Meeting documents
Culture, Tourism and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 10th September 2007
Present
Chair
SA Brown
Councillors
MG Redfern, PTC Reisdorf, K J Williams
Deputy
WA Duffey (for Cllr GJ Ellis)
Brian Kenny (for Cllr D Hawkins)
Index to Minutes
- Minute 13 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Minute 14 - MINUTES
- Minute 15 - PRESENTATION - WIRRAL VIKING AND ROMAN HERITAGE PROJECT
- Minute 16 - PETITION - VEHICULAR ACCESS TO LEASOWE COMMON
- Minute 17 - PETITION - LANDICAN CEMETERY
- Minute 18 - WIRRAL TOURISM STRATEGY UPDATE
- Minute 19 - FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT - APRIL - JUNE 2007-2008
- Minute 20 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
- Minute 21 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
- Minute 22 - GET INTO READING
- Minute 23 - CULTURE AND LEISURE - SITES TOUR
Minute 13 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Minute Text :
Members of the Committee were requested to declare any interest they may have, either personal or prejudicial, in any of the items on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.
Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement. No declarations were made.
Minute 14 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
The Committee was requested to receive the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June, 2007 which were received by the Council on 16 July, 2007.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the minutes be received.
Minute 15 - PRESENTATION - WIRRAL VIKING AND ROMAN HERITAGE PROJECT
Minute Text :
Further to minute 5 (14/6/07) Mr Derek Hartley, Garsdale Design Ltd, gave a presentation on this project on behalf of the Friends of Hoylake and Meols Gardens. He outlined background to the feasibility study for the project and recommendations for:
(i) Meols Heritage Centre;
(ii) Sculpture Group at Dove Point;
(iii) Norse Re-enactment Centre;
(iv) Wirral Heritage Trail
(v) Other components - including archaeological digs, heritage books and leaflets, educational material, and promotional material.
The initial cost estimates for the above would be in the order of £1,930,000, but the various elements of the project could be phased over a number of years.
Mr Hartley reported that the conclusions from the feasibility study were that the project was both worthwhile and achievable but financial support was required from both local and regional bodies.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the presentation be noted.
Minute 16 - PETITION - VEHICULAR ACCESS TO LEASOWE COMMON
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report in response to a petition with 613 signatures requesting that the Council reopen the vehicular access gate to the eastern most part of the Common which was closed in July 2006.
The Director outlined the history of site management. He reported that there was currently no vehicle access to any grassed areas of Leasowe Common and under the terms of terms of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) there was no public right of vehicle access to common land without the of the permission of the council as landowner.
Between January 2005 and the closure of the easternmost part of the common to vehicles in July 2006, Merseyside Police had attended 24 incidents of ‘inappropriate use of vehicles’ on the common. In the same period Wirral Council’s Community Patrol recorded attending a total of 60 incidents on the common of which 41 were vehicle related. In the two months after the common was closed to vehicles Community Patrol attended a further 9 incidents of which two were vehicle related incidents.
The Director reported that there were still some problems with overnight camping and anti-social behaviour including youths riding motorbikes and quad bikes, but these were isolated incidents and, as a result, the common was being used more by family groups, dog walkers, picnickers etc.
Merseyside Police had requested that the Council, as landowners and managers, close the easternmost part of Leasowe Common to vehicles to assist in preventing the anti-social behaviour problem, and reopening the common to vehicles would therefore be contrary to that advice.
The lead petitioner addressed the meeting. He reported that there was considerable opposition to the closure of this section of the common to vehicles and this decision had been taken by officers without public consultation.
Councillor Blakeley, ward councillor, addressed the meeting. He reported he had not been contacted by Friends Groups or other users of the Common with any complaints about anti-social behaviour, and had only received complaints from the petitioners on restrictions to vehicular access. He stated that vehicle access was allowed in other parks and public open spaces in the borough and suggested that it was now time re-open this particular section of Leasowe Common to vehicles again.
Councillor Hale indicated his support for the petitioners and endorsed the comments made by the ward councillor regarding vehicular access to other parks /open spaces.
There was a discussion concerning statistics relating to anti-social behaviour at Leasowe Common at it was agreed that the Merseyside Police be invited to attend the next meeting to give an update on the current position.
On a motion by the Chair seconded by Councillor Williams it was:-
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That this matter be deferred for a site visit involving the Committee, the lead petitioner, ward councillors, Merseyside Police, and other interested parties.
Minute 17 - PETITION - LANDICAN CEMETERY
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report setting out his response to a petition containing 871 signatures requesting that the Council stop removing grave owner's memorials in lawn sections of the cemetery. The grave owned by the lead petitioner in Landican cemetery was in a lawn section containing approximately 450 graves.
The Director explained that lawn management system was used nationally in public cemeteries to improve maintenance, assist with access to graves by modern equipment used for grave digging, and also permit maintenance by larger mowers providing a more uniform and accessible area for all visitors. All sections opened in the last 20 years in Wirral cemeteries had been designated as lawn sections and the new section presently being developed at the southern end of Landican Cemetery was planned as a lawn section. The rules and regulations for Wirral’s cemeteries included a requirement that on lawn grave sections no kerbs or other materials were placed on a grave. Memorials were placed at the head of the grave which included a reasonable planting area that where families and friends could place personal items or plants. The rest of the grave was laid to lawn between the rows of headstones and borders.
The Director explained that the application form for a new grave clearly stated that in a lawn grave section, no kerbs were allowed and planting was restricted to the top 18” wide border (Appendix 1). This was also confirmed in a covering letter to the new grave owner when a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial was sent to them (Appendix 2).
In the particular lawn section which was the subject of the petition 38 of the 450 grave owners had over a period of time extended their planting area to the full length of the grave. Following receipt of a formal letter regarding this matter, the majority of grave owners had since responded and returned the grave to lawn.
The Director reported that, if the lawn management system could not be retained, there would be a significant increase in the cost of managing the cemetery, and there would be little or no access for machinery particularly to re-open graves. The costs associated with discontinuing the system of lawn management would be in the order of £700,000 per annum.
The Head of Cultural Services gave a presentation on operational issues showing a typical lawn section, the wide variety of memorials within these areas, the heavy machinery used for excavation work, and the reasons for the lawn management system.
The lead petitioner addressed the meeting. He reported that there were no problems regarding access to his son's grave and family members had visited the cemetery a regular basis during the past 7 years to tend the grave. He asked the committee to make an exception to the regulations on the grounds that he had only recently been advised of the lawn management system and he was not aware of any previous problems regarding access.
Councillor Blakeley addressed the meeting and indicated his support for the petitioners. He submitted a series of photographs showing the condition of this grave and the surrounding area, and confirmed that the position of this plot would not cause any problems for future burials. He asked the committee to exercise its discretion as an act of goodwill to allow this grave to be retained in its current condition.
It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Kenny that:
" (1) The Council’s regulations designating sections of its cemeteries as lawn grave sections be confirmed.
(2) That the officers work with the lead petitioner to seek a resolution to the application of the regulations and the maintenance of his son's grave.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Hale and seconded by Councillor Duffey that:
" That this Committee confirm the Council’s regulations designating sections of its cemeteries as lawn grave sections but acknowledge that the lead petitioner has maintained his son's grave to a high standard for the past 7 years and therefore recommend to Cabinet that an exception be made to the regulations to allow him to continue to maintain this particular grave in its current condition."
The amendment was put and carried (4:3)
Minute Decision :
Resolved (4:3) - That this Committee confirm the Council’s regulations designating sections of its cemeteries as lawn grave sections but acknowledge that the lead petitioner has maintained his son's grave to a high standard for the past 7 years and therefore recommend to Cabinet that an exception be made to the regulations to allow him to continue to maintain this particular grave in its current condition.
Minute 18 - WIRRAL TOURISM STRATEGY UPDATE
Minute Text :
Emma Degg, Head of Tourism and Marketing, submitted a report updating the Committee on work completed between July and September 2007. She gave a verbal update: (i) on new promotional literature including: 'Heritage Fortnight' (booklet); 'Wirral Gourmet Trail' (leaflet); and a series of guides for key heritage locations; (ii) the programme of Excellent Events - highlighting the number of visitors to the Wirral waterfront to view the Liverpool 800th Birthday Fireworks display, the significant increase in numbers attending the Wirral Food and Drink Festival, and anticipated interest both locally and nationally in the European Sand Yacht Championships to be held on 16 to 21 September, and (iii) arrangements a meeting of the Supported Events Panel to evaluate applications and agree the allocation of grants for 2008.
Minute Decision :
Resolved -
(1) That the Committee notes and supports the content of this update report.
(2) That Amanda Williams, Tourism Co-ordinator, be thanked for her efforts in producing the 'Heritage Fortnight' (booklet).
Minute 19 - FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT - APRIL - JUNE 2007-2008
Minute Text :
Emma Degg, Head of Tourism and Marketing, submitted a report providing an overview of performance at the first quarter, of those indicators that were reported for the Tourism and Marketing Section of the Corporate Services Department.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the performance of Tourism and Marketing Section at the first quarter.
Minute 20 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted the second monitoring report highlighting the performance of his department this financial year.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the content of this report.
Minute 21 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report providing a regular update on his department's Capital Programme.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the content of this report.
Minute 22 - GET INTO READING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report setting outlining the background to the “Get Into Reading” (GIR) project and its partnership with Wirral Library service, the project outcomes and future programme.
Sue Powell, Head of Libraries, Museums and Arts, explained that GIR had started as a reading group in 2003 led by Dr Jane Davis, University of Liverpool, working in partnership with Wirral Library service and Wirral PCT. The aim of the project was to address social inclusion issues by re-igniting an interest in literature and culture, improve literacy skills by breaking down barriers to learning and library use, and as a by product provide a sense of community and involvement for people who were becoming increasingly isolated. From one group based in St James Library the project had established 27 groups throughout Wirral (see Appendix 1) with funding largely provided from external sources such as the Paul Hamlyn Fund and the Esme Fairburn Foundation. The Library Service offered support from existing resources which included access to book stock, library venues and joint staffing support to enable the groups to operate. The PCT and Community Mental Health also provided resources.
The 3 year funding period of the Hamlyn grant had now ended and, although a number of other avenues were being explored, there was a requirement to identify further support.
Sue Powell reported that this project had been successful in extending the reach of libraries into local communities (see Appendix 2) and the joint working highlighted previously had added both to the success of the project but also to library performance measures too. Wirral had 24 libraries and 51 reading groups, (seven of which were the GIR related groups plus 4 run by library staff in other venues). As a result of a training programme supported by GIR staff all libraries were offering reading groups of some kind plus access to book recommendation, discussion and development as outlined in “The Framework for the Future” a document, outlining the strategic vision for the Public library service from the Department of Culture Media and Sport, published in 2003. The publication of this document coincided with the beginnings of the GIR project and 2 of the 3 main criteria were fulfilled by the project.
The GIR had been successful in engaging a wide number of vulnerable people and using the reading groups as a way of supporting them, and further discussions were taking place with the PCT and Adult Social Services as to how the project could continue.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the achievements of the Get Into Reading project.
Minute 23 - CULTURE AND LEISURE - SITES TOUR
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration asked members to email him with their suggestions items to be included in the programme for the site tour. He would then prepare a programme for the sites tour, and contact members regarding the detailed arrangements in due course.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the report be noted.
(Minutes Published: 18 September 2007)