Wirral Council faces opposition over controversial parks control plan

Aug 11 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

Birkenhead Park 300

PLANS to hand over control of Wirral’s parks and other open spaces to a private company must be looked at again, after they were called in for further investigation.

The council is seeking to save up to £10m over the next decade by finding a private company to manage the borough’s parks, golf courses, cemeteries, rangers, beach lifeguards, highway verges and trees and war memorials.

But last week, the Labour opposition used the “call-in” procedure, forcing the authority to hold a further meeting to examine the decision.

Councillors raised concerns about the council’s refusal to allow an in-house bid by existing employees for the contract.

With the council on the verge of beginning its biggest-ever public consultation on how to make savings across the authority, deputy opposition leader Cllr Phil Davies accused the Tory and Lib-Dem leadership of failing to take account of employees’ views, calling the situation “a total sham”.

Cllr Davies said: “We are frankly outraged the council staff, who have worked extremely hard to serve the public, should be treated with this level of contempt.

“Council employees were bombarded with letters from the council leader asking for their opinions.

“Yet, when it really mattered, their views were totally ignored and they were refused the right to mount a bid to run the services.”

But Cllr David Elderton, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure, said more consultation on the plans will take place.

He said the Labour call-in was expected, but insisted the refusal to allow a bid from within the council was the best way to ensure savings are made.

He said: “There is no hidden agenda. The call-in will give us the opportunity to explain again the decision which was made.”