Council (Wirral Council) Monday 16th October 2012

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party. YouTube privacy policy If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh. Accept YouTube Content Monday’s Council meeting, agenda, reports pack and supplementary agenda. … Continue reading “Council (Wirral Council) Monday 16th October 2012”

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Monday’s Council meeting, agenda, reports pack and supplementary agenda.

Council (Wirral Council) 16th October 2012 Part 1 of 4

Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 00:01 to 00:16
Please sit down please. Welcome to the Council meeting. The first item is in fact the Mayor’s Chaplain to take prayers. Thank you.
Mayor’s Chaplain 00:24 to 02:28
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 02:38 to 03:02

Agenda Item 1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 02:40 to 07:58
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 02:40 to 03:02
Cllr Ann McLachlan 03:02 to 3:15
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 3:15 to 3:17
Cllr Denise Realey 3:17 to 3:22
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 3:22 to 3:26
Cllr Denise Roberts 3:26 to 3:39
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 3:39 to 3:41
Cllr Ron Abbey 3:41 to 3:48
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 3:48 to 3:51
Cllr Stuart Whittingham 3:51 to 3:58
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 3:58 to 4:00
Cllr Christina Muspratt 4:00 to 4:11
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:11 to 4:13
Cllr Harry Smith 4:13 to 4:23
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:23 to 4:24
Cllr Steve Niblock 4:24 to 4:30
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:30 to 4:32
Cllr Anita Leech 4:32 to 4:35
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:35 to 4:37
Cllr Mike Sullivan 4:37 to 4:48
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:48 to 4:49
Cllr Darren Dodd 4:49 to 4:59
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 4:59 to 5:01
Cllr Paul Doughty 5:01 to 5:14
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 5:14 to 5:16
Cllr Tom Harney 5:16 to 5:23
Mayor Cllr Gerrry Ellis 5:23 to 5:28
Cllr Steve Williams 5:28 to 5:42
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 5:42 to 5:44
Cllr Don McCubbin 5:44 to 5:55
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 5:55 to 5:57
Cllr Lesley Rennie 5:57 to 6:25
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 6:25 to 6:26
Cllr Jeff Green 6:26 to 6:41
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 6:41 to 6:43
Cllr Chris Blakeley 6:43 to 6:51
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 6:51 to 6:54
Deputy Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell 6:54 to 6:59
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 6:59 to 7:00
Cllr Wendy Clements 7:00 to 7:04
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:04 to 7:05
Cllr Leah Fraser 7:06 to 7:09
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:09 to 7:10
Cllr Moira McLaughlin 7:10 to 7:17
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:18 to 7:27
Cllr Geoffrey Watt 7:27 to 7:32
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:32 to 7:38
Cllr Mike Hornby 7:38 to 7:47
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:47 to 7:58

2. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS 7:58 to 10:45
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 7:58 to 10:26
Cllr Chris Blakeley 10:28 to 10:34
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 10:34 to 10:36
Cllr Bill Davies 10:37 to 10:40
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 10:40 to 10:45

3. PETITIONS 10:45 to 11:37
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 10:45 to 10:52
Cllr Brian Kenny 10:52 to 11:06
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 11:06 to 11:09
Cllr Harry Smith 11:09 to 11:27
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 11:27 to 11:37

4. MINUTES (16th July 2012) 11:37 to 11:53
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 11:37 to 11:53

5. LEADERS ANNOUNCEMENTS 11:53 to 19:17
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 11:53 to 11:57
Cllr Phil Davies 11:57 to 18:40
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 18:40 to 19:17

6. MATTERS REQUIRING APPROVAL BY THE COUNCIL 19:18 to 25:09
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 19:18 to 19:43
Cllr Phil Gilchrist 19:43 to 20:45
Cllr Phil Davies 20:47 to 22:03
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 22:03 to 22:39
Surjit Tour leaves
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 22:50 to 25:09

7. MATTERS FOR NOTING 25:09 to 25:18
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 25:09 to 25:18

8. QUESTIONS 25:18 to 28:34
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 25:18 to 25:29
John Brace 25:32 to 27:04
Question to Cabinet Member for Improvement and Governance (Cllr Ann McLachlan)

Q. Please could you provide a written and/or verbal answer to the following question please.

The introduction of The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 which came into force on the 10th September 2012, changed Wirral Council’s legal obligations when it comes to holding public meetings in relation to some committees. The new regulations cover Cabinet, committees of Cabinet and some other committees and also put further duties on officers (and in some cases councillors) to record decisions made, reasons for decisions, other options considered and any conflicts of interest (and any associated notices of dispensation).

Can you explain please:-

(a) what specific committees at Wirral Council (and any joint committees or subcommittees) are considered to be “decision-making bodies” as described in the legislation,

(b) how regulation 9 will work in practice at Wirral Council with regards to delegated decisions by Cabinet Members,

(c) how the inspection arrangements for members of the public (regulations 14, 15 & 21) will actually work in practice,

(d) when and whether councillors (and co-opted members) will receive training in relation to regulations 16, 17 & 18,

(e) whether Wirral Council will make charges to the press or public for any copies of documents requested under the regulations,

(f) when and how it’ll be explained to officers the implications of regulation 22, which is punishable by a £200 fine and make it a criminal offence to obstruct people or refuse to supply documents to people exercising their rights under the Regulations and

(g) which named officer/s (and their job titles) will be responsible (or even a point of contact for the public) for this area?

Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 27:04 to 27:06
Cllr Ann McLachlan 27:09 to 27:40
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 27:40 to 27:42
John Brace 27:42 to 27:49
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 27:49 to 27:52
Surjit Tour 27:52 to 28:05
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 28:05 to 28:08
Cllr Jeff Green 28:08 to 28:21
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 28:21 to 28:34

9. MATTERS REFERRED FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES 28:34 to 28:41
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 28:34 to 28:41

10. NOTICES OF MOTION 28:41 to 46:43
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 28:41 to 28:50

Cllr Phil Davies 28:50 to 29:20
Cllr Jeff Green 29:20 to 29:22
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 29:22 to 29:35

11. MATTERS FOR DEBATE
5. MOTION: HILLSBOROUGH INDEPENDENT PANEL REPORT

Proposed by Councillor Paul Hayes (7 minutes)
Seconded by Councillor Jeff Green (3 minutes)

(1) This Council remembers the death of the 96 who lost their lives going to a
football match in Sheffield’s Hillsborough stadium on April 15 1989,
including twelve citizens of this borough.

(2) Council welcomes the full and unambiguous apology from the Prime
Minister on behalf of the Government for the length of time it has taken to
discover the truth of how those who should have protected our citizens
actually behaved and commends the tenacity, dignity and courage of the
friends and family of those who lost their lives. They have tirelessly pursued

a campaign for truth and justice whilst the burden of grief lays heavy on their
hearts, their bravery and determination serves as an example to us all.

(3) Council welcomes the publication of the report by the Hillsborough
Independent Panel, and on behalf of the people of Wirral, Council thanks all
members of the Panel for finally succeeding in what previous enquiries have
failed to do: uncovering the truth.

(4) Council believes that after truth justice must follow. Council urges all
prosecuting authorities to consider the findings of the Hillsborough
Independent Panel and asks them to relentlessly pursue those culpable for
the deaths of so many and the subsequent attempt to evade justice by
repeated lies in a concerted attempt to lay the blame with brave survivors
and fans.

(5) Council again repudiates the views of those who have peddled lies about
Liverpool fan’s involvement in this tragedy. We hope those guilty of this
horrendous slander are now silenced by their shame.

(6) Council therefore resolves:

(i). To ask that the Chief Executive, on behalf of the Council, writes to the
Hillsborough Families Support Group, the Hillsborough Justice
Campaign and Hope for Hillsborough to express our continued support
for their campaigns for justice and thanking them for their steadfast
examples of courage and dignity.

(ii). To ask that the Acting Director of Children’s Services, following the
recent example of certain Liverpool Schools, seeks to facilitate a
discussion between the Head Teachers of Wirral’s Schools on how
learning about the Hillsborough Stadium disaster can be incorporated
into their school’s curriculum; ensuring that all future generations know
the truth of what happened on that day.

Right of Reply: Councillor Paul Hayes (7 minutes)

Cllr Phil Davies 29:35 to 29:37
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 29:37 to 29:44
Cllr Paul Hayes 29:44 to 35:53
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 35:53 to 35:58
Cllr Phil Davies 35:58 to 39:08
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 39:08 to 39:09
Deputy Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell 39:09 to 40:15
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 40:15 to 40:24
Cllr Jeff Green 40:24 to 43:36
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 43:36 to 44:20

VOTE
FOR: 63
AGAINST 0(NIL)
ABSTENTION 0(NIL)

Motion 5 is passed 63:0:0

Surjit Tour 44:20 to 46:00
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 46:00 to 46:09
Cllr Phil Davies 46:09 to 46:28
Mayor Cllr Gerry Ellis 46:29 to 46:42

10 MINUTE ADJOURNMENT

Continues at Council Wirral Council 16th October 2012 Part 2 of 4.

134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH

Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.