Decision details

Community Asset Transfer

Decision Maker: Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

This report makes recommendations in relation to the following Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and an Asset Transfer (AT) matter:

 

Former Libraries (CAT)

Brackenwood Golf Course (CAT)

Bromborough Civic Centre (CAT)

Former Public Toilets in Moreton (Asset Transfer)

 

It builds upon the CAT reports approved by this committee at its meetings on 16 June 2022 and 25 October 2022, considers the Council’s approved Asset Strategy 2022-27, approved by Policy and Resources Committee on 9 November 2022, the priorities of the Wirral Plan 2021-26 and the emerging Local Plan with its “brownfield first strategy”

 

This report meets the following priorities in the Wirral Plan 2021-26

 - Safe, vibrant communities where people want to live and raise their families. - A prosperous inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations.

 

All the business plans, expressions of interest and the C.co report referred to in this report were submitted confidentially for commercial reasons. Therefore, Appendices 1 - 7 of this report are exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision:

Resolved - That

 

(1)  the Director of Resources be authorised to conclude the transfer of assets of Pensby Library to Pioneer People and Prenton Library to St. Stephens Church on the basis of the terms reported in the exempt appendix 1 to this report.

 

(2)   the Director of Resources be authorised to enter into negotiations on the basis of the re-submitted business plans contained in the exempt Appendix 2 of this report to agree Heads of Terms for the transfer of the former library assets at Wallasey Village to the Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre, Irby to the Friends of Irby Library, and Higher Bebington library to the Co-op Academy Bebington. Once agreed these Heads of Terms are to be reported back to this Committee for a decision or onward recommendation to Policy and Resources Committee.

 

(3)   the Director of Resources be authorised to market the site of the former Hoylake Library for sale or commercial leasing on the basis that it is surplus to the requirements of the Committee.

 

(4)   the removal of the former Woodchurch Library asset from the CAT process be approved.

 

(5)   Policy and Resources be recommended to agree that Higher Bebington Library be appropriated by the Council for educational purposes.

 

(6)   Policy and Resources be recommended to agree that the former Woodchurch Library asset be appropriated by the Council for educational purposes.

 

(7)   Policy and Resources be recommended to agree that the site of the former Hoylake Library be marketed for sale or commercial leasing.

 

(8)   both interested parties for the Bromborough Civic Centre, Neo and Bromborough Community Group, be invited to bring business plans on the basis of their submitted expression of interest incorporating their vision for the library element.

 

(9)   the former public toilets in Moreton which had been declared surplus to requirements be transferred to Moreton in Bloom, based on the information in the exempt appendix 7 of this report.

 

(10) £52,000 of the surplus revenue amount allocated to Community Asset Transfer be used to meet the holding costs of the former libraries in 2023/24 prior to transfer.

 

 

(11)   the remaining revenue balance of £62,417 be retained to support the library element of Bromborough Civic Centre if members decide to transfer this asset at a future point in the financial year 2023/24.

 

(12)  the Director of Resources be authorised to start negotiating with  Brackenwood Community Golf Club Ltd on the basis of their business plan, to seek to agree Heads of Terms to transfer the course and report back on the outcome of the negotiations and options, which support Local Plan priorities for decision by this committee.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The recommendations within this report enable Committee to make decisions on the assets that are in scope for Community Asset Transfer (CAT). As part of the 2022/23 budget Council agreed the closure of 9 libraries, two municipal golf courses and a leisure centre. As part of the amendment to that budget, a Community Asset Transfer process was proposed to determine if any of these assets could be transferred in advance of being disposed of as surplus to requirements.

 

The report makes recommendations for transfer where the information supports that approach.

 

Where business plans are unviable, officers have re-engaged, with all those groups to explore if there are further steps that can be taken to create viable business plans based on the principle of exploring all options to secure CAT. The detail of this is set out in the report.

 

The recommendations contain suggested actions to be taken if viable business plans cannot be achieved so that members have all the information and options to make informed decisions on these assets.

 

Bromborough Civic Centre is at an expression of interest stage and the recommendation made reflects that.

 

The surplus public toilets at Moreton are a very local asset and it is recommended that they are dealt with under the Asset Transfer category (not Community Asset Transfer) as set out in the approved Asset Strategy 2022-27, approved by P&R Committee on 9 November 2022. This is because the former toilets will be used for storage to facilitate community activity in Moreton. Therefore, there is no community asset transfer as no community group will be occupying the former toilets.

 

All the business plans and expressions of interest have been submitted on a confidential basis for commercial reasons and therefore they are included in exempt appendices to this report.

Alternative options considered:

The CAT process has been a primary consideration for this report which follows on from resolutions agreed by this Committee at its meeting of 16 June 2022, 25 October 2022 and by Policy and Resources Committee on 9 November 2022.

 

The Council, to meet its legal duty and fiduciary responsibilities, has to fully consider all relevant matters and options in making any decision, Therefore this report sets out these matters and options to ensure that Members have all the relevant information to make a fully informed decision.

Publication date: 06/02/2023

Date of decision: 02/02/2023

Decided at meeting: 02/02/2023 - Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee

Effective from: 10/02/2023

Accompanying Documents: