The Chair, Councillor Chris Blakeley welcomed the Forum members and15 members of the public to the Leasowe, Moreton and Saughall Massie held at Moreton Library. 

Apologies:

Councillor Steve Williams

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th October 2011 were read and agreed as a true record.

Tracey Smith gave an update and feedback on the Neighbourhood Plans.

The areas in the consultation process included:

Your Economy

Your Health

Your Family

Your Neighbourhood

Tracey’s update focused on ‘Your Neighbourhood’.  A handout with all the information was given out.

Some of the points raised were:

Street Cleanliness

• Dog foulingis a problem on Moreton Shore, local parks and Reeds Lane.  There will be a campaign to target the approach to dog fouling and we will be working alongside the Police.
• Surveys of the level of street cleanliness since 2006/07 has shown an improvement with only 7.5% of locations in the borough with a high level of litter and fly tipping.

Road Maintenance & Road Safety

• Speeding cars particularly around Town Meadow Lane, Twickenham Drive, Reeds Lane and Garden Hey Road are a concern.  20mph schemes were suggested and also chicanes instead of road humps.
• The Parking Enforcement Team have been asked to visit the areas of concern.
• The Area Forum has recently approved funding for pedestrian crossings at danger Lane, the junctions with Fairmead Road, Danewell Drive and Blundells Drive.
• Officers and members will undertake a study of the area to determine if more measures for pedestrians can be put in place and report back to future Forums this year.
• The Council has approved a comprehensive programme of priority road and pavement maintenance schemes.  This is to be scheduled for this year.

Community Safety

• The Council’s Anti-social Behaviour team will work closely with the Police, Housing Associations and Community Patrol to try and reduce the amount of incidents of ASB.
• Increased Police presence – The Commander for Wirral BCU has received all comments and will attempt to organise his resources as much as possible to deal with the requests raised.
• CCTV – The Council is going through a process of re-designing the Parks & Countryside service.  Council Officers are carrying out detailed consultations with park user groups.  This will be reported to the ASB team.  More details can be obtained from www.wirral.gov.uk

Tracey Smith explained that the findings on the other areas will be reported at the Area Forum in June.  Anything not included, please speak to Tracey at the end of the meeting.

Q.  When is funding available and what kind is available for an event to raise awareness for Bees and Butterflies?

A.  The funding priorities are in the Neighbourhood Plans.  There may be funding available in ‘Your Wirral’.  Tracey Smith will give some information in funding sources available.

Police

Inspector Kolokotroni reported on the following:

• Your Neighbourhood Newsletter is available to read.  It gives you an update on activities in the area, arrests and any initiatives.
• If for any reason you can’t attend any ‘Have Your Say’ meetings, then there is a card available to complete with your concerns.
• There has been an exceptional reduction in ASB crimes
• Unfortunately there has been an increase in motor vehicle thefts.  The majority of cases the vehicle has been left unsecure by their owners.  Please be aware of this and ensure that you lock your vehicles and keep them secure.  Keep property out of view, e.g.: laptops, satnavs.
• Plain clothes officer patrols have been put on in ‘hotspot’ areas.
• The police work closely with ASB team, Fire Service and Community Safety – ASB incidents are down by 18% from last year.
• The police have been working with Wirral Partnership homes on a couple of tenancy and eviction issues.  Don’t suffer with nuisance neighbours – help is available.
• There are Half term plans for children and youths in parks and open spaces.
• There is funding for youth services – The initiative is to break down barriers with youths to create positive behaviour.
• Speeding is an issue in some areas – Officers are patrolling these areas.
• Parking – This is a major concern outside schools.
• If you have issues of speeding or parking – complete a ‘Have your say’ card or attend the regular ‘Have your say meetings’.

Community Safety

Bob Little, Community Safety Officer reported on the following:

• The whole of Wirral has maintained and reduced crime.  This is through working closely with the Police and ASB Team
• There has been a slight increase in inquisitive crime – e.g.: stealing and burglary
• Dog Fouling – this is still an issue.  Any help from the public would be appreciated.  Report any incidents as they are most likely to re-offend.
• CCTV – Feedback is required from the public as to why more CCTV is required.

Q.  How do you address the issue of dog fouling?

A.  There is a team of officers who can issue penalty notices to offenders.  You can ring the council number if you know of an incident.  This is reported to the Street Scene Department and passed on to the Community Safety Team.

Q.  Can a member of public do anything if they see an incident of dog fouling?

A.  No, it is only the officers or the police who can issue the penalty notices.  Keep reporting the incidents.  They are most likely to re-offend in the same areas.  The Officers can locate themselves in the areas of concern.

Q.  Who looks after the sea wall by the Lighthouse towards Meols?  Dog fouling and cleanliness is particularly bad on this stretch.

A.  This stretch is looked after by Technical Services.  Dave Green will request an update and an increased clean of this area.

Q.  Has anyone been fined for dog fouling?

A.  Yes

Q.  Is the problem of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Q.  Wirral Partnership Homes has development plans on Yew Tree Green.  There has been no consultation and residents were told it was going to be an open space.  Petitions have been done as residents want it to remain open land.

A.  Unfortunately there is no representative from Wirral Partnership Homes present.  With the Town Meadow Lane development, all residents were consulted.  Ian Platt will look into this and report back.

Cllr Chris Blakeley was thanked by a resident for sorting out the overgrown hedge problem in Meadfoot Road close to the junction with Berrylands Road.

Julie Smith from Wirral Councils Sports Development Section reported back on the funding she received from ‘You Decide’.

• Moreton Youth Club – there is a 65 capacity and there are at least 30 attending each night.
• Details of all the attendances are available to view on the handout.

Q.  There is a problem with anti-social behaviour on Bradman Road.  It is causing a hazard.  A resident fencing is getting knocked down by youths as they use it as a short cut.

A.  No information has been received from the council officer.  A plan is required to solve this.  Officers will be spoken to and will try and resolve this issue. 

  An inspector will be sent out, and it might be an idea to put a sign up to say it’s a no through road.

Councillor Chris Blakeley thanked everyone for attending

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

27^th June 2012 at Foxfield School, Douglas Drive, Moreton, CH46 6BT

6.30pm