The Assistant Director for Parks and Environment introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided a review of allotment provision across Wirral, setting out the proposed Wirral Allotment Partnership Strategy (2021-26) which sought to address the recommendations set out within a Scrutiny Review, setting out what the Council intended to do to maintain, improve and increase the provision in the most cost-effective manner.

Members debated many aspects of allotment provision and clarified:

·  That the waiting list had grown to about 1,500 with applications currently with Planning for additional allotment sites.

·  That an advisory board would be set up similar to the Tree Strategy Advisory Board.

·  Consideration was being given for repurposing land owned by the Council to provide additional allotment site and bringing overgrown plots back into use, as well as increasing the number of half plots.

·  Accessibility issues were being addressed for disabled residents.

(This minute was subsequently amended at the meeting on 1 March 2022 and the following text was added:

·  officers promised to start an allotment strategy advisory board on the lines of the road safety strategy board)

The Chair proposed an amendment to request regular updates on the developing allotment strategy including the level of the waiting list, repurposing of land and disabled provision. This was seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes.

Resolved: That

(1)  the Wirral Allotment Partnership Strategy 2021-26 be approved; and

(2)  regular updates on this strategy and the partnership working be provided to the Committee.