To consider the recommendations of the Appointments Working Party (including the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of all the political groups) on the conduct of the Council (Part 2) meeting, and to determine the following matters:-

(i)  Election of the Leader of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 5B of the Constitution.

(ii)  Leader’s Acceptance Speech (5 minutes).

(iii)  Appointments to Council Committees and the appointment of Chairs and Vice –chairs to such committees.

(iv)  Appointment of Members (and/or other individuals) to outside bodies and organisations.

In accordance with Standing Order 5B of the Constitution, the Mayor invited Councillor Mrs Lesley Rennie (on behalf of the Conservative Group, as the political group with most Councillors) to propose a Councillor to be elected as Leader of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Rennie and seconded by Councillor Mrs K Wood –

“That Councillor Jeff Green be elected as Leader of Wirral Council”

Councillor Green confirmed that he was willing to accept the nomination and indicated to the Council that, if he was elected as Leader, he was minded to appoint a Cabinet with the political composition of seven Conservative Members and three Liberal Democrat Members.

The motion was then put to the vote and carried with the Council dividing as follows:

For the motion (39) – Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Bridson, A Brighouse, SL Clarke, W Clements, D Elderton, GJ Ellis, G Gardiner, PN Gilchrist, JE Green, T Harney, K Hayes, P Hayes, S Holbrook, PSC Johnson, M Johnston, P Kearney, J Keeley, S Kelly, D Knowles, I Lewis, D McCubbin, D Mitchell, RK Moon, SR Mountney, S Niblock, C Povall, A Pritchard, P Reisdorf, Mrs LA Rennie, SL Rowlands, S Taylor, GCJ Watt, R Wilkins, Mrs PM Williams, S Williams and Mrs K Wood.

Against the motion (20) - Councillors RL Abbey, JA Crabtree, G Davies, PL Davies, WJ Davies, S Foulkes, P Glasman, AER Jones, A McLachlan, M McLaughlin, CM Meaden, DE Roberts, J Salter, H Smith, PA Smith, WW Smith,  JV Stapleton, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams.

Abstentions (1) Councillor AT Jennings.

Resolved – That Councillor JE Green be elected as Leader of Wirral Council.

Councillor Green, having been elected Leader of the Council then gave an acceptance speech and thanked the outgoing leader, Councillor S Foulkes, for his services to the Borough over the last 10 years. He then confirmed the following appointments to the Cabinet –

The Council having received the minutes of the Appointments Working Party, it was then moved by Councillor Green, seconded by Councillor Holbrook and,

Resolved (39:20:1 abstention) –

(1)  That for the 2010/2011 Municipal Year the total number of committee places (excluding those on the Standards Committee) shall be 123 and the places shall be allocated in the following proportions:

(2)  That nominations for the Chairs of the above committees shall be allocated to the political groups on a proportionate basis (4:4:3) as follows:

Audit and Risk Management  Conservative Group

Employment and Appointments  Liberal Democrat Group

Licensing, Health & Safety and  Conservative Group

General Purposes

Pensions  Conservative Group

Planning  Liberal Democrat Group

Children & Young People  Labour Group

Economy & Regeneration  Labour Group

Health & Well Being  Labour Group

Sustainable Communities  Conservative Group

Council Excellence  Liberal Democrat Group

Scrutiny Programme Board  Labour Group

(3)  That the political groups shall provide their written nominations for their places on these committees to the Chief Executive as soon as practicable in order that they may be included in appendix A to the minutes of this meeting.

(4)  That individual committees are strongly recommended to appoint Vice-Chairs to stand in whenever Chairs are not available for meetings.

(5)  That Council notes the ongoing nominations of Diocesan and Parent Governor Representatives on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(6)  That for the 2010/2011 Municipal Year the Standards Committee shall be constituted as follows:

(a)  The Committee shall consist of 13 members comprising four Independent Members and nine Councillors (three Conservative, three Labour and three Liberal Democrat);

(b)  The Chair and Vice Chairs shall be Independent Members elected by the Standards Committee;

(c)  The Independent Members shall be –

Mr Brian Cummings (appointed to 31 October 2011)

Mr Ken Harrison (appointed to 31 October 2010)

Mr Alex Nuttall (appointed to 31 October 2012)

Mrs Stella Elliott (appointed to 31 October 2013)

(d)  The political groups shall provide their written nominations for their places on this Committee to the Chief Executive as soon as practicable in order that they may be included in an appendix to the minutes of this meeting.

(7)  That the political groups note that the Chief Executive has delegated authority to make any necessary appointments to fill casual vacancies that may arise on committees, boards and outside bodies, in accordance with the wishes of political groups.

(8)  That Standing Order 5A of the Constitution (Annual Meeting of the Council) be amended to include an additional paragraph (f) (with the original paragraph (f) being redesignated paragraph (g)) to provide for the appointment of Members to panels, advisory committees, working parties and miscellaneous other bodies.

(9)  That the Telecommunications Working Party be disestablished with immediate effect.

(10)  That the allocations of places made to political groups in relation to appointments to panels, statutory and advisory committees and working parties for the municipal year 2010/2011 (each listed under its relevant portfolio with an asterisk indicating party spokespersons) be as set out in appendix B to these minutes.

(11)  That the allocations of places made to political groups in relation to appointments to outside bodies for the municipal year 2010/2011 (each listed under its relevant portfolio with an asterisk indicating party spokespersons) be as set out in appendix C to these minutes.