Agenda and minutes

Venue: Birkenhead Town Hall

Contact: Lyndzay Roberts 

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair

The Committee be invited to appoint a new Chair and Vice-Chair for the remainder of the Committee meeting and the Municipal Year.

Minutes:

The Head of Legal and Member Services invited nominations for the appointment of the Chair.

 

On a motion by Councillor M McLaughlin, seconded by Councillor C Meaden, it was –

 

Resolved – That Frank Field MP be appointed Chair of the Birkenhead Constituency Committee for the remainder of this municipal year.

 

The Head of Legal and Member Services then requested nominations for appointment of Vice-Chair.

 

On a motion by Councillor J Crabtree and seconded, it was –

 

Resolved – That Councillor George Davies be appointed Vice-Chair of the Birkenhead Constituency Committee for the remainder of this municipal year.

 

2.

Chairs Opening Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed all Members and those members of the public present to the meeting and indicated that he would be bringing Item 6 – Anti-social behaviour – Presentation, forward to the first item of the agenda for consideration to allow Ms Jane Kennedy, Police and Crime Commissioner to present and for members of the public to ask questions.

 

 

3.

Anti-Social Behaviour - Presentation

To receive a presentation from Ms Jane Kennedy, Police Commissioner for Merseyside on anti-social behaviour.

Minutes:

The Chair indicated that at the last meeting of the Committee, Mr Kinsella, Independent Consultant, was requested to provide information to the next meeting on the data surrounding Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and the Council’s strategy to support this important issue (minute 28 refers).

 

A copy of the analysis undertaken by Mr Kinsella was circulated as part of supplementary papers.

 

The Chair indicated that the analysis highlighted that 1 in 10 people in Birkenhead were affected by crime and anti-social behaviour, and that the figures highlight that Birkenhead had a slower downward trend compared with other constituencies; with rowdy behaviour being highlighted as the biggest issue faced.

 

At this point in the meeting the Chair welcomed Ms Jane Kennedy, Police and Crime Commissioner.

 

The Police and Crime Commissioner introduced both Mr McAdam from the Office of Police and Crime Commission and Inspector Georgie Minnery, Neighbourhood Policing Team for Birkenhead and gave Members a brief outline of her role as the Police and Crime Commissioner.

 

Then with the permission of the Chair, circulated some data in relation to crime statistics and indicated that in relation to ASB this appeared to show a reduction but there was an evidential increase in overall crime. Ms Kennedy indicated that out of the 90,000 calls received only a small amount became reported crime.

 

In relation to the figures, Ms Kennedy indicated that these were reviewed at a regular ASB governance meeting and that she was reassured that those figures were reliable and regularly audited. Ms Kennedy explained that her perception of the concerns raised at the Committee and the figures reported was that there were fewer neighbourhoods policing teams therefore possibly less reporting, this may be why the figure were showing a reduction.

 

Ms Kennedy reiterated that her role was to hold the police to account and that she had no power to interfere with operational issues, but reassured the Committee that the first of her policies was to tackle ASB.

 

The Poverty Act Fund was available from the Police Authority; this was a smaller fund than what was given in previous years to community/voluntary organisations, to make Wirral a better place to live. Details of the fund were available on the website and deadline for applications was 10 June 2015.

 

Ms Kennedy further highlighted the Positive Futures initiative in particular a case study of a young person who had come through the scheme and had been very successful, with no further reports of ASB. Ms Kennedy stated that this was an excellent example of agencies working together.

 

In response to a question raised by Mr Haywood, Ms Kennedy explained that Police Officers and Police Community Support Officer had very different roles to perform within Merseyside Police. Police Officers who were on mobile patrol were generally responsible for answering grade 1 and 2 calls, these being emergency calls, requiring an immediate response or within an hour. To maximise resources a lot of the officers patrolled independently, a small number doubly crewed. They also had a team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

MEMBERS' CODE OF CONDUCT- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in connection with any item(s) on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Phil Davies and Councillor Chris Meaden declared a personal interest in Item 9 – Constituency Managers Update by virtue of them being Non-Executive Directors of Lairdside Communities Together.

 

Councillors Steve Foulkes, declared a personal interest in agenda item 9 – Constituency Managers Update by virtue of him being a Board Member of Magenta Living.

 

 

5.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from:

 

Councillor B Kenny

Councillor A McLachlan

Councillor P Williams

Mr J Blott, Strategic Director, Transformation and Resources

 

6.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 73 KB

The Committee be requested to approve the accuracy of minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2015.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2015 be agreed as a correct record.

 

7.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND PUBLIC SPEND ANALYSIS UPDATE

To receive an update report from the Rt. Hon.Frank Field MP on the anti-social behaviour and public spend analysis.

Minutes:

The Chair indicated that a series of work was to follow on anti-social behaviour and public spend analysis.

 

Councillor P Davies indicated that the Chief Executive , Mr Eric Robinson was very supportive of targeting resources based on need and was very receptive to this approach. Spend would be much more targeted on Birkenhead especially in relation ASB.

 

 

8.

CONSTITUENCY MANAGER'S UPDATE pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report by the Head of Neighbourhoods and Engagement that updated the Committee on progress in relation to the agreed schemes of work from the budget devolved to the Constituency Committee to date. A finance summary sheet for the Committee’s budget and expenditure was attached as appendix 1 to the report.

 

Attached to the report were appendices which the Constituency Manager presented to the Committee in relation to the Constituency Committee’s Financial Summary; Improving the Environment Project update; Anti-Social Behaviour Briefing Paper; St Paul’s Community Hub Action Plan; Birkenhead Your Wirral Project Summary; List of dropped kerbs funded through Integrated Transport Board funds; Wirral Wide Your Wirral Summary of Projects; 7 Beats Update, Birkenhead Police Project and Community Engagement Activity.

 

The Constituency Manager updated the Committee on the following:

 

Town Talk Community Newspaper

 

The Constituency Manager indicated that she had met with Ward Members and others to discuss the future of the Town Talk Community Newspaper and reported that the publication now incorporated the comments from Members. A Member indicated that had attended the meeting commented that he felt the meeting was positive and suggested that publication includes the opportunity to applaud those young people who do good things for the community.

 

Improving the Environment

 

The Constituency Manager updated the Committee on the three month contract report from Lairdside Communities Together which identified sites for proposed action and the progress made to date.

 

The Constituency Manager referred to the pictures of completed works which had previously circulated to Members indicating that the pictures were not the ones of completed works therefore these would be re-circulated.

 

The Chair reminded Members to report all grot-spots on behalf of their constituents and contact the Constituency Manager if issues raised were not addressed.

 

In response to Members comments regarding the CRM system, the Constituency Manager indicated that she would look into resolving the issues raised by Members. 

 

Public Health Outcome Fund 2013/14

 

The Constituency Manager indicated that the action plan and progress made by St Paul’s Community Hub were detailed within her report for Members to note.

 

 

Integrated Transport Block Capital Programme 2014/15

 

The Constituency Manager updated the Committee on the road safety project which was going well. A list of the proposed dropped kerbs was attached as an appendix to the report.

 

Birkenhead Project

 

The Chair invited Mr Andy Brannan, from the Neighbourhoods and Engagement Team to update the Committee on the Birkenhead Project.

 

Mr Brannan indicated that each of the four Constituency Committees had been allocated ‘Your Wirral’ funding. Birkenhead focused its funding on lunch/breakfast clubs for children in Birkenhead. This was currently being undertaken by Manor kitchen.

 

The Chair suggested that these kinds of activities be publicised to enable the community to be informed and able to utilise the activities.

 

Mr Brannan indicated that the next round of ‘Your Wirral’ funding would be made available shortly to enable organisations to apply to do something during the next school holidays.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  the updates contained within the Constituency  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Minutes:

Prior to consideration of this item the Chair requested that all Members of the Committee receive a copy of the Questions and Answers paper prior to the meeting, the Chair then indicated that 11 questions had been received prior to the meeting all of which had received a response from appropriate officers, copies of which were made available at the meeting.

 

The Chair invited the following members of the public to ask their questions.

 

Question 1 Residents of the Crossways Estate

 

Residents raised concerns and submitted a petition and circulated photographic evidence regarding the poor living conditions faced by residents living on the Crossways estate, Residents asked when Magenta Housing would be making a decision on the future of the estate. The estate had been left in a poor state, overrun with rats and plagued by anti-social behaviour and flytipping.

 

It was commented that Magenta had issued the same response to residents for the last two years and that the community had fell apart living in such poor conditions with no information given as to its future.

 

A Member who also was on the Board at Magenta Living commented that it was a difficult situation and one that he had called for to be resolved as soon as possible, however before any further decisions were made on the Crossways estate more information was needed. He further commented that Magenta had invested funds to improve the area and would continue to do that for tenants until a decision on its future was made.

 

The Chair asked that those representatives of the Council who sat on the Board at Magenta Living raise this issue on the resident’s behalf to try and get a response; he further suggested that a public meeting be held for the residents of the Crossways estate to discuss this issue further.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  Those Members that were the Council representative on the Board of Magenta Living be requested to raise the issues raised by the residents of the Crossways estate  at their next meeting; and

 

(2)  the Constituency Manager be requested to arrange a public meeting to include the residents of the Crossways estate and representatives of Magenta Housing to discuss the issues raised by residents. 

 

 

Question 2 Hugh Langford

 

Mr Langford raised concern regarding cyclists riding on the pavements in particular in New Chester Road.

 

 

 

Mr Langford had received a response from Merseyside Police. Mr Langford commented that he felt that the response he had received was unsatisfactory and asked if the use of CCTV could be a possibility in that area and also requested further information on the number of prosecutions undertaken to date.

 

10.

Thurstaston NCS Programme Home Residential

Minutes:

Ms Julie Smith, CSDO, Sports Development informed the Committee of the NCS Programme Home Residential. They were currently engaging with a 150 young people from across Wirral who had signed up for the NCS Summer programme, part of the project was that each young person would give 60 hours of volunteering within the communities of Wirral. This would be the decision of the young people in their cohorts to gather information facts and figures then agree to which group they would like to help. They would fund raise for the groups; paint areas within the community anything that would help the community to flourish. They have two waves of 75 young people in each in cohorts of 15.

 

Community Group were invited to hold a market stall on Thursday 23 July WAVE 1 and 30 July WAVE 2 to sell their projects to the young people.

 

The community had to enter into the Dragons Den and pitch themselves to the young people, the young people then gather the information given to them; following which will be a Question Time where the young people shall ask questions to the community groups.

 

Stalls from 10am-11.30am

Question Time 12pm – 1.30pm

 

In the afternoon the youndg people would go forward to the Dragons Den and the stage was then set for them to pitch to the Panel telling them what and why they had chosen their project.

 

Anyone interested they can email their show of interest to paulabaker@wirral.gov.uk.

 

Ms Smith further reported that Sport Development Team had been working very hard to support Thurstaston behind the scenes to open it up for camping projects, there was now running water, toilet facilities and showers.