Councillor Adrian Jones introduced a report by the Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services, seeking a decision to release restrictive covenants on land at Ingleborough Road, Tranmere, currently used by Tranmere Rovers Football Club (TRFC) as an Academy training facility.

The report also sought approval to enter into:

1.  A Lease of land at Solar Campus, Leasowe, shown on Plan 1 for identification purposes annexed to the report, for the replacement of pitches.

2.  An Agreement for Lease/Lease of land and buildings, also at Solar Campus, Leasowe, shown on Plan 2 for identification purposes annexed to the report, for the development of a First Team, Football Academy and Community Facility.

In addition, approval was required for the land shown on Plan 1 and the land and buildings shown on Plan 2 attached to the report and referred to in paragraphs 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 to be appropriated for planning purposes under section 237 Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 

The Cabinet noted that appropriation occurred where the Council held land for one particular purpose and it made a declaration that it was going to hold the land for a different purpose.  The relevant land was currently designated as greenfield land but it had originally been purchased for educational purposes.  It was used by the public as open space but it was not formally designated as open space.  In order to clarify the designation of the land it was considered that the Council should formally appropriate the land in question for planning purposes. 

The Cabinet also noted that section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 required the Council to advertise the intention to appropriate open space land as shown on Plan 1 for two successive weeks in a newspaper circulating in the area.  Section 123 of the Local Government Act required the Council to similarly advertise any proposed disposal of open space land.  Any objections needed to be notified to the Council for consideration prior to such appropriation or disposal. 

The Cabinet was, therefore, requested, subject to there being no objections as referred to in the paragraph above, to approve the appropriation and disposal of the land as shown on Plan 1 and to approve the appropriation and grant of an Agreement for Lease in respect of the land and buildings shown on Plan 2.  The report proposed that any objections be considered by the Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio holder who should then be given delegated authority to determine the appropriation and disposal. 

Councillor Jones reminded the Cabinet that the original transfer deed relating to the Ingleborough Road site (in addition to the restrictive covenants) reserved the right for the Council to enter onto the property and remove the plaque which commemorated the loss of former pupils of Birkenhead Institute in the First World War. Agreement had now been reached in principle between Tranmere Rovers, the prospective developer of the site and Council officers, to work with the Birkenhead Old Boys Association to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120