Members of the Cabinet are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary and/or any other relevant interest, in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Members of the Cabinet were asked to consider whether they had any disclosable pecuniary and/or any other relevant interest, in connection with any item(s) on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor Janette Williamson declared a personal interest in Agenda Item No. 2 – New Ferry Regeneration – Strategic Acquisition (Minute No. 46 refers.) by virtue of her living in the road in New Ferry where the explosion took place in March 2017.

Councillor Phil Davies introduced a report which informed that in March 2017 a horrendous explosion in New Ferry had devastated the heart of the retail centre, destroying businesses and homes and impacting significantly on the local community. Since that time, the Council and its partners had been fully supporting the recovery of the area and were now looking at positive steps to bring new developments forward.  Councillor Davies informed that this was being undertaken in the context of the Regeneration Plan which the Council had consulted on in September 2017 and sought to protect local businesses and bring a mix of new residential and community uses into the area to create a sustainable future for New Ferry.

The Regeneration Plan had been sent to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon James Brokenshire but no tangible evidence had been forthcoming that the Government would back it financially. Councillor Davies was of the view that, with imagination and commitment, the Council could facilitate a good quality regeneration scheme. He informed that the Council was kick starting the project but it needed to get central government to step up to the plate as well by constantly lobbying it for funding support.

The Cabinet was aware that Government funding support had been requested on numerous occasions but given  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Councillor George Davies introduced a report that provided the Cabinet with an update on the Local Plan.  He informed that the Local Plan was vital as it was the document that set out the Council’s land use priorities for the next 15 years.  Effectively, it decided what could be built and where it could be built in the borough.

Councillor Davies also informed the Cabinet that a solid, effective Local Plan could not be more important. The Council needed to draw up a Local Plan that was right for Wirral and its residents. The Council was committed to delivering this Plan as quickly as possible and had invested extra resources to make sure that it happened.

To this end the Cabinet at its meeting on 23 July 2018 had resolved that the results of a review of development options should be published for public and stakeholder consultation and that the results of the consultation should be reported to it in December 2018.  (Minute No. 17 refers.)  Councillor Davies reported that the development options review consultation had been completed and the Cabinet was grateful to every resident who had taken the time to take part.  More than 3,000 representations had been received and they would all be considered as the Plan developed.  A summary of these responses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Councillor Phil Davies wished everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Successful New Year.  He also thanked the officers for the excellent support they had given the Cabinet during the last 12 months.