Wirral Council budget balancing: controversial savings proposals set aside

Last night, a key Wirral Council meeting recommended that the Williamson Art Gallery remains open and many other controversial savings plans are scrapped.

Before Christmas, the authority put options including the complete closure of Europa Pools, the borough's four public golf courses and the Williamson out to consultation.

A move to three-weekly bin collections, the ending of the school crossing patrol service and the closure of Wirral's public toilets were also put forward.

But at the meeting of Wirral Council's Policy and Resources Committee, the Labour group put forward a budget which protected many of the borough's much-loved leisure services.

The Labour group, which has more members than any other party on the committee, made a proposal which will now go to a full council meeting on March 1 for approval after it was voted through.

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, meaning that council leader Janette Williamson had the casting vote, allowing the Labour group's proposal to pass.

One part of the plan is to save £90,000 from the Williamson's budget through voluntary redundancies, and a one hour per week reduction in opening hours, allowing the council to keep the art gallery open.

Competition facilities at Europa Pools will remain open, but the fun pool will be closed, saving the authority £250,000.

As well as this, Labour's proposal will see all four municipal golf courses remain open, as well as the school crossing patrol service and the borough's public toilets.

Wirral Council's support for community alarms will also remain.

Savings which will be made 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.

Presenting her group's proposal, Labour's Janette Williamson, leader of Wirral Council, said: "We will not accept the closure of much loved services.

"We have listened to residents, we've heard impassioned statements on the art gallery and the golf courses tonight.

"This budget is underpinned by the objective of the Labour group to have a greener, more equal borough.

We have asked for a wholesale review of leisure services, including golf courses, to keep them very much alive in Wirral.

"We have also committed to no compulsory redundancies and keeping the Real Living Wage. A budget is a statement of values and this is a statement of the Labour group's values."

Â

How did other parties react to the proposal?

Jeff Green, leader of the Conservative group, said: "There is much [in the budget] which we would agree with.

"However, there are elements which could be improved.

"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?"

Â

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist commended the decision to protect services, but added: "The budget has fallen on two areas.

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

Â

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

The other area of concern was a reduction in the Williamson's opening hours, which Cllr Gilchrist misheard to be one hour per day.

The proposed reduction is actually one hour per week.

Independent group leader Moira McLaughlin thanked those who had put together the budget and said she agreed with some areas of it, but had concerns about other elements and did not want to commit to supporting it at this stage.

Green councillor Pat Cleary said some of the protections in the budget were very close to where his group would sit.

But he added that areas of concern remained, meaning he would not be able to support the Labour group's budget proposal.

Cllr Cleary 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.