The Assistant Director, Chief Regeneration Officer presented the report on behalf of the Director of Regeneration and Place which stated that, further to the commitment by the Director of Regeneration and Place at the December 2024 meeting of this Committee, a review of projects within the Simplification Pathfinder Programme had been undertaken to further understand deliverability of schemes and to provide further assurance that the grant funding would be spent by the end of March 2026, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Seven projects were selected to be reviewed as they presented a higher level of risk to delivery. Projects included in the review either forecast over the allocated budget or reported completion after the planned delivery date.

On 31st October 2024, MHCLG informed the Council of an opportunity to extend the end date of the Programme to March 2027. Ministerial approval was required. Extensions to projects would be by exception only. The potential for an extended delivery window had been considered in the review process to identify where an extension request would be required.

Progress had been made on delivery of the programme with £19m spent to date. Nonetheless, inflation on build cost and the overall economic position had an implication on the overall cost profile. As a consequence, it was imperative that more focus was provided on schemes that were already in delivery and had a prospect of being delivered.

The  report set out a requirement for additional funding for:

1. Charing Cross & Grange Road, Conway & Europa Boulevard;

2. Birkenhead Market project, and

3. New Ferry Public Realm.

In addition, further to correspondence from Big Heritage CIC in December 2024 requesting an amendment to the scope of the Transport Museum project was considered, an updated Business Case was submitted on 12th January 2025. This Business Case was one of the seven projects included in this review process. This report considered that business case, the outcome of the review, and set out recommendations for reductions and reallocations within the programme

The Director of Regeneration and Place proposed a change to the recommendations published in the agenda. He proposed an additional paragraph under recommendation 7.C which read:

“c. re allocate funds up to the value of £1,500,000 into the Simplification Pathfinder Pilot programme for future re-allocation should a revised business case for the delivery of the renovation of Wirral Transport Museum not be submitted by 23 April 2025 and allocate such funds  for other existing and eligible Simplification Pathfinder Pilot projects.”

Thus, making recommendation 7.C in the published agenda now recommendation 7.D and to include the word ‘other’ before the word ‘funding’ so that it would now read:

“d. re allocate any other funding that becomes available up to a value of £500,000 to ensure projects in delivery are provided with timely funding as appropriate.”

On a motion by Councillor George Davies, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, it was - 

Resolved (8 - 3) – That under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involved 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.

Following a debate on the matter, on a motion by the Chair and seconded by Councillor George Davies, it was –

Resolved (8 - 3) – That

1.  The resolution of Economy Regeneration and Housing Committee of 16th July 2024 to allocate £4,500,000 to Big Heritage CIC be rescinded.

2.  The award of grant funding in the sum of £750,000 to the Charing Cross & Grange Road, Conway & Europa Boulevard project be approved.

3.  The award of grant funding in the sum of £2,000,000 to the Birkenhead Market project be approved.

4.  The award of grant funding in the sum of £3,447,288 to the New Ferry Public Realm project be approved.

5.  The withdrawal of grant funding to the sum of £2,000,000 from the Price Street Car Park project be approved.

6.  The Transport Museum/Ticket to Ride proposed revised business case submitted by Big Heritage CIC not be approved.

7.  The Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to:

a.   submit to MHCLG an application for timescale extensions for the Waterfront Infrastructure and New Ferry projects;

b.   allocate by way of grant funding of up to a value of £1,500,000 to Big Heritage CIC for the delivery of the renovation of Wirral Transport Museum upon the submission of a revised business case; and

c.   re allocate funds up to the value of £1,500,000 into the Simplification Pathfinder Pilot programme for future re-allocation should a revised business case for the delivery of the renovation of Wirral Transport Museum not be submitted by 23 April 2025 and allocate such funds  for other existing and eligible Simplification Pathfinder Pilot projects; and

d.   re allocate any other funding that becomes available up to a value of £500,000 to ensure projects in delivery are provided with timely funding as appropriate.