The report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, to be considered by the Cabinet on 7 February 2012, is attached.

The Committee is requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fall within its remit.

 Further to minutes 29 (6 November 2012), 40 (5 December 2012) and 44 (16 January 2013), the Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive upon the outcome of the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, which had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 7 February 2013 (minute 184 refers).

The comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement had been undertaken to inform the development of the Council’s Corporate and Financial Plan for 2013-2016 and further to inform the decision making process surrounding significant budget savings. The Cabinet had noted the consultation process and implementation described within the report, and thanked Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders for their input. Cabinet had also noted the detailed consultation findings in relation to each budget option as contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

The report detailed the consultation findings and provided information in relation to targeted engagement and the methodology for the geographic and demographic analysis that had been undertaken. Key messages were that the Council should protect the vulnerable, retain responsibility for quality and look to raise income and eliminate waste. The Chief Executive had responded personally to all direct communication from members of staff and a team was in place to ensure Equality Impact Assessments, continued engagement and consultation and to show due regard to concerns raised.

Individual views expressed by many Members in relation to the general analysis of consultation responses were that, in many instances, the answers were described as strongly supporting whereas each of the three possible answers indicated a reluctance culminating in the third being strongly against and it was difficult to see how a conclusion of strong support could be justified.

The Chair indicated his understanding that the Council had to make savings in order to make a legal budget but that did not mean that support for individual proposals should  be exaggerated when there was such obvious reluctance in supporting such proposals.

Mr McCallum indicated that the option summaries were included to provide Members with a snapshot of the proposals. These would not be used by Cabinet to form the basis of their decision making.

The Chair, supported by the Committee suggested that future questionnaire questions be circulated to each Committee to allow Members to comment and give their feedback prior to publication. Mr McCallum agreed to feed this back to the Policy Department.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to the following specific items, which fell within its remit and the Chair proposed that individual views expressed by Members could form the basis of feedback to Budget Cabinet –

1. Reducing Council Management

The Committee indicated that they had no further comments and noted this option

2. Workforce Conditions of Service

The Committee indicated that they had no further comments and noted this option

3. Procurement

The Committee indicated that they had no further comments and noted this option

4. Treasury Management

The Committee indicated that they had no further comments and noted this option

5. Rationalisation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2

The report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, to be considered by the Cabinet on 7 February 2012, is attached.

The Committee is requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fall within its remit

Further to minutes 29 (6 November 2012), 40 (5 December 2012) and 44 (16 January 2013), the Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive upon the outcome of the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, which had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 7 February 2013 (minute 184 refers).

The comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement had been undertaken to inform the development of the Council’s Corporate and Financial Plan for 2013-2016 and further to inform the decision making process surrounding significant budget savings. The Cabinet had noted the consultation process and implementation described within the report, and thanked Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders for their input. Cabinet had also noted the detailed consultation findings in relation to each budget option as contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

The Council’s Senior Policy Manager gave a brief presentation on the consultation findings and provided information in relation to targeted engagement and the methodology for the geographic and demographic analysis that had been undertaken. Key messages were that the Council should protect the vulnerable, retain responsibility for quality and look to raise income and eliminate waste. The Chief Executive had responded personally to all direct communication from members of staff and a team was in place to ensure Equality Impact Assessments, continued engagement and consultation and to show due regard to concerns raised.

Individual views were expressed by Members in relation to the general analysis of consultation responses received. This included queries were raised regarding the 2.7% response rate. Members were assured that this had been the furthest reaching consultation that Wirral Council had ever conducted.

A Member sought details regarding clarification on the costs involved with the consultation and also requested a breakdown of responses for each ward. The Committee were assured that this information would be circulated to each Committee Member following the meeting.

A Member queried equality issues and was referred to section 3.0 of the report whereby it was suggested that Black and Minority Ethnic groups were well represented within the sample.

Officers were thanked and commended by the members of the Committee for all work conducted on the What Really Matters consultation.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to the following specific items, which fell within its remit and the Chair proposed that individual views expressed by Members could form the basis of feedback to Budget Cabinet –

1. Libraries

There were a number of options within this area, including further merging of libraries and One Stop Shops, the reduction of opening hours, particulalty around Christmas and New Year, and the increased number of volunteers in the running of facilities.

Members expressed their support for the use of volunteers but queried the training facilities available for such staff on computer equipment. The Committee was assured that training would be provided to those concerned

2. Car Parking

The Committee considered the proposal to standardise car parking charges across the borough and reduce the ‘all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69

The report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, to be considered by the Cabinet on 7 February 2012, is attached.

The Committee is requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fall within its remit.

The Committee received a presentation from Jane Morgan, Corporate Policy Manager, Chief Executive’s Department. Details of the consultation process and consultation findings in relation to each budget option were provided. Members welcomed the diversity of the respondents to the consultation and expressed their thanks to everyone who had taken part in the consultation.

The Children and Young People’s O & S Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation that had been considered by the Cabinet on 7 February, 2013.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fell within its remit.

The options were presented in the report, together with the quantitative data gathered through the consultation questionnaire, and a summary of any related comments that had been received through the consultation process.

The Committee considered the relevant options detailed in Appendix 3 of the report – Budget Options Feedback Families and Wellbeing.

COMMISSIONING OF PARENTING SERVICES

The Chair commented that the Committee had received a letter from Wirral Family Forum expressing concerns relating to the delay in commissioning of children with disabilities short breaks funding and the effect this may have on both children using services and also parents/carers who relied on these services.

Officers from the Children and Young People’s Department addressed the meeting and gave members an update on the current situation regarding commissioning.  Officers gave reassurances that a smooth transition would be enabled by various strategies – the delay in commissioning of one month would support good exit strategies so there would be no confusion amongst families and no gap in provision.

TRANSPORT POLICIES

Officers from the Children and Young People’s Department informed the Committee that the proposals affecting children would need to be phased in over time and would follow a full public consultation. Changes would not be effective until at least 2014 - 15 as admission criteria for schools including transport policies have already been published. The proposals would be phased until 2019/20.

AREA TEAMS FOR FAMILY SUPPORT

Julia Hassall, Acting Director of Children’s Services commented that this was linked to the whole review of preventative services. Area Teams would be reduced from 7 to 4 that would operate a ‘gateway’ and family support workers would be grouped behind the 4 Area Teams. Members were reassured that services would not be diluted.

Sue Talbot, Strategic Service Manager - Early Years & Primary Education, Learning & Achievement Branch, commented that there would be no reduction in family support staff and a triage system of support would be put in place that would be more efficient and effective.

Members commented that the public response to this proposal was understandable given that full details and background information was not able to be provided in the consultation document.

SCHOOLS MUSIC SERVICE

Sue Talbot, Strategic Service Manager - Early Years & Primary Education, Learning & Achievement Branch, commented that changes in this area would be very effective and that income would be generated by selling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64

The report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, to be considered by the Cabinet on 7 February 2012, is attached.

The Committee is requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fall within its remit.

Further to minutes 29 (6 November 2012), 40 (5 December 2012) and 44 (16 January 2013), the Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive upon the outcome of the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, which had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 7 February 2013 (minute 184 refers).

The comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement had been undertaken to inform the development of the Council’s Corporate and Financial Plan for 2013-2016 and further to inform the decision making process surrounding significant budget savings. The Cabinet had noted the consultation process and implementation described within the report, and thanked Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders for their input. Cabinet had also noted the detailed consultation findings in relation to each budget option as contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

The Council’s Corporate Performance Manager gave a brief presentation on the consultation findings and provided information in relation to targeted engagement and the methodology for the geographic and demographic analysis that had been undertaken. Key messages were that the Council should protect the vulnerable, retain responsibility for quality and look to raise income and eliminate waste. The Chief Executive had responded personally to all direct communication from members of staff and a team was in place to ensure Equality Impact Assessments, continued engagement and consultation and to show due regard to concerns raised.

Individual views expressed by Members in relation to the general analysis of consultation responses were that, in some instances, the comments did not represent a neutral interpretation; for example, 51% being shown as either strong support for an option or, conversely, being a slight majority against. However, Members accepted the accuracy of the figures and noted that the comments were subjective.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to the following specific items, which fell within its remit and the Chair proposed that individual views expressed by Members could form the basis of feedback to Budget Cabinet –

·  Public Relations and Marketing

There were a number of options in this area, including a reduction in the core marketing budget of 50%, stopping the sponsorship of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, which would bring a saving of £135,000 and removing the funding which was used to subsidise tourism and visitor events throughout the Borough.

Members commented that in view of the significant benefits of tourism to Wirral and the need to build on the momentum in areas such as New Brighton, the Cabinet should consider carefully the impact of removing subsidies for tourism events. Some Members also stated that more sophistication could be applied to grant making in terms of ‘matched funding’ and targeting high return events. Members commented also that Tranmere Rovers FC was a great community resource but, in times of austerity, agreed that the sponsorship should be stopped.

·  Car Parking

Whilst technically not within the remit of the Committee, the Chair indicated that any proposals in relation to car parking charges could potentially impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52

The report of the Chief Executive in relation to the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, to be considered by the Cabinet on 7 February 2012, is attached.

The Committee is requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to matters which fall within its remit.

Further to minutes 29 (6 November 2012), 40 (5 December 2012) and 44 (16 January 2013), the Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive upon the outcome of the What Really Matters Stage 2 Consultation, which had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 7 February 2013 (minute 184 refers).

The comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement had been undertaken to inform the development of the Council’s Corporate and Financial Plan for 2013-2016 and further to inform the decision making process surrounding significant budget savings. The Cabinet had noted the consultation process and implementation described within the report, and thanked Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders for their input. Cabinet had also noted the detailed consultation findings in relation to each budget option as contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3.

Kevin McCallum, Corporate Marketing Officer, Chief Executive’s Department gave a brief presentation on the consultation findings and provided information in relation to targeted engagement and the methodology for the geographic and demographic analysis that had been undertaken. Key messages were that the Council should protect the vulnerable, retain responsibility for quality and look to raise income and eliminate waste. The Chief Executive had responded personally to all direct communication from members of staff and a team was in place to ensure Equality Impact Assessments, continued engagement and consultation and to show due regard to concerns raised.

Individual views expressed by Members in relation to the general analysis of consultation responses, were that the comments did not represent a neutral interpretation; for example, 51% being shown as either strong support for an option or, conversely, being a slight majority against. However, Members accepted the accuracy of the figures and noted that the comments were subjective.

The Committee was requested to give consideration to the consultation feedback in relation to the following specific items, which fell within its remit and the Chair proposed that views expressed by Members could form the basis of feedback to Budget Cabinet.

In relation to concerns raised regarding the lesser responses to stage two and asked if this was because of the document being lengthy, Mr McCallum indicated that he did not feel this was the case and explained that incomplete online submissions were taken into account as part of the process.

In relation to ethnicity and consultation with those whose first language was not English, Mr McCallum indicated that the Department had worked with external agencies to liaise with the hard to reach group; produce and circulate information and assist people in completing the questionnaires. No requests were received for translated documents.

In relation to petitions, emails and comments received, information regarding petitions had been fed in to the consultation process and reported to Cabinet. Emails sent to Chief Executive were being monitored and fed into the process; questionnaire responses were appropriately analysed and all comments published to the Council’s website.

Mr Donaldson, Co-opted member representing carers asked about the letters sent to Chief Executive from Mencap in relation to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55

A report by the Chief Executive reminded the Cabinet that at its meeting on 10 July 2012 it had instructed officers to implement a comprehensive programme of consultation and engagement in order to inform the development of the Council’s Corporate and Financial Plan for 2013/2016 and further to inform the decision making process surrounding significant budget savings.  (Minute No. 45 refers)

The Cabinet had received the feedback on the first stage of the consultation at its meeting on 8 November 2012 and resolved to instruct officers to publish a series of budget options and to further consult on those options.  (Minute No. 120 refers)

The Chief Executive’s report set out the feedback on those budget options from Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders.

Councillor P Davies paid tribute to those staff who had co-ordinated and worked on the consultation.  He informed that the response had been tremendous with 6,500 questionnaires having been returned.  He expressed gratitude to all those members of the public who had provided their views.  He also informed that a number of petitions had also been received.

Councillor P Davies gave his assurance that the Cabinet would make no decisions on the budget until its budget meeting scheduled for 18 February 2013.  The Cabinet intended to consider all of the comments received before it put forward its final budgetary proposals.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet

(1)  notes the consultation process and implementation described within the report, and thanks Wirral residents, staff and other stakeholders for their input;

(2)  notes the detailed consultation findings in relation to each budget option as contained within Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to the Chief Executive’s report; and

(3)  particularly thanks those members of staff who co-ordinated and worked on the consultation exercise.

There followed a short adjournment whilst members of the public left the meeting.