The members of the Cabinet are invited to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

No declarations of interest were received.

At the meeting held on 21 June 2012 (minute 5 refers), the Cabinet deferred consideration of the report of the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management so as to allow officers to provide further clarification of matters in relation to the Unitary Development Plan.

An update of the Director’s report is attached.

At the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 June 2012, Members had considered a report by the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management that sought approval to a request from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to demolish the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory on Bidston Hill. (Minute No. 5 refers)

Members had indicated that they had been contacted by concerned constituents regarding a previous planning decision made in 2004 with reference to the Unitary Development Plan stating that use of the building should not changed.

The Head of Asset Management had confirmed that demolition of the building as detailed in Section 4 of the report did not require consent for change of use.

However, Members asked for consideration of the report to be deferred to this Special meeting to allow Officers time to provide further clarification.

Consequently, an updated report was presented to the Cabinet on this matter.  The Head of Asset Management, who was in attendance at the meeting, informed that the Bidston Preservation Trust (BPT) had identified the Proudman Building as being suitable for use as a Taiko Drumming Centre and had therefore requested ‘a stay of execution’ before demolition in order to give it time to acquire the necessary funding.

As the building was owned by NERC, the BPT had been directed to NERC’s agents in order that it could explore the proposal in more detail.  The proposal was being developed by the Rock Ferry Community Partnership, which established the Wirral Taiko Dragon Drumming project.  The Partnership hoped to instruct consultants to develop its proposal in detail and intended to contact NERC to register its proposal for the building.  Consent for the demolition under the terms of the lease would not prevent these discussions taking place and was still considered appropriate.

The Cabinet noted that the site of the Proudman Observatory had previously been shown in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) as being subject to Policy EM11 (a policy specific to Bidston Observatory and the Poudman Oceanographic Laboratory).  In 2007, that policy had been deleted (Cabinet meeting on 28 March 2007, Minute 314 refers) and was therefore no longer part of the development plan.  The site was now shown as without notation and any planning applications that might be submitted for the site would be subject to other policies of the UDP, particularly those relating to impact on Listed Buildings and the Bidston Hill Area of Special Landscape Value.  The advice within the National Planning Policy Framework would also be a material consideration in the determination of any planning application.

Letters had been received from residents who lived adjacent to the Laboratory and circulated to Members, making the point that although the property had been marketed for a number of years no suitable offers had been received.  They were in favour of the building being demolished.

The Head of Asset Management reported that yesterday he had been made aware that the BPT had applied to English Heritage for Listed Building Consent.  He therefore, recommended the Cabinet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

At the Cabinet meeting held on 21 June 2012 (minute 17 refers), the Acting Chief Finance Officer set out performance against the Corporate Plan. In response to concerns raised by Members in relation to the presentation of performance information, he proposed that a refreshed Corporate Plan would be presented to this meeting.

Report of the Acting Chief Executive is attached.

A report by the Acting Chief Executive provided details and included an updated 2012-13 Corporate Plan for consideration and referral to Council on 16 July 2012 (Minute No. 163 refers)

The report indicated that it had taken into account the work that had been undertaken to develop an Improvement Plan for the Council based on the priorities developed with the Improvement Board.

The refreshed and reworked Corporate Plan contained the five improvement priorities and the Cabinet noted that it was the key document to help the Council shape the budget process for the rest of the year and would lead to the development of a new Corporate Plan.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the draft Corporate Plan be referred for approval and adoption by the Council at its meeting on the 16 July 2012; and

(2)  the Corporate Policy Manager be thanked for her help in refreshing and reworking the draft Corporate Plan.

A report by the Acting Chief Executive indicated that Wirral’s emerging Improvement Plan included a priority focus to put in place an agreed Corporate Plan that set clear priorities reflecting a good understanding of citizens and customers’ views through consultation, participation and localism.

The report also set out the proposed arrangements for developing a long-term corporate and financial planning framework through a comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement. The process would deliver:

• A 3-year Corporate Plan and Financial Plan for 2013 onwards, which provided the framework for the Council’s key plans and strategies
• An Equality Action Plan

An update of the current Corporate Plan for (2012-13) was subject to a separate report (Minute No. 44 refers).  This report provided the strategic direction required in the current financial year to deliver improvements and address the critical issues set out in the emerging Improvement Plan.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the approach, timetable and communications plan for developing a three-year corporate and financial planning framework be agreed; and

(2)  the Officer Team who has worked on this comprehensive plan to consult, be thanked for its hard work, it is much appreciated.