The Director of Resources introduced the report which provided the outcome of the Community Asset Transfer business planning stage for libraries and made recommendations for these assets. The report detailed that nine libraries had been made available for Community Asset Transfer, with seven of the nine having received expressions of interest for transfer. The Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee had previously agreed to progress several expressions of interest to the business planning stage at its meeting on 16 June 2022, following which officers provided advice and guidance to the organisations resulting in their final submission being submitted on 25 August 2022. The business plans were appended to the report and recommendations were presented to members on each of the libraries in question.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Jenny Johnson, that –

‘The Director of Resources be authorised to:

(1) Enter into negotiations to transfer the assets of

(a) Pensby library to Pioneer People; and

(b) Prenton Library to St. Stephens Church.

(2) Enter into further discussions, for a period of time ending on 9 December 2022, with the groups who have submitted business plans for the libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and Hoylake with a view to achieving a viable business plan for a Community Asset Transfer;

(3) Pursue alternative options including sale or commercial leasing for those libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and/or Hoylake for which viable business plans are not achieved within this timescale;

(4) Enter into further discussions for a period of time ending on 9 December with Co-Op Academy regarding the option of an asset transfer to the Co-Op Academy of Higher Bebington library with a focus on education opportunities and;

(5) Recommend to Policy and Resources Committee that the site of the Higher Bebington Library be appropriated by the Council for educational purposes in the event that

(a) a viable business case for its use for educational purposes is established; and

(b) matters relating to the covenant on the land imposed by Leverhulme Estates is resolved.

(6) Pursue the demolition of Higher Bebington Library and utilisation and appropriation as public open space if a viable business plan for educational use has not been submitted within the relevant timescales;

(7) Present an update report(s) on the progress of all the Community Asset Transfer and/or asset transfers to a future meeting of this Committee including;

(a) the proposed heads of terms for the transfer of the libraries at Pensby and Prenton;

(b) any viable business plans for the Community Asset Transfer of the libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and Hoylake.

(8) Any surplus from the £500k capital and/or £282k revenue funds shown in table 4.2 be reserved for the Library element of any business plans involving the transfer of Bromborough Civic Centre, following Policy and Resources’ consideration of the Asset Strategy.’

The Chair asked the Committee to consider each proposed resolution individually.

Following discussions on recommendations 1 to 3 during which were agreed by assent, it was moved by Councillor Judith Grier, seconded by Councillor Jo Bird, that recommendation 6 be amended, to read –

‘If a viable business plan for educational use of Higher Bebington Library has not been submitted within the relevant timescales consider any other alternative options prior to pursuing demolition and if any viable options are submitted report back to the committee on 25 January 2023.’

Following confirmation from the Director of Resources that the demolition would be unlikely to commence until 25 January 2023, and therefore there would be no additional cost, members were content with the amendment.

As the discussion on the demolition of Higher Bebington Library had been considered, recommendations 4 and 5 were agreed by assent. Recommendation 6 as amended was then put and agreed by assent.

Recommendation 7 was put and agreed by assent.

Recommendation 8, included as an addition to the officer recommendations, was put and agreed by assent. It was therefore –

Resolved (Unanimously) – That the Director of Resources be authorised to:

(1) Enter into negotiations to transfer the assets of (a) Pensby library to Pioneer People; and (b) Prenton Library to St. Stephens Church.

(2) Enter into further discussions, for a period of time ending on 9 December 2022, with the groups who have submitted business plans for the libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and Hoylake with a view to achieving a viable business plan for a Community Asset Transfer;

(3) Pursue alternative options including sale or commercial leasing for those libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and/or Hoylake for which viable business plans are not achieved within this timescale;

(4) Enter into further discussions for a period of time ending on 9 December with Co-Op Academy regarding the option of an asset transfer to the Co-Op Academy of Higher Bebington library with a focus on education opportunities and;

(5) Recommend to Policy and Resources Committee that the site of the Higher Bebington Library be appropriated by the Council for educational purposes in the event that 

 (a) a viable business case for its use for educational purposes is established; and

  (b) matters relating to the covenant on the land imposed by Leverhulme Estates is resolved.

(6) If a viable business plan for educational use of Higher Bebington Library has not been submitted within the relevant timescales, fully consider any other alternative options prior to pursuing demolition and if any viable options are submitted, report back to the committee on 25 January 2023.

(7) Present an update report(s) on the progress of all the Community Asset Transfer and/or asset transfers to a future meeting of this Committee including;

(a) the proposed heads of terms for the transfer of the libraries at Pensby and Prenton;

(b) any viable business plans for the Community Asset Transfer of the libraries at Wallasey Village, Irby, Woodchurch and Hoylake.

(8) Any surplus from the £500k capital and/or £282k revenue funds shown in table 4.2 be reserved for the Library element of any business plans involving the transfer of Bromborough Civic Centre, following Policy and Resources’ consideration of the Asset Strategy.