• Minutes are a summary only

Councillor Denise Roberts, welcomed forum members and 20 members of the public to St James Centre. Apologies received from Councillors Steve Foulkes & George Davies due to other council business.

Michelle Gray explained that any issues raised were detailed in the minutes with the relevant actions.  Michelle Gray and Louise Harland-Davies are liaising with Technical Services re: outstanding issues regarding grit bins. 

Rob Clifford gave an update on the proposed 20mph speed limits in Residential Areas. Wirral Council is introducing 20mph speed limits on non-major residential routes across Wirral to help make our streets safer for everyone.  This scheme will be implemented in two phases and completed during 2014.  On 1^st March 2012.  £550k was allocated for this project and it is anticipated that a further £275k will be required in each of the years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to complete this initiative.  Any comments on the proposed phasing of the project affecting your area can be made by filling in the postcard or alternatively should you have any further comments please contact Streetscene on 0151 606 2004 or email Streetscene@wirral.gov.uk.

• Your Economy
• Your Family
• What Next/Future Funding

Michelle Gray gave a presentation on the Your Economy and Your Family aspects of the neighbourhood plan consultation and what people said were a priority under these headings.

• Your Family Priorities: Services for Children and Young People, Health and Social Care and other Community Services.
• Your Economy Priorities: Finding Employment, Training and Skills and Regeneration.

A discussion was held on how the consultation was undertaken and which groups of people contributed to the results in the focus sessions.

NEIGHBOURHOOD FUNDING: This year, Wirral Council has made more funding than ever available for communities to decide what extra services, projects and activities they would like to see in their local community.

To make sure this funding is used to pay only for what communities really want, we have developed a list of priorities for each Forum area based on the Neighbourhood Plan consultation 2011.

When you are completing your application, you need to ensure that the project you are proposing fits under at least one of those priorities for Bidston, St James, Claughton & Noctorum areas. Applications should demonstrate that they link into:

• Improve Community Safety
• Improve Community Life
• Improve Training & Skills
• Regeneration

Neighbourhood Funding is available for Community, Voluntary and Faith sector groups, as well as businesses, social enterprises and public sector bodies to apply.  Applications are invited from 2nd July and the closing date is 12noon on 17th August 2012. Application forms will be available on our website www.wirral.gov.uk/neighbourhood or by emailing us on engage@wirral.gov.uk or calling us on 0151 691 8210.

In addition to this there is a budget set for Road Safety/Road Maintenance of just over £35,000.  Elected members and Technical Services will be meeting in July to allocate this funding.

MERSEYSIDE POLICE: Inspector McGregor explained there has been a reduction in crime generally.  Officers have been trained, in dealing with those who are out joyriding in the local area..  Overall good picture for this area.  The YMCA gave Police use of a canal barge not just for rehabilitation use, but took out a group OAPs and some young people on the barge, this was a positive day for all.

Wirral – Your Neighbourhood Newsletter was available at the meeting.

MERSEYSIDE FIRE AND RESCUE: Paul Murphy explained Birkenhead Fire Station is to be demolished next month via PFI private finance initiative.  We are committed to maintaining high standards, despite the current financial restraints being faced. Focusing on a more targeted approach towards the more vulnerable and at risk members of our communities, we will visit a minimum of 13,000 properties in Wirral which have never been visited.

We have seen 7.7% reduction in anti-social behavior secondary fires on Wirral.  Our Planning for this year’s bonfire period is underway with our first meeting with partners being held on the 19 June 2012.

The prevention team are currently working in conjunction with operation crews from Birkenhead to embedded a multi-agency process to increase awareness for operational crews and community safety staff of the localities of rough sleepers in Wirral. Our aim is to work in partnership with relevant agencies, to share information regarding locations of rough sleeping with operational crews. We are also looking to provide a resettlement pathway, when a homeless person moves into medium or long term accommodation we can complete a HFSC and implement any risk reduction interventions.

Wirral Prevention team are currently developing a Home Fire Safety Check referral pathway with the probation service. 

COMMUNITY SAFETY: Ian Lowrie asked the forum members to consider Neighbourhood watch schemes in their area as they are very successful.  Vehicle crime is down.  Hate crime is moving on quite a pace and being reported and dealt with.  This is thanks to the work and support of Pauline Cocker.

NHS: Lorna Quigley Chief Officer Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group explained the changes occurring within the NHS.  Currently Services are commissioned by the Primary Care Trust, from April 2012, these will no longer exist due to the health bill, which requires GP’s to form into groups to becoming clinical commissioning groups. The reason for this is because GP’s are aware of the needs of their patients and the population that they serve. All 61 GP practices within Wirral have become a member of the Wirral Clinical Commissioning group. Due to the demographics within Wirral they have split into 3 further groups in order to serve their patient population more effectively.  

The Commissioning group will be:

• Close to patients, carers and the public.
• Driven by clinicians and working with others to commission high quality care
• Ensuring the future of the NHS by making sure it remains free.

In order to do this, the newly formed CCG has to go through an authorisation process, to ensure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

• Wednesday 3^rd October 6.30pm – 8.30pm to be hosted at Bidston Avenue Primary School, Tollemache Road, Claughton, Wirral CH41 0DQ