Decision day on Wirral shake-up

Dec 9 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

WIRRAL Council’s ruling cabinet will this week decide whether to press for radical changes to the way the borough is governed.

Local authorities have been told by the Government to consider introducing elected mayors or a new form of cabinet administration by the end of the year.

Either a mayor would be directly elected for four years and be able to choose a cabinet, or there would be a leader elected by the council.

Wirral Council’s leader Steve Foulkes was scathing about the response to the consultation on the changes, describing them as “pathetic”.

Just 45 people took part, with 28 (62%) favouring an elected mayor, nine respondents (20%) preferring the new-style leader and cabinet model and the remaining eight replies (17%) either failed to indicate a preference or their reply was too ambiguous.

Cllr Foulkes said: “There was no clear lead from the public, and as has been found in other boroughs, the response has been quite truly pathetic.”

Cllr Foulkes said his initial preference was for a leader and cabinet model but he would keep an open mind ahead of the meeting.

He said: “The danger for a balanced council like Wirral of the mayor system is giving power to just one individual. Once elected, that mayor is there for four years.

“But I will go into the meeting with an open mind and hear the debate.”

Conservative opposition leader Jeff Green said neither option was acceptable. He said: “The problem with both proposals on offer is they keep the discredited cabinet system.

“Wirral needs a thorough re-organising at officer and elected member level, and it’s time we got rid of the cabinet system and included all council members again.”

Cllr Green said that he would prefer a return to committees with decision-making powers.

The final decision will rest with a meeting of the full council which has been called for December 21.