A report by the Interim Director of Children’s Services provided an update on the progress made with the potential developments of the Wirral Youth Zone and set out recommendations for progression.

Wirral Youth Zone was a proposal to build an iconic, modern state of the art centre for young people.  It would provide our young people with a modern, safe and purposeful alternative to the streets and the TV screen.  The new youth zone would help our young people keep active and healthy, whilst encouraging them to be positive and aspirational.

The building would include a sports hall, multi purpose areas, Kitchen/café, mentor rooms, recreational areas, 3G multi purpose pitch, fitness suite and arts facilities.  It would be open to children and young people aged 8-21 and up to 25 for those with a disability.  Wirral Youth Zone would offer a full range of sporting and artistic opportunities and would be open, 7 nights a week, 52 weeks a year, including during school holidays from 8am-10pm. The Vision Document was appended to the report at Appendix 1).

The ambition would be for the facility to be opened by the end of 2013.  £200,000 had been committed to this project from 2012/13 Wirral Council Capital Funding.  This had been approved by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 December 2011.

The Cabinet was informed that Charing Cross Methodist Church had been an active partner in the steering group and planning of the project.  There had been discussions to include its current land in the footprint of the new build; this would enable a larger facility to be built.  Members of the Circuit (representing all 24 Methodist churches in Wirral) had given their approval for discussions and exploration of the potential partnership to continue, this would be supported through some further consultation with help from Onside and Wirral Council to ensure it met the needs and objectives of the organisation and the aims of the project.

The final proposal would depend upon the final decision from Charing Cross Methodist to be part of the build.  There were two options A and B.  Option A was the preferred alternative at this time.

Option A

To build Wirral Youth Zone on the land donated by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, land currently occupied by Charing Cross Methodist Church and the road between (Bright Street) to include facilities and activities detailed above for young people in Wirral. Estimated size of the plot would be 7100 square meters.  No surveys have been carried out to date to confirm the road area could be utilised.

Option B

To build Wirral Youth Zone on the land donated by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service to include facilities and activities detailed above for young people in Wirral.  Estimated size of the plot was 4000 square meters.

An informative leaflet was circulated to all Members of the Cabinet about the proposed Wirral Youth Zone which was expected to be the biggest thing that has happened for young people in the area.

RESOLVED:

That options continue to be explored for the project to include a feasibility study with costs for Option A & Option B using the £200,000 allocation previously agreed.