Members of the Cabinet were asked to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in connection with any item(s) on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor Phil Davies declared a non-pecuniary interest in item No. 6 on the agenda, ‘Any Other Urgent Business – Wirral Business Support – Birkenhead Business Improvement District Proposal’ - by virtue of him being a Non-Executive Director of the Wirral Chamber of Commerce. He informed the meeting that he would be vacating the Chair and leaving the meeting whilst this item of business was under consideration.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham declared a non-pecuniary interest in item No. 6 on the agenda, ‘Any Other Urgent Business – Wirral Business Support – Birkenhead Business Improvement District Proposal’ - by virtue of him being a Board Member of Magenta Living. He informed the meeting that he would be leaving the meeting whilst this item of business was under consideration.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 July 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report from the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment, requesting that Members note the significant progress made with regard to taking forward the Hoylake Golf Resort project, to authorise the announcement of the Nicklaus Joint Venture Group (NJVG) as the Council’s Preferred Development Partner on a conditional basis. This action would precede the commencement of the stand still period prior to the signing of a formal development agreement. With this security the development partner could finalise their financial arrangements, make further progress on designing the golf resort and make preparations for the submission of a planning application. Closure of the Competitive Dialogue phase of the project would also allow a period of extensive public consultation to commence.

Councillor Pat Hackett stated that since 2004 this had been an aspiration of the Council which it needed to pursue and bring to fruition. It was a great vision for a great project.

Councillor Phil Davies expressed his delight that somebody of Jack Nicklaus’ stature would help to put Hoylake and Wirral on the map even more so than it was already. The project would contribute to some of the pledges in the Wirral Plan, including ‘greater job opportunities’ and a ‘vibrant tourism economy’. The international golf links academy, unique in England, would be a tremendous boon to the economy. The next stage would be for an extensive public consultation exercise prior to the formal planning consultation process. An ambition of the Council was to create a tourism offer second to none.

Councillor Tony Smith expressed his support and was pleased to see that the bidder had the vision to support local schools providing work experience and apprenticeships in the hotel, golf and leisure industry. 

The second part of the report set out further financial details and was exempt under paragraph 3, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 due to the commercial sensitivities of that information.

RESOLVED: That -

(1)  Cabinet agrees to appoint the Nicklaus Joint Venture Group as the Council’s preferred development partner and, that upon serving the necessary notices and standstill period, to formally close the Competitive Dialogue process.

(2)  Cabinet agrees to the principles set out in the report and approves further discussions as detailed in the exempt appendix.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham introduced a report from the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment which stated that, on 17 April 2015, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved the Major Scheme Business Case ‘A STEP Change for Growth’ for the Sustainable Transport Enhancements Package (STEP) to enable scheme promoters to draw down allocated Growth Deal funding to commence the delivery of STEP schemes.

On 12 May 2015, the Combined Authority confirmed the Wirral element of the Growth Deal STEP funding for years 2015/16 and 2016/17. The report sought Cabinet approval to accept the £1,700,000 STEP capital funding and allocate it as outlined in the report, £900,000 in 2015/16 and £800,000 in 2016/17.

The Wirral schemes supported Growth Zones two and five, the Mersey Waterfront and A41 Corridor respectively and the report outlined the objectives of each of these schemes.

RESOLVED: That -

(1)  the acceptance of the £1,700,000 STEP capital funding awarded to Wirral Council and the implementation of the programme as outlined in section 3.0 of the report, be approved;

(2)  authority be delegated to the Head of Environment & Regulation, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport and Party Spokespersons, to make necessary adjustments to the priorities within the programme should the need arise due to financial or other factors.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham introduced a report from the Strategic Director - Regeneration and Environment which stated that, on 21 November 2014, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority awarded £1,058,000 of Integrated Transport Block Funding to Wirral Council, to support the delivery of the Liverpool City Region Transport Plan for Growth. 

The report sought Cabinet approval to accept the £1,058,000 and allocate it as outlined in the appendix to the report. This included £100,000 allocated to the four Constituency Committees, £25,000 each.

RESOLVED: That -

(1)  the acceptance of the £1,058,000 of Integrated Transport Block funding awarded to Wirral Council and the Transport Plan for Growth Programme as outlined in Section 4.0 of the report, be approved;

(2)  authority be delegated to the Head of Environment and Regulation, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and Party Spokespersons, to make necessary adjustments to the priorities within the programme should the need arise due to financial or other factors.

Councillor Phil Davies withdrew from the meeting

Councillor Ann McLachlan in the Chair

Councillor Stuart Whittingham, having also declared an interest in this item, left the meeting during its consideration.

Further to minute 29 (13/7/15) Councillor Pat Hackett re-introduced a report by the Head of Regeneration and Planning which set out the current progress of the BID proposals for Birkenhead Town Centre along with the implication to the Council of the BID, any subsequent successful ballot in favour of creating a BID, and recommended courses of action for the Council on these matters. One of the recommendations had been amended following discussions with the Chamber of Commerce.

RESOLVED: That

(i).  David Ball, Head of Regeneration and Planning be authorised, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to exercise the Council’s votes in the forthcoming ballot.

(ii).In the case of a positive ballot to create a BID that:

(a)  in Year 1, 95% of the BID levy is paid on 1 April with the percentage being reviewed for future years, dependent on the Council’s performance in collecting the levy;

(b)  the Council charges the BID Company a levy collection charge of £35 per unit in year 1, subject to review and discussion for future years, to cover its costs of employing a member of staff to collect and enforce the BID levy;

(c)  the Council agrees to fund the BID levy in respect of its assets in the BID area for a period of five years, as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

(d)  the Council charges the BID Company the extra cost of separate billing, should the BID Company require this.

Councillor Phil Davies returned to the Chair

The following item contains exempt information.

RECOMMENDATION:  That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

RESOLVED:

That, under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.  The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion. 

Appendix 1 to agenda item 3.

Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 as it contains commercially sensitive information.

The Cabinet noted the contents of the exempt Appendix to Item No. 3 on the agenda – Hoylake Golf Resort (Minute No. 34 refers).