This report seeks acceptance of a tender from Cambrianway Ltd and award of a contract for the construction of highway improvements to Beaufort Road and Wallasey Bridge Road, Bidston and St James Ward and considers objections and expressions of support received following consultation. This scheme has been developed as part of Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Work Package 6, Phase 5. 

The Wirral Plan 2021-2026 sets out the council’s vision to secure the best possible future for our residents, defined by the community prosperity we create and supported by our excellent people and services. This proposal directly supports the following key themes within that plan:

•  A cleaner, greener borough which celebrates, protects, and improves our environment and urgently tackles the environmental emergency; 

•  A prosperous inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations; and

•  Safe, vibrant communities where people want to live and raise their families.

The purpose of this scheme is to create an environment that is safe for both pedestrians and cyclists and to help embed walking and cycling as part of new longterm commuting habits.

This matter affects Bidston and St James Ward.

This matter is a Key Decision.

Resolved – That

(1)  the scheme proposal as set out in appendix 1 of this report be approved for implementation.

(2)  the objections received an officer’s responses as set out in appendix 2 be noted.

(3)  the tender for the construction of highway improvements to Beaufort Road and Wallasey Bridge Road by Cambrianway Ltd on 17 August 2022 be accepted

(4)  the award of contract to Cambrianway Ltd, subject to contract, as set out in appendix 3 be approved.

This report seeks approval for the funding of a Community Voluntary and Faith sector grants programme to increase capacity to support local communities affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

The grants programme will be funded through Contain Outbreak Management Funding.

Proposed actions affect all Wards within the borough and the decision is a key decision.

The activities outlined in this report support the vision of the Wirral Plan 2021-2026, to ‘create equity for people and place’ and will contribute directly or indirectly to delivering the five themes of the plan:

·  Sustainable Environment

·  Brighter Futures

·  Inclusive Economy

·  Safe and Pleasant Communities

·  Active and Healthy Lives

Resolved – That

(1)  the use of £1.2m of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund be approved to establish a Community, Voluntary and Faith Sector grants programme to increase support to local communities affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

(2)  following consultation with the Chief Executive, the decision be excluded from removal of delegation and reconsideration by Policy and Resources Committee.

This report seeks approval for the use of Contain Outbreak Management Fund to provide additional capacity relating to mitigating fuel poverty for local communities affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Proposed actions affect all Wards within the borough and the decision is a key decision.

The activities outlined in this report support the vision of the Wirral Plan 2021-2026, to ‘create equity for people and place’ and will contribute directly or indirectly to delivering the five themes of the plan:

·  Sustainable Environment

·  Brighter Futures

·  Inclusive Economy

·  Safe and Pleasant Communities

·  Active and Healthy Lives

Resolved – That

(1)  the use of £500,000 of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund be approved to support Community, Voluntary and Faith sector organisations to increase support to local communities affected by fuel poverty.

(2)  following consultation with the Chief Executive, the decision be excluded from removal of delegation and reconsideration by Policy and Resources Committee.

This report provides an update on the progress of the Capital Programme 2022/23 at the end of June 2022. It recommends that Committee agree the revised 2022/23 Capital Programme of £147.6 million which takes account of re-profiling, virements, additional funding requirements and grant variations identified since the Capital Programme was formally agreed on 28th February 2022.

The Director of Resources introduced the report which provided an update on the progress of the Capital Programme 2022/23 at the end of June 2022 and recommended that Committee agree the revised 2022/23 Capital Programme of £147.6 million taking account of re-profiling, virements, additional funding requirements and grant variations identified since the Capital Programme was formally agreed on 28th February 2022.

Following the setting of the budget in February 2022, a number of schemes remained unspent and the funding had been reprofiled into the capital programme as detailed in the report. The report further detailed the new grant funded schemes including the Better Care Fund Disabled Facilities Grant, the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and Basic and High Needs school provision. The report sought the Committee’s approval of the proposed virements within the gift of Policy and Resources Committee and the recommended approval of the revised Capital Programme to Council.

Members discussed the detail of a number of the Capital Programmes including the cost for the works to the Dock Road Bridge and the liability for the increased costs for the West Kirby Flood Alleviation Scheme. Following a detailed discussion in relation to the Secretary of State’s request to see the Council’s plan to generate additional capital receipts, the Director of Resources undertook to report back to the Committee on the proposed phasing of repaying the capitalisation funding based on the timing of capital receipts.

Resolved – That

(1)  Council be recommended to approve the revised Capital Programme of £147.6 million for 2022/23, including the addition of the new grant funding referred to in section 3.4.

(2)  The virements referred to in Appendix D to the report with a value of less than £0.5m be approved.