The contract with the Friends of Birkenhead Kennels (FOBK) be extended for a period of 3 years from 1^st April 2023.

  The contract with FOBK is due to expire on 31^st March 2023 and therefore requires extension. The main reasons behind this decision are: to assist financial planning, to secure ongoing savings, to fulfil a statutory duty and to maximise the quality of the service.

The arrangement will provide the confidence and ongoing surety for Wirral Council that it has a contractual arrangement with a partner who has an eight-year history of reliably delivering these statutory duties on behalf of the Council. The contract arrangement also offers value for money with a defined revenue budget set over the medium term which will also assist Wirral Council in its medium-term financial planning. Beyond its compliance with its statutory duties in respect of stray dogs, in continuing to contract FOBK to deliver this service it is committing to a partner who is dedicated to improving animal welfare and whose access to resources and a network of volunteers and supporters dedicated to animal welfare offers value beyond any commercial or in-house arrangement within the current budget constraints.