The Committee will be invited to appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2018/19.

The Director: Governance and Assurance’s representative invited nominations for the Chair.

It was moved by Councillor Chris Jones and seconded by Councillor Janette Williamson –

“That Councillor Bernie Mooney be appointed Chair for the current municipal year”.

Resolved – That Councillor Bernie Mooney be appointed Chair of the Wallasey Constituency Committee for the current municipal year.

The Chair then invited nominations for the appointment of Vice-Chair.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Anita Leech, it was –

Resolved – That Councillor Chris Spriggs be appointed Vice-Chair of the Wallasey Constituency Committee for the current municipal year.

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

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

Councillor Lesley Rennie declared a personal interest in the item, ’Evaluation of Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2016/17’ by virtue of her involvement with the community group, Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park.

Councillor Anita Leech declared a personal interest in the item, ’Evaluation of Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2016/17’ by virtue of her involvement with the community group, Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association.

Councillor Sharon Jones declared a personal interest in the item, ’Evaluation of Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2016/17’ by virtue of her involvement with the community group, Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association.

Councillor Tony Jones declared a personal interest in the item, ’Evaluation of Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2016/17’ by virtue of his role as Chair of New Brighton Community Team.

Councillor Ian Lewis declared a personal interest in the item, ’Evaluation of Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund 2016/17’ by virtue of his involvement with the community groups, Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park, Friends of Harrison Park and Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association.

Apologies had been received from Councillors Ron Abbey, Bruce Berry, Pat Hackett and Paul Hayes.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 13 March, 2018.

Members were informed that in response to questions relating to the proposed Hoylake Golf Course, a letter from the Assistant Director Major Growth Projects and Housing Delivery providing additional information on the proposal was available at this meeting and will be addended to the minutes of the meeting. 

Resolved – That the minutes of the Wallasey Constituency Committee meeting held on 13 March, 2018, be approved.

The Chair then asked for questions from Rev. Father Leon Ostaszewski, and he asked raised the matter of the bus stop at the Belvidere Road / Wallasey Road junction and hazards caused by delivery lorries at this location. He also raised the issue of potholes and the dangers arising from the poor road surface at the mini roundabout at ASDA in Liscard. He thanked the Constituency Manager and Engagement Officer and the Wirral Chamber of Commerce for their involvement regarding the improvements to the metal arches on Liscard Way.

New Brighton Resident, Mr Darren May questioned the Constituency Committee on the subject of the introduction of Car Parking Charges as proposed by the Council. He informed that consultation was currently underway, closing on 22 June, and asked whether previous petitions and objections would be taken into account as part of the current exercise? He added that the Ward Councillor for New Brighton had been quoted as saying that the introduction of charges in New Brighton previously ‘was the wrong thing to do’. He requested that residents views on the proposal from the consultation on the decision to introduce Car Parking Charges be included as part of the current consultation.

Mr May questioned the Council’s approach to weed control and what the plans were for their treatment? He also requested if the planned date for opening of the new bridge at Dock Road, Seacombe, scheduled for ‘late June’ would happen. He pointed out that there had been significant delays and false starts regarding the new bridge, and sought assurance that the bridge would be operational by the end of June 2018.

The Chair responded, informing that the new bridge was part of Peel Holding’s dock-side improvements and she had been informed that the barriers were working, and 40 test opening/closings of the bridge were underway prior to final commissioning.

In response to the question regarding dates for weed treatment / spraying, the Chair informed that scheduled spraying had commenced at the beginning of June and a further round of spraying would commence on 1 August. Councillor Chris Blakeley further informed that a special meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been convened to look at the matter of weed control.

The Constituency Manager presented a question on behalf of New Brighton Resident, Mrs Ashton. She had asked re the consultation process – Dog Control Orders – what was the Committee going to do to ensure that accurate information is widely publicised?

Councillor Tony Jones  responded, informing that a large number of views / comments online were incorrect and the Council was acting to correct the misconceptions, adding that the Orders did not apply to all beaches and myth busting efforts included engagement through the local press. The Chair added that in the past, there had been numerous complaints regarding irresponsible dog control and fouling in Rake Lane Cemetery and the beaches and the Orders would go some way to address this.

The Constituency Manager introduced the report of the Director for Health and Wellbeing that provided an update on Wallasey Constituency Committee’s Problem Solving Fund spend. The Problem Solving Fund was set aside by the Committee for low spend items to provide a quick response to issues and/or allow a new approach to assist with improvements within the Constituency. 

The report informed that since the last meeting a spend of £500 had been agreed by the Chair - Payment to the Friends of Wallasey Village Library as a contribution to the purchase of mobile (wheeled) shelving to replace the fixed shelving.  This allowed for the shelving to be moved to create a space for talks, classes, demonstrations, etc., helping to generate income. This was match funded by the Library Service. 

The Constituency Manager informed that a balance of £8,290.85 remained in the Problem Solving Fund.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The Constituency Manager introduced the report of the Director for Health and Wellbeing that provided an evaluation of projects funded by Wallasey Constituency Committee through Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund (2016/17).

The Constituency Manager informed that at Wallasey Constituency Committee on 26 January 2017 (minute 23 refers), 23 projects were funded to the amount of £20,000 to deliver projects to tackle the Committee’s priorities. The successful applicants and respective amounts awarded were set out in the report appendix. A presentation slide show followed, that provided the Committee and assembled members of the public with photographs and summary detail of how the funding had been used by each organisation.

Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association Presentation.

The Chair then invited Mr Paul Townley, Treasurer Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association to deliver a short presentation on the use of the grant awarded to the organisation from the Bright Ideas Fund.

Mr Townley informed that as a voluntary organisation they had identified that there were some issues on the estate, the main problem being low level anti-social behaviour. The organisation made efforts to engage positively with young people and to encourage taking part in planned activities. He added that the positive engagement and targeting of individuals had made a difference and the grant enabled the purchase of items that could be used by the young people on a daily basis without hindrance. The items included:

• Games Console
• Large TV (48inch)
• Sports equipment
• Pool/Snooker cues & table re-cloth
• Food/Cookery items
• Arts & craft materials

Mr Townley thanked the Committee, stating that thanks to the grant provided from the Bright Ideas Fund, there had ultimately been a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the locality.

The Chair echoed Mr Townley’s thanks to the Panel.

Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park Presentation.

The Chair then invited Mr David Gray, Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park to deliver a short presentation on the use of the grant awarded to the organisation from the Bright Ideas Fund.

Mr Gray informed how the project funded from the Bright Ideas Fund was to help provide access to the Gunsite area of the North Wirral Coastal Park by the installation and repair to the pathways, gate and boardwalk. The Committee was apprised that the Friends Group met every Tuesday and helped maintain, restore and renovate the Park and Dunes, in addition to general works such as fencing repairs and litter clearance.

Mr Gray explained that the project had been developed to ensure access to the central Gunsite are of the Park, which had restricted access for those who experienced problems with mobility and the need to repair and improve the existing walk way.

The Committee noted that working with volunteers, the Council Rangers and support from the Bright Ideas Fund a new boardwalk with gentler gradients, limestone chip pathways and a new mobility access gate had been installed. Mr Gray thanked all those involved with the project and informed that there had been many positive comments received both during the construction  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chair informed that there was no urgent business.

Prior to the formal close of the meeting, Councillor Blakeley tabled a request that future meetings of the Constituency Committee take place in venues around the Constituency. The Chair noted the request.

Referring to Minute No. 27 (nomination of a road affected by pavement parking), Councillor Tony Jones enquired of Councillor Ian Lewis if any progress had been made with regard to the monitoring of pavement parking. Councillor Lewis informed that the Association was awaiting feedback from the Highways Department on this, and the matter of resident’s parking display cards.