The Head of Regeneration Delivery introduced the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place which proposed to transfer the Wirral Transport Museum to Big Heritage, a locally based non-profit organisation. It was reported that this would be a 25 year lease contracted out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. It was reported that the asset cost the council around £85,000 per year and so the transfer would represent a saving of that amount. Wirral Transport Museum was operated by volunteers and had a steady stream of visitors, Big Heritage had a wealth of experience operating visitor attractions across the region and there was a projected visitor increase from 6,000 to 40,000 per year.

In response to Member queries, the Head of Regeneration Delivery gave assurance that Big Heritage would continue to work with the skilled volunteers and that there had been a lot of interaction and consultation between the two groups. The Chair noted that a key focus had been to ensure that the groups that were so passionate about the transport museum saw this as an opportunity and that there was a future for the asset going forward.

The Assistant Director – Special Projects reported that an annual monitoring report was required from Big Heritage so that the Council had oversight of visitor numbers and costs and could consider actions to be taken where necessary.

Due to a need to discuss information contained in the exempt appendices, on a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Judith Grier it was -

 Resolved – That under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Following the exempt session, the press and public were invited back into the meeting.

Resolved – That

(1)  the Heads of Terms for an Agreement for Lease, Museum Lease, Tramway Operation Agreement and Option Agreement in relation to the landholding of Wirral Transport Museum, East Side of Taylor Street Birkenhead to Big Heritage CIC substantially in accordance with the Heads of Terms as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved.

(2)  the Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to:

(a)  Negotiate and finalise the legal document associated with this Heads of Terms

(b)   (b) Seek any necessary regulatory approvals from the Secretary of State in relation to the tramway operation.