Cllr. Rowlands welcomed everyone to the meeting, and he stated that Tracey wished to apologise that Barnston had been missed off the heading.  It will be on next time.

·  Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

All agreed that the Minutes of the previous meeting were a true record, and copies were available if anyone wanted them.  The Minutes were signed, and it was agreed that any matters arising would be dealt with under Headings on the Agenda.

Cllr. Rowlands introduced Matthew Davies and said that as many of the queries at the Area Forum meetings were regarding Planning in and around the Borough, Matthew Davies had come to give an insight as to how Planning works round the Borough, and how it works right through to the final approval or dismissal.

Matthew Davies, Development Control Manager for Wirral Council.

Wirral is a bit of an ‘oddity’ – the Planning function is split into three departments.

The Planning covers houses LDF and UDP.

Development Control is perhaps what people have most inter-action with – the general, Public planning investment, planning applications for everything (including trees and hedges) and presentation.  In terms of Planning Development, there are two teams, and Heswall falls into the South team.

Development is the carrying out of building, engineering, amending or the material change of use in buildings or land.  Other things are involved, such as the demolition of a wall in a Conservation Area, the rules are slightly different in all Conservation Areas.

There are effectively several types of Planning applications, and we have to be aware of them all –

(1) Outline Planning permission is where someone is seeking to erect a new building or some sort of development, and there may not be enough information provided with the application for full Planning, so it is just an Outline application.  Outline sometimes means that the applicant just wishes to sell a site, with the added benefit of Planning permission. 

(2) the next step is the approval of the resource matters, and the details of the application, the outline of the access etc. and the proposed design. 

(3) Full Planning Applications are for everything on the site, the layout, the design, listed buildings and permission to carry out  work on protected buildings.  Any trees in a Conservation Area are protected, and those that we visit outside a Conservation Area are protected by a T.P.O.

How are applications processed, and how do we proceed?  When the application is received, we check that we have all the information to make a decision, and we check the register, and the application is given a specific file page number, with the prefix the year.  The application is placed in the public register at Cheshire Lines, and published, and there are three ways in which this can be done.  We send out a neighbour notification to anybody who is next to a site that we have received an application.  Some times we include more people and send letters out to them, and the period of time is 21 days.  Recently, Telecom have prohibited notices being put on their poles.  The notices are fairly obvious, they are bright yellow, and every application has a site notice, and there are now more than before, because we have often been asked why did we not get a letter of notification?  One lady reported that they are usually tied too high up the lampposts, and you cannot read them.

The third is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

NHS Wirral - Russell Favager of the NHS reported that there was a full Report available to anyone who wished to avail themselves of it, and drew attention to the fact that there is a free NHS check available to everyone with their local GP.  Alistair Bardsley had reported that there is a great deal of capital development taking place on the wards and MRSA is being controlled, and the hospital is working very hard at a difficult period

Merseyside Police - Inspector Kate Cunningham reported that, generally the news was good – continuing to reduce the amount of crime, 25% from last year. Anti-social behaviour is down again, and there have been some significant arrests in the past month, all due to information coming from the public.  There was a break-in at commercial premises in Thingwall, and they were caught.  In terms of the priorities agreed at the meeting in January, speeding motorists on Fishers Lane in Pensby, has been looked into and there has been some improvement, and also a reduction in the anti-social behaviour in

The Ridgeway Centre.  We have also been asked to watch a couple of premises in Heswall where there have been disturbances. 

Community Safety -  Ian Lowry advised that there was information relating to community safety on page 12 of the area co-ordinators report and that the community safety team works with in partnership with the Police to help reduce crime.  Mike Collins from Community Patrol pointed out that the correct phone number on page 12 of the report should read 666 5265.  He also reported that community patrol are working on a some initiatives one is to train people on removing dog fouling.

Fire Service - John Davies, Fire Service. Please see page 24 of the area co-ordinators report.  Heswall has got a new fire engine, which is a considerable investment, as the average life of a fire engine is about ten years.  Heswall Fire Station has asked the schools to name the new fire engine. Mr. Garrett asked would there be a purchaser for the old engine.

Older Peoples Parliament - Sandy Cameron, Older People’s Parliament.  On Page 39 of the area co-ordinators report there is information on the Older People’s Parliament, numbers are increasing with more people joining. 

·  Streetscene -

·  NHS Wirral

·  Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 

·  Merseyside Police/Community Safety -

·  Fire Service -

·  Older People's parliament -

Sandy Cameron drew attention to the fact that he had notified Phil Miner about the state of Thurstaston Road/Delavor Road.  Cllr. Peter Johnson said that Technical Services had notified him that work would start on this soon. 

Sandy Cameron also said that Poll Hill Road is very bad. 

Tony Garrett reported that Banks Road and Broad Lane are also in need of repair.  He also mentioned that on Page 8, of the co-ordinators report, John Pyke raised the fact that the rose beds in front of Castle Buildings are being walked over.  Can they be tarmaced over?

John Pyke, Heswall Society responded by stating that the possibility of tarmacing over the rose beds fills him with horror. 

Cllr. Rowlands agreed that they may be in need of attention, but people enjoy them, and he would rather see roses than tarmac in that position.

Claire Sanderson advised that Pensby Library Junior Users received some funding from the area forum and purchased some bean bags, for the junior users. The bean bags have been very successful and used regularly by the young people, in fact they were that comfortable they fell asleep on them.

Gentleman raised that in Whitfield Lane and Pensby Road – there is a tree there, which obscures the view, and could cause an accident.  Representative from Street Scene is meeting him tomorrow to look at this.

Pauline Sutton – raised an issue about Downham Road North junction with Whitfield Lane – the double yellow lines do not go far enough, and the Police say it is the Council’s job to look at it.  On one occasion I was coming round the corner, and I saw a car practically cause an accident.  Streetscene will look at this. 

 It was also reported that people are still coming across to the Aldi car park, and there was nearly an accident there last week. Could the entrance be moved slightly?  Geoff Bell has been to look at this, and it does not seem to be a practical solution.

Do the Council have any policy for re-furbishing the lamp posts in the road?  They have never been painted in the 40 years   Cllr. Rowlands said there is a rolling programme around the Borough to replace them. However  Pauline Sutton said that to paint them was less expensive.

Cllr. Bob Wilkins said that most of the old ones are quite dangerous, as they are rotten at the bottom.

Beryl Crocker – elderly ladies complain about the state of the tarmac at the bus stop at Pensby Road (near Rosemead Avenue) causing puddles and lots of loose stones.  Also the yellow double lines have not been put there, and people park there to go to the dentist. -  Street Scene made a note of this.

Tony Garrett said thank you for the two benches installed at the Banks Road car park, and a lady also thanked for one on the Puddydale through the You Decide Funding. . 

Tony Garrett also asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

• Wednesday 16^th June 2010

Wednesday 16^th June – Venue: Hope Centre, Fishers Lane, Pensby, Wirral CH61 5XE