A report by the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reviewed issues arising from the identification of a preferred option for office rationalisation; informed Cabinet of a possible opportunity to dispose of Westminster House; and sought approval to the way forward.  It also identified where further work was being undertaken.

The Head of Asset Management informed the Cabinet of the proceedings of the Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 21 September 2010 when it had considered the report that was now before the Cabinet.

The Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee had, after considering the report, resolved:

“That the Cabinet be advised of the views of this Committee: That

(a)  there should be an early resolution in relation to the future of Westminster House; and

(b)  urgent progress should be made in relation to agile working, in order to reduce the occupancy of buildings and to establish ways of working in communities to the benefit of local residents.”

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management be authorised to discuss the potential sale of Westminster House with Wirral Partnership Homes and report to the Cabinet at the earliest opportunity the outcome of those discussions, and

(2)  in the event of Wirral Partnership Homes wishing to purchase Westminster House, the report back to Cabinet will include an evaluation by the Interim Director of Corporate Services of the environmental, economic and regeneration impacts of the two options set out in the report, together with a recommended approach, taking all the relevant factors into account.