In the 2007/08 financial year, two of the eleven Area Forums had opted to have a share of the Integrated Transport Block at their disposal to fund local schemes.  The improvements for Heswall/Pensby/Thingwall included the construction of a pedestrian refuge, and for Bromborough/Eastham, a contribution to a traffic calming scheme, direction signing and a lowered kerb crossing.

The Council’s Cabinet had received very positive feedback on the success of the pilot in the two areas and is now inviting each area forum to consider whether it wishes to receive de-centralised funding in 2009/10.  The money can be used to provide lowered kerb crossings, modest local signposting and road lining schemes.  Officer input will be available to all area forums to guide them in the decision-making process. The total budget for the Integrated Transport block is £180,000 which, apportioned across the eleven Area Forums, would equate to around £16,300 per Area Forum.  The alternative would be to administer the funding centrally. 

The report contained a recommendation that –

This Area Forum has been requested to:-

i  note the type of traffic management schemes which can be funded through the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block allocation.

ii  provide views as to whether or not it wishes to receive a decentralised one-  eleventh share of the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Block   Allocation equating to approximately £16,300 per Area Forum to carry out   scheme(s) of a traffic management/road safety nature in the local area.

Andrew Taylor commented that whilst it would be a good idea to devolve money to local area forums, he had serious reservations about the undemocratic nature of area forums and about representatives who are not elected to the area forum being allowed to spend Council money.  As a member of an area forum in the past, he had refused to be responsible for any decisions that involved spending public money. 

Councillor Kelly agreed that Andrew Taylor had raised some challenging questions.  He explained that area forums already have jurisdiction over two pots of money – one is community initiatives funding and the other is ‘You Decide’ funding.  The area forum makes recommendations to Cabinet on how they wish to spend the money, and the Cabinet has the powers to override any recommendations if it was felt they were inappropriate or not feasible.

The Chair commented that the issue of non-elected area forums is also challenging, and is something that area forums throughout Wirral will want to look at when the constitution of area forums is reviewed.

Considerable discussion developed on democracy, constitutional issues, community representation and voting rights by members of the area forum.

The Chair confirmed that all the comments have been noted but the issue of community representation is a Wirral-wide issue, not something that can be resolved by this area forum in isolation.  Vacancies for community representatives are advertised in the local Press, and anyone interested in become a community representative can complete an application form and submit it to the Council. 

Paula Southwood commented that the agenda item under discussion – the integrated transport block – had become obscured by the discussion on issues that clearly this area forum does not have the power to address.  She suggested that democracy and constitutional issues are considered as a specific agenda item at another meeting, and that attention is focussed at this meeting on whether or not this area forum wishes to receive decentralised funding.

Andrew Taylor stated that he agreed in principle that the money should be devolved, but he would like to see a more democratic approach.

The Chair stated that it would not be appropriate for everyone present to vote on the issue.  She invited Elected Members on the area forum to vote whether they are in favour of the recommendation on page 26 of the report on the Allocation of Integrated Transport Funding to Area Forums.

The Elected Members on the Area Forum all voted in favour of the Chair’s proposal to accept the recommendations outlined on page 26 of the report.

The Chair thanked the Council officers for the presentation.