Meeting documents
Area Forum (New Brighton and Wallasey)
Tuesday, 3rd July 2007
Present
Chair
PJ Hackett
Ward Councillors
Paul Hayes, A Pritchard, Mrs LA Rennie, Mrs K Wood
Business Representative
Martin Revans
Older People's Parliament Representative
Joseph Fish
Lead Officer
David Green (Director of Technical Services)
Area Service Co-ordinator
Andrew Brannan
Street Scene Manager
Chris Jones
Wirral Primary Care Trust
Dr S Mukherjee
Merseyside Police
Inspector Paul Farrar, Inspector Peter Kolokotroni
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
Tony Mooney
Wirral Hospital Trust
Sue Green
Council Officers
Bob Little (Community Safety Team)
Apologies
Councillor W A Duffey, Rita Fraser (New Brighton Community Partnership), I Lewis , Mark Williams
Index to Minutes
- Minute 1 - Welcome / Introductions / Apologies
- Minute 2 - Area Co-ordinators Report Including: Matters Arising from October 2006 Area Plan Update
- Minute 3 - Public question time
- Minute 4 - Older Peoples Parliament Update
- Minute 5 - Wirral Hospital Trust – Engagement Strategy
- Minute 6 - Partner updates Community Safety, Fire Service, Wirral Primary Care Trust & Police
- Minute 7 - Future meetings/presentations 15th October 2007 Venue to be confirmed
Minute 1 - Welcome / Introductions / Apologies
Minute Text :
The Chair, Councillor P J Hackett, welcomed Forum members and 18 members of the public to the meeting of the New Brighton and Wallasey Area Forum in New Brighton.
Minute 2 - Area Co-ordinators Report Including: Matters Arising from October 2006 Area Plan Update
Minute Text :
Copies of the Area Co-ordinator’s report had been posted on the Council’s website at www.wirral.gov.uk/minutes/public/minsareaco-orddsreport, and copies were available for members of the public at the meeting.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Area Forum were on pages 4-10 of the report, and actions taken on matters arising from the minutes were on page11. Additional information was given at the meeting on :-
Exposure to mobile radiation: Dr Mukherjee had investigated the issue raised by a local resident about the health hazards associated with mobile phone masts. There is a great deal of interest in the issue nationally and the Public Health Department has carried out a substantial amount of research into the medical implications of mobile phone masts.
There is no evidence whatsoever that mobile phone masts cause any problems from a health perspective; exposure from mobile phones is much higher than from masts. Research is continuing and if further data of any significance becomes available, Dr Mukherjee will report further to the area forum and will publish the information in the newspapers.
The area co-ordinator drew attention to Section 3 of his report which included progress reports on organisations that have received community initiatives funding in the past.
Councillor Wood commented that grants have been awarded to more than the five organisations who have provided reports. It is necessary to ensure that public money is being spent properly. She suggested the need for the Area Forum to look more closely in future at the organisations who are awarded grants.
Councillor Wood formally moved that anyone who applies for and is awarded a CIF grant needs to be reminded that they have a responsibility to report back to the Area Forum on the use of the grant.
Section 4 of the Area Co-ordinator’s report gave information on the local area plan for New Brighton and Wallasey. Work has been completed on refreshing and updating the plan and copies can be downloaded from the Council website.
Minute 3 - Public question time
Minute Text :
Members of the public raised the questions –
Recycling: [Member of public] I am very happy with the recycling system, but am confused about some of the materials that should go in the recycling bin, eg certain plastic products including those that indicate that they are made from materials that are suitable for recycling.
David Green replied that the machinery available at the new Materials Recovery Facility at Bidston, although state of the art, can only deal with certain types of recyclables. As technology moves forward the equipment will be upgraded and in future it will be possible to sort items such as margarine tubs and yoghurt pots, tinfoil etc. For now, the facility can deal only with plastic bottles, glass, paper, cardboard, tins and cans. Everything else should be placed in the green bin.
Recycling Facility – [Member of public] Are there any plans to allow visitors to see the facility in operation? It would be useful to see which materials can and cannot be recycled.
David Green – School children have organised visits because Citizenship, which includes Recycling, is part of the curriculum. The Disposal Authority will be asked if there are any plans to build on that to include adults.
Mr Revans – Would it be helpful with such an excellent website to do a video on what the recycling machinery can handle, and explain why some things can be re-cycled and some cannot?
David Green – The Waste Disposal Authority is going through a massive re-organisation at the moment. There will be a new contractor from 2008, and as part of the tendering process, we are asking for ideas about how we can do things like that, a webcam idea.
Membership of the Area Forum: Anne McArdle enquired about the criteria and process to appoint members of the Area Forum.
The Area Co-ordinator replied that the Area Forum comprises representatives from various partner organisations, such as Police, Fire and Rescue Service, the Primary Care Trust, as well as elected members for each Ward. In addition, there are community members who are elected from the community and if there are vacancies members of the community can put their names forward. The current term of office of Community Members for all eleven area forums is due to end in the Autumn 2007 and elections will be held at that time.
The Chair asked that a paper on the process for the election of Community Members is presented at the next Area Forum Meeting. A suggestion was made that there should be an annual general meeting type of process to elect a Chair, decide who attends and make nominations for community members so that the process is transparent.
Public Transport – [Member of public] The bus stop, which serves the 410 and 433 New Brighton to Liscard route has been removed because the drivers decided it was dangerous to stop there.
The Chair replied that Councillors from the two political wards are represented on Merseyside Transport Authority. It is a problem for the Liscard Area and that forum will be writing to Merseytravel. However this forum would welcome comments on the issue.
Members of Parliament have voted for a national bus pass from next April.
Minute 4 - Older Peoples Parliament Update
Minute Text :
Joseph Fish introduced himself and explained that he is a member of the Older People’s Parliament. Since it started in January the Parliament has elected an executive and eight committees. The committees have been monitoring Arrowe Park, Transport, Crime, Education and Youth and have made significant progress in those committees. The Transport Committee has met with Arriva who are talking about having an older person on their Committee from the Parliament. Mr Fish offered to provide more details for anyone interested, at the end of the meeting.
Minute 5 - Wirral Hospital Trust – Engagement Strategy
Minute Text :
Sue Green thanked the Area Forum for the invitation to attend and give 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 has just been notified that it has been granted NHS Foundation Trust status. Arrowe Park Hospital will be renamed Wirral University Teaching Hospital.
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 values the contribution made by members and encourages members of the public to become public members or attend Assembly meetings – application forms were available at the meeting. Further information can be obtained from www.whnt.nhs.uk. Read your hospital.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Sue Green responded to questions from members of the Forum and the public on –
Single Sex Wards – The majority of our wards are now single sex. The wards that are mixed have separate bays. There are plans to have single rooms with ensuite facilities to protect privacy and dignity. Areas that are not single sex – because of the nature of the provision - are the high dependency unit and the intensive care unit.
Members - Foundation Trusts have Members and Governors. Members elect Governors to represent them and to set direction for the organisation. The establishment of a membership and Assembly of Governors is a key part of the Trust’s ongoing engagement strategy. The Trust is aiming for at least 13,000 public members – currently it has 6,000.
The Assembly of Governors has extensive powers and the majority of votes on the assembly are public and public governors. The Assembly of Governors has to approve the Trust plans for the future, including the financial plan, on the basis that they have been involved in and understand them. They can determine the pay and the contract for the Chair of the non-executive Directors of the Board of Directors and they have powers to dismiss the Chair and the Chief Executive of the Trust. A meeting of the Governors will be held this week to help them become involved in developing plans for the future.
Sue Green responded to questions about the transfer of patients from Clatterbridge Hospital to Arrowe Park Hospital; she explained the financial issues relating to income of £40 million referred to in the presentation, and the justification for reducing the number of hospital beds.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That Sue Green be thanked for the presentation.
Minute 6 - Partner updates Community Safety, Fire Service, Wirral Primary Care Trust & Police
Minute Text :
Tony Mooney - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service: Each fire station produces a service plan setting key objectives for that station to focus its activities on during each financial year. The objectives are agreed and set in line with the Integrated Risk Management Plan for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
Key objectives for all Wirral stations include: Use of local intelligence to access the ‘hard to reach’ in the community to delivery home fire safety checks; a strategy to reduce fires in derelict properties; work with community partners to promote health lifestyles and with partner agencies to reduce the number of road traffic collisions; devise a strategy to reduce small fires in grasslands and open spaces; introduce a specialist hazardous materials response vehicle at Bromborough.
In the last quarter, there have been 305 home fire risk assessments carried out; there have been seven domestic fires in New Brighton and two in Wallasey. The Service has targeted areas in which those fires have occurred in an attempt to further reduce the number of incidents.
It was reported at the last Area Forum that a firefighter has been appointed to a new full time post to operate within the Youth Engagement and Arson Reduction Team to specifically target anti-social behaviour. The strategy had been successful inasmuch as there has been a marked reduction in incidents of anti social behaviour, and that is to the credit of all the partnerships – Social Services, Education and the Police – who are all working together to make some positive changes and improvements in the area.
The Service is also working with Wirral Partnership Homes in identifying the most vulnerable members of the community and carrying out home risk assessments and signposting people to the services that can provide additional support.
The Service is also working with its partners on an assistive technology project, called the Smart House’, on the Woodchurch Estate in Birkenhead. The Smart House showcases equipment to support people who have difficulty due to age or disability in carrying out every day tasks and enables disabled and older people to live at home more safely.
There is a high incidence of fires in properties in multiple occupancy. The Service is working on the development of an ‘adopt a block’ strategy whereby a watch would adopt a block of flats or a property in multi-occupancy and work to reduce the risks in those properties.
Last year, due to the dry weather, there were a number of serious grass fires on public land such as Bidston Hill. This year, in conjunction with the Police, the Council, Schools, Ranger Service the service is developing a ‘traffic light’ system to identify areas where there is a risk of large fires and to tackle those fires before they get out of hand.
The Fire Service has a dedicated unit to deal with fireworks and explosives, and works with the Police and Trading Standards to monitor the licensing of premises that sell or store fireworks and pyrotechnics.
In response to a question from Councillor Pritchard about the hazardous response vehicle at Bromborough Fire Station, Tony Mooney explained that there are officers throughout the service who are trained as specialist hazard materials officers. They are qualified to deal with incidents quickly. The aim is to create a specialist team of officers who will become a centre of excellence in dealing with hazardous materials.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has recently been awarded a Regeneration Award for Excellence and Innovation in Community Work and Improved Neighbourhoods.
Councillor Rennie requested that the congratulations of the Area Forum be conveyed back to the staff who have worked to achieve the Award.
The Chair commented that the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has the highest status of all the services in the country. He expressed his thanks for the excellent service the Service provides for the public.
Wirral Primary Care Trust: Dr Mukherjee offered to take questions from individual members of the public at the end of the meeting.
Merseyside Police: Inspector Farrar reported that the incidence of crime in New Brighton remains very low compared with last year. For the whole of June, there were only eight domestic burglaries in the whole of the New Brighton area, which is an all-time low. There were six incidents of theft of or from cars. Cars made after 1998 are more difficult to steal and it is recommended that older cars are protected with a crook lock. There has been a 10% reduction in criminal damage in New Brighton. There has been no further damage in Rake Cemetery following the arrest and sentencing of a number of youths in connection with the £1 million damage caused to gravestones.
Anti-social behaviour remains an issue, and the Police are continuing to work on problem-solving the issue. Various tactics are being used to address identified ‘hot spots’ around Earlston Library and Quarry Park. Plain clothes officers are engaged in licensed premises pretending to be members of staff and dealing with under-age young people who try to purchase alcohol, and with older people who purchase alcohol on behalf of under-age people. A significant number young people who regularly engage in disorder and auto crime have been arrested over the weekend. There has also been a significant amount of activity to address speeding motorists and other issues that affect road safety, especially in Mount Pleasant and Earlston Road.
Several complaints have been received about activities surrounding nightclubs. One complaint was concerned with the group of youths urinating in a resident’s doorway in Rowson Street at 1.30 am on a Sunday morning; others about youths hanging around the promenade during the early hours at weekends, and in Virginia Road and in the Floral gardens, breaking glass and intimidating people.
The bus stop in Rowson Street has been moved in response to complaints about noise from residents in sheltered accommodation in Rowson Street. Residents have since reported that the noise levels have diminished. Community Safety Officers are patrolling the area around the Floral Pavilion to deal with the problems caused by youths congregating.
A multi-agency initiative called Safe Space will be operating in green spaces throughout the Summer. Alongside enforcement, the Youth Service will be organising youth diversionary activities.
A member of the public highlighted a problem on the Promenade at New Brighton. On two occasions in the past three weeks, he has been accosted by youths when walking on the prom. Youths in cars speed along the prom and it is common practice for young people from across Merseyside to travel to Wirral specifically to race on the prom. Perch Rock is a popular meeting place for young people.
The Police Officer thanked the member of the public for the information. Traffic wardens will be deployed to the areas identified.
Inspector Kolokotroni reported that the performance in Wallasey is similar to that in New Brighton. The year-on-year figures on crime – violence, burglaries, thefts of and from motor vehicles – are all down significantly. Thefts from motor vehicles are down 28% and theft of motor vehicles is down 24%. Anti social behaviour is down 10%. There is an upward tend in robbery with eight offences, and criminal damage shows a slight increase.
Concerns raised by members of the community are about anti social behaviour, criminal damage and under-age drinking, especially at weekends. These issues are tackled through engagement with youths through the Youth Service and enforcement where necessary. The enforcement measures include the seizure of alcohol, issuing fixed penalty notices, stop searches, and also Operation Martin, which is linked to off licences.
Police Officers visit schools to address assemblies, and talk to pupils in classrooms about Citizenship and Bullying. They have spoken to local residents about anti-social behaviour in the areas around Elleray Park, Liscard Hall, Belvidere Playing fields and other parts of Wallasey. Letters have been sent to 350 people highlighting the behaviour of some of the youths in the area and the effect on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, and advising that the Police will take positive and robust action against youths causing further annoyance to those residents.
Police Community Support Officers give advice on crime prevention, initially in relation to auto. crime. More than 100 vehicle owners have joined the vehicle watch scheme in the past month.
Information has been distributed to local residents giving crime prevention advice on how to avoid ‘bogus official’ type burglaries when offenders call at houses and flats and use excuses to gain entry in order to steal.
A member of the public highlighted the dangers associated with cyclists riding on pavements.
Councillor Pritchard enquired who would be at fault if a driver reversing out of his drive was involved in a collision with a cyclist on a pavement, and he drew attention to cars being driven dangerously on the car park next to Perch Rock.
The Chair undertook to investigate the situation concerning the locks to the gates of the Tower Grounds in response to a comment from a member of the public highlighting access difficulties for ambulances responding to emergencies.
Inspector Kolokotroni read out a community bulletin on the counter terrorism investigation underway following attacks in London and in Glasgow. The country is on critical alert and high visibility policing activity is taking place across Wirral and Merseyside as a precautionary measure to ensure that the public at large are kept safe and are reassured. Members of the community are being asked to help by remaining calm but vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour directly to Merseyside Police on 0151 709 6010, or to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
Further updates are posted regularly on the Merseyside Police website.
Minute Decision :
Resolved: That -
i. Traffic Wardens to be deployed to the area around Perch Rock over the issue of cars speeding along the prom.
ii. The Chair undertook to investigate the situation concerning the locks to the gates of the Tower Grounds in response to a comment from a member of the public highlighting access difficulties for ambulances responding to emergencies.
iii. Tony Mooney, Inspector Farrar, and Inspector Kolokotroni be thanked for their updates;
iv. the Officers from Merseyside Police be thanked, in particular, for addressing the issues in a number of areas of Wallasey and New Brighton, which is very reassuring for people living in those areas.
Minute 7 - Future meetings/presentations 15th October 2007 Venue to be confirmed
Minute Text :
Resolved: That the next meeting of the Area Forum be held on 15 OCTOBER 2007.
The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9.00 pm.
(Minutes Published: 27 July 2007)