In order to successfully deliver the vision set out in the Birkenhead 2040 Framework key interventions are required in order to improve the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of the area.

The pre-development requirements to deliver ‘Phase 2’ of Birkenhead’s 2040 programme are numerous but the application to the LCRCA relates specifically to the assembly of landrequired to deliver the Birkenhead 2040 Framework’s ambition. It is anticipated that the assembly of land will require the Council to exercise its Compulsory Purchase powers. The pre-development funding being provided by this grant will assist in the costs associated with the appointment of legal and surveying services to support the council in the application of these powers. Specifically, the support will be required to progress through the eight stages of CPO as shown below, over a 18-24 month period.

The Council is currently in the formulation stage and the grant funding for this financial year will support this stage of a land assembly programme using CPO powers. This involves doing the preparatory work to feed the inputs into a document known as a ‘Statement of Reasons’. In order to develop a coherent Statement of Reasons, and to establish the foundation of a case for compulsory purchase, the Council is working with a legal and surveying professionals to articulate a clear set of objectives that underpin the need for land assembly.

The LCRCA Grant will fund £120,000 of costs and the Council will fund £80,000 of costs required to undertake initial analysis, land referencing and strategic advice.

The Director of Regeneration and Place approves:

(1)   acceptance of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Grant Funding for Pre-Development Services totalling £120,000.

(2)  entering into a Pre-Development Grant Funding Agreement with LCRCA.

2.1  The Council is continuing to develop it strategy and business case for Birkenhead 2040 Programme. Work is now underway to support the development of proposals by way of legal and surveying services to identify strategy and costs associated with strategic land acquisition by private treaty negotiation and CPO. LCRCA have confirmed grant funding equivalent to 60% of the total anticipated costs of this exercise

The Council could decide not to accept the grant funding. This is not considered to be appropriate the work is already in progress and the funding is to reduce the Councils financial exposure for this specific and important phase of work.