Proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley

Seconded by Councillor Steve Williams

(1) This Council notes with concern that the site of the shops and maisonettes in Town Meadow Lane Moreton has been allowed to fall into disrepair and dereliction, with all the maisonettes being empty and only three shops in the parade trading.

(2) Council further notes that this housing and commercial stock transferred to Wirral Partnership homes as part of the Council’s Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) programme in 2005.

(3) Council also notes that Wirral Partnership Homes, with the support of this Council were able to secure grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, to redevelop a similar site in Woodchurch with 10 houses and 4 bungalows, following the stock transfer.

(4) Council therefore requests, as a matter of urgency, that Council Officers, working with Wirral Partnership Homes come up with proposals to secure grant funding, to allow a redevelopment scheme to take place at this location, including the provision of new shop premises for the existing traders.

(5) In order to ensure that any new development fits in with the existing streetscene, and is acceptable to the local community Council also requests that Wirral Partnership Homes carries out full open and transparent consultation with all stakeholders, including the existing traders, local residents, representatives of the residents’ association and Ward Councillors prior to the implementation of any new scheme.

AMENDMENT

Proposed by Councillor George Davies

Seconded by Councillor Phil Davies

Delete all of the existing text and replace with the following:

(1) Council is reminded that originally there was a scheme for the refurbishment of these properties by another Housing Association in late 2000, for which conditional Housing Corporation funding had been secured. However the local community, led by Ward Councillors, subsequently rejected the redevelopment proposals.

(2) Council recognises the financial pressures that the Housing Association

movement is currently experiencing. These pressures have arisen from the

constraints imposed on rent increases for next year thereby reducing rental income. This was the subject of a Notice of Motion to a previous Council meeting proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley to keep rents to an absolute minimum, recognising the difficult financial position many tenants are currently experiencing. However, this reduction in rental income also reduces the Associations’ ability to borrow capital to undertake the required improvements to these properties.

The following amendment was accepted as a friendly amendment by the movers of the above amendment.

AMENDMENT

Proposed by Councillor Alan Taylor

Seconded by Councillor Simon Holbrook

Delete from paragraph (4) the words:

“that Council Officers, working with Wirral Partnership Homes come up with

proposals to secure grant funding” And replace with the words:

“that Council Officers support Wirral Partnership Homes to come up with proposals to secure grant funding”

The composite amendment was put to the vote and carried (37:21)

Resolved – That the motion, as now amended and set out below, be approved.

(1) Council is reminded that originally there was a scheme for the refurbishment of these properties by another Housing Association in late 2000, for which conditional Housing Corporation funding had been secured. However the local community, led by Ward Councillors, subsequently rejected the redevelopment proposals.

(2) Council recognises the financial pressures that the Housing Association movement is currently experiencing. These pressures have arisen from the constraints imposed on rent increases for next year thereby reducing rental income. This was the subject of a Notice of Motion to a previous Council meeting proposed by Councillor Chris Blakeley to keep rents to an absolute minimum, recognising the difficult financial position many tenants are currently experiencing. However, this reduction in rental income also reduces the Associations’ ability to borrow capital to undertake the required improvements to these properties.

(3)  Council therefore requests, as a matter of urgency, that Council Officers, support Wirral Partnership Homes to come up with proposals to secure grant funding, to allow a redevelopment scheme to take place at this location, including the provision of new shop premises for the existing traders.