Councillor P Davies welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Constituency Committee and invited Members and Officers to introduce themselves.  Introductions were then made.

Councillor P Davies informed that he was very excited about the Constituency model being rolled out in Wirral.  He told the meeting that it was exciting to be involved at the beginning of the journey and that overtime it was the intention that the Council would devolve significant responsibilities and budgets to the four Constituency Committees.

Councillor P Davies reported that a number of Members and Officers had visited Sunderland City Council to see its neighbourhood working model in operation.  Sunderland had set up Area Committees which had encouraged public involvement.  Local residents now were able to have a say in Council affairs.

Councillor P Davies informed that the next step in respect of the Council’s neighbourhood working was to develop Constituency priorities. It was the intention to elect Frank Field MP as Chair of the Committee for the rest of the Municipal Year.  Unfortunately, Mr Field was delayed.  Councillor P Davies indicated that at the appropriate time he would move a motion to this affect and vacate the Chair.