Councillor Denise Roberts, welcomed forum members and 20 members of the public to Bidston Avenue Primary School, Tollemache Road Claughton.  Apologies received from Harry Smith due to other council business, Pat Landsborough and Jean McIntosh.

·  Neighbourhood Funding Statement Ian Brand read a statement out regarding the suspension of the Neighbourhood Fund:

In September the Director of Finance reported to Cabinet that if urgent action is not taken, the Council would face an over spend of around £17 million by the end of the current financial year. Clearly, we have had to take immediate action, which includes freezing all non-essential Council spending and releasing reserves we no longer require. Unfortunately, this has meant that the Council have taken the extremely difficult decision to suspend the ‘Neighbourhood Funding’ grants programme until we are in a position to make a definite decision on whether we can still afford it. This does not mean the fund has been cancelled, or removed from the budget to offset the over spend. This is a suspension of the Fund, until we are in a position to make a recommendation to Council later in the year as to how we can move forward. That report will be within the next two months, so by the end of the calendar year groups will know the full status of their applications.

• Question & Answer Session

Michelle Gray explained that over the next three years, about a third of the Council’s funding from Government [equating to around £100 million] will be removed.  On 10 September, the Council launched a consultation exercise, ‘What Really Matters’, asking members of the public what they think the Council’s priorities should be and to express their views on the decisions needed to transform and improve the Wirral’s services to its residents. People’s views are vital and will make a difference and it is important therefore that as many people as possible participate in the consultation. 

Paper copies of the questionnaire are available at Council One Stop Shops, Libraries, and other public buildings, or the questionnaire can be completed on line on the Council’s website. 

Urged residents to take a questionnaire for themselves and family/friends to be completed by Friday 19^th October 2012.

Public Member You don’t have to make cuts – you could just say ‘no we are

Not going to make these cuts’.  You are going to bring universal credits in next

April which will be another attack on the poor.  All powers have been taken

away from Councillors.  There was a means test crisis in 1932 which was

another attack of the poor because of errors of the rich! Unless elected

members do something people are going to parliament into their own hands.

Cllr Denise Roberts – unfortunately we are dependent on the money the

Government  give us.

Cllr Steve Foulkes – at the end of the day there will be significant cuts.  We

need to match our priorities with the peoples priorities. 

Public Member – we should have been meeting tonight for community

groups with regards to funding which has now been suspended.  A lot of

people are disappointed. I don’t understand how you have got a £17 million

overspend.

Cllr Steve Foulkes – cabinet meeting described that non-essential spending will be suspended i.e priority was to create jobs and improve youth activities.  When we prioritise where money goes then we can answer these questions later in the year.

• Question & Answer Session

Neil Powell gave a presentation on Council Tax and Support/Benefits.  Council tax benefit is changing from April, 2013, it is being abolished and replaced by a local Council Taxsupport scheme.  Because of the changes, the Council is required to carry out a consultation exercise with Wirral residents, and anyone else who has an interest in the changes.  As part of the Localism Bill 2011 and the Welfare Reform Act 2012, the Government is abolishing Council Tax Benefit.  As a result, every council has to replace it with a new local scheme, this will be known as Council Tax Support, and will start from 1^st April, 2013.

Under the new local scheme, the Government will give the Council a sum of money that will be at least 10% less than is currently paid out in Council Tax Benefit. This means the shortfall in funding for Wirral Council is anticipated to be in the region of £3.2 million for next year, 2013/14. However any increases in claims during 2013-14 has to be paid for by Wirral Council, this was previously paid for by Government, so we will need to build in a contingency to meet these claims.  In real terms the cut will be greater than £3.2 million.

With the new scheme come some government guidelines that we must follow, such as we have to protect pensioners and vulnerable groups, councils must decide who it considers vulnerable.  The Impact of the changes will mean that all current claimants who are of working age are likely to be affected by the council tax benefit changes. This represents 50% of the current client base approximately 19,000.

·  They are likely to have to paymore towards their council tax bill and in some cases have to pay Council Tax for the first time.

·  The £3.2 million cut in government grant will be spread across people who claim for help towards their council tax bill and as already mentioned that would only affect those of Working Age.

·  It means that there will be a reduced amount of financial support available for people and that people who previously received support may no longer do so.

A number of options have been looked at. Due to the tight timescales for the first year the new scheme will be similar to the current council tax benefit system with some changes; Some of the options we are proposing are:

• Financial support will only be given up to a maximum of 80% of a household’s council tax liability, currently benefit is awarded up to 100%.  This results in someone of a working age having to pay something.
• Introduce a standard non-dependant charge – set at £9.90, this will mean every household who have adults living there will pay something towards the household costs.
• Second Adult Rebate can be claimed because the claimant’s income is too high however the adult living with them is on a low income and they can currently claim up to 25% off the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Community Safety – Jim Thompson – Wirral is a safe borough. We do have challenges but anti social behaviour and general crime continue to fall.  If you go out of an evening don’t leave house in darkness, don’t leave windows open and ignore cold callers.  101 is the Police non emergency number.  80% of burglaries are opportunist so don’t leave stuff on show.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue – Paul Murphy – with regards to budget deficit; £9.2 million cut from budget so the Fire Service you see today may not be what you see in the future.  We are on target for 13,000 home fire safety checks and in this ward we have delivered 622.  If you know someone who is vulnerable you can refer them through.  I have been allowed to embed 5 supervising managers from the fire service into the Council in anti social behaviour, Wirral youth and NHS Wirral.  With regards to bonfire night, we have the council and other partners behind us.  Last year we had a 36% reduction in secondary fires.  All partners have been planning since June.  From 22 October we will be moving debris etc off the streets to stop setting fire to.  Accidental dwellings last year were 11 and this year are down to 5.  Deliberate secondary fires last year were 222 and this year are down to 74.  Road Traffic Collisions last year were 3 and this year have stayed at 3.  Figures across the borough are excellent.  As of 22 October to report the debris you can ring 08007315958, this number is also for the fire safety checks. 

• Next Neighbourhood Forum will take place on Tuesday 5^th February 2013 venue to be confirmed will be hosted in Bidston Ward

• VCAW will be in attendance at the Neighbourhood Forum promoting Health Watch which replaces LINKS

The Chair Denise Roberts thanked all who attended and closed the meeting and announced the next area forum would take place on Tuesday 5^th February 2013 to be hosted at the St James Centre start time will be 6.30pm further information will be available on the Councils website www.wirral.gov.uk