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CONCERNS are mounting over the future of green spaces as Sefton Council prepares a multi million pound asset disposal strategy, but some of the claims, like the 1 we have also been told about are completely untrue. A several local community groups have contacted us about this saying that there is currently a:- "Save Our Parks" campaign being discussed on local community forums, highlighting to us 2 prominent parks within Maghull. The emails we have had from:- 'concerned residents' suggested that Maghull Town Council members have held private discussions regarding the surrender of long term leases on a few Parks, with the mind to giving them back to Sefton Council, in order to help them find the extra funds required make up the:- £12,000,000 shortfall.

With the run up to the May Local Election, scheduled for:- 7 May 2026, getting information is not so easy, as the period (now officially called the:- 'Pre-Election Period of Sensitivity') begins, in Sefton, in late March, with many Council Departments now starting a:- "soft" version of these rules. During this time, the Council essentially goes into:- "caretaker mode" for any controversial financial decisions until a new administration is formed in mid-May. That means Sefton Council and those under it are legally restricted by the:- 'Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.' In effect this means the Council cannot announce new policies, large spending projects, or the sale of major assets (like those needed for the £12,000,000 shortfall) if they could be seen to influence voters. Council resources (newsletters, social media, press releases) cannot feature sitting Councillors who are up for re-election. Council Officers must remain strictly neutral. They can still provide factual information, but they cannot engage in anything that looks like political campaigning. Lastly, most public consultations are:- 'paused' or 'delayed' until after the election to avoid them becoming political:- "footballs." Because this is a:- "Whole Council Election," meaning all 66 seats are up for grabs, the restrictions are particularly strict. That means this year their is lots of confusing information about, leading to lots of speculation and miss information.

We have to say that even we weren't sure, as multiple sources when we got a request to ask to report on the:- 'local debate' that was asking us ask our readers to contact Town Hall Office to:- "demand transparency on the lease discussions." They also wanted us to urged readers to call for:- "immediate lease renewals to protect the land from being sold to housing developers." They stated Glenn Park was:- "currently under scrutiny" along with another park in the area. When attending the locations this week, our reporter who went to the location got told some extra information that has helped us to seek clarity on the status of these green spaces.

This has helped us to confirm with Maghull Town Council that:- "There are NO plans, proposals, or discussions within Sefton Council to sell off Glenn Park park or any others in Maghull." We have also learned that Glen Park is classified as:- "Public Open Space" within the Sefton Local Plan. This provides a legal layer of protection that makes it very difficult for the Council to sell for development, as they would have to prove there is no longer a need for the park. Plus there is strong local evidence and long standing community understanding that Glenn Park is protected, as it was:- "gifted" or "dedicated" for public recreation. In many such cases within Sefton, these plots of land carry restrictive covenants that prevent them from being developed for housing or commercial use.

So how did this confusion happen? From putting all the pieces together the controversy stems from Sefton Council facing a:- £12,000,000 budget deficit and its approach to produce a balanced budget for the upcoming year.

The Government has recently granted the local authority:- "exceptional financial support" for the:- 2026 / 2027 financial year, a move that was confirmed by Minister Alison McGovern back in February (2026) This support is outlined in the Government's official guidance on financial flexibilities, which can be found at:- Gov.UK. Unlike traditional grants, this support does not provide additional Central Government funding, but instead allows Sefton Council to use capital receipts, money generated from selling land and buildings, to cover day to day operational costs. With the special Government permission to sell assets makes resolving the issue appear easier on paper than in reality. This practice of selling assets is typically prohibited under standard Local Government accounting rules, which require capital money to be spent only on long term projects. As Sefton Council it now faces increasing difficult decisions, it is now currently has the task of identifying assets to sell after exhausting its financial reserves.

While the Council has a much larger overspend (around:- £29,000,000), the:- £12,000,000 is the part they have been given special Government permission to fix by selling off assets, and that is the heart of the local debate that has lead to the mix up. From what we have put together, people have mixed up information about:- 'Sefton 2030,' a partnership between:- Sefton Council and The Sovini Group to deliver:- 1,000 new affordable homes across the borough by 2030 with the shortfall, and a review of the Maghull Town Council - Neighbourhood Plan. Add to the mix the build up to the Local Elections and....

It is true that the pressure to make up the:- £12,000,000 shortfall now means considerable pressure but it is important to be very clear that is often a lot of confusion when:- "asset disposal lists" are discussed alongside budget shortfalls.

For more information about the:- "asset disposal lists" please see the links bellow, but remember that we are now within the Pre-Election Period (Purdah) for the:- 7 May Local Elections, so you will likely see very few updates to these lists as we run up to the Ellections, as we said, Sefton Council is restricted from making:- "significant" new disposal decisions during this time.

1. The Main Disposal List (ModGov) - This is where the Council must legally publish any:- "Decision" to declare a piece of land or a building surplus to requirements. Sefton Council - Decisions on Disposal of Surplus Land - LINK

2. The "Transparency" Land & Property List - By law, the Council must publish a spreadsheet of every single asset they own (even the ones not for sale). This is the best place to check if a specific park or field is even on their:- "books" as a potential asset. Sefton Council Transparency - Land and Property Assets - LINK

3. Commercial Properties for Sale/Lease - If an asset has already been moved to the open market, it is listed on the Council's business facing portal. InvestSefton - Commercial Property Search.

4. Assets of Community Value (ACV) - If a community group has successfully:- "protected" a building or park, it will appear on this list. Once on this list, the Council cannot sell it without giving the community 6 months to bid for it 1st. Sefton Council - Assets of Community Value List - LINK

BIG thanks to the residents who talked to us, as your input has helped us with this report.... Please also let us know your thoughts on this issue by emailing our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com, or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....