Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee update
Wirral Council’s Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee met at Birkenhead town hall on Wednesday March 27.
The full agenda for this committee meeting, including all reports referred to below, is available on the council website. The meeting is also webcast and can be viewed online.
Items on the agenda for the P&R committee included:
Selective licensing
Paterson Street and the even numbered properties of Park Close will now be subject to Selective Licensing requirements. Selective Licensing aims to improve homes in these areas by ensuring private landlords and agents meet satisfactory standards of tenancy and property management.
Homelessness in Wirral and the use of Temporary Accommodation
Councillors agreed to a five-year review of homelessness in Wirral during 2024, with the findings to be used to support the development of a new Wirral Homeless and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2025 onwards.
Also, members of the committee agreed that a six-monthly performance report on Homelessness be presented to future meetings of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee as part of a wider Housing Services Update Report.
Birkenhead Market Options
Members of the committee were asked to consider the options for the next step in the future of Birkenhead Market, outlined in a report.
The recommendation was for the use of the site on Princes Pavement for a new location for the market, and also that the council notify Wirral Growth Company LLP that the authority does not wish to proceed with a market development at the former House of Fraser site.
Maritime Knowledge Hub Update
Councillors asked senior officers to press ahead with work on proposals for the development of a Maritime Knowledge Hub at the derelict Grade II listed hydraulic tower in Wirral Waters.
Members of the Economy Regeneration and Housing Committee were presented with a report outlining to the current position on the proposed development when they meet on March 27.
This recommends the councillors authorise the Director of Regeneration and Place to “further develop the proposals” for the site on Tower Road, Birkenhead.
The report says the council is currently working closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and Peel to bring forward a finalised proposal for the project.
It says that the proposition for the future use of the building was developed around the time of the pandemic and has not been updated since; it says further work is required to update the suggested operating model.
Additionally, the report says additional assessment is needed to determine the level of risk faced by the council and that a more detailed report will be brought to a future meeting of the Economy Regeneration and Housing Committee.
