Author: John Brace

New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council. Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.

Wirral Council’s Cabinet meeting (21st July 2011) – the highlights – Grange Road West Sports Centre to transfer to Birkenhead Community Development Committee

Highlights of decisions of Wirral Council’s Cabinet meeting of the 21st July 2011

Here’s a quick rundown of what has been reported to ( the Labour Cabinet (Wirral Council) of the 21st July 2011:-

  • Under-age sales of alcohol during test purchases up (22%), which is 7% above target
  • % reduction in under-18 conception rate (-13%), target is -50%
  • Energy efficiency using software to shut computers down when not in use to save £80,000. Software hasn’t been installed but it costs £50,000.
  • Disposal of assets (expected to save £481,000) delayed (Pacific Road, Tramway Museum, Beechwood Community Centre etc)
  • Electronic payment for procurement delayed
  • Office rationalisation not meeting expected savings targets
  • % of council invoices from SMEs paid by Wirral Council within 10 days 45% (15% below a target of 60%)
  • Budget projected shortfall up to £25 million (from £20.8 million)
  • Mapleholme, Poulton House and 96 Manor Road to be auctioned off
  • Meadowcroft to go to Age UK (formerly Age Concern)
  • Westminster House to be sold to Wirral Partnership Homes for less than the £1.9 million originally agreed
  • Wirral Council’s contract procedure rules changed as the previous ones were criticised by the Audit Commission for not promoting fairness, quality, value for money and competition and to allow in-house bids (something the unions have been lobbying for for some time)
  • An extra £267,447 to resurface the Dock Links Road bringing the cost of this project to £1.1 million.

So where are Labour going to find £25 million of cuts or is that a mystery to be solved on another evening?

Planning Committee 19th July 2011 – Delegated Decisions, AOB (guidance on solar panels, glossary) – Part 11

The Chair asked if everyone was happy with item 16 Planning Applications Decided Under Delegated Powers Between 11/06/2011 and 07/07/2011. Cllr Kenny said he was happy and it had been a quick meeting.

Item 17 (s.106 agreement Reeds Lane) was deferred to a later meeting of the Planning Committee.

Matt agreed to come up with a glossary of terms as he had missed a few off. It was a work in progress but a draft copy would be circulated to councillors. The Chair as an item of any other business said he had been approached as to whether planning permission was required for solar panels on a roof. He said there was confusion as to what the procedure was in a Conservation Area. However, for areas that were not in a Conservation Area it would be helpful to have guidance. It was something they needed to know about. He asked if councillors were happy with a report coming to a future committee? They were. He closed the meeting by thanking people for their attendance.

Planning Committee 19th July 2011 – NO EXPEDIENCY FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE ERECTION OF A SLIDE AT 105 PRENTON FARM ROAD, PRENTON, WIRRAL – NO EXPEDIENCY FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE ERECTION OF A REAR DORMER AT 3 CROFT DRIVE, MORETON, WIRRAL – Part 10

The next item was item 14 NO EXPEDIENCY FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE ERECTION OF A SLIDE AT 105 PRENTON FARM ROAD, PRENTON, WIRRAL.

The officer said it had resulted from a complaint and they had requested a planning application from the owner. However this had been declined. If there had been a planning application they would have recommended approval.

Cllr Salter said he thought it was a “slippery slope”. Cllr Boult said that he should suggest a site visit so he could have a go. The Chair asked if everyone was happy? Cllr Salter and Cllr Mitchell proposed the report be accepted and no enforcement action taken. All councillors voted in favour.

The last enforcement item was item 15 – NO EXPEDIENCY FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE ERECTION OF A REAR DORMER AT 3 CROFT DRIVE, MORETON, WIRRAL.

The officer said it had been an enforcement enquiry about a dormer window due to the height being increased by 5 centimetres. If it had formed part of the original planning application it would’ve been approved. Cllr Realey said she thought it was sad that someone had measured it. Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Salter proposed the report and its recommendation be accepted. All councillors voted in favour.

Planning Committee 19th July 2011 – APP/11/00492 – Greenleaves, 26 WOODLANDS DRIVE, BARNSTON, CH61 1AL – Loft conversions and extensions & APP/11/00552 – Cleared Site, BARFORD CLOSE, BEECHWOOD, CH43 9XB – Erection of 17 new dwellings, APP/11/00575 – 120 MANOR DRIVE, UPTON, CH49 4LN – Single storey front, side and rear extension with internal alterations – PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXTENSIONS TO OXTON VILLAGE CONSERVATION AREA – Part 9

The committee considered item 9 APP/11/00492 – Greenleaves, 26 WOODLANDS DRIVE, BARNSTON, CH61 1AL – Loft conversions and extensions. Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Johnson proposed approval. All councillors voted in favour.

Next was item 11 APP/11/00552 – Cleared Site, BARFORD CLOSE, BEECHWOOD, CH43 9XB – Erection of 17 new dwellings. The officer said this site already had approval for fifteen dwellings, but this was adding a further two to take it to seventeen. The original planning application had been for ninety-eight dwellings over a number of sites. The separation distances were acceptable and it complied with policy HS4. It was recommended for approval. The Chair asked if there was no loss of amenity? Cllr Boult and Cllr Realey proposed it be approved. All councillors voted in favour of approval.

Item 12 APP/11/00575 – 120 MANOR DRIVE, UPTON, CH49 4LN – Single storey front, side and rear extension with internal alterations was proposed by Cllr Elderton and Cllr Mitchell. All councillors voted in favour of the application.

Item 13 PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXTENSIONS TO OXTON VILLAGE CONSERVATION AREA was introduced by the Chair. He said the Conservation Area Committee and the Conservation Area Team had decided an extension was needed and required. This was specified in 2.1 on page 49 and they had to approve the boundary changes maps at Appendix 1. The documents were specific and comprehensive. Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Bernie Mooney proposed they be accepted. All councillors voted in favour.

Planning Committee 19th July 2011 – 43 CROFT DRIVE, MORETON, CH46 0QS – Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension, garage alterations and internal remodelling – Part 8

The report for agenda item 8. The decision:

On a motion by Councillor Dave Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Eddie Boult it was:

Resolved (12:0) – That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

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

2. The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the plans received by the Local Planning Authority on 21/06/2011.

The Chair said anything at the end of the agenda that related to a personal interest such as a staff member should be in a block. This was so it was not confused with the main body of the agenda. They didn’t need a presentation on each item and it should be at the end of the agenda as a block.

The officer said before it could be agreed, it would have to be by the Director of Law as he would have to agree to the change. The Chair asked the Legal Officer present. He said they could be dealt with at the end of the agenda with a full report for each application. The Chair said they had it mixed up what they were asking.

The Legal Officer said it would depend on objections. The Chair said applications relating to members of staff and councillors should be dealt with in the second part of the agenda. Cllr Kenny said he was happy to agree, as long as they still had the right to raise objections. The Chair said they didn’t need a presentation. A councillor said he hoped it wouldn’t lead to an extra fourteen items on the agenda next month. The Chair said they would have to be vigilant about problems.

Cllr Mitchell and Cllr Boult proposed approval. All councillors voted in favour so the item was approved.

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