Past imperfect, future tense: Wirral council must make major decisions to balance the books

Wirral Council faces an incredibly tough 2022, a year in which it will have to save millions to avoid effectively going bankrupt.

Two reports on the local authority, published last month, were heavily critical of elected councillors and officers, stating the 'prevailing culture' at the council prior to the pandemic had been to avoid difficult financial decisions, meaning the council's emergency reserves had been dramatically reduced in recent years.

Following this, Wirral Council's Policy and Resources Committee agreed to a plan which would see the authority make £27m in cuts next year in order to balance its budget.

Labour, Conservative and Green councillors pushed through a motion agreeing to a number of moves advised in the damning reports, including halting the council's £5m investment in a community bank.

But the Liberal Democrats did not sign up to this, with group leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist saying the public would not be involved enough in decisions going forward given the increased powers set to be given to council officers.

Wirral Council is led by Labour councillor Janette Williamson, although the party does not have a majority and must work with others to get votes through.

So next year promises to be a tough one for the council in which different parties must work together to keep the authority's head above water.

Here is what each party had to say on what it will focus on next year.

Labour

A Wirral Labour spokesperson said: "As we look forward to a new year, Wirral Labour will continue to work tirelessly to end inequality in our borough, and make sure vulnerable children, adults and families have the support and services they need.

"There will be tough decisions ahead. Over recent years, we have faced annual reductions in central government funding. We have fought to keep services and jobs despite these challenges, but it has become harder each year to balance the books.

"We have now been told by the Conservative government that we must reduce our budget by £27m this year. We want to do this by protecting the most vulnerable and by updating and improving our services by delivering them in different ways. There will be big changes, we have no choice."

But the budget is not the only thing on Labour's agenda.

The spokesperson added: "Environmental concerns are at the heart of everything we do, and we will fight to protect our precious green spaces for future generations.

"We will continue the brilliant regeneration projects which are making a real difference, breathing new life into our towns and providing new affordable homes on brownfield sites.

"We will continue to bid for government grants and to work with businesses and other groups to make this happen and we will push to do as much as we can with the funding we are given.

"That means making sure there is no waste and that every penny counts."

Conservatives

Cllr Tom Anderson, leader of the Conservative group on Wirral Council, said: "Our first priority is to protect the greenbelt. The longer we go without a local plan, the more our green belt is put at risk, with developers chancing their arm putting in speculative applications.

"A local plan must be published early in the new year, that protects all greenbelt sites – anything else we will vote down."

He added: "In addition to the council's £329m budget for last year – the Conservative government has given Wirral £260m to support us through the Covid-19 crisis and more than £100m to help us 'level up'. This is the biggest cash boost in a single year Wirral has seen in generations.

"Sadly the Labour-led council were too busy focusing on their pet projects such as spending £5m of Council Tax payers money developing a local bank.

"[As well as] paying off developers £500,000 to get them out of their failed golf resort project. Previously we have seen them spend £7m on a cinema, and £3m on a bingo hall."

Sending a warning to councillors for the year ahead, Cllr Anderson added: "If the council doesn't take drastic action to correct its finances next year then it will effectively be bankrupt. This is something that we cannot allow."

Liberal Democrats

Cllr Gilchrist discussed the impact the pandemic has had on the borough.

He said: "The last year has reminded us how much we depend on each other, how much we rely on our NHS and how services that care for the elderly and vulnerable underpin our society.

"We also recognised that the hopes and progress of our young people had been set back. The impact of the lockdowns affected the optimism and mental health of young people.

"2022 is the year when we need to put our energies into valuing the caring services, tackling the health inequalities in Wirral, protecting our environment and ensuring that our local plan has realistic plans for redevelopment."

Cllr Gilchrist also addressed the huge money problems the council has.

He added: "We came to value the local countryside on our doorstep as travel and holiday plans were dropped. The local plan will recognise this.

"Wirral certainly has financial problems. Last year's budget, agreed by all the political parties, was one with unfinished business.

"The legacy we created had relied on savings and asset sales to balance the books. As Wirral struggles to make those savings we must avoid long term damage to our community. We have to protect the fabric of society as we work on running a leaner council.

"The 'fairer funding' promised by the government has been put off, yet again. That is frustrating and damaging. We need a fair base to plan ahead properly."

Green Party

The Green Party's group leader, Cllr Pat Cleary, said: "Following over a decade of austerity, the government is now imposing ruthless conditions on Wirral Council to further slash the quality and quantity of support to residents.

"Greens will push hard to protect the most vulnerable in our community, safeguard jobs and preserve and enhance Wirral's environment.

"Council cuts inevitably hit the poorest the hardest. It's vital that any changes to services are properly thought through and consulted on with the public.

"Rushing through changes because of government diktat poses a real risk to Wirral and will further increase the burden on overstretched staff who are already working flat out due to the pandemic."

"We will engage constructively with others to find solutions whilst never forgetting how damaging the long-term running down of council finances by successive Conservative governments has been."

Looking at other issues on the council's agenda for next year, Cllr Cleary added: "Beyond the budget challenges, the new local plan and the implementation of the regeneration programme for East Wirral are huge opportunities to make Wirral greener and to change people's lives for the better.

"New housing has to be fit for the climate emergency and new communities need to be truly sustainable. Wirral must be much better connected so people can get around safely on foot, bike and public transport.

"We have to incorporate nature much more broadly into the new urban fabric to enhance biodiversity, absorb carbon and to make Wirral much more resilient in the face of extreme weather events."