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A new four-year vision for Wirral, including more than 2,000 new homes and a UNESCO World Heritage bid for Birkenhead Park, will be voted on by councillors next week.
The Wirral Plan 2027-31 lays out the council's plans and priorities ahead of the elections, where every council seat is up for grabs. The document, according to Birkenhead News, highlights the council's targets for each year, and a commitment to achieve a balanced budget by 2026.
By the end of 2029, the plan states that 2,200 new homes will have been built across the borough, boosting council tax revenue. The council is also aiming to secure UNESCO World Heritage Site status for Birkenhead Park within the four-year period.
Councillors, Birkenhead and Central Park have been working together on the park's UNESCO bid recently, with hints to discussions taking place between the park's committees revealed by Heritage Champion councillor Jerry Williams.
Changes also outlined in the document include seeing the council adopt AI bots and move to a cabinet system of governance, meaning a select smaller group of councils lead by an elected council leader will make daily decisions.
The plan was endorsed by the council's policy and resources committee in July and will go before full council on 12 October, where members are recommended to approve it.
Council leader Councillor Paula Basnett said: "This plan is about focusing on what matters most to our residents. People have told us they want reliable services, support that is easier to access, thriving communities and more opportunities for themselves and their families."
She added: "We know many residents are facing challenges and we are not pretending there are easy answers. But we are committed to doing things differently, listening more, working more closely with communities and partners, and making sure support is available earlier and closer to home."
"Whether it's cleaner neighbourhoods, quicker access to help, stronger local communities or better job opportunities, our ambition is simple: to help people live well and ensure Wirral continues to thrive."
