Meeting documents
Area Forum (Greasby-Frankby-Irby, Upton, Woodchurch)
Wednesday, 13th June 2007
Present
Chair
Cllr Sue Brown
Ward Councillors
John George, Jean Quinn, PTC Reisdorf
Community Representatives
Ron Green (GOAL), Bert Grunnill (Upton Churches Together), John Smith (Greasby Community Association)
Lead Officer
Marie Stacey (Head of Branch, School Effectiveness)
Area Service Co-ordinator
Michelle Gray
Wirral Primary Care Trust
Kathy Doran (Chief Executive, Wirral PCT)
Merseyside Police
Inspector Kate Cunningham
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
John Davies
Wirral Hospital Trust
Michael Monagham (Deputy Chief Nurse)
Council Officers
Jenny Naylor (Co-ordinator, Woodchurch Neighbourhood Management Programme), Brian Smith (Technical Services), Jim Thompson (Community Safety Team)
Apologies
Cllr Gill Gardiner, Angela Green (Wirral CVS), Cllr Tony Smith
Index to Minutes
- Minute 1 - Welcome, introductions & apologies
- Minute 2 - Minutes & matters arising from previous February forum
- Minute 3 - Area Co-ordinators report - Area plan update
- Minute 4 - Older peoples parliament
- Minute 5 - Wirral Hospital Trust – engagement strategy
- Minute 6 - Partner updates - Woodchurch neighbourhood management progress to date - Study of Greasby progress to date - Merseyside Police - Merseyside Fire & Rescue service - Wirral Primary Care Trust
- Minute 7 - Public open forum
- Minute 8 - Any other business
- Minute 9 - Date of next meeting Monday 1st October 2007, to be held in the Greasby, Frankby & Irby ward venue to be confirmed
Minute 1 - Welcome, introductions & apologies
Minute Text :
The Chair, Councillor Sue Brown, opened the meeting and welcomed forum members and 16 members of the public to the Area Forum meeting in Woodchurch. She invited forum members to introduce themselves.
Minute 2 - Minutes & matters arising from previous February forum
Minute Text :
The minutes of the Area Forum meeting of 6 February 2007 had been incorporated into the Area Co-ordinator’s report and agreed as a true record.
Matters Arising included updates on issues raised at previous forums and there was also the regular updates on: St Benedict’s School site, the Pelican Public House site, and an update on the alterations to the junction near Sainsbury’s, and on the litter problem in Arrowe Park Road.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That the minutes of the Area Forum meeting of 27 February 2007 and the reports on matters arising be noted
Minute 3 - Area Co-ordinators report - Area plan update
Minute Text :
The Area Co-ordinator presented her report. Section one had already been covered under agenda item 2. Section 2 contained information on council initiatives, recent press releases, and the expansion of council services in all the one stop shops; Section 3 contained progress reports on projects that have received Community Initiatives Funding in the past; Section 4 gave an update on local area plans; Section 5 reported on Streetscene and Waste Management, and a new Section 6, Equality and Diversity had been included.
The availability of grants from the Community Initiatives Fund in the current financial year had been widely advertised with a closing date for applications of 15 June.
The forum would particularly welcome updates and sharing of information from local community groups that they would like to see included in the Area Co-ordinators Report.
The new look area plans feature three main sections – an introduction; statistical information; and a local priority action plan. The document will be produced electronically in future and will ‘go live’ on the Internet after the June/July round of area forums.
The Chair recommended the document to all those who live and work in the area.
The agenda and area co-ordinator’s report can be downloaded from the Internet at www.wirral.gov.uk; alternatively, a paper version will be sent on request to any member of the public who wishes to attend a future meeting.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: To thank the Area Co-ordinator for the report.
Minute 4 - Older peoples parliament
Minute Text :
In a presentation, Phillipa Rough, an elected representative on the Older People’s Parliament, explained that the Older People’s Parliament had come into being as a result of close co-operation between Social Services, Age Concern and the Local Authority.
The purpose of the Parliament is to give a voice on matters of concern to Older People in Wirral, namely anyone over the age of 50.
The Chief Executive of Wirral, Steve Maddox, had addressed the inaugural meeting in January when Jack Cuffe had been elected Chair. The Parliament holds regular meetings in Wallasey Town Hall and seven committees have been formed for dealing with Standards, Health & Safety, Social Services & Health, Crime and Respect, Housing, Environment and Transport.
So far, three issues of a Newsletter have been produced, giving members’ contact details. Older people are invited to raise issues which will be referred to the appropriate committee.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That Philipa Rough be thanked for the presentation on the Older People’s Parliament.
Minute 5 - Wirral Hospital Trust – engagement strategy
Minute Text :
Michael Monagham, Deputy Chief Nurse, gave a presentation on Wirral Hospital Trust Engagement Strategy. The development of the Engagement Strategy marks the second phase of the Trust’s commitment to engage more closely with the communities it serves.
The first phase in February 2006 involved a major consultation programme, A Change for the Better, in relation to the Trust’s application for Foundation Trust Status. The consultation laid out service plans for the following five years. The trust is half-way through its application for Trust status and it was felt that now is the right time to engage again with communities.
In the coming months the Trust will be talking – and listening – to Area Forums and community groups throughout Wirral on ways in which hospital services are changing. The focus of the presentation this evening would be on Who we are, Why we are changing, and How we are changing. The responses from the consultation will be feed into the strategy.
Unlike current NHS trusts, Foundation Trusts have Members and Governors. Members elect Governors to represent them and to set direction for the organisation. The membership and Assembly of Governors is a key part of the engagement strategy. The Trust is aiming to have 13,000 public members – currently it has 6,000.
The Trust would welcome anyone who wishes to become a public member or attend Assembly meetings – details are published in the local Press from time to time. A campaign will be launched in the coming weeks to encourage members of the public to become Members of the Foundation Trust.
Michael Monagham responded to questions raised on the practicalities of reducing demand for in-patient beds and for people who need specialist services; the opening hours for the single point of access and out of hours service; the role of the district nursing service; infection control measures in place and the monitoring arrangements; and the Trust’s policy on single sex wards.
Members of the public commented on their personal experiences in accessing intermediate care and other NHS services.
At a personal level, the Chair expressed her appreciation to the NHS Hospital Trust for the level of care she had received, adding that she had only praise for the Trust and its staff.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That Michael Monaghan be thanked for the presentation.
Minute 6 - Partner updates - Woodchurch neighbourhood management progress to date - Study of Greasby progress to date - Merseyside Police - Merseyside Fire & Rescue service - Wirral Primary Care Trust
Minute Text :
Woodchurch neighbourhood management – Jennifer Naylor Neighbourhood management is an initiative that aims to improve local services in small geographical areas. The scheme has been operating as a pilot in Woodchurch for about a year and through an open forum gives local residents an opportunity to set their own agenda, decide the issues that are critical to them, invite speakers, and engage with training.
There is support for a wide range of projects from alcohol misuse and victims of domestic violence to environmental improvements, with a particular focus on anti-social behaviour hot spots in Hoole Road and The Meadow.
There are initiatives aimed at improving educational achievement for young people and for providing extra support for the most vulnerable pupils and young people.
Events are being organised to celebrate Woodchurch Estate’s 60th anniversary in July.
Sheila Henry is the Engagement Officer. John Smith is a representative and there is a vacancy for another representative. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or joining the forum should contact Jennifer Naylor or Sheila Henry when their details will be added to the data base.
Greasby Study – John Smith A steering group has agreed to meet and by October hoped to be in a position to report progress and other advise people how they can become involved in taking the plan forward.
Merseyside Police – Inspector Kate Cunningham Crime figures for the past twelve months have shown a very positive downward trend – all crime has dropped by 7.6 per cent; there has been a significant decrease in violence and vehicle crime, criminal damage has reduced and reports of anti-social behaviour have fallen by 23%.
Although Wirral still has the worst record on Merseyside, the statistics have confirmed that there were 40 fewer deaths/serious injuries [20% reduction] in road accidents in Wirral last year. Merseyside Police is working in close collaboration with the Local Authority on measures to improve road safety further by focussing on speeding offences.
There has been an increase in the number of Community Support Officers [CSOs]– there are now three in Greasby, two in Heswall and two in Pensby. The dispersal order in place for six months in Greasby appears to have had a good impact in the longer term. The Police are working with the Youth Service to ensure that the reduction in anti-social behaviour is maintained during the summer months.
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service - John Davies The fire and rescue service is meeting or has exceeded its performance indicators in all the wards covered by the area forum. Incidents of small fires in empty and derelict properties are down; the number of home fire safety checks has increased, with 5,300 being carried out in the last quarter. As well as the free fitting of smoke detectors, crews offer advice on evacuation routes and if appropriate signpost people to other services.
One of the key objectives for all Wirral fire stations is to access and deliver home fire safety checks for the ‘hard to reach’ more vulnerable members of the community, such as elderly people, those with disabilities, those who do not engage with services and those who put their lives at risk through alcohol and drug misuse.
Since 2004, the Fire and Rescue Service has a statutory responsibility to work with partner agencies in reducing the number of road traffic collisions. Wirral Road Safety Partnership has developed an inter-active educational package aimed at raising awareness of drivers under the age of 25 of the dangers of driving at fast speeds.
A fine dry summer causes particular problems for the Fire and Rescue Service, especially in large areas of open spaces such as Bidston Hill, Heswall Dales, Caldy Hill and Thurstaston Common. In periods of dry weather it is not unusual for fire appliances and crews to be deployed to Bidston Hill for 24 hours a day. Extra efforts resources are being allocated this year to reduce the incidence of fires in grasslands and open spaces. The Arson Reduction Advocate is working with schools to educate children on the dangers of fire and on the impact of fire on wild-life in the area.
Primary Care Trust – Kathy Doran There is a difference of eleven years in the life expectancy of children born in some wards in Wirral and those born in others. The Primary Care Trust is working to reduce inequalities that exist in some areas and is trying to help people pursue healthier life styles. For example, smoking damages people’s health, causes cancer, heart disease, strokes and respiratory illnesses. There are now 17 days to go before the introduction of a smoking ban in public enclosed places. Anyone who wishes to stop smoking should contact their GP or a specialist smoking cessation unit.
Additional investment in services has brought about significant improvements to the way in which parents receive their care and treatment. The aim is to ensure that by 2008 no one will wait longer than 18 weeks to receive treatment from GP referral.
To address the waiting list of people who require hearing aids, Murrayfield Hospital has been allowed to develop the service for NHS patients with the aim of bringing the audiology services into line with the waiting time of other services.
There are 55 dental practices in Wirral of whom four had become private practices in the past year – all the remainder are still open for NHS patients.
There are some particular difficulties in the Heswall area, but everyone is entitled to register with a dentist in any part of the Wirral. The areas of Birkenhead and Wallasey are well served by dentists. There is a dental helpline where details can be obtained of the practices that are accepting new patients.
Overall, Wirral is over-provided with dentists in terms of head of population and there is no need to offer incentives to attract new dentists to the area. The dental service budget had been overspent last year and there are no plans to open new surgeries at present.
Consultation has begun on a proposal to develop a health centre on the Warrens site in Arrowe Park to improve local services for people in the Irby, Thingwall and Pensby areas. The outcome of the planning application to Wirral Council is awaited.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That Jennifer Naylor, John Smith, Inspector Kate Cunningham, John Davies and Kathy Doran be thanked for their updates.
Minute 7 - Public open forum
Minute Text :
Parking on Pavements and Grass Verges - Wirral Council has introduced a report which includes a pilot scheme to address this issue. Details of the scheme, and the roads included in the pilot, are available on request to the Area Co-ordinator.
Wirral PCT gives details of contact telephone numbers and email addresses on its literature, but not postal addresses for correspondence. Wirral PCT is not listed in current telephone directories.
Kathy Doran took the comments on board.
Road Safety The road leading from Irby Village towards Mill Road and Royden Park has two sharp bends. Parts of the road have 30 mph speed restrictions, others sections are derestricted. Horse riders regularly use the road. There are no road signs indicating road junctions on the road leading from Irby Mill Hill to the Pensby schools.
Kate Cunningham replied that she looks at all road traffic incidents in Wirral. The majority of accidents are caused by driver error or bad driving and increasing the number of signs does not improve driving standards. Too many signs can create a hazard and can be dangerous; they cause distractions and drivers tend to ignore them. Research in other areas of the country has shown that road traffic incidents have reduced at locations where the number of road signs have been reduced to a minimum.
The Pavilion in Coronation Park Damaged by fire in December and has not been fully reinstated. Information had been received that Wirral Council does not have insurance cover for such purposes and its budget allocation had been exhausted. There are still high levels of anti-social behaviour in the area and outreach youth workers have nowhere to work with groups until the Pavilion is brought back into a reasonable state.
Local Free Press: Many households in Woodchurch do not receive free newspapers instead 200 copies are delivered to the Community Centre.
TV Aerials - If it is a large aerial, the ERIC service will remove redundant TV aerials.
Trees on public highways. - Residents/occupiers have the right to trim back trees on public highways that are causing a nuisance, provided they do not go on to the highway to cut back the trees. Ideally, a competent person or company should be engaged to do the work, but the Council would not compensate the occupier for the cost.
The Council is responsible for cutting back trees that obstructing access to a private property.
Minute 8 - Any other business
Minute Text :
There being no other business, the Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contribution and closed the meeting at 8.50 pm.
Minute 9 - Date of next meeting Monday 1st October 2007, to be held in the Greasby, Frankby & Irby ward venue to be confirmed
Minute Text :
Monday 1st October 2007, venue to be confirmed.
(Minutes Published: 10 July 2007)