At its meeting held on 15 April 2010, the Cabinet considered an exempt report of the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management in relation to offers received for the car park adjoining the original Lifeboat Station in Hoylake after the joint marketing of the site with Peel Holdings, and resolved:–

“That the offer from M Rice on the terms set out in the report be accepted and, in the event of the sale not proceeding, the offer from S Barnes be accepted.”

That decision was called in by Conservative Group Members on the grounds that:

  “The proposal runs counter to the criteria for regeneration of the area and that the proposals for use would not be consistent with this designation. The proposals would also be detrimental to The Kings Gap Conservation Area”.

This matter was considered by the Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 8 July, when it was resolved:-

“That as this Committee considers it appropriate for the Cabinet to explore whether the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum project is feasible –

(1)  the Cabinet be requested to seek discussions with Peel Holdings, with a view to facilitating the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum Project; and

(2)  that a time limit of three months be recommended to the Cabinet for the completion of negotiations.”

The Cabinet’s views are requested.

At its meeting on 8 July, 2010 the Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the call-in of the Cabinet’s decision relating to the sale of the former Hoylake Lifeboat Station, and resolved:

“That as this Committee considers it appropriate for the Cabinet to explore whether the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum project is feasible –

(1)  the Cabinet be requested to seek discussions with Peel Holdings, with a view to facilitating the Hoylake Lifeboat Museum Project; and

(2)  That a time limit of three months be recommended to the Cabinet for the completion of negotiations.”

The views of the Cabinet were requested.

Resolved: That

(1)  the decision to dispose of the land at the former Hoylake Lifeboat Station be deferred for a period of three months from the date of the Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 8 July 2010;

(2)  officers seek to facilitate discussions between Peel Holdings and the proponents of a Hoylake Lifeboat Museum in this time; and

(3)  a report on these discussions be presented to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for decision under delegated powers.