Author: John Brace

The Cabinet’s recommendations to Council for Mayor and Deputy Mayor were Cllr McLaughlin (Mayor) and Cllr Ellis (Deputy Mayor). Cllr Blakeley did say that not everyone agreed with the nomination of Cllr McLaughlin, however the nominations were agreed.

There was one minor change proposed to the Committee Calendar for the 2011/2012 Municipal Year, moving the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on the 27th June to the 20th June. Cllr Green agreed that any minor changes could be delegated to Bill Norman. This was agreed.

The Cabinet then considered the transport capital funding for 2011/2012. Cllr Rennie described it as a disappointing settlement. However she said the money was extremely welcome. She said no area of Wirral was ignored and there was something for everybody. She referred to meetings of the cycling and pedestrian forums and said they were both willing to work closely with the Council. The report was agreed.

The Cabinet then considered the report on the Highway Winter Maintenance costs. The extra costs for gritting had been £358,000. Cllr Rennie welcomed the extra finance that kept Wirral’s road users safe. She said that you only have to travel around Merseyside to see what a high level of pothole filling in that Wirral had. She did say there was plenty more to do including the complete resurfacing of roads to make them safe for everybody. Cllr Green referred to the extra sum of money nationally (£100 million) for road surfacing and potholes. Wirral had applied and received its share of £297,000. He said he was pleased with the complete piece of work and the major changes away from just filling in potholes. The report was agreed.

The Cabinet went onto consider the draft Corporate Plan for 2011 to 2014. The four key themes were “Your Family”, “Your Neighbourhood”, “Your Economy” and “Your Council”. It would be implemented from the 1st April 2011. Cllr Green thanked Emma Degg and her team. He said it built on work done before and he believed in the power of plans. He said the plan itself followed the budget and the consultation. He said it linked action to resources, however they were left with a difficult challenge financially. They faced the option of a managed decline or rejuvenating local government and the work of the Council. Rejuvenating local government would make it more open, honest, accountable and transparent. Help from the voluntary sector would help Wirral Council. 1,100 had left Wirral Council and he wished them well. He felt they treated people fairly. There were 5,000 left, they would work with people on their training and skills to relate to the people they serve.

Cllr Holbrook thanked people for their hard work. He said it had been a twelve month process that had grown as a result of Wirral’s consultation. He said it was ambitious, forward-looking, optimistic and aspirational. He referred to the commitment to address inequalities. He said the new elements were working with people and for people. He said it was the way he wants the Council to continue. He said it reflected people’s priorities and there was no reduction in frontline services.

Cllr Green said it stated Wirral Council’s purpose. He said he wanted a bigger and stronger society. He was pleased there were solid actions regarding inequality, keeping neighbourhoods clean and safe and dealing with gross inequalities. He said it was shameful that there was a different in life expectancy between Seacombe and Heswall after 13 years of growth. The Corporate Plan was then agreed.

The change to the bank signatories was agreed. In relation to item 6 Cllr Green asked for greater scrutiny and transparency regarding the Council’s traded services. He asked for the annual profit/loss accounts for traded services to be published on the website. This was agreed.

Fiona Johnston introduced item 7 on NHS reform and public health. She detailed a number of changes that would occur ranging from the transfer of some public health functions to Wirral Council, the setting up of a Health and Wellbeing Board in shadow form and GP commissioning. She also referred to Appendix B, which contained a response to the Health White Paper.

Cllr Green referred to a letter that accepted Wirral Council as an early implementer. He thanked Fiona regarding the work she had done. He said it was a major piece of work and they had to make sure they got it right. He referred to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and a conference the previous day with the voluntary, community and faith sector. He thanked Kathy Doran, the Cheshire Wirral Partnership, Arrowe Park Hospital and the GP consortium. He said it was early stages and there was a degree of suspicion. He said it was tribute to the work of the joint appointment.

Cllr Holbrook said there was change and uncertainty, however the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board would bring accountability which had been absent until now. He thought local government was the natural place for public health to reside. He said the Department of Health was not as slick as the Department of Communities and Local Government when it came to consultation. He felt it hadn’t been promoted very well. He referred to the Healthy Lives, Healthy People consultation. He said the interim Chief Executive would consult with Cllr Green and himself regarding the responses. The report was agreed.

Cllr Green welcomed people to the meeting and asked for any declarations of interest. Cllr Holbrook declared an interest in item 18 by nature of his employment with the Environment Agency. Cllr Green an interest in item 22.

Cllr Green then gave an update on the judicial review (which was regarding the closure of Fernleigh Resource Centre). He said the claim had been withdrawn and there was no injunction. He thanked Bill Norman.

The Cabinet then considered the transfer of various community centres. It was agreed that Vale House in New Brighton be transferred to Vale House
Community Centre Limited. The decision regarding Delamere Community Centre was delayed to give time for the three ward councillors, Cllr Holbrook and Bill Norman to go over possible misunderstandings in the report.

The transfer of Noctorum Community Centre to Ridgeway High was agreed, extra finance was needed for the transfer of Heswall Hall/Alexander Hall which was agreed. The transfer of Overton Community Centre to Overton Community Centre Ltd was also agreed.

The budget projections for 2012-2015 were agreed. Item 4 ( the creation of a Revenues Section from merging the Council Tax and Miscellaneous Income Sections in Finance with the Personal Finance Section in Adult Social Services led to a question from Cllr Green about quality assurance. He was assured the quality of service would be the same after the merger. This item was then agreed.