Apologies for absence were received from:

  Councillor J Crabtree

  Councillor P Doughty

  Councillor S Foulkes

  Councillor T Norbury

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.

Councillor Phil Davies declared a non pecuniary interest in item 3 on the agenda – Constituency Manager’s Update by virtue of him being a governor of Woodlands Primary School and a Non Executive Director of Lairdside Communities Together.

Councillor Chris Meaden declared a non pecuniary interest in item 3 on the agenda – Constituency Manager’s Update by virtue of her being a Non Executive Director of Lairdside Communities Together.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2014.

The Chair reported that the Minutes would be amended and then signed.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Neighbourhoods and Engagement that updated it on progress on the actions taken following its last meeting on 30 January 2014. 

Attached to the report were 15 Appendices which the Constituency Manager presented to the Committee on an individual basis.

Appendix 1 – Report to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability dated 27 February 2014

Improving the environment had been agreed as a priority for Birkenhead in 2013/14 with a budget allocation of £20,000 for this purpose.  The Constituency Manager had been tasked with developing a proposal on how to tackle the high levels of waste in alley ways at the Committee meeting on 30 January 2014 (Minute No. 16 refers.).

Appendix 1 informed of proposals the Cabinet Member had agreed to improve the local environmental quality of terraced housing areas by tackling alleyway dumping in a particular way.  There would be two phases.  Phase 1 – The Good Neighbour Campaign (All terraced households) and Phase 2 – Pilot Studies.

Members were reminded that the Council at its Budget meeting had allocated £400,000 to address the concerns of many residents over significant fly-tipping in many parts of the Borough.  The allocation would be used to reinstate the monthly cleaning of entries.  A two year programme was to be developed to tackle the issue of fly-tipping which was aligned with the work carried out in taking forward the Recycling and Waste Strategy.  This allocation would reinstate monthly clean ups but the programme included a strategy and interventions to change residents behaviour in relation to this problem.  The project details were outlined in the report to the Cabinet Member – Environment and Sustainability. 

As a result of the Council’s budget allocation the Constituency Manager had not progressed the proposal on how to tackle the high levels of waste in alley ways to avoid any duplication.  However, a proposal was now being developed, to work in the Birkenhead area, to deal with pieces of land, of unknown ownership, which were considered ‘eye sores’ which were attracting litter and/or fly tipping.  The Committee was informed that a reactive service to remove fly tipping in Birkenhead would be included in the service specification to be drafted.

Members were keen to explore the contractual arrangement currently in place with its contractor for waste collection, Biffa.  A Member reported that Streetscene offered a waste collection within five days but the contractual arrangements did not provide a guarantee on this time period and it was considered unacceptable for people to have to wait three months for rubbish to be removed from their streets.  It had not been negotiated with the contractor that rubbish would be removed as soon as it was reported.  It depended on the seriousness of the dump.  The Chair informed that he considered that the Council should ensure that its contractor delivered the service that it required. 

Appendix 2 – Prosecutions for Waste Offences

The Committee noted that where any person was found to have not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

At its meeting on 27 January 2014 the Policy and Performance Committee - Regeneration and Environment considered the attached report and it was

  ‘Resolved –

(1)  That the progress being made in continuing to address pavement and verge parking issues be noted.

(2)  That the report be referred to each of the Constituency Committees for their consideration.’

Consequently, the Committee is invited to give the report its consideration.

The Committee received a report in respect of pavement and grass verge parking which had been referred to it from the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014 (Minute No. 34 refers) where it had agreed that it should be considered by each of the Constituency Committee.

The Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee had noted that there were a high number of enquiries made to Streetscene which indicated the extent of the problem across Wirral, particularly in areas with narrow streets and no off road parking.

Councillor George Davies referred to the nine pilots and asked for Councillor Harry Smith’s view on them.  Councillor Harry Smith agreed to provide Councillor George Davies with the appropriate information.

A member of the public who lived in Bidston Road, off Bidston Hill informed that she had the use of a disabled bay but had to park on the pavement.  She considered that it would be better if the road was one way.  Councillor Harry Smith informed that before the road could become one way there would have to be a consultation process with all the residents in Boundary Road and a high percentage of them would need to be in favour of the proposal.  Councillor Harry Smith informed that he would instigate the consultation but was unsure of the exact percentage required to be in favour of a one way system so Officers would be asked to provide it.

A member of the public asked if Boundary Road could be widened and was informed that it would be expensive to do that and that the land in question was probably in the green belt.

A Member considered that a sensible policy on parking enforcement in relation to parking on pavements was required as it would be inappropriate for the Council to have a blanket ban on it.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the report be noted.

The Committee received a position statement on the deterioration of the Rock Ferry River Wall and Esplanade and a request for financial support for urgent repairs.  Members noted that the River Wall and Esplanade were an important part of the Rock Park Conservation Area and formed a vital part of the Mersey Coastal Park Strategy which sought to open up public access to the waterfront from Rock Park to Eastham Country Park. This area provided an important and accessible leisure resource for the local community and was used regularly by walkers and cyclists as well as by those who visited the area.  These activities also contributed to improving the health and well being of local people. The River Wall and Esplanade were listed structures and formed an important part of Wirral’s heritage along with the properties in Rock Park. The area had been built between the 1830’s and 1850’s.

Members noted that although there had been some small scale repairs, the storms and high tides of Winter 2013/14 had seen a marked deterioration in the River Wall once again. Whilst, ownership of the River Wall structure was being explored there was an urgent need for further immediate repair work to improve the current condition. It was estimated that a sum of between £5,000 and £10,000 would enable the immediate repair works to be done to the River Wall and this would then provide time for ownership to be established and for external funding opportunities to be explored again.  Some of this funding would also be used to repair the Esplanade as the Rock Park Estate Company did not have funding available for these repairs. Any works would need to be undertaken in consultation with the Council’s Conservation Officers as the structure was listed.  

A full refurbishment of the River Wall and Esplanade would cost approximately £2m and at the present time (and for the foreseeable future) external funding was extremely limited and very competitive when it is available.  

RESOLVED: That

(1)  £10,000 be provided from the Committee’s budget allocation for 2014/15 to fund the urgently needed repair works to the River Wall and Esplanade at Rock Park to maintain this asset for the benefit of local residents in terms of their recreation, health and heritage;

(2)  Officers be requested to continue to work with the local MP and Rock Park Estate Company to establish ownership of the River Wall structure; and

(3)  whilst it is recognised that external funding is limited and very competitive every effort be made by Ward Councillors and Officers to identify and secure external resources to enable a long term refurbishment of the Esplanade.

24 July 2014

30 October 2014

29 January 2015

9 April 2015

It was reported that the Council’s Committee Calendar for the Municipal Year 2014/15 had been drawn up and the Committee was scheduled to meet at 6pm in Birkenhead Town Hall on the following dates:

·  24 July 2014

·  30 October 2014

·  29 January 2015

·  9 April 2015

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s meeting dates for the 2014/15 Municipal Year as set out above be noted.

The Constituency Manager reported on the following items of urgent business that had been approved by the Chair:

·  NCS students - there had been an offer at the previous committee meeting for them to support with activities. They had supported at a charity event and they had been really helpful and would be invited to support again with developments in the Birkenhead Constituency.

·  NEET Summit – was being held on 11 April, hosted at Wirral Metropolitan College. As prevention of NEETS was an identified priority for the Committee, feedback would be provided at the next meeting.

• The branding exercise being carried out by young people – had been completed for the Wirral Youth Zone which was to be called ‘The Hive’.

• Copies of the logo were shared with the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the reports set out above be noted.

The Chair invited members of the public to ask questions.

Question 1 – Philip Barton

I am unclear how the proposals the Cabinet Member had agreed to improve the local environmental quality of terraced housing areas by tackling alleyway dumping in a particular way sits with the ERIC Service, bulky item collection?

A Member referred to the £400,000 that the Council had put back into the budget to ensure monthly cleaning of entries.  The Group from the third sector would only look after Birkenhead.

Members informed that the ERIC Service could not be free and the £400,000 was earmarked to deal with fly tipping in alley ways.  The ERIC Service was there to take away bulky goods and the Cabinet Member’s initiative did not replace that Service.

The Chair considered that the Council should tie down its contractors to take away goods that had been dumped, as dumping was a very real problem.

Question 2 – Bob Giles

Referring to the Better Food Wirral Event which was very interesting, vending machines and the excessive consumption of fizzy drinks, were there any moves to make people aware of the excessive consumption?

A Member informed that the Council was in the process of restructuring its Leisure Centres and was removing all the vending machines and replacing them with Juice Bars which would provide healthy juices and smoothie drinks.

Mr Giles made the point that fruit juices did have high sugar content.

It was noted that water was also available in all of the Council’s Leisure Centres.

The Constituency Manager informed that a Constituency Plan in relation to food was being developed for Birkenhead – What’s Best for Birkenhead?

Question 3 – Lynn Evans

The Council’s review of contract management was welcome.  What was it doing in the background to ensure improvement and that we get what we pay for?

The Chair asked what resources did the Council put into letting its contracts.

The Strategic Director – Transformation and Resources informed that there was an internal Commissioning and Procurement Board which met regularly and was concerned with early intervention, domiciliary support services and looking at integration.

A Member informed that the Director of Adult Social Services was in the process of discussing low level support services and that Luncheon Clubs needed to be reviewed.

The Constituency Manager reported that there had been a lot of change and Members would discuss this at a half day session.  A Member enquired whether there was a Schedule or Plan that the Committee could look at and the Constituency Manager undertook to find out and circulate relevant information.

The Chair informed that he and a Member had visited the Cavendish Centre which ran day services.  He asked who had been awarded the contract and what it provided.  He also asked to what extent were these points of contact to be devolved down, he considered that it was a question for the Chief Executive to respond to and requested that it be included in the Minutes of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.