Purpose

Approval is sought:

(a)         To agree changes to previously agreed Strategic Investment Fund projects; and

(b)         approval to approve the transfer of £400,791 from the Integrated Settlement allocation to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to ensure continuation of the Made Smarter programme for the 2026/27 financial year;

Decision

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Strategic Investment Fund Update:

(a)         The material changes to the Birkenhead Central Gateway (Argyle St) project delivered by Wirral Council set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 of this report and the extension of time for completion from 31 March 2027 to 31 March 2026 be approved;

(b)         The transfer of £400,791 from the Integrated Settlement allocation to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to ensure continuation of the Made Smarter programme for the 2026/27 financial year be approved;

(c)          The allocation of £1,000,000 to the Housing Pre-Development Fund to support the delivery of the Liverpool City Region Housing Strategy and the development of projects on the housing pipeline be approved;

(d)         The revisions to funding and project delivery arrangements for the Birkenhead Central Gateway (Hind Street) project set out in paragraph 6.1 to 6.5 be approved; and

(e)         The intermediate change made to a Strategic Investment Fund project as detailed in paragraph 7.1 of this report be noted.