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

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Councillor I Williams be elected Chair for the meeting and the duration of the municipal year; and

(2)  Councillor L Rowlands be elected Vice-Chair for the meeting and the duration of the municipal year.

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 C Muspratt declared a non pecuniary interest by virtue of a family member being employed by Merseyside Police.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Hodson, K Hodson, Kevin Sutton, Mal Wright and Peter Wright.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the Constituency Committee meeting held on 7 March, 2018 including response to questions raised during public question time

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 March 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a verbal presentation delivered by Constituency Manager ( Fergus Adams) on behalf of Ritchie Clarke – Station Manager.

Fergus Adams, on behalf of Ritchie Clarke, Station Manager – Merseyside Fire and Rescue updated members upon reported incidents between 1 April 2018 and 31 May 2018.

Members heard how there were:

·  13 deliberate fires (rubbish, bins, grass etc)

·  0 deliberate fires

·  7 accidental dwelling fires.

It was reported that there are no particular fire hotspots for any incident type within the Wirral South area.

To receive a verbal update from Neighbour hood Inspector, Georgina Minnery

PSCO Phil Roberts attended the meeting on behalf of Georgina Minnery, Neighbourhood Inspector.

PSCO Roberts addressed the Committee and informed Members  that overall crime figures have increased from last year from 31% - 45% and that ASB figures had decreased by 1%. It was explained that the increase is partly due to the requirement to now record certain incidents as crimes that had not been a requirement previously. He assured Members that figures still remain low in comparison to other areas across Wirral. Members heard how Merseyside Police are actively working alongside other agencies in order to bring crime levels down. Members heard how burglaries had been a particular issue right across the Merseyside Police Force area.

PSCO then responded to questions by members

Questions and Answers

Councillor Muspratt queried the effectiveness of the new task force that had been established specifically to tackle burglaries.

PSCO Roberts informed Members that this had proven thus far successful and that some arrests had been achieved as a result. He explained that social media had been utilised in order to get messages across about preventative measures. He then informed that the Police force are actively looking and targeting individuals involved and have joined up with other agencies in order to achieve this.

Councillor Sykes acknowledged that ASB had gone down but queried as to whether incidents of ASB are moving across the Wirral?

In response, Members heard that dispersal zones had been well received by the public and promoted by the local press and social media and had been a good tool in order to manager where youths are congregating. PSCO Roberts appealed for Councillors and members of the public to inform the Police of any incidents so that a plan can be put in place. He informed the Committee that plans had been put in place as a means to combat any ASB as far as mischief night and Halloween.

Mark Craig, Community Representative reported that there had been a number of incidents of speeding down the New Chester Road as a result of the implementation of average speed cameras down the New Ferry Bypass. He asked what could be done to combat this.

PSCO Roberts advised the Committee of his plans to utilise a mobile speed camera device in the area mentioned and to measure average speeds. He informed the Committee that there is a mobile police station in New Ferry every 3 weeks.

Councillor L Rowlands queried as to when the new Community Police Station would open

PSCO Roberts advised that he did not have a set date yet but advised that it would be available a couple of hours per day within Heswall Library and would report further when he had the information.

In response to this response, Councillor Cottier requested that a similar exercise be conducted in Bebington and was informed that this could be looked into.

Councillor J Williams enquired as to whether the speed camera on Mount Road was working.

Councillor Williams was informed that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

To receive a verbal presentation from David Hammond – Wirral NHS Community Trust

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

A report by Fergus Adams, Constituency Manager, updated Members on the Constituency Committee’s priorities for 2018/19. A presentation was given on key issues within the report.

The Constituency Manager drew members attention to para 3.1.1 of the report informing that: the first show case Eastham event was held in March with over 50 residents in attendance and the second showcase event will be held Saturday August 11^th at Torr Park.

Members were then made aware of para 3.2 of the reports entitled ‘ Gaps in Youth Provision’ and were informed that in its first two years of activity 37 young people had accessed therapeutic counselling sessions and 118 accessed the drop in sessions at Eastham and New Ferry youth clubs.

Paragraphs 3.3.1 & 3.3.2. of the report detailed budgetary details of local parks and the commitment of community members involved. Members were provided with details regarding ‘ Wirral South in Bloom 2018’ and successful applications, appended to the report.

Members were then informed about the ‘Love Where you Live’ initiative as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report and details were provided on the outcomes of a task and finish group that had met on 27 March 2018. Members heard how during this meeting the remaining budget was discussed and it was agreed to use the remaining budget (£11,250) to provide:

·  Installation of new litter bins in locations to be used by dog walkers that currently lack adequate provision for disposal; and

·  Dog waste disposal bad dispensers across a number of sites, working with existing partners (e.g. friends of parks groups) to ensure dispensers remain stocked.

Details were then given surrounding Place Based Social Action (PBSA) fund ( para 4.2) and Members heard how New Ferry was chosen as one of the twenty locations to receive support as part of phase one of the PSBA fund earlier this year. The Committee were informed that phase one involves up to £5,000 development funding and some extra support from a facilitator allocated by the fund. They then heard how phase two allows the New Ferry Town Team to apply for up to £240,000 as part of the phase (spread over three years) to continue to run chosen projects.

Resolved - That the Wirral South Constituency Committee note the progress outlined within the report.

A Report by the Wirral South Community Representatives highlighted particular issues experienced within the communities within the five wards and sought to bring them formally to the attention of the committee. Appended to the report were details of a working group ‘ First Pass Proposals’

Ray Squire, Community Representative, read out a statement provided by Kevin Sutton who had been elected as Chair of the Community Representatives, as follows:

“Members will recall that the "First Pass" proposal submitted to members at least a week before the last WSCC meeting by the com reps was not considered.  The proposal aim was to include and involve members of this committee in developing proposals for the council to "Work Together" with local communities to develop a better model "that works for all and is fair to all".

Members may also recall that at the last meeting Rachael Musgrave gave a presentation on "Working Together" which highlighted serious deficiencies in how the council engages with local communities.  It also highlighted the significant underspends of budgets allocated to constituency committees.

Since the last WSCC meeting there have been significant developments by senior council officers, com reps from this committee, Community of Practice and third sector organisations working together to develop proposals for a better model to involve and deliver community services across the Wirral.

The com reps believe that the opportunity for elected members from this committee to be involved in this process has been lost.

We also understand that a report on Working Together with Local Communities will be considered by Cabinet next month.”

Resolved – That the report and subsequent written statement be noted.

To receive a verbal update from Constituency Manager, Fergus Adams.

Members were advised on how to access the Wirral Plan Overview Update 2017 -18 Quarter Four and the following link was provided:

https://www.wirral.gov.uk/sites/default/files/all/About%20the%20council/Performance%20and%20spending/Performance%20reports/2017_18%20Q4%20Overview%20Report%20Wirral%20Plan.pdf

Although it is possible to forward pre-notified questions to the Constituency Manager questions will also be taken on the night via the Chair. All questions will be collated at the start of item 11 and dealt with in turn by the Chair.

The Committee and  members of the public in attendance at the meeting raised the following questions, issues, concerns and requests. The first three questions were received in advance of the meeting.

There were 18 members of the public present.

Question one, received in advance of the meeting from Karen O’Rourke

 In his letter to the Constituency Manager, dated 7th June, David Ball stated “For clarification it is important to state that the Cabinet decision taken to move to the next stage of the project viewed the proposed future loan of £26million to the project as a commercial investment from which the Council will receive a financial return that can be re-invested back into local service provision. It is not a sum of Council money that could in theory be re-directed to another location as New Ferry”.

I believe that Mr Ball has misunderstood the questions relating to the funding of the Golf Resort and New Ferry. It is well understood by residents that the £26million to be lent to the Developers for the Golf Resort will not come directly from the Council, but via prudential borrowing.

The Council initially provided £350,000 for the initial New Ferry clear up work. Recently Homes England has announced an initial investment of £100k for further consultancy studies. Yet this £100k has not come directly from the Council. 16 months after the explosion New Ferry is only now receiving just £100k to carry out work over the next 12 months to produce a viable scheme capable of securing planning permission.

The Council have so far spent over £1million of their own money on consultancy studies for the Hoylake Golf Resort and have invested significant time and resources to the project.(including a further £600k committed just months before the explosion).  They have already committed to lending a Developer £26million should the Golf Resort secure planning permission – even though the golf resort is also still at the same stage as New Ferry i.e. requiring 12 month studies to produce a viable scheme capable of securing planning permission.

Therefore, please will the Council explain how it is able to spend £1million on Consultancy Studies and secure Cabinet Approval for a Prudential Loan to a Developer for the Golf Resort, despite the fact that there are still 12 months of golf resort design studies yet to take place?  Please can you explain why, 15 months after the explosion, a similar amount of money has not been made available to progress the New Ferry development . Please will you clarify whether the Council will approve  prudential borrowing to lend to a Developer for New Ferry?"

Answer

A full answer to this question will be provided in due course

Question two, received in advance of the meeting by Nick Drew

Following Rachael Musgrave's presentation at the last WSCC, and having studied the slides she presented, can the committee give any further indications on:

A)which Cabinet member is now responsible for the 'Localism and Engagement' portfolio? (there no longer appears to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

An item of urgent business requested by Councillor Gilchrist was accepted by the Chair.

Councillor P Gilchrist addressed the Committee to inform Members about the ongoing issues surrounding bus routes in his ward and accross the southern Wirral area. He expressed concerns in particular about the lack of public transport to Arrowe Park Hospital.

Councillor Jordan also expressed her concerns about the situation in Spital and the impact this has had upon hospital staff who are often late for work as a result of inadequate bus services.

Councillor Muspratt further spoke of her concerns about the lack of provision and the unsatisfactory service.

On a motion by Councillor Mitchell and jointly seconded by Councillors Muspratt and Jordan and unanimously agreed and

Resolved – That

This Constituency Committee is concerned at the inconvenient, lengthy and time consuming bus journeys, affecting residents in southern Wirral when travelling to Arrowe Park Hospital and back,

The committee recognises that, since the changes to bus services introduced in September 2017, patients and visitors have been faced not only with less frequent but also indirect services, part of a complex deal negotiated between Merseytravel and the bus companies.

We consider it totally unsatisfactory that residents face journeys that might involve changes in New Ferry or Birkenhead Bus station, adding extra journey time, stress and the possibility of additional costs to their journeys.

Whilst some work has been started on ways to alleviate or tackle the situation such as the meeting attended by Merseytravel, representatives of the Clinical Commissioning Group, this Council and Councillors Muspratt and Gilchrist, the issues have not yet been resolved.

In addition the Urgent Care Review also needs to take account of the need to access services.

This committee therefore requests that the Leader of the Council and appropriate Cabinet members take this issue up with the LCR Transport Committee and the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region with a view to restoring a better and more direct service to Arrowe Park Hospital from those areas of southern Wirral most affected.

Wednesday 3^rd October 2018.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee has been advertised as taking place at 6pm, 3 October ( Venue TBC)