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Annual Council Part Two, Council - Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 6.00 p.m.

May 22, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting Watch video of meeting
AI Generated

Summary

The meeting focused on several key issues, including the behavior of protesters, the adoption of a revised council constitution, the appointment of committee chairs and vice-chairs, and the allocation of seats on the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee. There was significant debate and disagreement, particularly regarding the fair representation of the Green Party in council roles.

Protester Behavior

  • Discussion: Councillors expressed concern over the behavior of protesters who verbally abused and threatened council members, particularly targeting female members. Councillor Green and Councillor Gilchrist emphasized the need to ensure safety and condemned the aggression.
  • Decision: Legal officers will be given statements to prevent the aggressive protesters from approaching the town hall in the future.

Adoption of Revised Council Constitution

  • Discussion: The council discussed adopting a revised constitution with minor amendments proposed by the Monitoring Officer. Councillor Tony Cox moved the recommendations, and Councillor Gilchrist seconded.
  • Decision: The council adopted the revised constitution for the 2024/2025 municipal year.

Appointment of Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs

  • Discussion: The Green Party proposed amendments to ensure fair representation in committee chairs and vice-chairs, arguing that the current allocation was undemocratic and excluded Greens from positions of power. Councillor Onwemina, Councillor Jenkins, Councillor Graham, and Councillor Murphy were put forward for various roles.
  • Arguments For: The Greens emphasized fairness, proportionality, and the need for diverse representation, including more women in leadership roles.
  • Arguments Against: Councillors Gilchrist and Stewart argued that the proposals were last-minute and not in line with the council's governance process. They also accused the Greens of seeking power rather than fairness.
  • Decision: The amendments proposed by the Green Party were rejected, and the original motion for committee chairs and vice-chairs was passed with 46 votes in favor, 14 against, and one abstention.

Allocation of Seats on the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee

  • Discussion: The Green Party proposed an amendment to allocate one of the four seats on the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee to a Green councillor, arguing for proportional representation.
  • Arguments For: Councillor Lamb and Councillor Molyneux highlighted the need for fair representation and the importance of having members who use public transport.
  • Arguments Against: Councillor Gilchrist and Councillor Kelly pointed out that the proportionality should be considered across the entire city region, not just within Wirral. They noted that the Greens already had representation from other areas.
  • Decision: The amendment was rejected with 14 votes in favor, 46 against, and one abstention.

Other Appointments

  • Discussion: The council also discussed appointments to other bodies and organizations. The Green Party proposed an amendment for fair representation on these bodies.
  • Decision: The amendment was rejected, and the original motion was passed with 60 votes in favor and one abstention.

Overall, the meeting was marked by significant debate over issues of fairness and representation, with the Green Party's proposals being consistently rejected by the majority of the council.

Attendees

Anna Perret
Bryn Griffiths
Councillor Andrew Hodson
Councillor Daisy M Kenny
Profile image for CouncillorNaomi Graham
CouncillorNaomi Graham  Green Party •  Prenton
Profile image for CouncillorJulie McManus
CouncillorJulie McManus  Deputy Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Bidston and St. James
Profile image for CouncillorJudith Grier
CouncillorJudith Grier  Green Party •  Bebington
Profile image for CouncillorBrian Kenny
CouncillorBrian Kenny  Mayor •  Labour •  Bidston and St. James
Profile image for CouncillorSimon R Mountney
CouncillorSimon R Mountney  Conservative •  West Kirby and Thurstaston
Profile image for CouncillorAngela Davies
CouncillorAngela Davies  Deputy Leader of the Labour Group •  Labour •  Leasowe and Moreton East
Profile image for Councillor Ewan Tomeny
Councillor Ewan Tomeny  Green Party •  Birkenhead and Tranmere
Profile image for CouncillorHelen Cameron
CouncillorHelen Cameron  Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee •  Conservative •  Clatterbridge
Profile image for Councillor Craig Walsh - McDonald
Councillor Craig Walsh - McDonald  Green Party •  Rock Ferry
Profile image for Councillor Mike Sullivan
Councillor Mike Sullivan  Vice-Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee •  Labour •  Pensby and Thingwall
Profile image for CouncillorGeorge Davies
CouncillorGeorge Davies  Labour •  Claughton
Profile image for CouncillorSue Powell-Wilde
CouncillorSue Powell-Wilde  Labour •  New Brighton
Profile image for CouncillorAndrew Gardner
CouncillorAndrew Gardner  Vice-Chair of Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee •  Conservative •  Hoylake and Meols
Profile image for Councillor James Stewart Laing
Councillor James Stewart Laing  Vice-Chair of Regulatory and General Purposes Committee •  Labour and Co-operative •  Liscard
Profile image for Councillor Mike Redfern
Councillor Mike Redfern  Liberal Democrats •  Oxton
Profile image for CouncillorAllan Brame
CouncillorAllan Brame  Liberal Democrats •  Oxton
Profile image for CouncillorHarry Gorman
CouncillorHarry Gorman  Green Party •  Prenton
Profile image for CouncillorTony Jones
CouncillorTony Jones  Labour •  New Brighton
Profile image for CouncillorKieran Murphy
CouncillorKieran Murphy  Green Party •  Bromborough
Profile image for CouncillorTony Cox
CouncillorTony Cox  Conservative •  Hoylake and Meols
Profile image for CouncillorJennifer Johnson
CouncillorJennifer Johnson  Conservative •  West Kirby and Thurstaston
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Stuart
CouncillorPaul Stuart  Labour •  Seacombe
Profile image for CouncillorJanette Williamson
CouncillorJanette Williamson  Labour •  Liscard
Profile image for CouncillorChris Carubia
CouncillorChris Carubia  Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Vice-Chair of Children, Young People and Education Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Eastham
Profile image for CouncillorJason Walsh - McDonald
CouncillorJason Walsh - McDonald  Green Party •  Bebington
Profile image for CouncillorGraham Davies
CouncillorGraham Davies  Independent Conservative Group •  Heswall
Profile image for CouncillorGillian Wood
CouncillorGillian Wood  Labour and Co-operative •  Claughton
Profile image for CouncillorGail Jenkinson
CouncillorGail Jenkinson  Co-Leader of the Green Group •  Green Party •  Greasby, Frankby and Irby
Profile image for CouncillorAndrew Hodson
CouncillorAndrew Hodson  Independent Conservative Group •  Heswall
Profile image for CouncillorStuart Kelly
CouncillorStuart Kelly  Chair of Planning Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Oxton
Profile image for Councillor Cherry Povall, JP
Councillor Cherry Povall, JP  Chair of Regulatory and General Purposes Committee •  Conservative •  Clatterbridge
Profile image for Councillor Lesley Rennie
Councillor Lesley Rennie  Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group •  Conservative •  Wallasey
Profile image for CouncillorTom Laing
CouncillorTom Laing  Labour and Co-operative •  Seacombe
Profile image for CouncillorMark Skillicorn
CouncillorMark Skillicorn  Chair of Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee •  Labour •  Greasby, Frankby and Irby
Profile image for Councillor Jerry Williams
Councillor Jerry Williams  Labour •  Upton
Profile image for CouncillorMary Jordan
CouncillorMary Jordan  Deputy Mayor •  Conservative •  Clatterbridge
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Martin
CouncillorPaul Martin  Labour •  New Brighton
Profile image for CouncillorJeff Green
CouncillorJeff Green  Leader of the Conservative Group and Vice-Chair of Pensions Committee •  Conservative •  West Kirby and Thurstaston
Profile image for CouncillorTony Murphy
CouncillorTony Murphy  Labour •  Rock Ferry
Profile image for CouncillorElizabeth Grey
CouncillorElizabeth Grey  Chair of Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee •  Labour •  Bidston and St. James
Profile image for Councillor Vida Wilson
Councillor Vida Wilson  Conservative •  Moreton West and Saughall Massie
Profile image for CouncillorPhil Gilchrist
CouncillorPhil Gilchrist  Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Vice-Chair of Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Eastham
Profile image for CouncillorColin Baldwin
CouncillorColin Baldwin  Conservative •  Moreton West and Saughall Massie
Profile image for CouncillorIan Lewis
CouncillorIan Lewis  Chair of Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee •  Conservative •  Wallasey
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Jobson
CouncillorPaul Jobson  Vice-Chair of Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee •  Labour •  Leasowe and Moreton East
Profile image for CouncillorPat Cleary
CouncillorPat Cleary  Green Party •  Birkenhead and Tranmere
Profile image for CouncillorRichie Pitt
CouncillorRichie Pitt  Labour •  Pensby and Thingwall
Profile image for CouncillorGrahame McManus
CouncillorGrahame McManus  Labour •  Greasby, Frankby and Irby
Profile image for CouncillorStephen Bennett
CouncillorStephen Bennett  Chair of Children, Young People and Education Committee •  Labour •  Upton
Profile image for CouncillorSteve Foulkes
CouncillorSteve Foulkes  Vice-Chair of Planning Committee •  Labour •  Claughton
Profile image for CouncillorAnn Ainsworth
CouncillorAnn Ainsworth  Labour •  Pensby and Thingwall
Profile image for CouncillorKathy Hodson
CouncillorKathy Hodson  Leader of the Independent Conservative Group •  Independent Conservative Group •  Heswall
Profile image for CouncillorJo Bird
CouncillorJo Bird  Green Party •  Bromborough
Profile image for Councillor Kaitlin Stuart
Councillor Kaitlin Stuart  Labour •  Seacombe
Profile image for CouncillorMax Booth
CouncillorMax Booth  Vice-Chair of Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee •  Conservative •  Hoylake and Meols
Profile image for CouncillorLouise Luxon-Kewley
CouncillorLouise Luxon-Kewley  Labour •  Leasowe and Moreton East
Profile image for CouncillorChristopher Cooke
CouncillorChristopher Cooke  Green Party •  Prenton
Profile image for Councillor Jean Robinson
Councillor Jean Robinson  Labour •  Upton
Profile image for CouncillorPaula Basnett
CouncillorPaula Basnett  Leader of the Council •  Labour •  Rock Ferry
Profile image for CouncillorAmanda Onwuemene
CouncillorAmanda Onwuemene  Green Party •  Birkenhead and Tranmere
Profile image for CouncillorHelen Raymond
CouncillorHelen Raymond  Liberal Democrats •  Eastham
Profile image for CouncillorBrenda Hall
CouncillorBrenda Hall  Chair of Pensions Committee •  Labour •  Wallasey
Profile image for CouncillorRuth Molyneux
CouncillorRuth Molyneux  Green Party •  Bromborough
Profile image for CouncillorGary Bennett
CouncillorGary Bennett  Conservative •  Moreton West and Saughall Massie
Profile image for CouncillorEd Lamb
CouncillorEd Lamb  Co-Leader of the Green Group •  Green Party •  Bebington

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

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