Decision

The Assistant Director
– Chief Regeneration Officer has approved the process for the
recruitment, selection and appointment of the independent Chairs of
the three Neighbourhood Boards for Central Birkenhead, Seacombe and
Woodchurch, as set out in Appendix 1, as part of the Pride In Place
programme launched by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG) in September 2025.
 

Reasons for the decision

In launching the Pride
in Place programme MHCLG has set out that places are encouraged to
undertake a public competition to recruit to the role of
independent Chair of each Neighbourhood Board in order to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Chair is to be appointed by the local authority following
consultation with the local MP.
 
The Council is to
receive £450,000 capacity funding from MHCLG. This will be
received in January 2026.This funding can be used to support the
establishment of the Neighbourhood Boards, including recruitment of
the Chair, and for local community engagement.
 

Alternative options considered

The alternative option
is to do nothing. In this case an independent chair would not be
appointed, the Neighbourhood Board would not be set up, and the
funding offered through the Price in Place programme could not be
drawn down and spent for the benefit of local communities. This
option has been discounted.