Wirral Council faces opposition over budget plans and care cuts

Mar 2 2011 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

A DEMONSTRATION was planned to take place outside Wallasey Town Hall last night, ahead of a meeting of Wirral’s full council to agree its budget.

Campaigners were aiming to convince councillors to vote against the planned closure of five respite and care homes agreed by the authority as part of its cost-cutting measures.

The Tory and Lib Dem-controlled council aimed to bring in a zero increase in council tax and has already agreed to axe 1,100 jobs in the face of a budget deficit of almost £50m.

However, a petition of almost 2,000 names was set to force a debate on the respite homes closure plan – which borough solicitor Bill Norman was expected to advise councillors to deal with as an item of “urgent business”.

A respite home user from Eastham is also seeking a judicial review of the closures in a further bid to halt the council’s plans – as the Labour opposition tables a series of amendments seeking to entice members of the ruling groups to vote against their own parties.

The Labour amendment specifically calls for Mapleholme to stay open, and that “the closure of Pensall, Poulton, Meadowcroft and Fernleigh is postponed for at least six months” to ensure alternative services are in place and allow “proper” consultation.

Labour leader Steve Foulkes described it as “a matter of conscience” however, council leader Jeff Green promised that the budget would “protect the vulnerable” and boost business in Wirral.