Councillors on Sefton’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee have voted against a motion requiring officers to publish a report on how the decision to close the Botanic Gardens aviary was reached.
At a meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at Bootle Town Hall this evening, Councillors were questioned on the closure by Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Sammon.
Councillor Sammon and Councillor Michael Braham, also of the Liberal Democrats, questioned how the cited reasons had evolved from budgetary reasons to concerns over animal welfare.
Councillor Sammon also indicated that the cost saving from the closure amounted to 0.017% of Sefton’s annual budget.
Labour’s Councillor Joanne Williams, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing told members that they had received plenty of opportunity to scrutinise the closure in previous committee meetings.
Cllr Sammon then asked that council officers prepare a report explaining how the decision to close the aviary at the Botanic Gardens was reached.
By show of hands, the motion was defeated 5-3. OTS News was not able to verify how councillors voted ahead of publication.
The closure of the aviary is due to be discussed at a meeting of full council on Thursday evening.