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 Tony Jones declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 (Minute 94 - Wirral Growth Company) – as a Director of Wirral Growth Company.

·  Councillor Tom Usher declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 (Minute 94 - Wirral Growth Company) – as a Director of Wirral Growth Company.

·  Councillor Stuart Whittingham declared a prejudicial interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) because of various relationships with people in taxi trade.

·  Councillor Stuart Whittingham declared a personal interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) as a member of the UNITE trade union.

·  Councillor Janette Williamson declared a personal interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) as a member of the UNITE trade union.

·  Councillor Christine Spriggs declared a personal interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) as a member of the UNITE trade union.

·  Councillor Pat Hackett declared a personal interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) as a member of the UNITE trade union.

·  Councillor Julie McManus declared a personal interest in item 9 (Minute 99 – Review of Hackney Carriage Fares) as a member of the UNITE trade union.

Resolved -

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17^th February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

Key Decisions – taken under delegated powers. Period 7 February, 2020 (date of publication of last Cabinet agenda) to date.

Green Travel Corridors Sustainable Urban Development (SUD: Leasowe to Seacombe Ferry)

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of Decision: 7 February, 2020

Effective from: 15 February, 2020

Pollinators Action Plan and Grass Verge Pollinators Maintenance

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

Date of Decision: 13 February, 2020

Effective from: 21 February, 2020

Resolved - That the following Key Decisions taken under delegated authority from the period 7 February 2020 (date of publication of last Cabinet agenda) to date be noted:

·  Green Travel Corridors Sustainable Urban Development (SUD: Leasowe to Seacombe Ferry).

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council. 

Date of decision: 7 February 2020.

Effective from: 15 February 2020.

·  Pollinators Action Plan and Grass Verge Pollinators Maintenance. 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council. 

Date of decision: 12 November 2019.

Effective from: 20 November 2019.

Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Tony Jones and Tom Usher left the room.

The Leader of the Council introduced a report which sought approval for the Wirral Growth Company Y1-3 Partnership Business Plan (PBP) and draft indicative Site Development Plans (SDPs) for initial priority sites.  In support of the PBP a full business case was also presented to seek approval for the Council to invest (through a forward funding annuity lease arrangement) in the first 2 office buildings (total 150,000 square foot) which formed part of Birkenhead town centre masterplan, referred to as ‘Birkenhead Commercial District’ (BCD).

The Leader stressed that it was an important milestone in Wirral’s regeneration journey, and would deliver benefits for the culture, environment and economy as well as benefitting Council finances. He thanked officers and other parties for their support and work.

The next steps would be the public outreach consultation and then planning applications.

Resolved - That:

(1)  the Wirral Growth Company Y1-3 Partnership Business Plan be approved, noting that it will be updated and reviewed on an annual basis.

(2)  the draft indicative Site Development Plans be approved for initial priority sites, which are; Moreton (Pasture Road), Moreton (Foxfield), Bromborough (Old Hall Road) and Birkenhead Town Centre, noting that these were indicative and final SDPs would be prepared and submitted for approval in line with the agreed site development process.

(3)  following approval of the PBP, it be noted that planning applications would be taken forward as appropriate for initial priority sites. No work on site (other than site investigations and enabling work) would take place until an approved final SDP was in place.

(4)  it be noted that the Birkenhead Commercial District ‘redline’ for town centre site development had been extended to include Birkenhead Market, recently acquired land (B&M stores) and land which the Council was in the process of acquiring (Milton Pavements). This was attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

(5)  the Birkenhead Commercial District Full Business Case be approved, specifically:

·  approves funding arrangements set out in the report (annuity lease) as the preferred funding route;

·  delegates authority to the S151 Officer, through the Wirral Growth Company, to appoint a commercial investment advisor to commence marketing of the investment opportunity; and

·  notes the use of forecast business rates income generated from the BCD phase 1 as a funding contribution to the project.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education introduced a report which detailed Phase 1 of Wirral Council and the multi-agency partnership’s response to the ambitious youth consultation undertaken in the summer of 2019 and outlined the first phase of a Youth Offer which aimed to enable young people in Wirral to be all that they could be. The Cabinet Member praised officers for their hard work in producing the document.

The proposals contained in the report sought to improve life chances and reduce inequalities for young people across the borough.  The proposals supported the delivery of the following objectives:

-  Young people are ready for work and adulthood (Wirral Plan 2020);

-  Vulnerable children reach their full potential (Wirral Plan 2020);

-  Brighter futures for our young people and families – regardless of their background or where they live (Wirral Council Plan 2025); and

-  Services which help people live happy, healthy and active lives, with public services there to support them when they need it (Wirral Council Plan 2025).

A commitment was made to young people that wherever possible their words would be used in reports, and their contributions proved to be clear, honest and realistic.

Resolved - That

(1)  a commitment to the young people of Wirral be demonstrated by endorsement of the proposals for Phase 1 of the Youth Offer, which outlined the multi-agency partnership response to the youth consultation and associated findings report, Care More About Us (Appendix, Section 1).

(2)  the proposed arrangements for management and governance of the Phase 1 of the Youth Offer and its implementation be endorsed.

(3)  the reallocation of £27,000 funding for website provision from Wirral Council to Wirral Metropolitan College be supported.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education introduced a report which invited the Cabinet to determine the Authority’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled primary and secondary schools and the co-ordinated schemes for admissions to all primary and secondary schools including Academy schools, in 2021-2022.  This was a statutory requirement.

Resolved -

That Cabinet approves the proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and the Wirral co-ordinated schemes for 2021-2022.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning introduced a report which presented Members with the results of the consultation exercise for re-designating a Selective Licensing Scheme under Section 80 of the Housing Act 2004 which covered all tenanted private rented properties within the specified areas. There were four areas introduced in July 2015 and the proposal extended it to two more designated areas in the Borough.  It was proposed that the six areas were included in a new scheme (referred to as scheme 3) starting on 1^st July 2020.

The maps and address lists for the scheme 3 areas were detailed in the updated Business Case (Appendix 1 to the report). 

The Wirral Plan 2020 set out a commitment to work together up to 2020 and beyond to achieve the 20 pledges, including ‘good quality housing’ which meets the needs of residents, Wirral’s Housing Strategy had supported the 2020 Plan and clearly set out the long-term strategic housing direction for Wirral.  The Council had worked in partnership to deliver the ambitions of the plan and housing priorities working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to improve the quality, quantity and access to housing.  Building on this good track record, the Council would continue this approach as it adopted the new Wirral Council Plan 2025, its priorities and future strategies in which Selective Licensing had a key role to play.

Members commented on problems within their own Wards, and how the scheme would be a useful tool in tackling rogue landlords who took advantage of a lack of available housing.

Officers were thanked for their hard work in evidence gathering for the scheme.

Resolved - That:

(1)  the draft proposal for Selective Licensing be approved in the following six areas of the borough based on the robust evidence base:

(2)  the Selective Licensing designation for these six areas would commence on 1^st July 2020 until 30^th June 2025 be agreed.

(3)  the exclusion of Mariners Park from the proposed Selective Licensing Scheme be agreed.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced a report which outlined the Community Wealth Building Strategy for Wirral Council.  Community Wealth Building reorganised local economies to be fairer and stopped wealth flowing out of communities.  It sought to place control of this wealth into the hands of local people, communities, businesses and organisations, and could benefit health inequalities across the Borough. There were three objectives –

1.  Democratic Economy, with a shift in decision making power;

2.  Generative Economy, built on stakeholder ownership to generate and preserve real wealth that is shared by communities; and

3.  Financial Resilience, where families and communities that hold assets are more able to withstand setbacks. The report detailed outcomes and the activities to achieve the objectives.

Through work with the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), five areas had been identified to build community wealth, and what else was needed to achieve the outcomes.

Members praised the proposal and felt that it would become a standard to be aspired to by other areas and would be embedded in thesocial value plan in the Wirral Growth Company.

Resolved -

That the Community Wealth Building Strategy be adopted.

The Licensing, Health and Safety and GP Committee, at its meeting on 22 January, 2020, has referred this matter to the Cabinet with a recommendation that the proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage fare tariff, be approved.

Having declared a prejudicial interest, Councillor Stuart Whittingham left the room.

The Licensing, Health and Safety and General Purposes Committee, at its meeting on 22 January 2020, referred this matter to the Cabinet with a recommendation that the proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage fare tariff, be approved.

Resolved -

That the proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage fare tariff be approved. 

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.

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 had been applied and favoured exclusion.

Exempt appendices to agenda item 4.

Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Tony Jones and Tom Usher left the room.

Resolved -

That further to Minute No 94 above the content of the exempt appendix circulated with the agenda be noted.