The Constituency Manager presented a report advising of a Council decision taken on 10 December 2018, on receipt of a recommendation from the Cabinet, to implement a new model of community engagement.  The new model, to commence in the 2019/20 Municipal Year, would involve the establishment of Ward Member budgets and the submitted report advised on:-

·  the distribution of funding across Wards according to a weighting mechanism based upon 75% per head of population, 15% deprivation, 5% under 5 years population and 5% over 75 years population, details of which, together with allocations in respect of each Ward Member;

·  the governance arrangements for the processes of applications for Ward Member budget funding and for annual review and evaluation; and

·  Member support arrangements to aid Ward Councillors.

The decision of the Council also deleted the Constituency Committees, meaning that this would be the final meeting of the Wirral South Constituency Committee. Members were therefore invited to consider arrangements for collaborative working outside of formal governance conditions.

The report considered the background to the decision of the Council arising from a review undertaken by the former Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, key principles as to how the Ward Member budgets were to operate, a process for funding applications and approval, the availability of Member support, and options available for Members to work together within and across Ward boundaries.  Draft guidance and a proposed application form were further appended to the submitted report for consideration.

An amendment to the second recommendation within the report was proposed by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor C Muspratt and it was:

Resolved (12:0) That

Members recognise the detailed consideration given to joint working at the recent workshops. Members also recognise that opportunities for future joint working and funding. In order to further this, in the new municipal year, an opportunity be sought to draw up a scheme to fund social isolation that is acceptable to Members, involving contributions from Members.

The Committee then moved onto the recommendations in the report. It was moved by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor C Muspratt and:

Resolved ( 12:0) That:

elected Members note the process and criteria as set out in the appendices attached to this report and the necessary Officer delegations to administer the Ward Member budgets; and Members recognise the detailed consideration given to joint working at the recent workshops. Members also recognise that opportunities for future joint working and funding. In order to further this, in the new municipal year, an opportunity be sought to draw up a scheme to fund social isolation that is acceptable to Members, involving contributions from Members.