WIRRAL Council’s ruling cabinet will tonight decide how to push ahead with its proposals for two new academies in Birkenhead.

Earlier this month, a meeting called at Wallasey town hall to scrutinise the plans descended into chaotic scenes as Labour and Lib-Dems claimed their votes had been miscounted.

The meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had been held after Conservatives used the council’s call-in procedure to force the plans to shut three Birkenhead schools and replace them with a mixed and an all boys academy to be reviewed.

Wirral Council’s ruling Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition had approved proposals to consult parents on the idea of creating a mixed-sex academy and an all-boys academy for pupils.

They would replace the existing Park High, Rock Ferry High and Ridgeway High, in Birkenhead.

That scrutiny meeting ended with Labour and Lib-Dem councillors claiming the vote on their motion had been wrongly counted, allowing the Conservative motion to win, to the delight of many supporters of Ridgeway High School.

Both motions had called on the cabinet to look again at the proposals, but the Tory one had insisted Ridgeway remain open.

A large number of parents, pupils and staff supporting Ridgeway High – one of the schools threatened with closure if the plans go ahead – had attended the meeting to support the school, and it is expected many will attend tonight’s cabinet meeting.

The cabinet will be presented with the full minutes of the scrutiny meeting, although it is not obliged to accept that committee’s findings.

The meeting is tonight at Wallasey town hall, starting at 6.15pm.