The report of the Assistant Chief Executive sought approval to the sale of the site of the land adjacent to 7 Grosvenor Road, New Brighton.

Resolved - That the land adjacent to 7 Grosvenor Road, New Brighton be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and the Corporate Director of Delivery Services / Assistant Chief Executive be authorised to agree a sale of the site to Rockpoint Leisure Ltd for a nominal consideration plus a contribution towards the Council’s fees.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced a report which provided a summary of the projected year-end revenue position as at Quarter 2, Month 6 (September 2019).

The year-end forecast recorded as part of September’s financial monitoring activity represented an adverse variance to the budget of £7.155m. The Council was encountering significant cost pressures, which were being managed, but known total budget pressures of £12.955m existed. Due to the Council’s financial position, an adverse budget variance was not viable and the Council was obliged to deliver a balanced budget.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Christine Spriggs, it was -

Resolved - That:

(1)  the Year-end forecast position at Quarter 1 of £7.115 million adverse, be noted;

(2)  the level of achievement of savings proposed for 2019-20, be noted;

(3)  the revisions to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2020-2025, be noted.

Reasons for decision: Regular monitoring and reporting of the Revenue Budgets, savings achievements and MTFS position enables decisions to be taken faster which might produce revenue benefits and would improve financial control in Wirral Council.

The report of the Director of Care and Health stated that NHS Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (Wirral CCG), in conjunction with partners, has refreshed the Wirral Dementia Strategy. The strategy outlines the policies and services that will help improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

The Strategy outlines the ambition for dementia care in Wirral over the next four years (2019-2022) and is based on the five priority areas of NHS England’s ‘The Well Pathway for Dementia’ (see appendix 2 to the report):

·  Preventing Well 

·  Diagnosing Well 

·  Supporting Well 

·  Living Well 

·  Dying Well 

Resolved –

(1)  That the Dementia Plans be approved.

(2)  That Wirral Council will work in partnership with NHS Wirral CCG to support the delivery and implementation of the Wirral Dementia Strategy.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive sought approval for the sale of the freehold interest of 118 Cleveland Street, Birkenhead to the existing tenant.

Resolved – That:

(1)  the freehold interest of 118 Cleveland Street, Birkenhead be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements;

(2)  the Corporate Director of Delivery Services / Assistant Chief Executive be authorised to agree the sale of the freehold interest to the existing tenant SIPPDeal Trustees Ltd in the sum of £26,000 plus a contribution towards the Council’s fees.

Resolved – That Cabinet recommends to Council:

(1)  the approval of additional funding for the capital schemes referred to in paragraph 3.3 of the report, totalling £623,000;

(2)  the approval of the revised Capital Programme of £55.889 million for 2019-20.

Resolved - That the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for 2019/20 be agreed.

Resolved - That Cabinet endorses the proposal to re-profile Minimum Revenue Provision charges resulting in a reduction of MRP charges by over £2m p.a. over the next ten years, recouped via higher charges in subsequent years and it be recommended to Council for approval.

Resolved – That:

(1)  a grant in the sum of £275,000 be paid from the date of the signing of the legal agreement, subject to the conditions outlined in the report, towards the business growth project being undertaken by the company named within Appendix 1 to this report.

(2)  the Director of Governance and Assurance be authorised to draw up and sign a legal agreement between the Council and the business subject to the conditions outlined in the report. 

Resolved - That:

(1)  a grant in the sum of £100,000 be paid from the date of the signing of the legal agreement, subject to the conditions outlined in the report, towards the business growth project being undertaken by the company named within Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)  a loan in the sum of £320,000 be paid from the date of the signing of the legal agreement, subject to the conditions outlined in the report, towards the business growth project being undertaken by the company named within Appendix 1 to the report.

(3)  the Director of Governance and Assurance be authorised to draw up and sign a legal agreement between the Council and the business subject to the conditions outlined in the report.

Resolved -

That Cabinet recommends to Council:

(1)  The figure of 93,965.9 be approved as the Council Tax Base for 2020/21 subject to the items below being approved;

(2)  The level and award of each local discount for 2020/21 be:-

Wirral Women’s & Children’s Aid

To continue to award Wirral Women’s & Children’s Aid 100% discount.

Care Leaver’s Discount

To award Care Leavers the requisite discount to reduce their Council Tax liability to zero until they are 25, from the 1^st April 2020.  This remained unchanged from 2019/20.

Empty Property Discounts

Discount category D = 0%.  Full charge on properties undergoing renovations.

Discount category C = 0%.  Full charge on empty properties from date they become unoccupied.

Both remain unchanged.

Empty Property Premium = 100% (200% Council Tax) for unfurnished properties empty for more than two years.  200% (300% Council Tax) for unfurnished properties empty more than five years.  This is allowed by the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.  This had previously been reported to Cabinet on the 4^th November 2019.

Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Relief Scheme

The Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Relief Scheme, approved by Cabinet in October 2013, continues in its current format for 2020/2021.  The Scheme offers help and assistance in exceptional cases of hardship.

(3)  Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS)

The Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, previously reported to Cabinet on the 4^th November 2019, be the approved Scheme for 2020/2021.

Councillor L Rennie declared and personal interest in this matter and left the room during its consideration (minute 2 refers)

The Corporate Director for Economic and Housing Growth submitted the above application for consideration.

A petitioner addressed the committee.

A representative of the applicant addressed the committee.

On a motion by Councillor S Foulkes and seconded by Councillor G Davies it was –

Resolved (11:2) – That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission.

2. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans received by the local planning authority on 23rd September 2019 and listed as follows: 72_2017_01 Revision D; 72_2017_02 Revision D; 72_2017_03 Revision D; 72_2017_04 Revision D; 72_2017_05 Revision D; 72_2017_06 Revision D

3. Before any construction above ground level commences, samples of the materials to be used in the external construction of this development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved materials shall then be used in the construction of the development.

4. No construction above ground level shall commence until the Local Planning Authority (LPA) has approved in writing a full scheme of works for the construction of any new/amended vehicle accesses from the highway and any amendments to the existing highway made necessary by this development, including details of the vehicle accesses, tactile paved pedestrian crossings across the new/amended accesses, Traffic Regulation Order relating to either side of Whitehouse Lane underneath, and within close proximity to, the railway bridge, street lighting amendments, surface water drainage connections and any additional amendments required, including the reinstatement to standard footway levels of any existing vehicle accesses from the highway that are rendered obsolete by the development. The approved works shall be completed in accordance with the LPA written approval and prior to occupation of the development.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any subsequent Order or statutory provision revoking or re-enacting the provisions of that Order), no garages, outbuildings or other extensions to a dwelling shall be erected unless expressly authorised.

6. Prior to any works above ground level, a detailed landscaping scheme shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall be implemented in full prior to first occupation of the development hereby permitted, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. For the avoidance of doubt, the scheme shall include details of retained trees/vegetation and all boundary treatment.

7. No development other than demolition and remediation shall take place until a Site Waste Management Plan (or similar waste audit), confirming measures to achieve efficient use of resources and including designing out waste and minimisation of off-site disposal, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved Plan shall be implemented in full unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

8. No tree felling or hedgerow removal shall take place during the period 1 March to 31 August inclusive. If it is necessary to undertake works during the bird breeding season then all trees, scrub, hedgerows and vegetation are to be checked first by an appropriately experienced ecologist to ensure no breeding birds are present. If present, the appropriate measures specified by the licensed ecologist are to be undertaken

9. Details of any external lighting should be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, and should have regard to the Bat Conservation Trust websitehttps://www.bats.org.uk/news/2018/09/new-guidance-on-bats-and-lighting in order to avoid excessive light spill onto adjacent habitats

10. In line with Section 4 of the submitted Bat Survey Report, the removal of potential roost features within 35 Whitehouse Lane shall be done by hand.

11. In line with Section 4 of the submitted Bat Survey Report, a minimum of 2 bat boxes and 2 bird nesting boxes shall be installed within the application site (either within the buildings or on trees within the site) prior to first occupation. These shall be retained at all times thereafter.

12. Prior to the first occupation of the dwellings hereby permitted, arrangements for the storage and disposal of refuse including recycling facilities, and vehicle access thereto, shall be submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. The approved details shall be implemented in full unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local planning authority.