An independent investigation into Wirral Council’s regeneration programme is underway
Works are still ongoing in Birkenhead, understood to be a year behind schedule.(Image: Copyright Unknown)
A firm has been brought in to probe Wirral Council’s regeneration programme as a councillor said he was heartbroken and devastated it had got to this stage. Regeneration consultants Aughton Lane will be looking at a number of projects over the last three years to get things back on track.
The local authority published a decision notice on July 10 to review the council’s approach to regeneration as well as the delivery status of a number of key projects awarding up to £95,000 to Tile Hill Limited. Key people will be interviewed in both the private and public sector to better understand how the council can deliver on its plans.
This extensive independent review follows the initial findings of an internal investigation into the council’s regeneration programme which found a regeneration scheme covering much of Birkenhead town centre had massively gone over budget. Originally approved with a £11.9m budget, the costs are now expected to be as high as £24m.
In an update, the local authority said Aughton Lane Ltd would be leading the review. The firm’s directors includes Michael Palin, who has held senior positions in Homes England, executive director for strategic economic development at Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, and previously the chief executive of St Helens Council.
Wirral’s council leader Cllr Paula Basnett, who was elected in May promising the review, said it was “intended to make sure we are delivering the best regeneration programme we can,” adding: “Wirral Council has a duty to ensure that the substantial public funds entrusted to us amounting to many millions of pounds in government grants are invested wisely and deliver real, lasting benefits for our residents.
“I intend to deliver on that duty. This independent review is a vital step in determining that this programme is not only ambitious but achievable.”
Some parts of Conway Street are now finished(Image: Copyright Unknown)
The announcement of the independent review came shortly before a local authority regeneration committee meeting was held the same day. The issue of the town centre project’s massive budget black hole dominated the meeting though councillors also strongly indicated they may decide against moving Birkenhead Market into the former Argos on Princes Pavements.
On the town centre, Birkenhead councillor Pat Cleary said: “We are now talking about a real significant issue for this council. Can anybody please explain what is going on?” later adding: “I am just broken hearted what the people of Birkenhead are going through, it’s just not acceptable.”
At the meeting, Cllr Basnett said she shared the councillor’s frustration pointing to the new external investigation taking place, adding: “We equally feel the same frustration and definitely for the residents of Birkenhead and the residents of Wirral as well.”
Cllr Andrew Hodson said he was similarly concerned, adding: “The results we have seen so far have not lived up to the expectations set for this community.” He said the council was seeing stagnant developments and “a widening gap between the promises made and the realities faced by local people.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Helen Raymond said the council had been good at getting money in but not knowing what to do with it, while Green councillor Jo Bird said the situation was “atrocious and appalling”, adding that serious questions needed to be asked.
Responding to councillors’ questions, finance director Matthew Bennett, who was stepping in for regeneration director Marcus Shaw, said it was a complicated matter due to the contracts and issues involved but said the reasons why the scheme was so over budget and a year behind schedule was being looked into. He said he expected the results of an internal investigation to be published in September.
Later in the meeting, he said: “It’s quite clear mistakes have been made in the past. There’s no doubt about that,” adding: “If you look at the past, everyone’s got 20-20 hindsight and it’s very easy to criticise projects that have been done and the reasons why they’ve been done.”
The finance director explained a lot of regeneration projects were high risk which could mean they come with high rewards but issues like the COVID pandemic may have changed things.
The director added: “We do really need to consider the circumstances in which those decisions were made and that they were being made in good faith at that point in time.”
While he agreed on this, Conservative councillor Andrew Gardner said the council had been redeveloping rather than regenerating, adding: “We do not have a regeneration vision, we have a vision for a handful of projects that we somehow hope in the future will knit together but not one of those projects is big enough by itself.” In response, Cllr Basnett said the council would review all of its plans for Birkenhead town centre.