Future of Williamson Art Gallery, Europa Pools and Wirral's municipal golf courses on the line later today

At 6pm this evening, a full Wirral Council meeting will debate the authority's proposed budget.

In December and January, residents were consulted on plans to close the Williamson Art Gallery in Claughton, all four public golf courses, Europa Pools in Birkenhead and end several other services.

These plans were made as Wirral Council needs to save around £16.5m to balance its budget.

There is set to be a Council Tax rise of 4.99% to help achieve that, but further savings are required.

However, on February 17 the authority's Policy and Resources Committee narrowly voted in favour of a proposed budget which would save the Williamson, the golf courses and keep Europa's competition facilities open.

The school crossing patrol service and the borough's public toilets would also be maintained under this proposal.

While such measures were welcomed by all groups in the cross-party committee, some had doubts over aspects of the budget plan and voted against.

In the end the vote was tied at 8-8, with eight Labour members in favour and the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and a Green councillor against.

Independent councillor Moira McLaughlin abstained, giving the leader of the council, Labour's Janette Williamson, the deciding vote ensuring the budget proposal was approved.

Such a tight vote means the passage of Labour's budget plan is far from certain at tonight's full council meeting.

Drilling down into Labour's proposal, £90,000 will be cut from the Williamson's budget through voluntary redundancies and a one hour per week reduction in opening hours to make the continued opening of the art gallery possible.

While competition facilities at Europa Pools will remain open, the fun pool is set to close, saving the authority £250,000.

Other savings under the proposal include the council reducing its £400,000 subsidy to Birkenhead's Hive Youth Centre to £300,000, with the remaining £100,000 to be made up by funding from local businesses.

There was also a £150,000 saving from "workforce efficiencies".

Asset sales, which will be specified at a later date, will generate £394,000 for the authority.

The reactions of each party to Labour's plans at the Policy and Review meeting gave us a glimpse into where the proposal may fall into difficulty tonight.

Cllr Williamson herself said saving much-loved leisure services showed Labour had listened to residents.

The council leader said: "A budget is a statement of values and this is a statement of the Labour group's values."

Other parties had several concerns.

Cllr Jeff Green, leader of the Conservatives on Wirral Council, said he agreed with much of the budget.

But the Tory councillor added: "I've made it clear I find it a little unfair when we do budgeting we tend to look out from the centre outwards and reduce services, the worst of that you [Cllr Williamson] have mitigated to be fair, so well done to you for that.

"[But] do we need the same level of corporate centre?"

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist commended the decision to protect services, but added:

"It is not satisfactory to maintain the sum offered to The Hive instead of releasing funds to outer areas of the borough."

Cllr Gilchrist said a 2019 report showed outer areas, such as his own Eastham ward, did not have sufficient services for young people.

Independent councillor Moira McLaughlin and Green Party group leader Cllr Pat Cleary both said they agreed with some areas of the budget but not others, meaning they could not support it at this stage.

Cllr Cleary, who represents Birkenhead and Tranmere, also defended The Hive, saying it should not be criticised simply due to its location.

He added that it offered vital youth services which would not exist if the borough did not have a youth hub.