Agenda and minutes

Venue: Victoria Hall, Village Road, Bebington, Wirral (adjacent to the Acorn Public House) CH63 8PT

Contact: Michelle Gray  Community Engagement Co-ordinator

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome, Introductions and Apologies

Minutes:

 

  • Minutes are a summary and show main points only, issues raised with individual officers after the main meeting are actioned separately with the relevant officer.

 

The Chair, Councillor Sheila Clarke, welcomed forum members and 70

members of public to the forum meeting.  Cllr Clarke explained that she was

pleased with messages of support and action from last meeting and the

minutes are available on the internet.

 

2.

Neighbourhood Plan Update

Minutes:

Michelle Gray gave a presentation on “your neighbourhood” The street where you live theme, part of the Neighbourhood Plan for the Bebington & Clatterbridge wards including areas of: Thornton Hough, Brimstage, Brackenwood, Raby Mere, raby, Spital & Storeton.

 

Key Points that where highlighted for the area forum to address:

 

  • Road Safety & Maintenance
    • Pot Holes
    • Uneven Pavements/Roads
    • Speeding encourage 20mph schemes in residential areas
    • Obstruction on the Highway

 

  • Community Safety
    • More Police Presence
    • A successful Neighbourhood Watch Scheme

 

  • Street Cleanliness
    • Litter
    • Dog fouling

 

  • Parks & Leisure
    • General upkeep and tidy up of our parks/open spaces
    • More Sporting Activities especially in our parks and open spaces
    • Improvements to play areas
    • Updates Equipment with parks and play areas

 

Update: The Area Forum panel has also acted on your feedback following the Neighbourhood Plan Consultation, and subject to site visits with officers and elected members the road safety funding will be allocated to:

 

  • Improve access - improvements to dropped kerb crossings in the following roads: Kirket Lane Bebington, St Andrew’s Rectory Bebington and Brookhurst  Avenue/Brookhurst Road, Spital

 

  • Speeding traffic - purchase a Vehicle Activated Sign for Dibbinsdale Road (near Dibbinsdale Inn)

 

  • Safety measures – purchase of Horse Warning Signs around Manor Road, Thornton Hough and Raby Road, Raby.

 

  • Crossings – The installation of a Pedestrian Refuge Island on Kings Road Bebington near to Bentfield Gardens (adjacent to Christ Church)

 

What next: June 2012 - all 11 area forums will cover the next round of themes of “Your Family” and “Your Economy”. All themes will be collated and form a local action plan to address issues and future developments for the local area.

 

  • Anyone who is interested in being part of the Neighbourhood Plan developments to contact the Community Engagement Team. Tel: 0151 691 8026 email: michellegray@wirral.gov.uk

 

 

3.

Mayer Hall, Pennant House, Clock Tower Complex etc - Update from Cabinet Report February 2012

Minutes:

Ian Brand - Cabinet report was considered on 2nd February 2012. Cabinet took into account the strong views from the special area forum.  Ian Brand read the cabinet minute that had been agreed. He explained that this was a draft minute, subject to call-in. 

 

He went on to explain that since the last meeting there have been repairs undertaken such as the car park flood lights, trailing electric leads have been taken away, roof repairs underwent emergency work especially to the clock tower building and there has been a lot of interest with regards to community take over. 

 

Cllr Cherry Povall – Read letter from Susan Nicholson on the support and future plans.

 

Dennis Boyd – Thanked Ian Brand for replying to his emails. The Council undertook strategic asset review but was it not highlighted that these buildings had got into the state they were in? It is not good enough.  £1.2 million worth of damage in those buildings exist due to our elected members! If building is run down to this level it is considerable damage to the tax payer.  How do I know I can trust you Mr Brand?

 

Mr Ian Brand –It is my job to respond and deal with you in professional manner and it is down to you if you trust me or not.  I cannot make you trust me.  All I can say is we will do our level best. 

 

Public Member – (Francis – Yoga Teacher, Mayer Hall) There was a stage when I was told Mayer Hall was closing and I cannot find anywhere now to hold my evening classes.  I remember the stage when it was that bad we were scared the plaster would fall on our heads.  My aim is a lot of people do not know about Mayer Hall and what happens there.  There is no community note up at the hall. 

 

Public Member (Dorothy Williams Mayor Hall Trust) – I use Mayor hall 3 times a week.  There are 16 groups that meet in Highcroft that had nowhere to go, no one could accommodate us so re-opened Mayor Hall.  I would like to thank Cllr Alan Sykes who supported me in the last meeting.  People confused Pennant House with Mayor Hall.  There was a letter in the Wirral News from Councillors stating that nothing had been spent on the building for 25 years but there has.  Highcroft paid for curtains and furniture and repaired the hall, in 2001 outside was painted and a new kitchen fitted.  The Council then fitted a boiler.  The hall was re-roofed with a grant from a user group and we raised £26k and Council paid difference however, this was not fixed properly which caused the real damage to Mayor Hall. 

 

Cllr Sheila Clarke – Explained it was confirmed in last meeting that £1.3 million would be the cost to do 3 buildings.  Cannot just isolate the 3 buildings, need to include Bebington Civic Centre as well.

 

Public Member – Basically the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Partner Organisations Updates

Minutes:

Merseyside Police Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Hall explained that the challenges are around economic climate.  Theft from cars and burglary dwelling has increased.  Asked forum to take extra care and if they could assist by being the eyes and ears for the Police.  Criminals are more likely to steal from a car than burgle a house as they are likely to go to prison if caught.  Burglaries are on the decrease and so is violence and Anti social behaviour.  Plan is to get police officers on the street.  Informed everyone that Bromborough Police Station was not closed it is just not a station where can pop in anymore.  Can ring 101 for non emergency calls.  The only 24hr Police Station now is Birkenhead.  Have your say meetings are published in the all police news letters and on the website. 

 

Community Safety Steve Preston Warned residents/forum not to leave their engines on the morning to de-ice cars.  Make sure PVC doors are closed properly with a key and not to just pull handles up.  Also informed forum that the Community Safety control room is now open 24 hours a day and also their dog fouling team have now started issuing £50 fines and if these are unpaid then the recipient will have to attend court.  Bebington and Clatterbridge is a safe area and crime is dropping.  Can contact Community Safety on 666 5625/5001 whereby will be able to respond to lower level of crime. 

 

Merseyside Fire and Rescue – Natalie Hughes The Wirral District is led by Paul Murphy who has overall responsibility for the 6 Community Fire Stations along with the Wirral Community Safety Team which is located at Wallasey Fire Station. The Community Safety Team is a cross functional team which consists of both operational and advocacy staff, and is structured to focus on the Prevention and Protection of Wirral’s communities through engagement with the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.

 

Wirral Community Safety Team are currently developing and publishing a Wirral Community Safety Plan which will be accompanied by 6 Wirral Community Fire Stations Plans that are linked to the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Integrated Risk Management Plan. 

 

We have held a series of planning meetings at local fire stations, involving partners and staff in the design and delivery of community safety activities to improve responsiveness to local needs. The Plans recognise the diverse nature of the communities of Wirral and will enable our Community Safety activity to be tailored specifically to the needs of the local community and complement the delivery of agreed local priorities.

 

The initiatives within each of the plans will be bespoke to that area however there will be cross cutting themes for the Wirral which will include:

  • The reduction of Accidental Dwelling Fires, Deaths & Injuries
  • Road Traffic Collisions Education and Reduction
  • Reduction in incidents of arson and anti-social behaviour
  • Seasonal Activities – Fire Watch & Bonfire Strategy

 

Some of the more innovative initiatives which will be included will be:

 

5.

Public Question Time

Minutes:

Heaters:

Q: It said on the news to swap paraffin heaters for electric heaters?

A: If you ring the freephone number on the leaflets provided, you will be assessed over the phone. 

 

Police Cars:

Q: MerseysidePolice are changing their fleet from Vauxhall for Hyundai.  I would like to express my anger.  The police are turning down British cars!

A: Inspector Steve Hall – my personal response is we are changing fleet as we have to be more cost effective.  Each of the 43 forces do their own procurement.  My personal opinion is £61 million cut in budget and the greatest expenditure is staff wages.  We will be 250 less Officers in April! Do we continue to buy expensive cars or do we prioritise?

Comment: If Merseyside Police don’t buy local they reduce employment and increase crime.

 

Wellington Road:

Q: Wellington Road suffering with anti social behaviour and harassment from young people is getting worse.  PCSO’s have been off sick, why is nothing being done when some of our council tax pays for the Police?

A: Inspector Steve Hall the shops there are a priority as this has been raised in a have your say meeting.  PCSO’s being ill, WE have not changed our resources; we will work with community patrol.

Comments:

  • Walked past Welllington Road area at 5:45pm and incidents of ASB and harassment is even happening then.
  • Have you say meetings are vital so can feed this information back. 

 

Cllr Sheila Clarke closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance.

 

6.

Close

Minutes:

Next Meeting:

 

Thursday 28th June 2012 Thornton Hough WI, Neston Road, Thornton Hough Wirral CH63 1JF. Start time 6.30pm