The report of the Director for Economic and Housing Growth sought approval to the strategic acquisition of the leasehold interest in the Town Centre Retail Warehouse - 107-127 Claughton Road Birkenhead (“Property”) in the heart of Birkenhead town centre. The Council currently owned the freehold of the Property.

Approval was also sought to the incorporation of the Property into the Wirral Growth Company Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Option Agreement on appropriate terms at an appropriate time.

Resolved – That,

(1)  the Full Business Case for the acquisition of the land and rights of ‘Town Centre Retail Warehouse - 107-127 Claughton Road Birkenhead’ be approved, thereby agreeing in principle for the Council to purchase the long leasehold interest in this site;

(2)  the Director of Economic and Housing Growth, be authorised in consultation with the Director of Finance and Investment to finalise the purchase of the leasehold interest in the Property on terms that are substantially in accordance with Council acquisitions guidelines; 

(3)  it be agreed that, once the leasehold interest in the Property is acquired, the freehold interest in the Property can be incorporated into the LLP Option Agreement on appropriate terms subject to approval of the LLP and the outcomes of consultation on regeneration plans.

(4)  it be agreed that, once the long leasehold interest in the Property is acquired and the Property is vacated by the occupying tenant, the buildings currently on the Property subject to planning permission and surveys can be demolished subject to the outcome of consultation on the regeneration plans. 

Resolved (58:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 63 of Cabinet, 25 November, 2019, be approved as follows, the re-profiling of 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.

Resolved (55:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 60 of Cabinet of 25 November, 2019, be approved as follows:

(1)  The figure of 93,965.9 be the Council Tax Base for 2020/21 and;

(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 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 4 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 4 November, 2019, be the approved Scheme for 2020/2021.

Resolved (56:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 62 of Cabinet, 25 November, 2019, be approved as follows:

(1)  additional funding for the schemes referred to in paragraph 3.3 of the report; and

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

Resolved (55:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 52 of Cabinet, 4 November, 2019, be approved as follows:

(1)  the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for Wirral to reduce the minimum amount payable for non-protected groups be amended from the current 22% to 12%; and

(2)  the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for Wirral be amended to allow notifications in relation to Universal Credit to be treated as a claim for Council Tax Reduction.

Resolved (58:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 11 of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee be approved as follows:

(1)  that there should continue to be a Cumulative Impact Assessment applied to the area of Birkenhead currently referenced in the Statement of Licensing Policy; and

(2)  the Draft Statement of Licensing Policy be approved.

Resolved (57:0) (Two abstentions) - That the recommendation contained within minute 41 of the Pensions Committee, 4 November, 2019, be approved, as follows, that the revisions to the Pension Board’s terms of reference be adopted into the Council’s Constitution.

Resolved (57:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 51 of Cabinet, 4 November, 2019, be approved as follows, that the full premium of 200% be applied to homes that have been empty for five years or more as allowed by the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018 from 1 April 2020.

Resolved (58:0) (One abstention) - That the recommendation contained within minute 9 of the Employment and Appointments Committee, 23 October, 2019 be approved, as follows, that the Interim Chief Executive, Mr Paul Satoor, be appointed to the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service), Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, with immediate effect.

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.