The Chair, Councillor Paul Hayes, welcomed forum members and 26 members of the public to the area forum at New Brighton Primary School.

Apologies were noted from Mark Williams, Bob Little and Dave Green

The Area Co-ordinator, Andy Brannan, went through previous minutes pointing out the matters arising on page 8. There is a written update for all the issues raised at previous forum.

Mark Camborne introduced the consultation, what the council were trying to achieve, what would be the outcome after the consultation finishes and encouraged everyone to fill one in.

Mark also announced the statistics of how many questionnaires have been given out and how many have been returned, either online or via the post. At the time of the forum there had been 38882 questionnaires given out with 3205 completed.

Q. Will the results be made public once the consultation finishes?

A. Yes, the results will go towards planning the councils services and help cabinet make decisions. The results will be fully publicised when it’s complete.

Q. 3205 completed questionnaires from 38882 given out is an appalling response?

A. Yes but there’s still time for people to send the form back. The figures are not too bad when compared to the average consultation conducted by a local authority or private company.

Q. How many returned questionnaires were the council hoping to get back?

A. There wasn’t a figure in mind as its difficult to know what sort of response there will be to a questionnaire that goes out to the genera public

Q. Where can the questionnaire be posted back to?

A. There is an address on the questionnaire, however this isn’t a freepost address. The forms can also be handed in at a library, one stop shop or any other council building.

Q. Will the ‘none of the above’ questions be included in the results?

A. Yes

4.1) Inspector Kolokotroni: Merseyside Police

The latest edition of the newsletter is available on the signing desk. They are achieving all their targets in the area except for burglary dwelling, which they are addressing.

The date of the next priority setting meeting is 23^rd October at St Marys College.

The police’s focus over the next few weeks will be mis-chief night, Halloween and bon fire night and there is already a strategy in place to make sure these nights run safely.

Q. When is mis-chief night?

A. The night before Halloween.

Q. Where is the police representative from New Brighton?

A. Julie Fletcher is no longer the inspector for the area. Inspector Michael Barratt has taken over and informed Andy Brannan that Srg Andy Bragg would be attending on the forum on his behalf. Andy Brannan will contact Insp Barratt to enquire why a representative had not attended.

Q. At the recent Licensing Committee an application was heard for an off license on Rake Lane and Zig Zag Road. Apart from the Police and Cllr Tony Pritchard there were no objections to the application.

A. Cllr Sue Taylor who usually chairs the Licensing Committee raised an objection about the application and therefore could not chair the meeting as she declared an interest. Cllr Pat Glassman also withdrew from the meeting as she passed on the all objections she received from local residents.

Q. Dave Hanlon: Are the police priority meetings now monthly?

A. Yes, the meetings are held in the 3^rd or 4^th week of every month. The dates and venue can be found on the police website. Cllr Pat Glassman advised that the police newsletter with the dates is also available at the New Brighton Community Centre.

Q.  Cllr Sue Taylor advised that she gave a list of places she wanted the priority meetings to be advertised to Srg Seb Horby, but she is still waiting for confirmation that this has been done?

Q. There has been a number of break ins along Penketh Road recently

A. Insp Kolokotroni will take away the information and make sure that the issue is looked at.

4.2) Tony Mooney: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

There is a fire update included in the area forum coordinators report.

4.3) Jim Thompson: Community Safety

There is a written update on page 10 of the report. If anyone sees any bonfires that they believe will cause a danger they can call telephone number 0800 731 5958 and it will be removed.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Q. A number of forums ago it was announced that work would begin on a roundabout on Harrison Drive and Bayswater Road but this seems to have stopped?

A. Cllr Leslie Rennie: When work initially started they found utility pipes under the road they didn’t know was there. Because of this there cost of the roundabout has increased. The council is waiting for confirmation from Neptune that they will pay the additional costs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

• Energy Projects Plus (EPP) – “working towards a sustainable future”, officers will be attending our forum to promote the Warmer Wirral project that is managed by EPP and funded by Wirral Council

• Agreed the next forum will be Wednesday 20^th October 2010

Venue to be agreed.

Meeting was closed at 8.15pm. 

• AOB

Andy Brannan gave two pieces of AOB which covered:

Energy Project Plushave attended the forum to give people advice on cavity wall and loft installation. If anyone would like to ask them any questions they will be more than happy to speak to people at the end of the forum.

There is Funds For You funding available to community and voluntary groups through this area forum. There are application forms available tonight and if anyone needs to ask any questions they can call Andy on 691 8391