Latest news with #PaulaBasnett
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Birkenhead: 'New chapter' for town as £300m boost agreed
A £300m development deal for a Wirral town has been signed, promising 1,600 new homes, a new park and a primary Birkenhead Hind Street Urban Village project - an agreement between Wirral Council and ION Property Development - will also see the demolition of flyovers to the Birkenhead tunnel, space for new businesses and health council leader Paula Basnett described it as a huge step forward and "the beginning of a new chapter" for the brownfield site on the banks of the River Mersey will be developed in stages over the next 10-15 years. Wirral Council called the development a key part their "brownfield-first regeneration programme", designed to deliver growth to the scheme has already had significant financial backing, with just under £30m from government housing body Homes England and £22.4m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The council said the money would help prepare the site to build the first phase of 633 homes over the next two begun on the site earlier this year to clear away vegetation, and to gain a better understanding of the issues on in the area before house building can begin. Basnett added: "The Hind Street Urban Village will transform a long-neglected site into a thriving new neighbourhood right at the heart of our borough."ION Developments said in the future, people would be invited to view progress on the site, and that they had a "clear and deliverable plan for the scheme". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wirral leader says 'nothing swept under carpet' in regeneration probe
"Nothing will be hidden" from investigators probing a council's troubled regeneration programmes, its leader has said. Paula Basnett, who became leader of Wirral Council in May, announced an internal investigation of the Birkenhead town centre project early into her regeneration works in the town are behind schedule and over budget, with the council expected to borrow £8m to cover a rise in costs to £24m. Ms Basnett, who is a councillor for Rock Ferry, said the council needed to get a grip on the situation. "I do think that we have to understand why it's been delayed and why there was an overspend. Our residents are entitled and should be made aware," Basnett said."I walk up Grange Road and I see the work taking place. I see the impact it's having on our businesses. I see the impact it's having on our residents."They want to be able to enjoy shopping and browsing around the shops." The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the works, taking place across the entire town centre, were £2.8m over budget the day a contract was were so concerned that on 21 July they decided not to approve any further funding until investigations had said on her election as leader that improving neighbourhoods, sorting out the council's finances, and getting regeneration back on track were her three main priorities."I won't be brushing anything under the carpet," she said."[The investigation] will be open and transparent. We will be holding officers to account."Our residents are entitled to hear what has been going on and I fully appreciate that once we do have those findings, it will be out in the public domain."The findings are expected later this year. Basnett said she hoped the outcome of a wider review would set out realistic timelines and costs, allowing councillors to prioritise projects. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Councillor Marion Atkinson sees off leadership challenge in Sefton
Councillor sees off leadership challenge 9 minutes ago Share Save Claire Hamilton BBC Political Reporter, Merseyside Share Save Local Democracy Reporting Service Marion Atkinson saw off the leadership challenge just over a year after she was elected to the role A Merseyside councillor has seen off a leadership challenge just over a year after she was appointed to the role. Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson was challenged by Sudell ward councillor James Hansen at a meeting on Tuesday night, with just five votes between the Labour politicians. Atkinson became Sefton's first female council leader when she was elected in January 2024, and has been the only female leader on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Meanwhile, Labour's Paula Basnett was elected as new Labour leader of Wirral Council and is set to become council leader at a meeting later this month. As leader of Sefton Council's largest party, Marion Atkinson is set to continue to lead the authority. She has overseen investment in Bootle's Salt and Tar venue as leader, and she was relatively new in the role when she led the council's response to the Southport stabbing attack in July 2024. Basnett, who represents the Rock Ferry ward, is set to take over from previous Wirral Council leader Paul Stuart after he stood down, and she will become leader at a full council meeting on 21 May. As the authority has no overall control, any leader needs the support of at least 34 councillors from a minimum of two political parties. Basnett will therefore be seeking support from opposition parties in the council going forward. Her election follows weeks of speculation about an internal battle within Wirral Labour over the top job. Wirral Council Paula Basnett is set to become the new leader of Wirral Council Basnett, who was elected two years ago, said she would look to restore trust in the council's finances, speed up regeneration and housing projects, and focus on building cleaner, safer neighbourhoods. Before she entered politics, she worked as an investment manager at Wirral Council before taking over the Wirral Chamber of Commerce following a funding crisis in 2013. She remains the organisation's chair. The Chamber of Commerce has historically had a close relationship with Wirral Council, with the organisation receiving funding for a business support service contract as well as receiving £1.4m of Town Deal money to support the purchase and refurbishment of Egerton House in Birkenhead. The building was sold in 2024 to the Chamber of Commerce for £1.9m. However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the Chamber publicly criticised the council last year about a high turnover in the local authority's regeneration department and alleged lack of engagement with the business sector. Though Basnett was copied into an email at the time, a representative for the Chamber said she had remained independent over the matter. 'Future direction concerns' Commenting on the election, leader of Wirral's Conservatives Jeff Green said: "Wirral's Conservative councillors are not interested in the internal politics of the Labour Party but we are worried for the future direction of the council. He said that over the last two years they had "worked constructively with all the parties to 'right size' the council, while tackling the issues inherited from previous Labour administrations". Green said that while they waited to hear from the new leader of the Labour Group, "I can assure her, and the taxpayers of the borough, that our position has not changed". "If it's good for the residents of Wirral and improves the performance of the council, we'll support it," he added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
