To elect the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year.

It was proposed and seconded and it was

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Councillor Chris Carubia be elected Chair of the Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year  (7 : 0); and

(2)  Councillor Irene Williams be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year (8 : 0)

Councillor C Muspratt Why can’t Co-Optee’s vote?

Guidance already sought from legal to be given again why can’t it be reviewed?

Vicky Shaw (Solicitor) the advice it is a legal position adopted by the Council.

Councillor P Gilchrist said he was on the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee and would raise the question there.

Councillor Matthew Patrick highlighted the Spotlight on Localism training as part of the training this would look at the dynamitic and how Constituency committees work, neighbourhood working; see how other Councils work may need turning on its head or tweaking the training is for Councillors, Community Reps and Co Optee’s

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

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in connection with any items on the agenda and to state the nature of the interest.

No such declarations were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kathy Hodson, Tracey Pilgrim, Cherry Povall, JP, Joe Walsh, Warren Ward, Irene Williams, Jerry Williams, and Messrs Ray Squires, Kevin Sutton, Mal Wright.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee held on 26 April 2017 as a correct record. (Attached)

The Assistant Director for Law and Governance submitted the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 April 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Committee held on 20 April 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.

Update on New Ferry Incident

David Armstrong Thanks to all the Voluntary organisations involved with New Ferry, and said the spare council furniture had been given to them and money to buy clothes rails.

Councillor C Carubia (Chair) has asked David Ball about Funding for New Ferry.

Mark Craig Attended an emergency meeting on Monday with David Ball and Alison McGovern MP and Leader of the Council and was trying to get a meeting to speak to Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP.

Councillor A Sykes if there is a plan Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP might be able to provide funding

Councillor C Carubia The regeneration plan what is it? Is it with property owners this might take time to draw up a draft plan getting all to agree this might take time, to manage hopes aspirations there needs to be timescales.

Mark Craig the plan will acknowledge difficulties for example The Terrace row of flats above the shops are individually owned, which will need to be demolished by the Council the cost recouped from the owners who will have to rebuild some of them do not have building insurance so can’t afford to rebuild. A could be a deal with a property developer to build the whole row of flats as one lot. What was there was not working for New ferry a chance to build something better as it was a failing business centre look to New ferry forward after the incident.

Councillor P Gilchrist Asked David Armstrong were they keeping a record of what has been spent so far, the old scheme if you spent more you would qualify for help and assistance.

David Armstrong responded yes there was a scheme Bellwin and so far David Ball didn’t think they were over the threshold but things could have changed.

David Armstrong asked the committee members if anyone had the contact details for The Life Church so he could reimburse them any expenditure incurred in helping the residents of New Ferry.

Councillor C Carubia The newly made homeless resident of Grenfield Tower had been given £5,000 and asked the question why can’t this apply to our resident’s made homeless?

To receive an oral report from the Constituency Manager on behalf of Ritchie Clarke - Station Manager.

In the absence of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the Constituency Manager provided the Committee with an update.

Since 1^st April 2017 22 deliberate fires had been set, there was no pattern or hot spot all at random locations. Neighbourhood Police Inspector Georgina Minnery informed the Committee that every week there is a Threat Harm Risk Meetings jointly being held were these matters are discussed.

RESOLVED: That Members note the update from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

To receive an oral report from Neighbourhood Inspector Georgina Minnery.

Neighbourhood Inspector Georgina Minnery addressed the Committee and introduced Mark Kennedy the new Neighbourhood Sergeant who may be attending future Committees in her place.

Update in Area

Croft Retail Park derelict building on Thursby Road, youths were getting in has now been boarded up.

Public Space Disorder Riverview Road, Public Spaces Protection Order was been used for Drag racing

Speeding in Port Sunlight using speed watch volunteers this is going well.

Anti-Social Behaviour Order- Mayer Park, Eastham Rake, increased patrols; less calls; now warmer weather more kids patrols will be where the issues are, issues raised form this Committee

High visibility of policing in vulnerable areas for example the Mosque in Birkenhead had a pigs head left there.

Members of Staff are being deployed into Liverpool due to the increase in Gun Crime.

Sergeant Mark Kennedy addressed the Committee

Statistics

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders from 1^st April 2016- 20^th June 2017 156 reported this is a reduction of 43 compared to the previous period .

Public Spaces Protection Order- resources sporadic pass onto Constituency don’t know allocated resources.

Spate of Burglaries in Heswall- committed by habitual criminals, Details have been sent to Ray Squires to give to Home watch, the burglaries have now stopped.

Questions

Councillors A Hodson ASBO’s in Heswall last year told by police officers from West Kirby  they had moved them on to disperse the issue there.

Councillor C Muspratt sending police officers over to Liverpool would this be CID level (she declared an interest as her son works in CID) who goes and how quickly can they get back if incident on the Wirral?

 Yes could be CID, if needed for investigations, resourcing plan covers the whole area and the same response level was sent to New Ferry during the incident.

Councillor C Muspratt has raised worried with the Chief Constable over the cuts in staffing same amount of problems the police are being stretched to cover.

Yes- significant incident police are really stretched- gun crime a real threat

Incidents in New Ferry live ammunition found declared further interest as another son works for army .bomb disposal

Mutual aid- surrounding forces in Cheshire, Manchester will support each other at critical times.

Councillor D Mitchell sits on Licensing Committee and confirmed when a night club had to be closed officers came from St Helen’s to support.

Councillor A Hodson Home watch not heard a word for 2 years used to receive regular messages?

Home watch Co-Ordinator to be chased up but to note they are a volunteer.

Resolved -: That members note the update from Merseyside Police

To receive an oral report from Wirral Council’s Lead Commissioner – Place and Investment (Sally Shah).

The Constituency Manager asked for this to go on the agenda but it has been pulled document not ready but to come to future Committee in October. Publish statement with the minutes.

To receive an oral report from Wirral Council’s Lead Commissioner – Environment (Mike Cockburn).

Wirral Council’s Lead Commissioner –Environment Mike Cockburn gave a power point presentation on the Action Plan 2 June/July Waste & Environment Services

Driving the Council’s pledge forward

Highway, surveying tackling fly tipping

Land not owned by the Council these spots need to be tackled.

Now in year 2 same amount of resources allocated as year 1, income generated from prosecutions- Litter, Dog Fouling

Tackling private land/ land owners need support of the public to identify sites.

Untidy Land

This is a pain to the community, fly tipping ASBO’s significant chronic blighted which meet the threshold colleagues in Environmental Dept. of the 26 sites formal notice served 18 Land owner took satisfactory action, 5 sites regenerated ear marked for housing. Some sites ambiguous ownership will take action.

A picture of the flying tipping on a piece of land on Thurstaston Road

Councillor W smith asked could you identify anyone who had left the rubbish. No not this time. Now cleared and no more rubbish has appeared there is no access now working with the farmer who owns the land.

Improvement notice – a stake is put in the land if owner not known.

Continental Landscapes are the contractor; improvement better quality of life, sites improved much more desirable to prospectors. Ask for stakeholders, sign up to the Charter.

Questions 

Councillor D Mitchell- Last year Eastham Ferry frontage land belongs to Peel Holdings Wirral’s lease ran out. Need money to cut back the vegetation and litter dropt what is the threshold criteria?

Councillor C Muspratt 2 examples Land at Bebington High School thick bushes and bramble and members of the Church do a litter pick.

A41 Toll Bar Bromborough shops on the right derelict – everyone complains about the rats.

Councillor W Smith Litter comes from school pupils, footballers; Higher Bebington Road the wind funnels the litter down the road.

Councillor A Hodson 2 untidy sites Heswall Brimstage Road lay by opposite the Cottage Mouse; and Heswall shore boat yard, has fires on the beach leaves litter .old boats, paint cans.

Mark Craig New Ferry- build up in back yard got put forward last year as grot spot but not acted upon.

Shorefield Cliffs New Ferry Woods Shorefield litter pick with Asda on the cliff many years sofa’s motorbikes thrown down the cliffs, voluntary effort in 1989 climbed up the cliffs with bin bags and picked up the litter.

Community Reps will be included in the emails to be sent by the chair outlined the threshold / criteria.

The more people caught and prosecuted the more income generated to finance the scheme.

Resolved- That member note the report from Wirral Council’s Lead Commissioner.

Report of the Constituency Manager is attached.

The Constituency Manager introduced a report for 1^st Committee meeting of the new Municipal year.

Achievements from last year and note work moving forward.

2017/18 Budget £50,000 allocated £12,500 per Constituency to further support community clean-up activities.

No recommendations made- not enough time.

Councillor D Mitchell raised concerns about cleaning and tidying up at Eastham Ferry as the land is owned by Peel Holdings it is difficult to clean there; there are 6 –8 benches located there the area is overgrown and Councillor Mitchell felt this was overlooked as a potential Grot Spot.

Constituency Manager responded it forms part of the 2020 plan to tackle these areas and the Biffa Contract, all issues raised for cleaning up Grot Spots sent to them will be followed up – as the contract has built in accountability and audit trails.

If areas don’t meet criteria will £12,500 go towards these? No use the previous approach per ward, committee decides how to proportion the budget.

Councillor C Carubia proposed to use same route for money same as ITB/ Road Safety voted who would get any.

Proposed Councillor C Carubia seconded by Councillor C Muspratt

Concerns were raised Bromborough did their own thing last year.

Recommendation The Task and Finish Group for Road Safety Panel Membership remain the same.

Resolved (8:0)

The Constituency Manager drew attention to achievements in 2016/17

3.2.1 Improve Open Spaces

New Ferry and Torr Park research carried out by the Research and development Manager in Public health identified that investment made the Constituency had a projected social return on investment of £8.30 per £1 spent.

3.2.2 Social Isolation

Recommendation that a task and finish group be set up

3 2.3 Gaps in Youth Provision

Research carried out by the Research and development Manager in Public health identified that the investment made by the Constituency had a projected social return on investment of £7.20 per £1 spent.

3.2.4 Community Engagement

Libraries Shannon Kennedy Engagement Officer Wirral South explained how she started up the friends of Bromborough library group.

Outlined Work to note for 2017/18

In Continued Support for New Ferry; National Citizen Service (NCS); Social Isolation Grants Fund (see recommendation one) and Gaps in Youth Provision (see recommendation two)

Questions Do we know the results of green flag no informal feedback for all parks. Not Known yet.

Councillor C Muspratt relate young people Town Lane Estate isolated great source of deprivation  gets lost as it is surrounded by nice 3 bed semi’s; angst on the estate don’t like to be called Shakespeare ; a conversation with the Primary school- approached  but not the zone school  as this Grove Street .

There are many complications working hard to find a delivery point within this estate keep pushing to get an open door don’t know future of the hall.

Councillor P Gilchrist Suggestion Talk to friends of Bromborough Library; to see how to go about setting up friends of Eastham library; share good practice.

Recommendation 1

A task and finish group (comprising  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To consider a report detailing issues experienced by communities throughout Wirral South on a ward by ward basis.  These issues have been collated by the Wirral South Community Representatives and compiled by the Engagement Officer into the attached report.  This report is a standing item on the Committee’s agenda.

A report by the Constituency Manager, detailing progress to dated following the co-opting of Five Community Representatives to the Wirral South Constituency Committee on 15^th October and since the previous committee on 20^th April 2017. This report highlights particular issues been experienced by the communities within the five wards and seeks to bring them formally to the attention of the committee.

Peter Wright, Community Representative highlighted discussions had taken place with the previous chair and the need to meet again with the new Chair regarding the Neighbourhood review to serve the interests of Wirral South, and how they can engage and what their specific role will be in the outcomes.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that: All issues raised are noted by the Committee and subsequently discussed within the Local Action Teams.

RESOLVED: (8:0)

To receive an oral report from the Constituency Manager.

The Constituency Manager reported for noting that the quarterly update link would be appended.

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/about-council/council-performance

Although it is possible to forward pre-notified questions to the Constituency Manager in advance of this meeting, questions can also be asked on the night, via the Chair.  All questions will be collated and dealt with in turn by the Chair.

The Committee raised the following issues

Use the Councils Cycle Paths, on A41 and on the Lever Causeway.

A general discussion took place regarding who uses them and their merits and disadvantages of design.

There was1 Pre-notified Question from a Heswall Resident:

Context:

Just over a year ago, I tried to enlist in the Council's Wirral Emergency Volunteers scheme, but was told “the WEV scheme is on hold at present”. Around the same time, the corporate risks from 2015 which mentioned the scheme (SO3, PH1 and EN2) appear to have been lost in the Audit & Risk Management committee's reshuffle of the Risk Register.

Question:

In the light of the New Ferry incident, what plans do the council have for reviving the Wirral Emergency Volunteers Scheme?

Answer from Mark Camborne

Head of Community Safety & Transport

We are aware that the WEVS has been on hold for a while; this is primarily for two reasons:

1.  There has been a review of all volunteering groups of which the WEVs has been included.

2.  The officer who initially led on this left the Council and her replacement was only recruited 3 -4 months ago and is working through the various work streams.

We have maintained the current register and will be making contact with all those on it over the next 3 or 4 weeks (any new expressions of interest will also be contacted). This will allow us to identify who is still interested in being a WEVS and identifying what training and skills they have or have previously received. It is also our intention to hold some WEVS awareness and recruitment sessions before the end of the year.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held at 6pm on Wednesday, 4 October 2017 in a venue to be arranged.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee has been advertised as taking place at 6pm, 4th October 2017, venue to be confirmed in Clatterbridge.