The Council has a duty under the Representation of the People Act 1983 to divide Wirral Borough into Polling Districts and to designate Polling Places for each Polling District.

The attached report provides details of a proposed change to a Polling Place for the Local Authority, Combined Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections scheduled to take place on 6th May 2021.

Resolved – That Christ The King Church be designated as the polling place for polling district AF (Bidston and St James Ward).

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 67 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  additional funding for the schemes referred to in section 3.5 in the report, as follows:

• Birkenhead Park World Heritage Project Team - £0.085m (over a three year period)
• Connecting Wirral Waters - Detailed Design - £0.610m (over a two year period)

(2)  a revised Capital Programme of £86.0million for 2020-21, including the virements referred to in Appendix 3 in the report.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 69 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  new bids as detailed in Appendix 2 to this report requiring £12.133 million borrowing for inclusion in the Capital Programme;

(2)  any new bids supported by grant funding do not commence until written confirmation has been received from the granting authority;

(3)  the Capital Programme 2021/26 (as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report);

(4)  that progress on delivering the Capital Programme will be presented in accordance within the agreed Capital Monitoring arrangements.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 72 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed in that the following be approved:

the Investment Strategy for 2021/2022 which includes potential investment in the following activity areas:

1.  Commercial Property

2.  Service Investments: Loans

3.  Service Investment: Shares (non-currently held)

4.  Loan Commitments and financial Guarantees

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 71 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2021/2022;

(2)  the Treasury Management Indicators.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 70 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed in that the following be approved:

(1)  the Capital Strategy for 2021/22;

(2)  the associated Prudential Indicators to be adopted;

(3)  the Council’s Minimum Revenue Provision policy.

A.   Resolved (61:0) – That Council:

(1)  Approves a Revenue Budget of £329.4m but which differs from the proposals included within the public budget consultation as shown at Appendix 4, producing a revised set of Budget Proposals, consisting of:

Proposal    Value

(2)  That further budget allocation be provided for the following:

1.  To enable development of the wider youth offer in Wirral:  £200,000

(3)  That Council:

a)  Adopts the summary Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) set out as Appendix 3 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Financial Resilience Plan (MTFS) set out as Appendix 11.

b)  Adopts the fees and charges set out as Appendix 7, with delegated authority being granted:

(i)  to the Section 151 Officer to update the Council’s Fees and Charges Directory prior to publication before 1 April 2021.

(ii)  to the relevant Director with portfolio, in consultation with the relevant Committee’s Chair and Group Spokespersons, to vary existing fees and charges.

c)  Approves the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy for Business Rates for 2021/22 set out as Appendix 8.

d)  Set and maintain the level of General Fund Balances the higher of

(i)  £10.7m of general fund; or

(ii)  3% of the Council’s new revenue budget,

to be based on a locally determined assessment of the financial risks that the Council may face in the future in accordance with the report of the s.151 Officer (Appendix 10).

e)  Proceeds with the request for exceptional financial support with the conditions outlined in the letter from the Minister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government dated 2 February 2021.

f)  Approves the 2021/22 Schools Budget of £299.487m.

g)  Authorises, in respect of the Budget Proposals, that:

(i)  the relevant Committee receiving the further work being undertaken in respect of:

(1)  car parking charges;

(2)  enforcement costs recovery; and

(3)  grass cutting and re-wilding

to develop and implement proposals in line with the agreed Budget; and

(ii)  the Director with portfolio to undertake such actions as they consider are necessary to implement the agreed Budget and consequential proposals developed as part of the formulation process and update Committees accordingly.

(iii)  in implementing the proposals Council requests that the Europa Fun Pool re-opens, when its practicable and safe to do so in line with government and public health guidance, during the School Summer holidays.”

In stating this request, Council notes that:

·  Unknown intelligence relating to the COVID situation and what that will look like on / post 21 June 2021 and ‘previous advice given by The Director of Public Health in that the fun pool would  not be able to open under current restrictions’

·  There is currently no guidance on what a “safe” number of people would be.

·  To open the Europa Fun Pool would require a recruitment exercise for additional staffing and supported lifeguard training which would be challenging to undertake between 22 June and the start of the summer holidays, given that the Lifeguard Training takes a minimum of 5 weeks.

·  The following current guidance has been released in relation to events and large gatherings, which would need to be kept under review. The maximum Europa Fun Pool capacity could be considered as similar to a large wedding every 1.5 hours “DCMS and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been working with representatives from industry and civil society to explore when and how events with larger crowd sizes, less social distancing or in settings where transmission is more likely (i.e. indoors), will be able to return safely. This includes sports events, music festivals and large weddings and conferences.”

·  That a reduction in numbers to what might be considered a safe level could be considered, given this is a much-used facility during the School Summer holidays.”

B.  Resolved (60:0) (One abstention) –

It be noted that in accordance with Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended), that Policy and Resources Committee on 11^th November 2020 calculated the Council Tax Base 2021/22 for the whole of the properties in its area as 94,198.6 (Item T in the statutory formula).

That the following amounts be calculated and approved by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 32-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) (“the Act”);

a)  £156,677,700 being the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31A (4) of the Act (amended) as the Council Tax Requirement for 2021/22 (item R in the statutory formula). This amount (D) is determined as being the difference between:

i)  £859,070,000 this being the aggregate of the amounts calculated in accordance with Section 31A (2) of the Act (as amended), i.e. the aggregate of the amounts that the Council estimates that will be charged to a revenue account for the year in performing its functions, that are required to be set aside for contingencies and reserves and required to be transferred from its General Fund to its Collection Fund in the year and

ii)  £702,392,300 this being the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31A (3) of the Act (as amended), i.e. the aggregate of the amounts of income that the Council estimates will be credited to a revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices, the amount of reserves that are estimated to be used to provide for the items referred to in paragraph (a) above, and required to be transferred from its Collection Fund to its General Fund in the year.

b)  £1,663.27 being the amount calculated in accordance with Section 31B (1) of the Act (amended) as the Basic Amount of Council Tax for 2021/22. This amount being calculated as item R divided by item T (as above).

c)  That in accordance with section 36(1) of the Act that the following amounts are calculated for each valuation band in the area:

  Wirral – Basic Amount of Council Tax per Valuation Band

These amounts being the amounts given by multiplying the amount calculated as the Basic Amount of Council Tax by the number which in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act is applicable to dwellings in a particular valuation band which is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D.

It be determined that the amount set in (c) above as the Council’s Basic Amount of Council Tax for 2021/22 is not excessive in accordance with the principles determined by the Secretary of State under section 52ZC of the Act (as amended) and that no Referendum to approve the Basic Amount of Council Tax is required. The principles require a Referendum to be held for any increases of 5% or above, as per the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021/22. The Settlement included provision for local authorities with social care responsibilities to increase the level of Council Tax by 3% for the Adult Social Care precept; and by up to 2% for the Council element. Where Council Tax is increased at or above 5% a local referendum will be required. The overall proposed increase in the Wirral basic Council Tax is 4.99%, including a Council increase of 1.99%, and is therefore within the Settlement’s ceilings.

  Wirral – Basic Amount of Council Tax Comparison for Referendum

To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority issue precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area. This will be as indicated in the tables which when received will be included in updated tables to Council.

  Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

  Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority –Mayoral Precept

That having calculated the amounts for Wirral together with the Police, Fire and Liverpool City Region – Mayoral Precept the Council in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Act hereby sets the following amounts as the total amount of Council Tax for the year 2021/22 for each of the categories of dwellings.

  Total Council Tax for Wirral

Resolved – That the recommendations contained within minute 66 of the Policy and Resources Committee of 17 February, 2021, be agreed, in that:

Council approves the 2020/21 budget of £41.144m in relation to Covid-19 funding for Council use and notes the additional £134.490m of funds that is to be made available to the Council for onward relay to other organisations as passported funding. Council notes that this recommendation follows on from the recommendation made by Policy & Resources Committee on 11 November 2020, following the recent notification of additional funding.

Resolved – That the Extra Care Housing Model be agreed.

RESOLVED - That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  Note the content of the report and the announcement from Government regarding the Future High Street Fund award in relation to Birkenhead and the in-principle award in relation to New Ferry.

(2)  Note that a re-profiled application was submitted to Government on 3 February 2021 in respect of the New Ferry Future High Street Fund in-principle award.

(3)  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place to consider and approve final signoff of the Future High Street Fund grant funding agreements for Birkenhead and New Ferry, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance.

(4)  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place to commence delivery of the Birkenhead and New Ferry Future High Street Fund programmes in line with the grant funding agreement and change control process.

(5)  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place to progress with scoping out a design, costed model and fit out of the current preferred option for the temporary market, namely Unit 2 St Werburghs Square and St Werburghs Square itself, that will be used as a temporary holding position while the current Birkenhead Market site be made available for redevelopment.

(6)  Note that a further report will be brought forward to Members for approval of the finalised proposal for the temporary market.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  To endorse an extension of the Business Support Services contract to 30 September 2021.

(2)  To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of the Economy and Regeneration and Development Committee to:

a.  Approve the final Business Support Services specification for delivery of a new service from October 2021 to October 2024, with an option to extend by one year to October 2025 based on satisfactory performance.

b.  Commence procurement and select the most economically advantageous supplier(s) to deliver the commissioned services.

c.  Conclude the final contract award.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following:

(1)  the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order(s) (“the Order”) under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 226(1)(a), and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the acquisition of land and new rights in respect of the area identified in the plan and table of Appendix 1 of the report to enable the regeneration of New Ferry to be undertaken and the process for the Order shall be subject to following the procedures laid down by the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.

(2)  the draft skeleton Statement of Reasons (Appendix 2) attached to this report, which (in addition to the information in this report) sets out the justification for making the Order.

(3)  the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance be granted delegated authority to:

(a)  finalise the Statement of Reasons.

(b)  draft the Order Map and Schedule before the making of the Order (if required).

(c)  negotiate, agree terms and enter into agreements with interested parties including agreements for the withdrawal of blight notices and/or the withdrawal of objections to the Order and/or undertakings not to enforce the Order on specified terms, including (but not limited to) where appropriate seeking the exclusion of land or rights from the Order, making provision for the payment of compensation and/or relocation.

(4)  the Director of Law and Governance be granted delegated authority to:

(a)  take all steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Order including the publication and service of all notices and the promotion of the Council’s case at any public inquiry.

(b)  in the event the Order is confirmed by the Secretary of State, to advertise and give notice of confirmation and thereafter to take all steps to implement the Order.

(c)  take all steps in relation to any legal proceedings relating to the Order including defending or settling claims referred to the Upper Tribunal and/or applications to the courts and any appeals.

(5)  That where required to assist in the delivery of the New Ferry Preferred development option and may be appropriated for planning purposes pursuant to Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 to enable Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to be utilised to override any third-party rights of land or part thereof.

(6)  That the Economy, Development and Regeneration Committee be authorised to make all necessary further decisions that are not otherwise delegated to officers, in relation to the Compulsory Purchase Order and consequential on the Compulsory Purchase Order including the selection process for and approval of a development partner the structure of that partnership arrangement whether through a land transaction or otherwise and any related land transactions and settlement of compensation and the engagement of appropriate advisors to advise on compensation for any business interests.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Resources Committee approve funding from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to the Council to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at the Maritime Knowledge Hub.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  Approve a grant from the Wirral Waters Investment Fund to Peel Land and Property Investments (Intermediate) Limited to support the development of new high quality mixed use floorspace at Egerton Village.

(2)  Authorise the Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place to draw up and sign a conditional legal agreement between the Council and Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Limited to reflect the grant arrangements.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  authorise the Law and Governance in consultation with the Director for Regeneration and Place to enter a contract extension and sign the supplier contract with Involve Northwest to continue delivery of the Wirral Ways to Work Worklessness Support Service.

(2)  authorise an option for the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance to enter a 3-month contract extension from July to September 2021 to cover off the risk of awaiting a grant funding agreement from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and then proceed to a full extension once confirmation of EU funds is received, should this option need to be utilised.

To report on the development of the Maritime Knowledge Hub at Wirral Waters. To include any relevant funding and commercial approvals to progress project.

RESOLVED – That Policy and Resources Committee approve the following recommendations:

(1)  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of Resources, to finalise the Heads of Terms substantially in accordance with the draft Heads of Terms attached as Appendix 3 to this report.

(2)  Approve the Full Business Case for Maritime Knowledge Hub.

(3)  Authorise the Director of Law and Governance in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place and the Director of Resources, to finalise agreements for the Council to enter into a conditional Forward Funding Agreement, Agreement for Lease and Lease, based on the finalised heads of terms, with Peel Land and Property (Intermediate) Ltd.

(4)  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of Resources to accept the terms of the Grant Funding Agreement, subject to successful award, from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government in respect of the pre-test and trial Maritime Accelerator Project and to commence necessary procurement exercises to enable the delivery of the Accelerator.

Resolved – That

1.  the progression of the tendering of the Local Healthwatch and Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Services be approved.

2.  delegated authority be given to the Director of Care and Health to award the tender of the Local Healthwatch contract to the successful bidder.

Resolved – That

1.  the commencement of the procurement process for the Care and Support contracts for the existing Extra Care Housing schemes be agreed.

2.  delegated authority be given to the Director of Care and Health to award the tender to the successful bidder following the tender process.

3.  the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee would wish to see that one of the criteria for eligibility to tender for Extra Care Housing would be that the provider would pay the real living wage, subject to legal advice.