Wirral Council’s plan to save millions by closing a leisure centre, libraries and golf courses among other services has moved forward tonight.
The authority’s cross-party policy and resources committee, which replaced its cabinet in 2020, agreed to put budget proposals which include the closure of 11 libraries, two public golf courses, Woodchurch Leisure Centre and more out to a public consultation.
Tonight’s move, which councillors agreed to by assent, does not mean that the cuts will definitely go ahead.
Instead, it means that residents will be able to give the council their views on each budget proposal before a crucial meeting of the same committee on February 15 will put forward a budget which a further meeting of all 66 Wirral councillors must accept or reject on February 28.
The proposals have led to outrage and disappointment among some.
More than 3,200 people have signed a petition to save Woodchurch Leisure Centre, with some branding the plan "upsetting", "disgraceful" and "a real shame".
Similarly, plans to close 11 of Wirral’s 24 libraries have led to frustration, with a petition to save Hoylake Library gaining more than 700 signatures.
Commenting on the petition on the change.org website, Helen van Marle said: “Don't take away everything that we have, books and learning will always be needed and we love our local library.”
The council’s Labour leader Janette Williamson opened tonight’s meeting with a warning that Wirral Council does not have the funding to provide the same services this year as it did last year.
Cllr Williamson emphasised that the authority must produce a balanced budget and that if it fails to do this government action will be the result, something which would be far worse and something she was not prepared to wait for.
There was some positive news at the meeting, with improvements in funding from central government meaning savings of £20m rather than £27m must be found by the council in this year’s budget.
While giving his approval for the plans to go out to consultation, Cllr Tom Anderson, leader of the Conservative group, said some of the cuts proposed were “truly horrendous”.
Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Phil Gilchrist, said residents would be asking how the council got into what they see as a mess.
He added that in 30 of his 43 years on the council, members had been asked to make cuts and that the authority needed a fair funding settlement from the government rather than having to “live from hand to mouth, year to year”.
Cllr Pat Cleary, who leads the local authority's Green Party group, called on the council to make sure it does not become so preoccupied with its structural deficit that it inflicts “unnecessary and irreparable damage to the social fabric of Wirral”.
He added that Wirral may have more libraries and leisure services than some other areas but it should not be criticised for this, instead it was an historic achievement that the borough should be proud of.
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