Partner representatives updated the forum on the issues:-

Community Safety: [Jim Thompson]:  Fireworks and bonfires.  Operation Banger started on Monday.  A Freephone number 0800 731 5958 is available to report concerns about the build up of bonfire materials, or the illegal selling of fireworks. Bonfire materials that are considered to be a hazard will be removed.  Trading Standards staff are working with partners and agencies to stop the illegal sale of fireworks.

Overall crime is down, on average there are about three burglaries per day across the whole of the Borough.

Merseyside Police:  [Insp. Wise]  3,000 people in the area we cover, when measured in terms of crime statistics, crime per thousand population nationally is 27% and in this Borough it is 19.3%.  The figures for anti-social behaviour in Wirral are exceptionally low, and in Bromborough, they are better than in Wirral overall.  When you balance that against what is happening in Merseyside and other places, in Wirral, we are not in a bad place for anti-social behaviour.

Merseyside is one of the best performing forces in the country.  The aim of the former Chief Constable was to be the best.  We have a joint responsibility with the Council to improve customer satisfaction.  We on the way towards achieving that target: Measured against 15 other forces and out of that 15 the position we are in for crime, violence, theft, burglary, criminal damage etc. is either first, second or third.  Working with our partners and agencies, we are working to reduce those crimes as much as possible.

Q  Security in Port Sunlight.  There is a perception that there is no crime in Port Sunlight and this leads to uncertainty that issues reported to the Trust are not being passed on to the appropriate authorities.  When we report things to the Trust, do they pass it on to you?

A  [Insp. Wise].  I am not in favour of third party reports if it is an emergency we need to know straight away.  We need to have a realistic view of what is going on.  There have been numerous incidents in Port Sunlight which makes people more inclined to ring us direct.  If you call us for a service the way we respond is to meet all emergency calls within ten minutes, and we achieve that for 90% of the time.  Our target is 95% of the time..  Some calls are responded to within a minute or two minutes.  We can only do that if we know where the incident is and we need to receive calls directly, not from a third party.  If it is a Police issue, ring the Police; similarly if there is a fire, ring the Fire Service

The Older People’s Parliament representative drew attention to Wirral Older People’s Parliament Newsletter.  He reported on a successful Away Day on Crime & Respect, which was attended by a local Member of Parliament, Community Safety and the Police.  Wirral Grandparents Active Partnership is a voluntary group of grandparents who are responsible for the full time care of grandchildren.  The Parliament is hoping to offer a framework for grandparents to receive the advice and support, particularly legal and financial support, on all the problems and barriers they face in bringing up their grandchildren.  The Parliament held a Listening Day when people had put forward their responses to changes in Adult Social Care.  The responses will go forward to the Council and the Government.

The OPP received funding from the You Decide initiative.  A decision was made to split the money into the four parliamentary constituencies to deal with environment issues.  Each constituency received £10,000 to fund a general tidy up and to provide benches and litter bins.  Suggestions on how the funding should be spent would be welcome and should be forwarded to Brian Christian on 666 2220.

The Parliament would welcome more Associate Members.  Membership is open to anyone aged 50 and over who lives in Wirral.  Application forms were available at the Area Forum.

Q  I am a carer, and my experience of the Home Help system in Social Services has been one of utter disappointment.

A  [OPP representative]: If you want to influence anyone, you have to do it as a group; a single person does not have the same opportunity.  As a group, the OPP has an opportunity to put reports in and have the ears of officers in the Council and the Government.  It is better to work as a group rather than work alone.  It is important that you join a group -  as a group can apply pressure to achieve things.  The experience so far shows that the Council do listen.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.  The statistics for deliberate fires for Wirral make interesting reading.  The figures show that deliberate fires in Wirral fell by 20% last year, indicating that community safety events in Wirral and across Merseyside are making a difference to safer communities.

The service is working successfully with the Road Safety Partnership.  Staff have been trained to check child car seat fitting for safety and to give advice on type and legal requirements.  Two events were held in September and further events are scheduled on 14 and 21 November in car parks outside major supermarkets in Heswall and West Kirby. 

The focus for fire safety checks in dwellings is on vulnerable people who have not allowed access to their properties.  Property assessments are being carried out and residents are offered appropriate advice and fire safety equipment.

Q  I am pleased that the libraries are safe.  Thank you very much to all those who responded.

Q  Is there any chance of the report on the libraries being divulged to the public?

A  [Chair]:  Sue Charteris has sent a draft report to the Council and to the Government Department concerned and she has asked for factual amendments, which she will consider.  The report will then be sent to the Secretary of State and he will decide whether or not to publish it.  The Head of Legal Services is obliged to ensure confidentiality until the Secretary of State decides what to do. 

Q  Has any progress been made on the car park at Asda?

A  [Chair] Two diagrams are available at the back of the room depicting the indicative footway/cycleway proposal for the Croft Retail Park, Bromborough.  The agents are working with the owners to reach agreement between Asda and the people who own the rest of the estate.  Any comments from members of the public should be sent direct to the agents.

[Insp. Wise].  The Police have met with the management and with the stores.  Strong recommendations have been made to manage the traffic on and off the retail park but there is only so much that the Police can do.  We relayed all the concerns and the management are taking our advice.  We do have some plans and hope to see an improvement on the situation which prevailed last year.  We are meeting on 3 November to progress that.  A lot of work needs to be done there.  Local Councillors have an involvement and I hope we have plans that will make things a lot better this Christmas.

A lengthy discussion ensued during which Councillors and members of the public described their personal experiences when trying to exit from the car park outside Asda.

Q  Why don’t you split the car park and have one entrance and two exits?

A  [Chair]   If would be helpful if anyone who is interested in this issue, could fill in a form and we will make sure that everyone involved is aware of the issues.