Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall
Contact: Michelle Gray Area Forum Co-ordinator
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Welcome, Introductions and Apologies Minutes: The Chair, Councillor Leah Fraser, welcomed the forum members and 9 members of the public to the meeting. |
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Minutes and Matters Arising from previous Forum - June 2009 Minutes: The following points / matters arising were raised from the minutes of last meeting held on 10th June 2009:
Page 6, item 3 – question 3: Dave Hanlon confirmed that the situation re: traffic problems in Sir Thomas Street were still chaotic, especially between 4pm – 6pm.
Page 6, item 3 – question 5: Carole Thomas asked what was happening with the delivery of the new buses, which were due in September 2009.
Page 8, item 4 – question 6: Carole Thomas requested that “the Stanton Park Partnership” should read “the Central Park Partnership”. The Area Co-ordinator agreed to get this amended.
Page 9, item 4 – question 10: Father Leon Ostaszewski asked when the road improvements on Belvidere Road were due to be finished, as it was a hazard due to barriers falling down. Chris Jones confirmed that the present phase of works was coming to an end, but that work was being carried out in phases over a number of years, due to the length of the road. The footways work was finishing this week and the carriageway being attended to. A further phase is due to begin next year. Dave Hanlon asked how many phases were involved and Chris agreed to discuss this in more detail at the end of the meeting.
Page 9, item 4 – question 10: Father Leon Ostaszewski asked what is happening to the ABC site. The Chair confirmed that this was being followed up, and the owner was being asked to tidy up the site.
Page 9, item 4, minute decision: Carole Thomas asked if there was a representative of the youth service at the meeting. The Area Co-ordinator confirmed that a representative would be invited to the next meeting. The Chair introduced Mark Newman from the Youth and Play Service who was in attendance at the meeting.
Minute Decision:
Resolved that: (i) The Area Co-ordinator to e-mail Merseytravel to ask what is happening about the traffic congestion problems in Sir Thomas Street and Simon Finnie from Arriva re: provision of new buses due to be in operation in September 2009
(ii) The Area Co-ordinator to arrange for item 4 – question 6 of the minutes of last meeting to be amended so that “the Stanton Park Partnership” reads “the Central Park Partnership”.
(iii) The Area Co-ordinator to invite a member of the youth service to the next forum meeting |
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Age Concern Information given on a wide range of services and activities run by Age Concern Wirral which exist to respond to a whole spectrum of needs and interests for the residents of Wirral who are aged 50 and over. Minutes: The Chair welcomed Pat Lloyd from Age Concern, to give a presentation on the work of Age Concern.
Pat informed the forum that Age Concern was responsible for managing an information, advice and advocacy service for Wirral aimed at people aged 50+, and that Wirral now has a larger population of people aged 90+..
The Age Concern Headquarters is at Hamilton Square, Birkenhead and offers the following services:
The Chair thanked Pat for her presentation and the following questions / issues were raised:
A. No, but we liaise with the organisation that deals with this.
A. It is a benefit for people who are not mobile or who have difficulty with personal care aged 65+ years
A. it is available at two locations - Pensall House Centre, Pensby and Harvest Court Centre, Moreton. Andrew Cooper added that NHS Wirral also offer a bathing service.
A. Yes, we would help deal with this. The Office of Fair Trading has a Scam Busters initiative to deal with this.
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Community Engagement - "What's Been Happening in your Area" Minutes: Police
Inspector Julie Fletcher informed the forum that there were information packs and a newsletter available at the meeting, and that anyone wishing to receive regular updates could add their details onto the community engagement list – this information can be posted out if required. She introduced the new Sergeant for Seacombe, Sergeant Dave Hird, who has replaced Sergeant Paul Parry, and gave the following updates:
The Chair thanked Inspector Fletcher; and congratulated the Police on their successes within the area. The following questions / issues were raised:
1. Councillor Jones – congratulated the Police on the Army Initiative as this was a first class approach leading to prevention of young people going down a criminal path by catching them early. Dave Hale added his congratulations and felt that this was the way forward, but asked if people with three previous convictions wee barred from the armed forces, or if being part of this initiative would mean that they may be accepted. A. The Army has a problem with recruitment, criminal convictions do not necessarily bar people from joining the armed forces, unless the crimes are very serious. It may be that the person is not allowed to join for 12 months, to show that they can behave responsibly, and we have support measures in place to help with this.
2. Carole Thomas – Is Mischief Night the same night as Halloween. A. Mischief Night is an American tradition and is often used by young people to behave badly. It is the night before Halloween, and we count this as a key date. This year we are looking ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Public Question Time Minutes: The following questions / issues were raised:
A. The Area Co-ordinator agreed to raise this with Arriva and report back to forum members on this. Dave Hanlon added that the 433 goes to Mill Lane, but Ken confirmed that this did not stop near the hospital. The Chair confirmed that Arriva would be asked for information on the available routes.
A. Chair confirmed that the Area Co-ordinator will arrange for a presentation on this at the next forum meeting.
A. The Area Co-ordinator confirmed that this is not yet known and the Chair agreed to contact Parks and Gardens to find out more on this and report back.
A. Chair requested that Dave e-mail this issue to Mark Camborne who will respond directly.
Carole Thomas added that NI 7 had been sent by the Voluntary and Community Sector to the Third Sector for a response.
A. Chair – my understanding is that the Council going to bring libraries back up to standard. Mark Camborne added that all libraries are to remain open and resources (staffing and equipment) are to be brought back to status prior to the closures.
A. Chair – The £20m that the Council was going to borrow is no longer being sought. There is no longer a need to put parts of libraries into the hubs as the libraries are to stay open. Mark Camborne added that the Strategic Asset Review is still underway, and the libraries were part of phase one, and the hubs are no longer being considered. Mark agreed to request a report / detailed presentation on this for the Liscard / Seacombe area for the next forum meeting.
Minute Decision – resolved that:
(i) The Area Co-ordinator to request information on bus routes from Seacombe to Mill Lane Hospital (ii) The Area Co-ordinator to arrange for a presentation, on youth ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Date of future meetings Wednesday 10 February, 2010 Minutes: The Chair informed the forum that it was proposed to hold the next meeting at Seacombe Library and asked for views on this suggestion.
Mark Camborne requested that the library staff be consulted on this prior to any agreement. It was agreed that the Area Co-ordinator to contact the library to discuss this.
Dave Hale asked if the pa system was portable and the Chair confirmed that a pa system would not be required as it was a smaller venue.
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held at Seacombe Library, on 10th February 2010, subject to confirmation with library staff.
Minute Decision – Resolved that: the next meeting to be held on 10th February 2010 at Seacombe Library (subject to confirmation). |
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Any Other Business Minutes:
Father Leon Ostaszewski informed the forum that 1977 was the Centenary of Birkenhead as a borough, next year it will be the centenary of Wallasey as a Municipal borough. There will be an exhibition at Wallasey Central Library, on 21st July 2010 for one month. There will be a book of photos available at Williamson Museum for a cost of about £12-£14. The site of the other Wallasey Town Hall, bombed during World War II, will be included and there will be a vintage fire engine brought over from Waterloo for the event.
The Chair thanked everyone for attending, closed the meeting at 9pm, and requested that people visit the stands / Respect Bus.
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