PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Stuart Kelly
Leader, Liberal Democrat Group
Date of Issue: Mar 2nd 2006
Contact numbers:
0151 653 9077
07771 981 045

‘DRAMATIC' AGREEMENT TO LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PROPOSALS

In a dramatic turn of events Liberal Democrats last night succeeded in gaining Council agreement to half their budget proposals.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Stuart Kelly , said,

“We welcome the support of the Labour Group in backing Liberal Democrat priorities.”

“We particularly welcome the agreement to restore library opening hours. Wirral residents have continually voiced concerns since the cuts to Saturday opening were made last year.”

Other Liberal Democrat proposals agreed at tonight's Budget Council meeting were:

  • £3,000 to each of Wirral's 11 Area Forums for local Community Safety measures
  • £21,000 to Wirral's youth service for further outreach initiatives
  • £20,000 for exploring alternative energy sources to reduce the Council's energy costs and carbon emissions.

The Conservative proposals for massive cuts in Social Services were voted down.

The Budget Council amendment:

Amendment to Cabinet Minute 504

That the first phase of the extension to Landican Cemetery , at the cost of £250,000, be met from prudential borrowing.

That the net revenue saving of £139,000, and the remaining reserve of £90,000 be used as follows:

  • Libraries.
    £75,000 be used to restore the library hours necessary for Saturday afternoon opening
    £70,000 be used from the reserve to add to the Book Fund or contribute to other library initiatives
  • Community Safety
    £33,000 be used to continue the funding of £3,000 per Area Forum for local Community Safety measures
  • Youth Initiatives
    £21,000 be allocated to the youth service to further develop outreach initiatives
  • Energy Conservation
    £20,000 be allocated from the reserve to explore, (through consultants or other means), the potential for the use of micro-generation techniques to reduce the Council's long term energy costs and carbon emissions, in tandem with the rolling programme of boiler replacements and in line with Council minute 54 from October 17th
  • Toilets on Leasowe Common
    £10,000 be used as revenue to clean and maintain new toilets on Leasowe Common when they have been built using the capital sum already allocated for this purpose in 2005/6