KNOWSLEY council leaders will be asked to explain the timing of their decision in principle to put a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the whole of Kirkby town centre.

Knowsley cabinet will agree the motion at a meeting next Wednesday, but will face cross- examination from opposition leader Cllr Ian Smith at the full council hours later.

The buy-out, underwritten by Tesco, is an attempt to get the ball rolling on a complex series of transactions that could delay work on Everton FC and Tesco’s controversial £400m plans for the town.

However, the CPOs will only come into play if the supermarket, retail development and stadium plans are approved by the Secretary of State in November.

Nick Kavanagh, executive director of regeneration, said: “Due to the lengthy timescales that would be involved in any CPO process, this report is being considered now, at the highest decision-making level we have, in order that, if a positive planning decision is reached, land can be assembled to allow for the Destination Kirkby regeneration project to be delivered as quickly as possible.”

The CPO should only be used if Tesco has failed to get land owners to sell up voluntarily.