The LGA review into Wirral Council is timely given the authority’s well publicised financial woes. Three of its recommendations are especially important.
1. Ensure there is an appropriate political agreement to provide stability of decisions and direction
This confirms our view that the current leadership has chosen a partisan and divisive approach. This wastes time and resources and tells council staff and the wider public that politics is more important than effective decision making. We repeat our call for an end to factionalism and a return to effective cross party working that delivers for Wirral.
2. Progress from a shared awareness of the council’s finances to shared ownership and actions through a clear financial improvement plan
The lack of a clear financial improvement plan reflects the leadership’s lack of vision and ability to work cross party. Poor decisions on new office buildings, beach maintenance and moving between town halls have cost Wirral dear and there are no signs the current leadership understands this.
3. Develop a shared corporate vision for regeneration at a borough wide level
A few years ago Wirral was a UK leader in presenting an exciting vision for our shared future and securing grant funding for regeneration. Since then our profile has receded thanks to poor decision making – most notably the fiasco around Birkenhead Market and a failure to fully engage with the government’s New Towns Taskforce. We urgently need to reclaim the vision encapsulated in the Birkenhead 2040 framework and put Wirral back on the UK regeneration map.