The Chair, Councillor Tony Smith welcomed the Forum members and28 members of the public to the Greasby, Frankby, Irby & Woodchurch Area Forum meeting held at Overton Community Centre.

Apologies:

David Taylor-Smith

Inspector Brian Griffiths

Andy Brannan gave an update and feedback on the Neighbourhood Plans.

The areas in the consultation process included:

Your Economy

Your Health

Your Family

Your Neighbourhood

Andy Brannan’s update focused on ‘Your Neighbourhood’

The areas of ‘Your Neighbourhood’ that were raised included:

Road Safety & Maintenance

Potholes & uneven roads

A list has gone to highway maintenance of the areas that need attention

  Pedestrian Crossings

Area Forum funding has accommodated a pedestrian crossing on Frankby Road.  A site survey has been completed for Manor Road.

  Speeding

Technical Services and an investigation team are looking at introducing a 20mph speed limit on the side roads.  Also to look at reducing speed limits on the roads mentioned in the findings.

  Parking

The parking enforcement team are looking into the problems that have been raised in the Neighbourhood Plans.

Community Safety

Police Presence

The findings are that an increase in police presence would benefit the community.  The police are doing their best to put more officers out on the streets.

  Underage Drinking

  There is a problem around Hoole Road shops and at New Hey Road. 

This has been passed onto the ASB Team to see what can be done for this area.

Parks & Leisure

Maintenance/Play Equipment

·  The upkeep and maintenance of play equipment in parks.  A team has been out and spoken to the children in schools.  Some of the feedback was that the children didn’t feel safe in the park when it was dark.  The council are redesigning the parks service and all the findings will be taken into account in the plan.

·  The footpath in Coronation Park, by Brookdale School is prone to flooding – this information has been passed onto the relevant department.

Andy Brannan explained that explained that the findings on the other areas will be reported at the Area Forum in June.

Q.  On the website, it is not quite clear over the points raised for

Overchurch Park.

A.  Andy Brannan to check the issues raised and report back.

Q.  With regards to the road repairs – What is the timetable for this?

A.  The programme of work for 12/13 will be published on the website.

Q.  Are there any solutions or ideas to help with the anti-social behaviour around Hoole Road shops?

A.  There are no new solutions, but the police patrol the area regularly.  Councillor Stuart Whittingham has a meeting with Inspector Griffiths next week looking at different ways to try and make things better.

Q.  What happened to the 20 mph road signs – It was the 20’s plenty campaign?

A.  Dave Green explained that they had limited funding for signs and part of the campaign was to move the signs around every 18 months. 

Q.  The pathway between Backford Hall, Irby towards the school has only partly been covered.  Why hasn’t the whole of the area been covered as it is quite dangerous in parts?

A.  Normally the worse pathways are fixed first.  Inspectors will be sent out to look at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Police

• There has been an increase in criminal damage on the Woodchurch Estate; it appears to be Year 8 Youths from Woodchurch High.
• There have been a number of fixed penalties issued for speeding around the Greasby area.
• There have been reports of indecent exposure around various schools.  There has been an increased police presence in these areas.

Fire Service

• There has been a re-structure of the management team across the district.  It has gone from 5 managers to 2.
• Meetings have been taking place at the fire stations – to identify risks in the areas.  The fire service is to draw up a plan for 2013.  Details will be on the website.
• The fire service is working alongside the police with cases of ASB fires.
• There have been no major incidents in the Upton area.
• Home Fire Safety Checks are available to everyone.  There is a free phone number.

Q.  You mention Community Fire Stations, do you consult with the community with decisions.

A.  No, they are called Community Fire Stations as they are within the community.

  In Greasby meetings are held with Police representatives.  Not many people attend.  It is a good way to discuss any problems and for you to have your say.

Q.  There is an ASB problem with youths around the shops at Upton Road.  A youth was witnessed with an aerosol can with flames coming from it.  This is dangerous and something needs to be done to sort out this problem.

A.  Police are directed to problem areas.  In some areas there are hidden CCTV cameras, so that the culprits can be identified.

  Sarah Patterson explained that all issues must be reported.  The more incidents that are reported, then something will be done.

Q.  What plans to Wirral Partnership Homes have with Kenilworth Gardens and what plans are there if the house you’re living in is under occupied.

A.  Steve Eaves from Wirral Partnership homes explained that at present there are no plans to build on Kenilworth Gardens.

• There is a large development programme to build approximately 400 houses, but Kenilworth Gardens is not in the programme.
• There have been site investigations to check out the land, but this is standard practice.  An Architect has drawn up a sketch, but nothing has been submitted to planning.
• Wirral Partnership Homes recognise family housing – by moving families out of flats to either 2 or 4 bedroom houses.
• With regards to under occupancy, there are some changes in the Welfare Reform.  In the overall development programme, some people want to downsize their accommodation.
• The new houses that are being built have a ‘lifetime home standards’.  This means that door frames will be wider in case the requirements change for disabled access.  Also the stair cases are made straight so they can be adapted for a stair lift.

Q.  Why don’t you want to build bungalows – is this because it’s too expensive?

A.  Wirral Partnership Homes is trying to provide affordable housing.  Bungalows take up quite a lot of space and are expensive to build.  There is a demand for family housing.

  There will be full consultation with the community before any decisions are made about building on Kenilworth Gardens.

Q.  Jean Robinson explained that the woodland area at Kenilworth Gardens is protected.  Be aware of this before any decisions are made about building there.

A.  Wirral Partnership Homes comply with ‘Green Standards’ and are environmentally friendly.  If the area is protected, then nothing will be built on protected land.  Steve Eaves apologised on behalf of the site investigators as they shouldn’t have been looking at this area.  He will contact the officers involved and report back.

Q.  What about traffic if they build at the St Benedict’s Site?

A.  If houses are built at this site, they must provide a traffic signal junction there.

Q.  Why aren’t you allowing access to the site?

A.  Dave Green will find out and report back.

Q.  Why don’t Wirral Partnership Homes concentrate on their older houses?

A.  Any work on houses is recorded on a database to keep on track any work that needs doing. 

Q.  The roofs need replacing on the houses on Royden Road, also the front doors and the electrics need sorting.  Would it be possible to sort out the older houses before you build new ones?

A.  Will get some details at the end of the meeting and sort this out.

Q.  How many people are housed from the flats?  There is a demand on the estate.  Will the new houses be for people off the estate?

A.  No statistics here.  There are 21000 people on the waiting list for housing.  People have to apply for the housing and prove  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING  - Thursday 28^th June – venue to be confirmed

Matters Arising

Q.  On the website, it is not quite clear over the points raised for

Overchurch Park.

A.  Andy Brannan to check the issues raised and report back.

Future Neighbourhood Plan documents which refer to Overchurch Park will include additional background information on the park were relevant.

Q.  Why is the speed limit on the bypass by the schools 40mph?

A.  Dave Green will find out why this is the case and report back.

All sites subject to speed limit changes as part of the recent Speed Limit Review will be monitored in line with other priorities. Sufficient time must be given for road users to adapt to the new traffic conditions. Should there be any particular issues with compliance then please report this to Merseyside Police who are responsible for the enforcement of such restrictions.

Q.  The pathway between Backford Hall, Irby towards the school has only partly been covered.  Why hasn’t the whole of the area been covered as it is quite dangerous in parts?

A.  Normally the worse pathways are fixed first.  Inspectors will be sent out to look at the area.

Q.  Why aren’t you allowing access to the St Benedict site?

A.  Dave Green will find out and report back.

  Meetings have been schedule between the Council’s Technical Services Department and members of the Woodchurch TRUST to discuss the issues around the entrance to the St Benedict site.

Q.  Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase attendance at the Area Forums?  The meetings are not well attended, but they do serve a purpose.

A.  This is to be discussed with Andy Brannan and Councillors.

John Smith will contact a number of relevant people in Greasby and suggest a date to meet and discuss ideas around the area forum.

Q.  The roofs need replacing on the houses on Royden Road, also the front doors and the electrics need sorting.  Would it be possible to sort out the older houses before you build new ones?

A.  Will get some details at the end of the meeting and sort this out.

  The roof on the building of the Royden Road shops is planned to be replaced by next year. The roofs on the rest of the estate houses are generally in good order and are only planned for replacement in the long term. Roof repairs on the estate last year averaged approx. £35 per property, which was amongst the lowest levels across Wirral Partnership Home’s stock.

   The electrics in the properties are considered to be satisfactory and many were upgraded during the recent kitchen and bathroom replacement programmes.

An issue was raised regarding a maisonette in the road. The internal maisonette stairs leading up to the property had no heating. Unfortunately, this will not be picked up until the heating systems are due for replacement and it would be up to leaseholders to carry out this work themselves.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.