Liverpool council subsidises Wirral College £1,800 per city student

Sep 15 2010 by David Bartlett, Heswall News

A WIRRAL college faces an uncertain future after a review has been ordered into its funding by Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool taxpayers spent £284,000 last year subsidising Burton Manor adult educational college near Neston.

But now councillors have told the college to prepare to cut this year’s subsidy of at least £185,000 by between 25% and 40% – in line with the Government’s spending review.

The total council funded deficit to keep Burton Manor open now stands at £1.4m – the result of years of racked-up losses.

The grandiose Grade II listed building, which offers residential courses to adults, faces an uncertain future.

Head of college governors Cllr Nick Small refused to be drawn on the future, but said he was very concerned.

Closing Burton Manor has been repeatedly suggested by council officials as the local authority goes through the budget setting process.

Supporters of the venue believe it has struggled in recent times because of a lack of investment and an unwillingness by city officials to properly use the venue.

The building was originally owned by Henry Neville Gladstone, third son of former Prime Minister William Gladstone, from 1904 to 1921.

Burton Manor opened in 1948 and offers courses ranging from photography to literature, music and dance, at evenings and on residential weekends.

Its establishment involved a number of public authorities, including Birkenhead, Wallasey and Cheshire, but Liverpool is the only one that continues to support it.

It has become less popular in recent times.

According to documents seen by the News, the college ran at a loss of £778 per day in the financial year 2009/10, creating a deficit of £284,225.

Cllr Mike Storey, who was chairman of governors until May, said: “Liverpool has stayed with Burton Manor when other local authorities did not.”