Resolved – That

1.  the draft revisions to the Constitution of the Council be noted (Appendix A to the report); and  

2.  (a)  That the draft revised Constitution be referred to an extraordinary meeting of this Committee to be held on or about the 31^st March 2020, for recommendation to Council for adoption at an extraordinary meeting to be held on or about the 15^th April 2020.

(b)  That it be noted:

(i)  a workshop and a workshop and training session will be held for Members, on 26^th February and 11^th March, the second presented by the Centre for Public Scrutiny on behalf of the Local Government Association, and

(ii)  the publication of the draft revised Constitution will allow for further consultation and meetings of the Governance Member Working Group prior to final recommendation of the revised Constitution.

Resolved:

That the Director of Governance and Assurance be authorised to procure by way of a lease agreement the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4H from Limesquare Vehicle Rental Ltd to replace the current Mayor’s car on the basis of the specification, preferences and budget agreed by the Leader of the Council in August 2019.

RESOLVED – That:

(1)  the Wirral Growth Company Y1-3 Partnership Business Plan be approved, noting that it will be updated and reviewed on an annual basis.

(2)  the draft indicative Site Development Plans for initial priority sites be approved, which are; Moreton (Pasture Road), Moreton (Foxfield), Bromborough (Old Hall Road) and Birkenhead Town Centre, noting that these were indicative and final SDPs would be prepared and submitted for approval in line with the agreed site development process.

(3)  following approval of the PBP, it be noted that planning applications would be taken forward as appropriate for initial priority sites. No work on site (other than site investigations and enabling work) would take place until an approved final SDP was in place.

(4)  it be noted that the Birkenhead Commercial District ‘redline’ for town centre site development had been extended to include Birkenhead Market, recently acquired land (B&M stores) and land which the Council was in the process of acquiring (Milton Pavements). This was attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

(5)  the Birkenhead Commercial District Full Business Case be approved1, specifically:

·  approves funding arrangements set out in the report (annuity lease) as the preferred funding route;

·  delegates authority to the S151 Officer, through the Wirral Growth Company, to appoint a commercial investment advisor to commence marketing of the investment opportunity; and

·  notes the use of forecast business rates income generated from the BCD phase 1 as a funding contribution to the project.

RESOLVED:

That the Community Wealth Building Strategy be adopted.

RESOLVED: That:

(1)  the draft proposal for Selective Licensing be approved in the following six areas of the borough based on the robust evidence base:

(2)  the Selective Licensing designation for these six areas would commence on 1^st July 2020 until 20^th June 2025 be agreed.

(3)  the exclusion of Mariners Park from the proposed Selective Licensing Scheme be agreed.

This report details the Council’s and the multi-agency partnership’s response to the youth consultation undertaken in the summer of 2019 and outlines a Youth Offer which aims to enable young people in Wirral to be all that they can be.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  a commitment to the young people of Wirral be demonstrated by endorsement of the proposals for Phase 1 of the Youth Offer, which outlined the multi-agency partnership response to the youth consultation and associated findings report, Care More About Us (Appendix, Section 1).

(2)  the proposed arrangements for management and governance of the Phase 1 of the Youth Offer and its implementation be endorses.

(3)  the reallocation of £27,000 funding for website provision from Wirral Council to Wirral Metropolitan College be supported.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage fare tariff be approved. 

RESOLVED:

That the proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and the Wirral co-ordinated schemes for 2021-2022 be approved.

Resolved – That:

Revenue Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Plan (2021/22 to 2024/25)

(1)  The Cabinet recommends to the Budget Council a Budget proposal for 2020/21 and MTFS 2021/22-2024/25 based upon:

a.  the updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2021/22 – 2024/25,, as set out in Appendix 6 of the report;

b.  the fees and charges included in Appendix 3 of the report, with delegated authority being:

i)  given to the Section 151 Officer to update the Council’s Fees and Charges Directory prior to publication before 1 April 2020;

ii)  given to the relevant Director in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder and Section 151 Officer to vary existing fees and charges; and

iii)  approval of the Pricing and Charging Policy;

c.  continued use of the existing Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy (updated in line with annual legislation), approved by Cabinet on the 18^th February 2019, along with existing reliefs, for 2020/21;

d.  maintenance of General Fund Balances at, or above, a level of £10m, based on a locally determined approach and assessment of the financial risks that the Council may face in the future; 

e.  the Chief Financial Officer Statement regarding the robustness of the estimates made for the purpose of the Budget and the adequacy of the General Fund balances and reserves at Appendix 5.

(2)  The Cabinet recommends to the Council that a separate vote be taken in respect of Council Tax levels for 2020/21 and that:

a.  for Wirral Council Services, Council Tax is increased by 3.99% for 2020/21; and

b.  the overall Wirral Council Tax will also continue to include additional precepts from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, from the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Schools Budget and Funding Formula Changes 2020/21

(1)  The Cabinet recommends to the Council approval of the 2020-21 Schools Budget at £279,960,200, having recognised the following views and formula proposals from the Schools Forum, that:

i)  the 2020-21 schools funding formula should adopt the formula factors rates of the National Funding Formula;

ii)  a Minimum Funding Guarantee of 1.84% for Wirral mainstream schools in 2020-21 was approved to provide additional protection and stability in funding, and to ensure schools received a minimum 1.84% increase in per pupil funding (as defined by the National Funding Formula) and cannot lose pupil funding unless there was a reduction in pupil numbers, therefore ensuring that no pupil was disadvantaged as a result of the change in formula;

iii)  the continuing Contributions to Combined Budgets should be £700,500 in 2020-21;

iv)  surplus High Needs funding of £643,900 in 2020-21 is transferred to the DSG reserve to partially offset the DSG deficit expected at the end of 2019-20.

Capital Programme and Financing 2020/24

Cabinet:

(1)  recommends to Council the approval of the new bids as detailed in Appendix 2 requiring £16.054 million borrowing for inclusion in the Capital Programme;

(2)  recommends to Council the approval of any new bids supported by grant funding do not commence until written confirmation had been received from the granting authority;

(3)  recommends to Council the approval of the Capital Programme 2020/25 (as detailed in Appendix 3);

(4)  recommends to Council the approval that progress on delivering the Capital Programme is presented in accordance with the agreed Capital Monitoring arrangements.

Capital Financing Strategy 2020/21

Cabinet:

(1)  recommends to Council the approval of the Capital Strategy for 2020/21;

(2)  recommends to Council the approval of the associated Prudential Indicators to be adopted;

(3)  recommends to Council the approval of the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision policy;

(4)  recommends to Council the approval of the Council’s Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/2023

Cabinet:

(1)  recommends to Council the approval of the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2020/2023;

(2)  recommends to Council the approval of the Treasury Management Indicators.

Investment Strategy Statement 2002/21

Cabinet recommends to Council the approval of the Investment Strategy for 2020//2021, which includes potential investment in the following activity areas:

·  Commercial Property 

·  Service Investments: Loans

·  Service Investment: Shares (non-currently held)

·  Loan Commitments and financial Guarantees

Resolved – That Cabinet:

(1)  recommends to Council the approval of additional funding for the schemes referred to in paragraph 3.3 of the report.

(2)  recommends to Council the approval of the revised Capital Programme of £61.047 million for 2019-20.