Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

The Chair, having welcomed everyone to the meeting, then asked if Members whether they had any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the Constituency Committee meeting held on 22 January, 2015.

A member of the public requested confirmation that the enquiry regarding the Liscard Way ‘gateways’ (reference Minute No. 24 - page 7 on the Agenda) had been followed up. The Chair confirmed that the matter had been passed to the relevant officer for written response.

Resolved – That the minutes of the Wallasey Constituency Committee held on 22 January, 2015 be approved.

The Chair informed that due to the Constituency Committee meeting taking place during purdah no Merseyside Police update report would be received at the meeting.

The Constituency Manager reported that the market place event held in the Civic Hall prior to the Constituency Committee meeting comprised representatives from multiple agencies, community groups and charities and had provided information on a variety of subjects. The Constituency Manager informed that the event included representation from:

• 12 Services
• 14 Groups – this was the first time community groups/charities had been invited to participate; and
• 41 members of the public had attended

It was reported that the event provided useful opportunities for discussion and networking between groups and members of the public.

The Chair then invited questions from the audience. No questions were raised. A number of positive comments were received regarding the success of the event.

The Constituency Manager introduced a report that set out an evaluation of projects funded by Wallasey Constituency Committee through Year 1 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund (2013/14).

The report informed that the fund total of £40,000 was set aside by Wallasey Constituency Committee for bids from voluntary, community and faith groups and not-for-profit organisations to address the Committee’s priorities. This consisted of £15,000 from the Committee’s devolved budget and £25,000 from Public Health Outcomes Fund (Voluntary Sector Support Fund).

The Constituency Manager advised that the Committee had agreed the funding of projects totalling £27,449 and informed that at the time of evaluation, a total of £25,579 had been spent. The Committee noted an outstanding request from the Friends of Egremont (project ref WC22) regarding an underspend of £345.81 requiring a decision of the Committee. The Chair informed that because the meeting had fallen within the ‘purdah’ period, any decision relating to these funds would need to be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee. Notwithstanding the above underspend, a figure of £1,525 had been carried forward from the total fund budget into 2015/16.

A summary of the Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2013/14 (Year1) in support of the agreed priorities ‘reducing Social Isolation’ and ‘reducing the impact of the Welfare Reforms’ was circulated. Members noted that:

• 22 projects had been delivered
• at a cost of £25,579
• with over 4,435 adults, young people and children benefitting

with:

• 6 projects providing intervention
• 5 projects improving facilities
• 5 projects providing an activity
• 3 projects contributing to operation costs
• 3 projects providing an experience

A Member sought clarification as to the reason why an evaluation report had not been provided in respect of project WC34. The Constituency Manager advised that this had been a result of illness on the part of the applicant, and that following a review the administration team were satisfied that the funding had been spent in line with the original application and that the ongoing operation be supported.

A short slide show presentation took place, detailing the outcomes of individual projects with photographs of team members and facilities that had benefitted from the Bright Ideas Fund 2013/14 (Year1)

The Chair then introduced Tommy Jones, Joyce Humphreys, Clair Culligan and Jane Fisher, and Ann Hughes who provided the assembled meeting with verbal updates relating to the following projects, respectively:

• Allandale Endurance UK, Seacombe Community Centre
• Little Stars Summer Project, Wallasey Village United Reform Church
• Family Pack Project, Christ Church Moreton
• Three Christmases a Year, Community SOUL

The Chair thanked the speakers, and on behalf of the Committee further thanking the Constituency Manager and all those involved in the administration and delivery of all the Wallasey Constituency projects. Members of the Committee endorsed the Chair’s comments.

Resolved - That

1)  the report be noted; and

2)  a decision in relation to the underspend of £345.81 (project reference WC22, The Friends of Egremont) be deferred until the June meeting of the Committee.

The Chair informed the meeting that a number of questions had been received in advance of the meeting, listed below with the name of the questioner and the respective response given.

The Chair advised that due to the Constituency Committee meeting taking place during purdah, by necessity, two questions would be held over until the next meeting of the Committee when all Members were likely to be in attendance to enable full discussion to take place.

QUESTION 1 (Form reference: AF95988)

Mr Smith, Moreton

Why oh why was the invitation sent so late? [i.e. an electronic bulletin sent by email providing information about the Committee meeting]. I received the Email at 12:23 on 14/4/15 just over 48 hours ahead of the meeting.

Officer response (Paul Jones, Marketing Manager):

Email notices such as this are issued regularly through the marketing and communications team, unfortunately a number of unforeseen issues prevented access to the specialist software used to send them and resulted in the email notice for the meeting being issued late.  We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused, and would like to assure the Committee and attendees that processes have been put in place to prevent this happening again.

Additional information:

The electronic bulletin is one method of notifying members of the public about the Committee meetings. 

Details of all forthcoming Committees are available on the Council’s web site, and the calendar of meetings is agreed annually at Council (2015/16 calendar of meetings agreed and published 16 March 2015, Minute No.124 refers)

The option to ask Wallasey Constituency Committee a question is a permanent feature and can be accessed at any time (see www.wirral.gov.uk/wallasey).

Details of this particular Committee were first promoted on social media on 14 March 2015 and more extensively over the past week. Posters are also displayed in a number of public locations and disseminated by partners.

The Chair then invited questions from the audience.

Rev. Father Leon Ostaszewski informed the Committee regarding the condition of the road surface on Belvidere Road and its continuation into Rolleston Drive considering it to be a hazard to cyclists and other road users. He noted that potholes had begun to appear, and commented that this was unacceptable given that the road had undergone recent works less than 2 years ago. The Rev. Father further requested that clear Bus Stop road markings be introduced at the Wallasey Road end of Belvidere Road (north bound) to counteract illegal parking of delivery vehicles at the Bus Stop.

Councillor Leah Fraser informed the Constituency Committee that Rolleston Drive was not on the current scheduled programme of works, but advised that preparatory work undertaken on Belvidere Road last summer had not been done properly and that the contractor had been instructed to undertake the work again this coming summer to ensure repairs are completed to the contracted standard.

The Chair informed the questioner that both matters would be referred to the Council’s Technical Services Department for a formal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Due to difficulties in finding suitable venues for future meetings of the Committee, the Chair invited discussion on proposals to alternate meetings between Wallasey Town Hall and Leasowe Millennium Centre.

Members considered a number of alternative options, and proposals for meeting places that could accommodate both the ‘market place’ event and subsequent committee meetings. The Committee  felt that a further discussion was needed at the next meeting to consider options.

Resolved – That

1)  the meeting of the Committee to be held on 25 June 2015 shall take place at the Leasowe Millennium Centre; and

2)  the Constituency Manager shall bring to the next meeting of the  Committee details of venue options for the 22 October, 28 January and 14 April Committee meetings for consideration and approval.

The Chair thanked the public, members and officers for their attendance.