Leader's Blog: One year on - steadying the ship, staying focused, and looking ahead for Wirral

Just over a year ago, I was elected Leader of Wirral Council. It was a real honour to take on that responsibility, and I did so knowing full well that it would not be an easy job. 

The challenges facing local government are significant, and here in Wirral we have had to be honest about the scale of what needed to change. But I also came into this role with a strong sense of purpose: to lead with openness, to keep residents at the heart of decision-making, and to make sure this council is focused on doing the basics well while building for the future.

Twelve months on, I think it is fair to say this past year has tested us. We have had to take some difficult decisions, particularly around our finances. Those decisions have not always been popular, and I know that for many people the wider conversation about the council can feel frustrating or disheartening. But leadership means facing reality, not avoiding it. From the outset, I have been clear that if we want this council to be able to protect services, support residents properly and plan with confidence, then we first have to get our financial house in order.

That has been a major part of this first year. Stabilising the council’s finances was not about headlines or box-ticking — it was about creating a stronger foundation for everything else we need to do. Early on, we took practical steps to strengthen oversight and challenge ourselves harder, including setting up a dedicated Budget Task and Finish Group to bring together councillors and senior officers to look closely at spending, assumptions and options for the future. That work matters because good governance is not an abstract idea. It is what gives residents confidence that decisions are being made properly, responsibly and with the long term in mind. 

But balancing the books was never the end goal. It was the starting point. Residents quite rightly expect more from their council than simply getting through another budget cycle. They expect services that work, communication that is clear, and a council that is organised, accountable and focused on delivery. That is why the next phase of our work has to be about transformation in the truest sense of the word. Not change for its own sake, but changing how we work so we can deliver better outcomes for people. 

For me, that means a council that works smarter and more openly. A council that makes better use of technology, reduces duplication, is clearer about priorities and is relentless about outcomes. It also means being realistic. Local authorities across the country are under pressure, demand is rising, and the old way of doing things is not enough anymore. If we want to protect what matters most and improve what residents experience day to day, we have to be prepared to do things differently.

At the same time, I never want the story of Wirral to be told only through challenge. Yes, we must be honest about what still needs to improve, but we should also recognise that there is good work happening across our borough every single day. I see it in our communities, in our staff, in our partners, and in the residents who keep showing up, speaking up and helping to shape the future of this place. Over the past year I have wanted us to do more to shine a light on that, not to gloss over problems, but to make sure progress is visible too. People deserve to hear about the difference being made, whether that is in neighbourhoods, in support for families, or in the quieter work that often goes unnoticed but matters hugely. 

That balance, honesty about the challenges, while still having confidence in our future, feels especially important. I am proud of the progress we have made, but I am not interested in complacency. There is still plenty more to do. We need to keep strengthening governance, keep improving financial resilience, and keep the pace up on delivery. Residents want to see progress they can feel, not just plans on paper. They want services to be responsive and reliable. And they want to trust that their council is focused on what matters 

So, as I look ahead, my focus is straightforward. First, we will continue the hard work of building a financially stable council, because without that stability everything else becomes harder. Second, we will keep pushing forward with the changes needed to make this organisation more efficient, more accountable and more fit for the future. And third, we will stay rooted in the everyday priorities of residents, the things that shape whether people feel their council is working for them.

Leading Wirral Council is a responsibility I take seriously every single day. One year on, I am as committed as ever to leading with honesty, staying focused on delivery, and helping to build a council that residents can have confidence in. We will not get everything right overnight, and I will never pretend otherwise. But I do believe we are putting stronger foundations in place, and that matters. Because with stronger foundations comes the ability to do more; to support communities better, to deliver on our ambitions, and to build a borough that people can feel proud of.

Cllr Paula Basnett
Leader of Wirral Council