This report (to follow) and additional presentation at the Committee meeting makes recommendations as to the Committee’s budget allocation in relation to the following grant programmes:

§  The Wirral West Community Fund

§  Wirral West Public Health Grants

Further to minutes 7 (30 October 2013) and 17 (12 December 2013), the Constituency Manager presented recommendations for the allocation of the Wirral West Constituency Budget for 2013/2014, on the basis of two grant programmes –

·  Wirral West Community Fund

A Council allocation of £50,000, to be divided on the basis of £10,000 per ward, for projects which aimed to improve the quality of life in Wirral West and impact positively on local people and places. The criteria allowed a maximum of £1,000 per project, voted on by the community to inform the decisions of the Committee as to which would receive funding.

Following an initial assessment, 10 projects had been considered to be ineligible and two were withdrawn, which left 44 projects that were taken forward to be voted upon by the public, either at a series of community events or by participating in the supplementary online or paper voting process. Approximately 1500 people voted, with over 300 outside Wirral West and the Constituency Manager set out the responses for each ward.

·  Wirral West Public Health Grants Programme

An additional allocation of £50,000 of Public Health funding, which aimed to increase the healthy life expectancy of local residents and reduce deficiencies in healthy life expectancy between communities. A maximum grant of £3,000 per project would be allocated on the basis of recommendations that had been made by an officer panel. The public health criteria required £25,000 to be split equally between wards, with the remaining £25,000 to be allocated on the basis of need, as evidenced in the grant applications from groups and organisations.

The Committee was asked to consider and agree 18 projects (set out at appendix 1 to the Constituency Manager’s report) that were recommended for funding, with four having been declined on the basis of the assessment and one being withdrawn.

The Constituency Manager commented that all projects to be funded as an outcome of the report were required to be completed by December 2014 and she assured Members that robust project monitoring was in place for both grant programmes. Over and above this, proactive support for the projects funded by the Committee would be undertaken by the Constituency team, with a focus on celebrating success and promoting sustainability.

Members were also advised that, subject to decisions of the Committee, most of the total budget allocation would be committed by the end of the financial year. However, it had subsequently been confirmed that any remaining budget could be carried over into 2014/2015 should it be necessary to do so.

With regard to the Community Fund, the Constituency Manager set out the projects for consideration on a ward by ward basis, ranked in relation to the level of support each had received following the community vote and recommendations were provided for the Committee’s consideration.

The Chair noted that for West Kirby and Thurstaston Ward, although the majority of projects had received more ‘yes’ votes than ‘no’ votes, it had not been possible to fund all of them. However, there was the possibility that there would be some slippage and, if that was the case, funding could then be allocated to other projects on the list. Members referred to the high levels of community engagement and participation across the Constituency and highlighted the need to build on the achievements to ensure that all areas were fully represented.

Resolved –

(1)  That the following allocation of the Wirral West Community Fund be approved:

(a)  Greasby, Frankby and Irby

The following projects be funded and an underspend of £2405 be held in reserve to contribute to ward improvements, including an exploration of options for drainage/flood prevention at Coronation Park

§  CF18 Tree Planting

(Volunteer Wirral Tree Wardens)

§  CF05 Provision of disabled toilet

(St Bartholomew with St Chad, Irby)

§  CF06 Improving Irby Village Copse

(Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society)

§  CF39 Expansion of Activities

(Greasby Over Sixties Club)

§  CF52 Installation of Bench at Greasby Centre Grounds

(Greasby Community Association/Blooming Greasby)

§  CF50 Covering front cover costs of the Greasby Messenger

(Greasby Community Association)

§  CF51 Contribution to erection, dismantling and storage of Greasby Christmas Lights Display

(Greasby Community Association)

§  CF23 Creating Raised Beds at Greasby Allotment Site

(Greasby Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association)

(b)  Hoylake and Meols

The following projects, all with a majority ‘yes’ vote, be funded on the basis of the community vote; and a further opportunity be given for local projects to access the underspend of £6984

§  CF29 Festi-Velo Bike Parade

(Festival of Firsts)

§  CF65 Community Noticeboards

(Hoylake Lifeboat Museum)

§  CF16 Repair Storm damaged public shelter

(Hoylake Model Boat Club)

§  CF07 Minor Refurbishment

(Hoylake Marine Bowling Club)

(c)  Pensby and Thingwall

Taking into account the community benefit, the availability of funding and the low response to the community vote, each of the following projects be funded. The underspend of £3410 be kept in reserve to contribute to ward improvements, including road safety schemes, resurfacing the play area at Fisher’s Lane and supporting the annual Pensby Family Fair.

§  CF56 To plant hedgerow and erecting a fence at Thingwall allotments site

(Thingwall Community Allotment Society)

§  CF57 Establish and maintain WW1 Memorial garden within Thingwall allotment site

(Thingwall Community Allotment Society)

§  CF04 Purchase of equipment to facilitate family classes

(local Tae Kwondo Club)

§  CF31 Installation of Viking Information Board near site of the ancient Viking parliament

(Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society)

§  CF42 Brownies 100^th Birthday Event at Pensby High School

(Deeside Division Guides)

§  CF61 Production of two short local history films involving local young people to be published online

(AJP Media Limited/The Radio Project)

§  CF67 An outing for members of the luncheon club

(Kylemore Listening Centre)

(d)  Upton and Woodchurch

The following projects be funded on the basis of the community vote and taking into account also the benefits to the community. The underspend of £3149.43 be held in reserve to contribute to ward improvements, including community clean ups and allocating a small budget to the young people who attend Fender Youth Club

§  CF22 Creation of a stimulating visual and sensory garden space to enhance learning

(Parents and Friends of Upton Hall School)

§  CF41 Older People’s event

(Woodchurch Methodist Centre)

§  CF32 Development of the Salacre Allotment Site by the introduction of wildlife and wildflowers

(Salacre Allotment Society)

§  CF01 Bees, bees and more bees at Salacre allotment site

(Salacre Allotment Society)

§  CF37 Development of Fender Primary School garden

(Friends of Fender Primary School)

§  CF49 Developing the Community Centre’s luncheon club

(Woodchurch Community Centre Joint Management Committee)

§  CF38 Storage Facilities

(Upton Victory Hall)

§  CF63 Equipment and training

(Woodchurch Villa FC)

(e)  West Kirby and Thurstaston

The following projects, those with the highest levels of community support, be funded; and that, should slippage occur, the officers be authorised to allocate funding to other projects on the basis of their community support.

§  CF08 Replacement benches in vicinity of the war memorial

(Friends of Grange Hill)

§  CF09 Development of an all ability footpath at Grange Hill

(Friends of Grange Hill)

§  CF10 Installation of sign to encourage use of Grange Hill

(Friends of Grange Hill)

§  CF24 ‘Story of West Wirral’ installation

(Charles Dawson Brown (West Kirby) Museum)

§  CF19 Clean up project in conjunction with Wirral Eco Schools

(Friends of Hilbre Parents and Teachers Association)

§  CF55 Provision of audio-visual equipment for the Beacon Room of the St Bridget’s Centre

(St Bridget’s Centre Management Committee)

§  CF54 Activities for support group for people living with dementia and their carer

(Marine Lake Patient Participation Group)

§  CF68 ‘Incredible Edible’ planters at West Kirby Concourse

(Transition Town West Kirby)

§  CF33 Provision of bike rack

(Caldy Cricket Club)

§  CF69 Light Up West Kirby event

(Mellow Yellow)

§  CF73 Community Art Project to develop a welcoming feature at an entrance to Grange Park

(Friends of Grange Community Park)

(2)  That the allocation of Public Health Grants in respect of the 18 projects set out at appendix 1 to the report now submitted, be approved:

(3)  That the underspend of £5633.57 from the Public Health allocation be carried forward into 2014/2015 for the development of project activity for inclusion in the Constituency Plan, aimed at building on community assets to improve health and wellbeing and tackle social isolation in Wirral West.

(4)  That the allocation of the budget for the financial year 2014/2015 be considered at the next meeting of the Committee, alongside the draft Wirral West Constituency Plan.

(5)  That the thanks of the Committee be accorded to Jane Morgan, Constituency Manager, for the work undertaken to ensure the success of the various community events, which had been undertaken.