off the backs of Council Tax payers and up to £35bn in public sector cuts.

Insert at end of sixth paragraph:

‘Council also calls on all members to work together to deliver a legal and balanced budget protect the services that residents deserve, and to renew its request to Government, in writing with a letter signed by all Group Leaders to fund Wirral fairly to do so in the forthcoming settlement on or around December 19^th.’

Following clarification from Councillor Phil Gilchrist on his amendment, the consent of Council was sought to amend the original amendment to include the word ‘Council’ in paragraph 6, to enable the amendment to make sense when moved in conjunction with the Labour Group amendment. This was agreed by Council.

Councillor Janette Williamson confirmed that she was happy to accept the Liberal Democrat Group amendment as part of the Labour Group amendment.

Following a debate, the amendment was put and agreed (39:19) (1 abstention).

The substantive motion, as amended, was then put and it was –

Resolved (40:18) – That

Council understands it exists to provide services which residents rely upon. but recognises that this has become more difficult in this period of high inflation, increased material costs and shortages, along with fluctuating energy prices.

However, Council recognises that in 2011, the Tory led council made 1100 staff redundant, and it has relied upon a diminished but committed workforce ever since, and we thank them for that and supports the ongoing programme of reducing overheads and the number of buildings.

Council notes that despite the Conservative Group not supporting the Wirral Plan Update, Council remains committed to working to achieve:

·  A sustainable environment

·  Brighter futures for all our residents

·  An inclusive economy

·  Safe and vibrant communities

·  Active and healthy lives for all our residents

Council recognises that first impressions count; how the Borough looks fundamentally affects how our residents feel about where they live and how the Council is performing so welcomes plans to secure a closer working relationship with its contractors to manage and target resources that are under pressure. Council also recognises that to protect and deliver these services at their current levels it needs adequate funding from a government that has inflicted 11 years of austerity on local councils which looks to resume following the impending public sector cuts of £35bn, who have lost 60p in every £1.

Council understands our residents expect the grass to be cut, and they expect the streets to be free from litter and potholes filled. They expect the vulnerable to be cared for with high-quality social care, to be protected with vital and life-saving public health measures and to address the growing climate emergency which Full Council agreed in 2019.

Council recognises that Council Tax rises impact disproportionately on the lowest income families due, in the main, to the valuations used in this unfair system which is overdue for overhaul or replacement. However, it is clear that final budgets and Council Tax levels can only be finalised in the full knowledge of the settlement expected to be announced by the Government on or around 19 December and Council deplores the recent Autumn Statement by Jeremy Hunt which seeks to balance the £55bn black hole in the economy as reported in the media to have been caused by the Truss/Kwarteng ‘mini-budget’ off the backs of Council Tax payers and up to £35bn in public sector cuts.

Council, therefore, calls on all Members to meet the challenge of providing decent Council Services, paid for at a price families can afford. In so doing, Council recognises the very real constraints that have been made clear by Cllr Izzy Seccombe, the Leader of the Conservative Group on the Local Government Association, when she set out her honest assessment of the situation facing us all: ‘Without immediate additional funding, councils will face increasingly difficult decisions about which services to stop providing, meaning not just isolated closures of individual facilities but significant cuts to the services people rely on, including those to the most vulnerable. It is important that we are honest with central government about these pressures’ (https://conservativehome.com/2022/11/18/izzi-seccombe-local-government-is[1]ready-to-step-up-to-the-financial-challenge-by-championing-innovation-and[1]partnership-working.  Council also calls on all members to work together to deliver a legal and balanced budget and to protect the services that residents deserve, and to renew its request to Government, in writing with a letter signed by all Group Leaders to fund Wirral fairly to do so in the forthcoming settlement on or around December 19^th.