The report provides Committee with the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) capital grant funding proposal for tennis court improvement works across Wirral, including operating models for the future management and maintenance of the courts. It also provides an overview of tennis provision across the Council’s parks and open spaces and propose a sustainable way forward to tennis provision across Wirral’s Parks and Open Spaces in the future.

Resolved – That the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee:

1.  Authorises the Director of Neighbourhoods to accept the grant funding from the Lawn Tennis Association in the sum of £300,000 to enable tennis court improvement for the Council parks courts.

2.  Requests that Director of Neighbourhoods develops a sustainable operating model and programmes of inclusive tennis activity that prevents low income from being an obstacle to participation in tennis across the borough and brings back a further report to the Committee which also includes detail as to how the model will support social inclusion and overall participation.

3.  Requests that the Director of Neighbourhoods continues to work with the NHS to develop social prescribing opportunities and a borough-wide referral programme.

4.  The Committee also welcomes the provision of £40k funding from the LTA to deliver the LTA Serves Programme which takes tennis into the heart of local communities and encourages residents to become more physically active.

This report requests approval for the disbursement of grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2022/23 into Wirral Council’s Capital Programme for Highways Structural Maintenance and Bridge Maintenance. The report also requests approval for the disbursement of the indicative funding for years 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27, in the same programme. The report also requests acceptance of an indicative highway condition matrix that will be used to inform future programme investment decisions.

Resolved – That

(1)  the allocation of indicative grant funding likely to be allocated to Wirral Council in the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Combined Authority Transport Plan programme (Highways Structural Maintenance) amongst the relevant subject areas over the next 4 years be approved.

(2)  the proposed programme of works for Wirral’s Carriageways, Footway Improvements and Bridge Maintenance for 2022/23 be approved, using grant funding allocated to Wirral Council by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) in the 2022/23 City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), Combined Authority Transport Plan Programme (Highways Structural Maintenance).

(3)  the indicative RAG rated highway network condition matrix as set out in Appendix 3 to this report be accepted, to be used by officers as one of the decision tools when developing highway structural maintenance programmes.

(4)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Chair and Party Spokespersons of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, be authorised to revise or amend the delivery or implementation of the work programmes, as deemed necessary, having due regard for the available resources and applicable risk-based prioritisation of locations selected for intervention and treatment.

This report considers two objections submitted during the formal advertisement period of the proposal to introduce an evening Hackney Carriage Stand for two vehicles on Victoria Road, New Brighton. Further details of the originally proposed restrictions can be seen on plan No. Marine-TRO-03 in Appendix A to this report.

One of the key themes in the Wirral Plan 2025 vision is to provide safe and pleasant communities. By generally making roads safer for cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, this scheme will contribute to the key priorities set out within the current plan by encouraging the use of public transport and therefore reducing parking congestion.

This matter affects the New Brighton Ward.

This matter does not require a Key Decision.

The Assistant Director for Highways and Infrastructure (Acting) has noted the objections received and the Officers’ responses and has decided to approve the proposal to introduce an evening Hackney Carriage Stand for two vehicles on Victoria Road, as shown on attached drawing No Marine-TRO-03 in Appendix A to this report

As detailed in the report.

Resolved (14:0) (1 abstention) – That the recommendations as detailed in the report be agreed.

The Authority’s treasury management activity is underpinned by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management (“the Code”), which requires the Authority to approve treasury management semi-annual and annual reports.

This report fulfils the Authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to both the CIPFA Code and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Investment Guidance.

Resolved – That Council be recommended to agree the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2021/22.

The Wirral Plan was developed following engagement with Members, staff and partners in 2020/21. As the Council moves to a Whole Council Election scheme in 2023, there is an opportunity to re-set the Wirral Plan as a four-year plan for the full term of the new administration. This work will be conducted during 2022/23 to enable a new 2023/27 plan to be adopted from Summer 2023.

Resolved (34:22) (1 abstention) – That

(1)  the progress made against the Wirral Plan deliverables as set out in Appendix 2 be noted and request that all future progress of deliverables be presented using the framework in the amended delivery plan agreed at Council (Min. 25, Council, 6th September 2021). This framework is informed by the agreement between the chairs of Economy, Regeneration and Development (now Economy, Regeneration and Housing) Committee and Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee (Min. 27, P&R, 30th June 2021).

(2)  the refreshed Wirral Plan 2022/23 priorities as set out in Appendix 3 be approved.

(3)  officers be requested to work with the Council’s political leadership and committee chairs during 2022/23 to develop a new four year plan for adoption following the elections in May 2023.

The Improvement Plan, included as Appendix 1, has been developed in response to the External Assurance Review commissioned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The External Assurance Review was undertaken as a condition of the Council’s request for exceptional financial support from the government in 2020/21 and 2021/22. The development of an Improvement Plan and its effective implementation is a condition of the government granting this support for 2021/22.

The Improvement Plan also responds to the report and recommendations arising from the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge in March 2022. The Corporate Peer Challenge report is included as Appendix 2 to this report.

Resolved (unanimously) – That the Improvement Plan be approved.

  The contract with the Friends of Birkenhead Kennels (FOBK) be extended for a period of 3 years from 1^st April 2023.

This report presents the first update report of Wirral’s Independent Assurance Panel (IAP). The Panel has been set up to oversee the Council’s improvement in response to the external assurance review commissioned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) which was published in November 2021.

Resolved (unanimously) – That the report of the Independent Assurance Panel be noted.

This Report details the Capital Outturn for 2021/22, the resources used to fund the Programme and provides a review of the progress of the delivery of the agreed Capital Programme.

Resolved (unanimously) – That

(1)  the additional year-end re-profiling of £30.4m from 2021/22 to 2022/23 be noted.

(2)  the financing of the Programme for 2021/22 be noted.

(3)  the virements referred to in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

This report provides the Committee with an update in respect to the work of the Independent Remuneration Panel and requests the Committee to refer to Council for decision a proposed change to the Members Allowances Scheme in respect to the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) for Group Leaders and in respect to the Basic Allowance for Members both to be implemented from the 2022 municipal year.

Resolved (55:1) (1 abstention) – That the Members Allowance Scheme be amended in respect to the level of Special Responsibility Allowance for Group Leaders and the Basic Allowance for all Members, as detailed in the report, effective following July 2022 Council Meeting.