Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual

Contact: Andrew Mossop 0151 691 8501  Principal Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

75.

Welcome and Introduction

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

76.

Apologies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

77.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests 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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest.

 

Councillor Anita Leech declared a personal interest in respect of agenda item 9, ‘Agreement of Capital Grant included within Capital Programme (3G Pitch) by virtue of a family connection, and that she would leave the virtual meeting room during the item’s consideration.

78.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February, 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February, 2021, be approved and adopted as a correct record.

79.

Leader's Update

The Leader and Chief Executive will give a verbal update on the latest Covid-19 situation in the borough.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair gave an update on the latest COVID-19 situation in the Borough. Wirral, in line with the national picture had suffered 2 waves of COVID-19 with periods of sustained and unprecedented pressure on health and care services. With the December 2020 and January 2021 surge being the worst of the pandemic to date.

 

To date in Wirral, there had been over 22,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (although this would be an underestimate of the true spread of the disease as not all would have been tested), and tragically 939 deaths (up to 26/02/2021). 

The impacts of COVID-19 in Wirral had not been felt equally – the pandemic had both exposed and exacerbated longstanding inequalities between and within Wirral’s local communities.

 

The COVID-19 vaccination programme while a game changer was not a silver bullet. The information so far on the vaccines in use was that they were highly effective and encouraging high uptake of the vaccine should reduce hospitalisations and deaths - and the pressures on health and care services.

 

It will still be several months before the vaccine is rolled out to all adults; although rates locally are reducing, they remain higher than Wirral would like and higher than other regions across the country. The Council therefore needs to take a cautious approach and continue to work collectively to reduce community transmission and manage outbreaks in community settings. As has been seen previously, community transmission can increase very quickly (as it did in March, September and late December) unless a cautious approach is taken.

 

The Local Outbreak Management Plan had been updated to ensure Wirral’s outbreak responses and health and care system were prepared for further surges in COVID-19, the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, and a potential surge in other respiratory viruses in Autumn / Winter 2021-22.

 

Paul Satoor, Chief Executive, thanked all staff, Head teachers, teachers and parents for the smooth return of children to schools, as the first milestone on the roadmap out of lockdown, but emphasised the need to remain cautious on the road to recovery. He also thanked all those staff involved in the testing and vaccination programme and with outbreak management and food distribution.

80.

Public and Member Questions

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair reported that no questions from either members of the public or Members had been submitted. Nor were there any statements or petitions to receive.

81.

Pay Policy 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Tony Williams, Assistant Director: HR and Organisational Development, introduced a report on the Council’s Pay Policy. Its purpose was to provide transparency with regard to the Council’s approach to setting pay by identifying:

 

·  The methods by which salaries of all employees were determined;

·  The detail and level of the salary package of its most senior staff;

·  The Head of Paid Service’s responsibility for ensuring that the provisions set out in the statement were applied consistently throughout the Council and recommending any amendments to Full Council.

 

The Council was required by Section 38 of The Localism Act 2011 to prepare a Pay Policy Statement for each financial year.

 

The 2021/22 statement reflected key changes and updates that had occurred within the last financial year as follows, including a new Foundation Living Wage rate, announced by The Living Wage Foundation in November 2020, as £9.50 per hour, an increase of 20p. The Pay Policy Statement 2021-2022 had also been updated to reflect the constitutional changes made in line with the new Committee System of governance.

 

RECOMMENDED – To Council the approval of the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2021/22.

82.

Gender Pay Gap Report pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Tony Williams, Assistant Director: HR and Organisational Development, introduced a report on the Gender Pay Gap.In line with the Equality Act 2010, the purpose of the report was to provide transparency with regard to the average difference between earnings of women and men.

 

The Council's median gender pay gap for 2019 was 10.9% which compared favourably to the national average of 15.5% for other public sector organisations. In 2020 Wirral’s median gender pay gap had improved from 10.9% to 4.8%, whilst the mean gender pay gap also narrowed from 6.9% to 4.9%.

 

The gender profile was unchanged for the third consecutive year and there was no significant shift in the gender quartile profiles except in the upper quartile where there was an increase in the percentage of females from 56% in 2019 to 61% in 2020. This reversed the trend of the previous year which saw an increase in the percentage of males in the upper quartile from 42.8% to 44.5%.

 

Responding to comments from Members, Tony Williams stated that there were a whole myriad of different working patterns which contributed to the gender pay gap, including the higher percentage of females in part time, or reduced hours roles, with the vast majority of these roles being in Leisure Centres and libraries.

 

Resolved – That the publication of the Gender Pay Gap report be endorsed and noted.

83.

Agreement of Capital Grant Included within the Capital Programme (3G Pitch) pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Prior to consideration of this item, Councillor Anita Leech, left the virtual meeting room, having declared a personal interest (see minute 77 ante).

 

Shaer Halewood, Director of Resources, introduced a report regarding a contribution to the construction of a 3G pitch at the Tranmere Rovers Training Facility at Solar Campus, Leasowe.

 

In September 2019 the Council had entered into a Partnering Agreement with the Club that highlighted the Council’s good historic relationships and ambition to work together for the benefit of the residents of the Borough. The Club was a key anchor institution within Wirral and provided many functions that supported the Council’s 2025 plan. In 2018, with the knowledge of a deficit of 3G football pitches across Wirral, the Club and the Council had talked about working together to align an initiative to jointly fund the construction of a 3G football pitch at the Solar Campus site costing £799,779.

 

The 2019/20 capital programme approved by Council on 4 March, 2019 included a scheme and budget for the contribution to Tranmere Rovers Football Club for just under 50% of the construction of such a pitch at a maximum total of £375,000. This scheme was the continuation of Tranmere Rovers’ plan to relocate its training facilities from Ingleborough Road to the Solar Campus.

 

Planning consent was given for the construction of the pitch at the Planning Committee on 8 September, 2020, subject to nine conditions that were currently being implemented via a working group of residents, officers and Members.

 

The grant would be funded from the Council’s existing capital programme, with the relevant conditions laid out in the grant agreement. As the revenue impact of the Capital Programme had already been included in the 2019/20 budget approved in March 2019, and carried forward, there were no additional financial implications for the Council taxpayer as a result of awarding the grant.

 

Shaer Halewood responded to a number of comments from Members and informed the meeting that any future replacement costs would need to be discussed at a future date between the Council and the Club.

 

Members placed on record their thanks to Tranmere Rovers as a club for all their work they had done in the community through the pandemic.

 

Councillor Cleary referred to a specific condition (No.9) made by the Planning Committee in its approval of the development, which was not referred to in the report, and the need to ensure this along with the other conditions was implemented, this condition stated that:

 

‘Prior to first use of the proposed development hereby approved, full details of secure covered and lockable cycle parking and / or storage facilities shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These facilities shall be provided in accordance with the approved details and made available for use prior to the first use of the development hereby permitted and shall be retained for use at all times thereafter.’ 

 

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Chris Spriggs, it was -

 

Resolved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

84.

North West Mutual Bank pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Shaer Halewood, Director of Resources, introduced a report which updated Members on the possibility of setting up a North West Mutual Bank which Wirral Council, in conjunction with two partner Councils, Liverpool and Preston, had been supporting. 

 

The Council at its meeting on 5 March, 2019 had agreed a £5m commitment in the capital programme 2019 – 2024 as an investment in the North West Mutual Community Bank. The proposal to create a Mutual aligned with the Community Wealth Building Strategy and if successfully implemented would help to retain financial resources within the region, provide social benefits and employment opportunities benefits and help tackle financial exclusion.

 

Shaer Halewood responded to a number of comments from Members and stated that there was no formal agreement yet with regard to the share of investment between the three Councils, but that the Committee could agree to Wirral’s share being up to a third as a maximum amount. It was hoped that once the proposals were further developed other investors, such as Pension Funds, would be sourced, which would reduce the Council’s overall investment of up to £5m.

 

Members expressed their support for the proposal, particularly with regard to the social benefits which would flow from the proposal, including for those residents who were financially excluded and for small and medium businesses.

 

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Anita Leech, it was -

 

Resolved – That, subject to a satisfactory due diligence exercise review:

 

(1)  a commitment to jointly fund the costs / resources as outlined in paragraph 3.61 of the report and up to a maximum amount of £350,000, to take the North West Mutual to the banking licence application stage, subject to the outcome of the initial due diligence, be approved;

 

(2)  a commitment to a further joint fund as specified in paragraph 3.63 of the report and up to a maximum of £200,000, to buy in to the use of intellectual property developed by other Mutuals, be approved;

 

(3)  it be agreed to enter into a cost sharing arrangement with other Councils for the purpose of the above, up to a maximum amount of £185,000 if an equal three-way division of funding is applied; and

 

(4)  a further report be brought to Policy and Resources Committee once the next stage is completed and prior to any investment decision with the North West Mutual.

85.

Consideration of Gaining Real Living wage Accreditation pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Keith Patterson, Head of Commercial Procurement, introduced a report which provided a further summary of the work being undertaken to explore gaining accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation, following a report to the former Cabinet on 27 July, 2020 (minute 114 refers).

 

The requirement to provide the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage was a statutory requirement and thus was already included in the Council’s contracts. The Living Wage Foundation was an independent organisation that recognised the leadership of responsible employers who chose to pay a Real Living Wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

 

The report detailed the three key reasons why it was important to pay the Real Living Wage:

 

·  Safeguarding workers from in–work poverty.

·  Investing in the local economy.

·  Demonstrating Civic Leadership.

 

It was estimated that the total cost to the Council of implementing the Real Living Wage was between £630,000 and £1.2m, (excluding care contracts) however individual contracts would be subject to discussion and would be managed according to procurement and contract management principles to deliver best value. A further report to the Committee would contain more information on those costs and the extent to which they could be mitigated.

 

Responding to comments from Members, Keith Patterson, stated that the set criteria for tender evaluations could not include whether or not contractors paid the Real Living Wage, though the question could be asked if they were prepared to pay the RLW, and tender documentation did emphasise that the Council was strongly in favour of the RLW and made it clear it was important to Wirral.

 

Philip McCourt, Director of Law and Governance, confirmed that there was nothing to stop the Council asking contractors whether or not they paid the RLW to build up a data profile, but tenders could not be scored on this criteria.

 

Members expressed the view that contractors should be expected to do the right thing in paying the RLW as it was a key factor in tackling low pay in the regional economy.

 

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was -

 

Resolved – That, 

 

(1)  the further activity undertaken in working towards accreditation to the Living Wage Foundation, be noted; and

 

(2)  that a further report will be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee after further information is gathered in order to enable the Council to assess more accurately the costs and benefits of seeking accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation.

86.

Annual Workforce Monitoring report 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Suzanne Moore, Head of Organisational Design and Development, introduced a report on the annual Workforce Equality Report for 2019/20. The Council had a legal duty under Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty April 2011 to produce and publish this annual report

 

As part of the summary action plan from the previous report, received by the former Employment and Appointments Committee on 3 March, 2020 (minute 26 refers) a targeted ‘staff confidence’ campaign was included to help narrow the gaps in data. This had now been undertaken and had seen an improvement in the level and detail of data collected which was detailed in the report. The Council did respect employees’ rights not to declare personal information and provided a ‘prefer not to say’ response in all categories.

 

Members welcomed the report which showed good progress and thanked the officers for all their work.

 

Members also expressed the view that such a report deserved a more detailed examination and suggested that governance arrangements could be reviewed with the possibility of re-establishing some form of Employment Sub-Committee. 

 

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Yvonne Nolan, it was -

 

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  the publication of the annual Workforce Equality report to meet the Council’s legal requirements under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) 2011, be approved; and

 

(2)  the position in relation to workforce equality performance and the progress made by the Council in relation to producing, analysing and publishing workforce data, be noted.

87.

2021/22 Budget Monitoring and 22/23 Budget Process pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Shaer Halewood, Director of Resources, introduced a report which described how the 2021/22 budget would be monitored through the Committee system during the year and also the process for setting the 2022/23 budget. This would enable the Policy and Services Committees (the committees) to take ownership of their specific budgets and provide robust challenge and scrutiny of officers on the performance and management of those budgets. For the first committees in the new municipal year, each committee would receive a budget book detailed by function to enable committees to have oversight of where income and expenditure occurred.

 

Committees would be responsible for ensuring that the budget was spent responsibly and remained within the relevant envelope, identifying savings where possible. Officers would be accountable for providing best advice to committees. Policy and Resources Committee would be responsible for ensuring and advising the Council that the entire budget remained in balance at all times or provided mitigating actions to bring the budget back in line, should a deficit be forecast. The report detailed the information which would be provided.

 

With regard to the process for setting the 2022/23 budget, this would commence immediately. One of the key documents required to enable the Council to receive approval for exceptional financial support was a balanced five-year medium term financial plan (MTFP). 

 

A summary of this was provided in the budget report to the Committee on 17 February 2021. This document was prepared by officers and shared virtually with Policy and Resources Committee Members, and now required committee oversight and approval. Committees would consider whether the proposals included in the MTFP for the 2022/23 budget, and beyond, were to be taken forward or whether they were to be replaced by alternative proposals that the committees recommended. Any alternative proposals would be required to be tested against the Council’s objectives of the Wirral Plan to ensure that resources were aligned to priorities and could demonstrate beneficial outcomes and value for money. 

 

Each committee would be responsible for seeking best advice to identify, develop and agree savings proposals during the summer to ensure a draft balanced budget could be considered by this Committee in October 2021, to enable budget consultation to start in a timely manner following the Policy and Resources Committee in November 2021.

 

In respect of a proposed working group to convene to consider the content of the MTFP and make recommendations into the committees at their first meetings, the Chair suggested that this should be for the new Policy and Resources Committee to address, once established after the May elections.

 

In respect of the zero-based budgeting exercise for one of the committees to undertake it was important for a committee to be identified and it was suggested that this could be agreed outside of the meeting, between the political groups and officers.

 

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Anita Leech, it was -

 

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  the process for monitoring the 2021/22 in-year budget, be agreed;

 

(2)  the process for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

88.

Work Programme Update pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Director of Law and Governance, advised how the Committee in co-operation with the other Policy and Service Committees, was responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme. This work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the key decisions which were within the remit of the Committee.

 

The work programme was formed from a combination of key decisions, standing items and requested officer reports. This report provided the Committee with an opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the municipal year. The work programme for the Policy and Resources Committee was attached as an appendix to the report.

 

Resolved – That the proposed Policy and Resources Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2020/21 municipal year, be noted.

 

89.

Transforming Care Therapeutic Short Breaks Capital Proposal pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Wendy Clements, as Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 11 March, in respect of the Transforming Care Therapeutic Short Breaks Capital proposal. The report recommended the acceptance of capital grant monies of up to £700,000 from NHS England to enable the purchase by the Council of a property to be used for the purpose of providing a facility for children and young people with learning difficulties, autism and presenting mental health difficulties along with the delivery of suitable services to such occupants.

 

Simone White, Director of Children, Families and Education elaborated upon the contents of the report and in response to comments from Members stated that the facility would have accommodation for up to three children, but even with two children resident would mean that the Council would break even compared to the current cost of externally commissioned placements.

 

Members welcomed the proposal and congratulated Simone on her recent appointment to the post of Director of Children, Families and Education.

 

On a motion by Councillor Clements, seconded by Councillor Tom Usher, it was -

 

Resolved – That, 

 

(1)  the acceptance of capital grant monies of up to £700,000 from NHS England to enable the purchase by the Council of a property to be used for the purpose of providing a facility for children and young people with learning difficulties, autism and presenting mental health difficulties along with the delivery of suitable services to such occupants, be agreed;

 

(2)  the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to finalise the associated grant agreement;

 

(3)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance, the Director of Children, Families and Education and NHS England to purchase a property at market value suitable for the purposes outlined within the report; and

 

(4)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Children, Families and Education to procure a registered care provider for the first nine months of the facility’s operation.

90.

Future High Street Fund pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to the Town / High Street Fund: Future High Streets Fund. The report recommended authorisation being given to the Director of Regeneration and Place to consider and approve final signoff of the Future High Street Fund grant funding agreements for Birkenhead and New Ferry, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance. Also, to authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place to commence delivery of the Birkenhead and New Ferry Future High Street Fund programmes in line with the grant funding agreement and change control process.

 

Members expressed their support for the proposals and the enthusiasm with which all the staff concerned were dealing with these regeneration initiatives.

 

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Anita Leech, it was - 

 

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  the content of the report and the announcement from Government regarding the Future High Street Fund award in relation to Birkenhead and the in-principle award in relation to New Ferry, be noted;

 

(2)  a re-profiled application was submitted to Government on 3 February 2021 in respect of the New Ferry Future High Street Fund in-principle award, be noted;

 

(3)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to consider and approve final signoff of the Future High Street Fund grant funding agreements for Birkenhead and New Ferry, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance;

 

(4)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to commence delivery of the Birkenhead and New Ferry Future High Street Fund programmes in line with the grant funding agreement and change control process;

 

(5)  the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to progress with scoping out a design, costed model and fit out of the current preferred option for the temporary market, namely Unit 2 St Werburgh’s Square and St Werburgh’s Square itself, that will be used as a temporary holding position while the current Birkenhead Market site be made available for redevelopment; and

 

(6)  it be noted that a further report will be brought forward to members for approval of the finalised proposal for the temporary market.

91.

Maritime Knowledge Hub pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to the Maritime Knowledge Hub. The report recommended authorisation being given to the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of Resources, to finalise the Heads of Terms substantially in accordance with the draft Heads of Terms attached as an appendix to the report.

 

The report also recommended the finalising of agreements for the Council to enter into a conditional Forward Funding Agreement, Agreement for Lease and Lease, based on the finalised heads of terms, with Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Ltd., and to accept the terms of the Grant Funding Agreement, subject to successful award, from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government in respect of the pre-test and trial Maritime Accelerator Project and to commence necessary procurement exercises to enable the delivery of the Accelerator.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was -

 

Resolved – That, 

 

(1)  the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of Resources, be authorised to finalise the Heads of Terms substantially in accordance with the draft Heads of Terms attached as an appendix to the report.

 

(2)  that the Full Business Case for Maritime Knowledge Hub, be approved;

 

(3)  the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place and the Director of Resources, be authorised to finalise agreements for the Council to enter into a conditional Forward Funding Agreement, Agreement for Lease and Lease, based on the finalised heads of terms, with Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Ltd.;

 

(4)  the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of Resources, be authorised to accept the terms of the Grant Funding Agreement, subject to successful award, from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government in respect of the pre-test and trial Maritime Accelerator Project and to commence necessary procurement exercises to enable the delivery of the Accelerator.

92.

Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Maritime Knowledge Hub pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to Wirral Waters - Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Maritime Knowledge Hub. The report recommended the acceptance of funding from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to the Council to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at the Maritime Knowledge Hub.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was -

 

Resolved – That funding from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to the Council to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at the Maritime Knowledge Hub, be approved.

93.

Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Egerton Village pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Egerton Village. The report recommended the approval of a grant from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to Peel Land and Property Investments (Intermediate) Limited to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at Egerton Village. The report also sought authorisation for the Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place to draw up and sign a conditional legal agreement between the Council and Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Limited to reflect the grant arrangements.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was –

 

Resolved – That, 

 

(1)  a grant from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to Peel Land and Property Investments (Intermediate) Limited to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at Egerton Village, be approved; and

 

(2)  the Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place, be authorised to draw up and sign a conditional legal agreement between the Council and Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Limited to reflect the grant arrangements.

 

94.

Business Support Services: Commissioning Intentions Paper pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to the Business Support Services: Commissioning Intentions Paper. The report recommended the endorsement of an extension of the Business Support Services contract to 30 September 2021, and approval of the final Business Support Services specification for delivery of a new service from October 2021 to October 2024, with an option to extend by one year to October 2025 based on satisfactory performance.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was -

 

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  an extension of the Business Support Services contract to 30 September 2021, be endorsed;

 

(2)  the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of the Economy and Regeneration and Development Committee, be authorised to:

 

(a)  Approve the final Business Support Services specification for delivery of a new service from October 2021 to October 2024, with an option to extend by one year to October 2025 based on satisfactory performance.

 

(b)  Commence procurement and select the most economically advantageous supplier(s) to deliver the commissioned services.

 

(c)  Conclude the final contract award.

95.

Wirral Ways to Work pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect to Wirral Ways to Work. The report recommended authorisation be given to the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director for Regeneration and Place to enter a contract extension and sign the supplier contract with Involve Northwest to continue delivery of the Wirral Ways to Work Worklessness Support Service. Also, to authorise an option for the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance to enter a 3-month contract extension from July to September 2021.

 

In response to a Member’s comment Shaer Halewood, Director of Resources, assured the Committee of the processes in place to keep track of all contracts which the Council had and that the Procurement Team engaged with all contractors 18 months before contracts were due to expire.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson, it was -

 

Resolved – That,

 

(1)  the Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place, be authorised to enter a contract extension and sign the supplier contract with Involve Northwest to continue delivery of the Wirral Ways to Work Worklessness Support Service; and

 

(2)  an option be authorised for the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance, to enter a 3-month contract extension from July to September 2021 to cover off the risk of awaiting a grant funding agreement from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and then proceed to a full extension once confirmation of EU funds is received, should this option need to be utilised.

96.

NEW FERRY – IMPLEMENTING THE REGENERATION PLAN pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Anita Leech, as Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee, introduced a report on that Committee’s recommendations, from its meeting on 4 March, in respect of the implementation of the New Ferry regeneration plan.

 

The report recommended the acceptance of the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order(s)  (“the Order”) under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 226(1)(a), and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the acquisition of land and new rights in respect of the area identified in the plan and table, in an appendix to the report, to enable the regeneration of New Ferry to be undertaken and the process for the Order to be subject to procedures laid down by the Acquisition of Land Act 1981. Also, that the Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee be authorised to make all necessary further decisions that were not otherwise delegated to officers, in relation to the CPO and consequential on the CPO, including the selection process for and approval of a development partner the structure of that partnership arrangement whether through a land transaction or otherwise and any related land transactions and settlement of compensation and the engagement of appropriate advisors to advise on compensation for any business interests.

 

In response to Members comments, Alan Evans, Director of Regeneration and Place, acknowledged that to deliver on all the regeneration projects the Council would need the right skills in the right places and that he was looking to further recruit using a mixture of external funds and Council funds which were already identified.

 

On a motion by Councillor Anita Leech, seconded by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, it was -

 

Resolved – That the following be approved:

 

(1)  the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order(s)  (“the Order”) under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 226(1)(a), and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the acquisition of land and new rights in respect of the area identified in the plan and table in an appendix attached to this report to enable the regeneration of New Ferry to be undertaken and the process for the Order shall be subject to following the procedures laid down by the Acquisition of Land Act 1981;

 

(2)  the draft skeleton Statement of Reasons attached as an appendix to the report, which (in addition to the information in the report) sets out the justification for making the Order;

 

(3)  the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance be granted delegated authority to:

 

(a)  finalise the Statement of Reasons; 

(b)  draft the Order Map and Schedule before the making of the Order (if required);

(c)  negotiate, agree terms and enter into agreements with interested parties including agreements for the withdrawal of blight notices and / or the withdrawal of objections to the Order and / or undertakings not to enforce the Order on specified terms, including (but not limited to) where appropriate seeking the exclusion of land or rights from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

97.

Minutes of the Senior Officer and Appointments Staffing Sub-Committee pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved – That the minutes of the Senior Officer and Appointments Staffing Sub-Committee meetings held on of 13 January and 24 February, 2021, be noted.

98.

EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The following items contain exempt information.

 

RECOMMENDATION: That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items 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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Anita Leech, 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 items 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.

99.

North West Mutual Bank Appendix

Exempt appendix to Agenda Item 10: North West Mutual Bank

Minutes:

Resolved – That the exempt appendix to the North West Mutual Bank report, be noted.

100.

Maritime Knowledge Hub exempt appendices

Exempt appendices to Agenda Item 17: Maritime Knowledge Hub.

Minutes:

Resolved – That the exempt appendix to the Maritime Knowledge Hub report, be noted.

101.

Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Maritime Knowledge Hub exempt appendix

Exempt Appendix to Agenda Item 18: Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund, Maritime Knowledge Hub

Minutes:

Resolved – That the exempt appendix to the Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Maritime Knowledge Hub report, be noted.

102.

Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund - Egerton Village exempt appendices

Exempt appendices to Agenda Item 19: Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund, Egerton Village

Minutes:

Resolved – That the exempt appendix to the Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone Investment Fund – Egerton Village report, be noted.

103.

Business Support Services: Commissioning Intentions Paper exempt appendices

Exempt appendices to Agenda Item 20: Business Support Services: Commissioning Intentions Paper

Minutes:

Resolved – That the exempt appendix to the Business Support Services: Commissioning Intentions Paper report, be noted.