Metropolitan Borough of Wirral explained

Borough of Wirral
Settlement Type:	Metropolitan borough
Motto:	By faith and foresight
Coordinates:	53.3568°N -3.0635°W
Subdivision Type:	Sovereign state
Subdivision Name:	United Kingdom
Subdivision Type1:	Country
Subdivision Name1:	England
Subdivision Type2:	Region
Subdivision Name2:	North West
Subdivision Type3:	Ceremonial county
Subdivision Name3:	Merseyside
Subdivision Type4:	City region
Subdivision Name4:	Liverpool
Established Title:	Incorporated
Established Date:	1 April 1974
Named For:	Wirral Peninsula
Seat Type:	Administrative HQ
Seat:	Wallasey Town Hall
Government Footnotes:	^[1]
Government Type:	Metropolitan borough
Governing Body:	Wirral Council
Leader Title:	Executive
Leader Name:	Committee system
Leader Title1:	Control
Leader Title2:	Leader
Leader Name2:	Paul Stuart (L)
Leader Title3:	Mayor of Wirral
Leader Name3:	Jerry Williams
Leader Title4:	MPs
Unit Pref:	Metric
Area Total Km2:	253
Area Rank:
Population Rank:
Demographics Type1:	Ethnicity (2021)
Demographics1 Title1:	Ethnic groups
Demographics Type2:	Religion (2021)
Demographics2 Title1:	Religion
Timezone1:	GMT
Utc Offset1:	+0
Timezone1 Dst:	BST
Utc Offset1 Dst:	+1
Postal Code Type:	Postcode areas
Area Code Type:	Dialling code
Area Code:	0151
Iso Code:	GB-WRL
Blank1 Name:	GSS code
Blank1 Info:	E08000015

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of, and encompasses NaNsqmiNaNsqmi of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. Wirral is England's westernmost metropolitan borough, faced by the city of Liverpool to the northeast over the River Mersey.

Geography

Bordering is the River Mersey to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and the River Dee to the west; the borough of Cheshire West and Chester occupies the remainder of the Wirral Peninsula and borders the borough of Wirral to the south.

History

The borough was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the county boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey, along with the municipal borough of Bebington and the urban districts of Hoylake and Wirral.

Economy

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Wirral at current basic prices published (pp. 240–253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.

Year	Regional Gross Value Added	Agriculture	Industry	Services
1995	2,089	10	674	1,405
2000	2,609	5	814	1,789
2003	3,020	9	755	2,256

includes hunting and forestry

includes energy and construction

includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured

Components may not sum to totals due to rounding

Plans were announced in 2006 for a £4.5bn development around the docklands to be called Wirral Waters.^[2] The development is a mixture of industrial, office, residential and leisure facilities. Planning permission was granted in 2010 and work began on the site in 2011, with development work potentially lasting for 30 years.^[3]

Education

See also: List of schools in Wirral.

When the borough was set up in 1974, it inherited comprehensive systems from the former County Boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey. In the part of Wirral formerly administered by Cheshire County Council, it inherited a selective system of grammar and secondary modern non-Roman Catholic schools and a comprehensive Roman Catholic school (St John Plessington Catholic College).

Until the implementation of the Education Reform Act 1988, education in Wirral continued to be organised in four areas; Birkenhead, Wallasey and the former parts of Cheshire known for education purposes as "Bebington" and "Deeside". However this Act introduced "open enrolment", allowing parents from anywhere in the borough, and outside it, to apply for a place for their child at any secondary school. As a result, significant numbers of pupils from the former "comprehensive areas" attend schools in the former "selective areas" and vice versa. The distinction between different types of school was to an extent masked, as all secondary modern and most comprehensive schools were named "High School". As a further result of this Act, St Anselm's College and Upton Hall School, both within the Birkenhead education area, became the only independent schools in the country to become state funded grant-maintained schools, retaining selective admissions policies to become Roman Catholic grammar schools.

A further change came as a result of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which effectively changed secondary modern schools into comprehensives as schools were no longer permitted to select by examination failure. In summary, Wirral now has a state secondary sector made up of 16 comprehensive schools (of which two are Roman Catholic) and 6 grammar schools (of which two are Roman Catholic).

Local government

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is one of the six constituent local government districts of the Liverpool City Region. Since 1 April 2014, some of the borough's responsibilities have been pooled with neighbouring authorities within the metropolitan area and subsumed into the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The combined authority has effectively become the top-tier administrative body for the local governance of the city region and the leader of Wirral Borough Council, along with the five other leaders from neighbouring local government districts, take strategic decisions over economic development, transport, employment and skills, tourism, culture, housing and physical infrastructure.

As of July 2015, negotiations are currently taking place between the UK national government and the combined authority over a possible devolution deal to confer greater powers on the region. Discussions include whether to introduce an elected 'Metro Mayor' to oversee the entire metropolitan area.^[4]

Wirral Borough Council Composition

After the local elections in 2008 the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral was governed by a Labour Party/Liberal Democrat coalition, the second and third largest parties on the council respectively. Steve Foulkes of Labour was leader of the council. The Conservative Party was the largest party represented, and was in opposition with its leader Jeff Green being leader of the opposition.

After the local elections in 2010 the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral was governed by a Conservative Party/Liberal Democrat coalition, which reflected the coalition at national level.^[5] The Conservative Party, continuing to be the largest party represented on the council increased its number of seats by 2 to 27 and has now entered into coalition government with the Liberal Democrats as the leading coalition partner with the leader of the Conservatives, Jeff Green, becoming the new leader of the council. The Labour Party increased its representation on the council by 4 to 24 and remained the second largest party though they are now in opposition with their leader, Steve Foulkes, who was leader of the council now leader of the opposition. The Liberal Democrats lost 4 seats decreasing their tally to 15 remaining the third largest party on the council but continuing to participate in the governing of the council as the junior coalition partner to the Conservatives. The one independent represented on the council lost their seat.

After the local elections in 2011 the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral was governed by a minority Labour Party administration. Foulkes was leader of the council with Phil Davies as deputy leader. The Liberal Democrats lost a councillor who switched to Labour, Steve Niblock shortly after the elections. There are now no independents on Wirral Council. Labour have 36 seats, Conservatives have 23 and the Liberal Democrats 7.

In February 2012 the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats defeated the Labour administration in a motion of no confidence and the two parties governed again until the May election.^[6] Labour made gains in May 2012, gaining majority control of the council for the first time since local elections in 2002 saw Labour become a minority. Wirral is led by Phil Davies.

In 2014, the Green Party gained their first seat on the council, defeating Labour in their typically safe seat of Birkenhead and Tranmere. They retained it in 2018 with an increased vote share, albeit with a reduced majority.

Political makeup

Year	Party
		CON		GRN		LAB		LIB
1973	29		0		24		13		0		^[7]
1974	29		0		24		13		0
1975	36		0		21		9		0
	37		0		21		8		0
1976	42		0		18		6		0
1977	42		0		18		6		0
1978	45		0		16		5		0
1979	40		0		20		6		0
1980	37		0		23		6		0
1981	37		0		23		6		0
1982	35		0		25		6		0
1983	34		0		24		8		0
1984	34		0		24		8		0
1985	34		0		24		8		0
1986	30		0		26		10		0
1987	29		0		27		10		0
1988	24		0		32		10		0
	24		0		29		10
1989	24		0		29		10
1990	23		0		33		7
	23		0		33		8
1991	24		0		34		7
1992	29		0		31		6		0
1993	29		0		31		6		0
1994	28		0		30		8		0
1995	22		0		36		8		0
1996	16		0		41		9		0
1997	16		0		41		9		0
1998	16		0		41		8
1999	16		0		42		8		0		^[8]
	17		0		39		10		0
2000	20		0		34		12		0
2001	20		0		34		12		0
	20		0		33		12				^[9]
2002	20		0		32		12
	20		0		31		14				^[10]
2003	23		0		26		16				^[11]
2004	21		0		26		19		0		^[12]
	20		0		26		19				^[13]
2005	21		0		26		18				^[14]
2006	21		0		26		19		0		^[15]
2007	21		0		25		20		0		^[16]
	21		0		25		19				^[17]
	20		0		25		29				^[18]
2008	24		0		21		20				^[19]
2009	25		0		20		20				^[20]
2010	27		0		24		15		0		^[21]
2011	27		0		29		10		0		^[22]
	27		0		30		9		0		^[23]
2012	22		0		37		7		0		^[24]
2013	23		0		36		7		0		^[25]
	22		0		37		7		0		^[26]
	22		0		37		6				^[27]
2014	21		1		38		6		0		^[28]
2015	21		1		39		5		0		^[29]
2016	21		1		38		5				^[30]
	21		1		39		5		0		^[31]
2017	21		1		39		5		0
2018	21		1		39		5		0		^[32]
	21		1		38		5				^[33]
	21		1		37		5				^[34]
2019	22		3		32		6		3		^[35]

Members of Parliament

See also: List of Parliamentary constituencies on Merseyside.

Constituency	Member of Parliament	Political party		Year first elected
Birkenhead	Mick Whitley		Labour Party	2019
Wallasey	Angela Eagle		Labour Party	1992
Wirral South	Alison McGovern		Labour Party	2010
Wirral West	Margaret Greenwood		Labour Party	2015

Places of interest

Wirral Council maintains five designated Local Nature Reserves: Bidston Moss, Dibbinsdale, Heswall Dales, Hilbre Island and Thurstaston Common.^[36] It also operates the Merseyside part of Wirral Country Park, which was the first country park to be established in Britain.^[37]

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom.

The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is twinned or has sister city relationships with:

• Lorient, France^[38]
• Gennevilliers, France^[38]
• Midland, Texas, United States
• Reno, Nevada, United States^[39]
• Sibiu, Romania, Romania^[40]

Freedom of the Borough

The following people, military units, organisations and groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of Wirral.^[41]

Individuals

• Lieutenant Commander Ian Edward Fraser: 1993.
• Joseph Lynch: 1996.
• Raymond Holmes: 2005.
• Reverend David Urquhart: 2006.
• Michael Chan, Baron Chan: 2006.
• Stephen Maddox: 2010.
• Police Constable David Phillips: 21 May 2016.^[42]
• Frank Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead: 16 February 2022.^{[43] [44] [45]}
• Paul O'Grady: 8 June 2023. (Awarded Posthumously)^[46]
• Glenda Jackson: 9 October 2023. (Awarded Posthumously)^[47]

Military units

• The Cheshire Regiment: 1996.
• The Royal Marines: 1998.
• 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment: 2009.
• 234 (Wirral) Transport Squadron, RLC (Volunteers): 18 February 2012.
• 107 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Field Squadron (Volunteers): 18 February 2012.

^{[48] [49]}

• , RN: 6 July 2015.
• Wallasey Sea Cadet Corps: 6 July 2015.

^{[50] [51] [52]}

Organisations and groups

• The 96 people killed at the Hillsborough disaster: 15 September 2017.^[53]
• Andrew Devine (97th Hillsborough Victim): 21 March 2021.^[54]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Councillors and committees . Wirral Council . 15 December 2023.
2. News: BBC - Liverpool - Capital of Culture - Wirral's skyline to rival New York . 13 August 2022 . www.bbc.co.uk.
3. News: Approval for £4.5bn Wirral waterfront regeneration . 13 August 2022 . BBC News . 29 November 2010.
4. Web site: Liam Murphy . Liverpool city region to decide on devolution demands by end of summer . 22 July 2015 . 26 July 2015.
5. Web site: Conservatives take over Wirral Council . Conservativehome.blogs.com . 25 May 2010 . Harry . Phibbs . 11 December 2010.
6. Web site: Jeff Green is new leader of Wirral council after Labour group is kicked out. Liverpool Daily Post. 14 February 2012. Liam . Murphy . 29 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217133740/http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2012/02/14/jeff-green-is-new-leader-of-wirral-council-after-labour-group-is-kicked-out-99623-30327349. 17 February 2012.
7. Web site: Council compositions. The Elections Centre. 27 July 2018.
8. Web site: Lib Dem councillor switches sides. 17 June 1998 . Wirral Globe. 26 December 2018.
9. Web site: Second councillor quits. 12 February 2002. Wirral Globe. 26 December 2018.
10. Web site: Local Election - 02 May 2002. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
11. Web site: Local Election - 01 May 2003. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
12. Web site: Local Election - 10 June 2004. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
13. News: No respect for mayor . Wirral Globe.
14. News: Why I jumped ship to join the Tories . Wirral Globe.
15. Web site: Local Election - 4 May 2006. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
16. Web site: Local Election - 03 May 2007. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
17. News: Councillors also have a 'third duty'.
18. News: Another one bites the dust . Wirral Globe.
19. Web site: Election Result for 1 May 2008 2002. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
20. News: BREAKING NEWS: Labour councillor Denis Knowles quits and joins Tories at Wallasey Town Hall. Wirral Globe.
21. Web site: Election Result for 6 May 2010. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
22. Web site: Election Result for 5 May 2011. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
23. News: Wirral Lib Dem Steve Niblock defects to Labour Party. BBC News.
24. Web site: Election Result for 3 May 2012. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
25. News: Conservative victory in Wirral by-elections. Wirral Globe.
26. News: UPDATED: Labour victory in Wirral Council by-election. Wirral Globe.
27. News: Wirral councillor Mark Johnson quits Liberal Democrat Party. Liverpool Echo.
28. Web site: Election Result for 22 May 2014. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
29. Web site: Election Result for 7 May 2015. Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. 27 July 2018.
30. Web site: Seven things to talk about after the Wirral local elections. 6 May 2016 . Liverpool Echo. 27 July 2018.
31. Web site: Election results by party, Local election - Thursday, 5 May 2016 . 5 May 2016 . Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.
32. News: Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Election 2018 Results. BBC News.
33. Web site: Wirral councillor quits party blaming hard left 'parasites'. Labour Uncut. 29 August 2018.
34. Web site: Senior Labour politician quits party after 40 years citing 'absolute aggression' of 'hard-left clique'. 25 October 2018. Liverpool Echo. 25 October 2018.
35. Web site: Election results by wards. 2 May 2019. Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. 7 June 2019.
36. Web site: Wirral Local Nature Reserves. Wirral council. 28 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110212000928/http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/parks-beaches-and-countryside/parks-greenspaces-and-countryside/local-nature-reserves. 12 February 2011. dead.
37. Web site: Wirral Country Park. Wirral.gov.uk. 11 November 2017.
38. Web site: British towns twinned with French towns. https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns. 20 July 2013. 5 July 2013. Archant Community Media Ltd.
39. News: Murphy . Liam . Wirral and Reno twinned - but what have they got in common? . 10 July 2022 . Liverpool Echo . 28 September 2015 . en.
40. News: Murphy . Liam . Wirral and Sibiu twinned- but what have they got in common?.
41. Web site: Civic recognition and awards . Metropolitan Borough of Wirral . 10 February 2022 . en.
42. News: Killed PC Dave Phillips receives freedom of Wirral . BBC News . 21 May 2016 . 10 February 2022 . en.
43. Web site: Terminally ill ex-MP Lord Frank Field awarded freedom of town he served for 40 years . Riches . Chris . 17 February 2022 . The Mirror . 18 February 2022 .
44. Web site: Borough honours Frank Field with Freedom of Wirral . Morgan . George . 16 February 2022 . The Liverpool Echo . 18 February 2022 .
45. News: Lord Field: Veteran politician awarded Freedom of Wirral . BBC News . 17 February 2022 . 17 February 2022 . en.
46. Web site: Paul O'Grady: Comedian given freedom of the borough in posthumous honour from Wirral Council . Millar . Will . 8 June 2023 . The Edinburgh Evening News . 30 June 2023 .
47. Web site: Glenda Jackson posthumously awarded freedom of Wirral . BBC News Liverpool . 10 October 2023 . 17 October 2023 . en.
48. Web site: Decision – Freedom of Entry. 2 February 2012.
49. Web site: Consideration form . 2 February 2012 . democracy.wirral.gov.uk . 2020-12-07.
50. Web site: Submariners proudly parade as HMS Astute receives Freedom of Wirral – Royal Navy. royalnavy.mod.uk.
51. Web site: UPDATED: Councillors vote in favour of granting HMS Astute and Wallasey Sea Cadets freedom of the borough. Wirral Globe. 6 July 2015 .
52. Web site: Civic recognition and awards – www.wirral.gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom.
53. Web site: Hillsborough 96 to be awarded freedom of Wirral in tribute to victims and campaigners . Thomas . Joe . 15 September 2017 . The Liverpool Echo . 10 February 2022 .
54. Web site: Freedom of Wirral for 97th victim of Hillsborough Disaster . Manning . Craig . 11 March 2022 . The Wirral Globe . 11 March 2022 .