• Minutes are a summary of the meeting, issues raised with individual officers or partners after the main meeting are actioned separately.

Apologies were received from Dr Abhi Mantgani, Councillor Harry Smith who was on council business, Pat Landsborough, Roy McGregor due to work commitments and Jean McIntosh.  The Chair, Councillor Denise Roberts, welcomed forum members and 40 members of the public to the University Academy Birkenhead, North Campus, Park Road South Birkenhead. 

Cllr Steve Foulkes informed the forum that he was going to attend as many area forums as possible to introduce himself, promote the neighbourhood plans and to hear the views of those attending. He informed forum members that he was ‘here to help’ and is very ‘approachable’.  He gives his backing to the neighbourhood plans and how they are about evolving power and resources, to re-invigorate and to get the community involved with the area forums and for residents to play a huge part in developing our neighbourhood plans.  Steve also explained that the objective is to have plans approved by December 2011. These plans will also influence our budget thinking.

Amendments:

• The following people did attend the area forum meeting in February 2011 - Jim Thompson (Community Safety), Steve Preston (Community Safety), Melanie Nolan (Energy Project Plus) and Ema Boddison (Minute Taker).

• Page 4 of previous minutes Item g 4 – 1.4 million should read billion and 8.6 million should read billion. 
  • The growth fund is £1.4Billion and covers the whole of the North West it also covers Transport last year was 8.6 billion alone for housing compared to a shared fund with Transport which is a massive reduction in funding available.

• Needham Crescent, George Davies and Michelle Gray have looked into access and parking provision.  Technical Services will get a Highway Inspector to look into it this and hopefully have an update for the next forum in October.

Matters arising:

• Sumner Road – Speeding and volume of traffic
• Noctorum Avenue – Speeding traffic

Chair Cllr Denise Roberts advised forum that there is a scheme called Community speed watch and that residents could be part of this scheme.

Cllr George Davies – Fully supports residents from Sumner Road. All the roads are 20mph roads except Sumner Road.  It is getting treated like a race track.  There are lots of children and young people in this area and we can not wait for an accident to happen.  Residents don’t want bumps/humps in Road. Would like to see a programme of possible schemes that could address the problems they are facing with speeding traffic.

Action:

• Full review on improvements to traffic calming measures for Sumner Road, including cost of projects/schemes. Gary Cummings from Streetscene to take this issue back to Technical Services.
• Noctorum Avenue – suggestion to have a vehicle activated sign funded through Road Safety Funding. Supported by the area forum.
• Funding available through the area forum for residents to make suggestions for improvements to their local area.  michelelgray@wirral.gov.uk 0151 691 8213.

• Development of Plans for the Local Area

Lucy Beed gave an update on Neighbourhood Plans – a vision for your community.

• 11 area forum meetings for Wirral
• Established in 2001
• Engage with local residents
• Since 2003 forums have distributed over £1,470,707 funds to local community and voluntary groups through initiatives such as Funds for You and Big Lunch
• Next few months each area forum will develop a neighbourhood plan
  • Reflect the real challenges for the area based on engagement and consultation with local communities
  • Set the vision for the community
  • Identify local priorities
  • Influence the way the Council invests resources and delivers services
  • Determine the future distribution of forum funding
• Community Consultation will be at the core of developing the neighbourhood plans
• We will engage with local residents and community groups in a number of ways:
  • Community Events
  • Community and residents group meetings
  • One Stop Shops
  • Libraries
  • Leisure Centres
• Timescales
  • Launch of neighbourhood plan consultation   June 2011
  • Programme of community consultation events  July/Oct 2011
  • Findings to be collated  October
  • Findings reported to area forums and local

action plans  Oct/Nov 2011

• • Local Plans in place  December
• Funding Available for Forums
  • Empty Shops Fund £17,500
  • Funds for You £15,500
  • Public Health Fund £4,577
  • Community Energy Efficiency Fund (£110,000 across Wirral)
• Advertisement
  • 1^st July to 9^th September 2011
• Other funding available
  • You Decide £20,00 for additional council services
  • Improving Road Safety & Promoting Active Travel and Health £20,000
• How YOU can get involved
  • Let us know of any community events and meetings we can attend
  • Register your interest
    • email: engage@wirral.gov.uk
    • tel: 0151 691 8391
    • website: wwww.wirral.gov.uk/area forums

Q: Wirral’s Future is this happening again this year?

A: Consultation will be taken place throughout Wirral to develop neighbourhood plans similar consultation, more focused on neighbourhoods. 

• Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Treating you well into the future - an engagement programme on proposals for changes to some services at Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital

Dave Rowlands gave a presentation on the Site Strategy Review, this was to inform staff and members of the public about the engagement programme on proposals to change the location of some services provided by the Trust at Arrowe park and Clatterbridge Hospitals.  The main aim is to outline the options and for all to contribute to the review.

• How you can contribute:

A range of engagement materials, including full and summary versions of the engagement document, outline business case and indicative floor plans are on the trust’s website:

www.whnt.nhs.uk/treatingyouwellintothefuture

Hard copies are also available on request Tel: 0151 604 7278 or email

wih-tr.engagement@nhs.net

We will attend internal/external meetings on request.

We want you to take the time to contribute your views by answering the engagement questions, either on-line or in hard copy.

The Board will take these into account when making its final decision.

Q: There has been a lot of opposition from your staff, has this been resolved?

A: We accept it is difficult and emotional as staff have worked there for 20 years but they want to put patient care first. Resolved is the wrong word and we have to look at all options for future developments, and staff are being listened to

Comment: Cllr George Davies I have had excellent treatment from Dermatology in Clatterbridge Hospital for years. 

A: Dermatology has come up with a proposal and we hope it will be accommodated.

Q: Overwhelmed by presentation and a short period of time for us to respond.  We are uneducated on this and cannot comment. 

A: Engagement on this has been happening for a long time.

Comment: There has been a lot of consultations with the public, been to 4 or 5 in the past and they have been advertised, there has also been meetings at Girtrell Court.

Comment: I represent people with learning difficulties. I would like to see more day centre’s involved with the consultation.

Q: Parking around hospitals is a major problem, what facilities will you be putting in place for the future, do you think parking will be alleviated?
A: Parking provision is an issue, it is not just a case of parking, it is how we provide a service. Parking provision is on our agenda’s. 

·  Partner organisations to give local updates on what has been happening in the area

Community Safety – Jim Thompson:

Crime overall has fallen by 63% since 2008 and continues to stay at these levels. However, recently we have seen a slow increase in burglary in people’s homes and thefts from their motor vehicles. With burglary the main method of entry is through an unlocked front door or an open window, please remember, if you have a plastic or aluminum coated door to lift the handle and turn the key otherwise it will not be secure. With the recent warm weather we have all been opening windows, remember to shut them before you go out, it is surprising how large a person can get through a small transom window. A lot of our burglaries are an attempt to get hold of car keys, don’t leave them in the hall, keep them safe. With your cars make sure you don not leave anything on show, if you have a sat nav remove the holder as well as the sat nav. The thief doesn’t know you have taken the sat nav and will not care what damage they cause just to see if it’s in the car, if it is on show it will go is the message to remember.

Despite the slight increase in these crimes Wirral remains a very safe place to live and to keep it that way we all just need to play our small part by being a little careful and thoughtful about our property.

One issue we face in the summer are fires in our open land, we have worked with our colleagues in MFRS and now Community Patrol and the Ranger service have Pack Gliders with them to allow them to put fires out when they are still small. These fires can be started deliberately or by accident, sunlight through a discarded bottle will be enough in the present dry conditions to start a major fire. So please be careful with your litter and for the smokers among us your cigarettes. If you find a fire no matter how small call the MFRS.

With the police, Firs Service, Youth Services and colleagues in the voluntary and community sector we have put in place plans to address ASB this summer with a broad range of enforcement and diversion operations in place. We are also already planning for bonfire night.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service – Craig Whitfield:

Went over his report highlighting the main action points form their local IRMP report (Integrated Risk Management Plan).  Full update was available at the meeting (pages 10 - 12 of papers).  Wirral has developed a local IRMP taking account of specific risks and community concerns. The main action points for 2011-2012 have been identified as:

1)  Road Safety

2)  Fire Cadets

3)  Site Specific Risk Information:

4) Wirral healthy Homes Initiative

5) Reduction of Anti Social Behaviour

6) Wirral Stronger Communities Int

7) Risk Reduction in the Home

8) Health, Safety & Welfare

9) Environmental Impact

10) Fire Prevention

11) Equality & Diversity

12) Corporate Social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

• Opportunity for resident to raise issues and speak to forum members & partners from other organisations

Q: Needs to be more publicity about hate crime.  Is it possible for Police to put in newsletter to encourage people to report these crimes?  Disability is a hate crime also.

A: Sgt Pete Bioletti – excellent idea.  I will take back with me.

Comment: There is a hate crime Officer at St James Centre every month who does a lot for the local area.

Comment: Need to make sure everybody knows about how to report all hate crime and that something will be done about it.  Needs to be advertised more widely throughout Wirral and all partners to work together.  There is a multi agency risk assessment refining system so all agencies know about it. 

Update: Gautby Roadlake, boathouse and pavilion is owned by Wirral Council and leased on a year to year basis to Birkenhead Model Yacht & Power Club.

Highway Maintenance Programme:

Michelle Gray highlighted the programme of works scheduled for this financial year.  (pages 18-19) Any new suggestions for roads & highway improvements for 2012/2013 email michellegray@wirral.gov.uk or tel: 0151 691 8213.

The Chair Denise Roberts thanked all who attended and The University Academy and closed the meeting.