Agenda and minutes

Venue: Eastham Centre, Eastham Rake, Eastham, Wirral. CH62 9AN

Contact: Victoria Simpson 0151 691 8271 

Items
No. Item

12.

MEMBERS' CODE OF CONDUCT - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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.

 

Minutes:

Members were asked to consider whether they had any discosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests 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.

 

 

13.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies of absence were received from Councillors A Hodson, K Hodson, C Povall. Community Representative, Mal Wright and David Armstrong, Assistant Chief Executive.

 

14.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Minutes:

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held 4 October 2018 be agreed.

 

15.

Update provided by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Delivered by Constituency Manager (Fergus Adams) on behalf of Ritchie Clarke – Station Manager.

 

Minutes:

The Constituency Manager informed the Committee that he had not received an update from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and therefore could not update the Committee at this time.

 

Councillors noted their disappointment.

 

16.

Public question & Answer ( Approx 20 minutes) including responses to questions asked at the previous meeting

Although it is possible to forward pre – notified questions to the Constituency Manager, questions will also be taken on the night via the Chair. Questions must be received at least 10 ten working days prior to Committee.

 

Minutes:

With the agreement of the Chair, it was agreed that this item would be taken out of order to accommodate the public in attendance.

 

Question one – David Bird, Eastham

 

Mr D Bird addressed the Committee to enquire into spending money allocated to it

 

Fergus Adams, Constituency Manager advised that he would give details of the budget situation within his Constituency Manager report.

 

No further questions were asked.

 

17.

Wirral South Priority Update pdf icon PDF 555 KB

Constituency Manager – Fergus Adams.

 

Minutes:

A Report by the Director for Health and Wellbeing provided an update on the Constituency Committee’s priorities for 2018/19. Members were reminded that the work of the Wirral South Constituency Committee contributes to a range of Wirral Plan 2020 pledges and that neighbourhood working is key to deliver the plan.

 

The current position was set out within the report and details of projected spend by 31st March 2019 were explained. Members heard how there was some underspend projected for the end of the year, and funds had been allocated, but in some cases work remains to be carried out.

 

The report detailed Budget themes including Social Isolation Grants Fund, Improved Open Spaces, Gaps in Youth Provision, Engagement, Love Wirral, Love where you live and Torr Park (Section 106 legal agreement).

 

Members were reminded that at Committee in October 2018, it was resolved to ‘Begin the process to re-commission the Wirral South Youth Counselling Service’. Members were then advised that following advice from Procurement Officers, it was not deemed necessary to go through a formal commissioning exercise to extend the existing Service Level Agreement ( SLA). The reason for this is that the SLA is currently delivered by an internal partner and as such extending it does not need to be put back out to tender.

 

On a motion by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor D Mitchell it was:

 

Resolved ( 12:0) That this committee-

 

(1)  extends the existing service level agreement with Response to deliver the Wirral South Youth Counselling Service from the period 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020; and

 

(2)   notes the content of the report.

18.

Connecting Wirral South - Social Isolation Grants Fund

To receive a verbal update confirming details of confirmed funded projects from Constituency Manager – Fergus Adams.

 

Minutes:

A presentation by Fergus Adams, Wirral South Constituency Manager advised that a Panel of Elected Members including Councillors: P Gilchrist, C Muspratt, C Povall and I Williams had met on Tuesday 26 Feb to allocate the remaining Social Isolation Budget.

 

Members heard that due to tied scoring, the decision made to use the entire remaining Social Isolation Budget + adding £614 from the Engagement Budget, thus total amount of funding awarded would be £17,114 rather than £16,500.

 

The Constituency Manager informed that projects would be evaluated and reported back to Members.

 

Resolved – That Members note the decision of the Panel.

 

19.

Update from Merseryside Police

Neighbourhood Inspector – Georgina Minnery.

 

Minutes:

Neighbourhood Inspector, Georgina Minnery provided Members with a verbal update. Tom Robinson, Police Sergeant was also in attendance.

 

Details of Crime and Anti Social Behaviour were reported to the Committee and Members heard how all crime is down by 12.46% (38 crimes). In particular burglary (dwelling) was down by 29.63% (8 crimes) and burglary (other) was down by 50% (10 crimes).

 

Members heard how ABS was down by 15 incidents, however there had been a spike in youth disorder in Bromborough Ward. Members were advised that a possibility of extra patrols were being looked into and a dispersal zone would be put into force during the weekend of 8 March 2019.

 

In response to a question by a Members the Committee were advised that travelling criminals from the wider Merseyside area and beyond had been targeted through AMPR systems and through intelligence sharing amongst force borders.

 

A query was raised regarding a caravan currently located on Brackenwood Road and a discussion ensued regarding the responsibilities of the Council and the Police to move it. Members were advised that this would be reviewed by Merseyside Police.

 

In response to a further question, Members heard how there are not currently any particular Neighbourhood Police Officers in post, but a lot of current Officers have specific skills of previous Neighbourhood Officers and there are a number of home watch groups in place.

 

In response to a question by a Members of the Public, Inspector Minnery advised that she would pass details of social isolation schemes onto appropriate people who attend Bebington Police Station.

 

Resolved – That Members note the verbal report.

 

20.

Wirral South Community Representative Report pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

A report by the Wirral South Constituency Representatives detailed progress to date following the co opting of five Community Representatives ( Com Reps) to the Wirral South Constituency Committee. The report highlighted particular issues being experienced by the communities within the five wards and sought to bring them formally to the attention of the Committee.

 

The Com Reps expressed their dissatisfaction with the demise of the Constituency Committees, particularly Wirral South CC. The Com Reps reported that they are proud of their achievements over the past five years and the way in which they had worked together with Elected Members in supporting the needs and aspirations of their communities.

 

Com Reps reiterated their frustration, disappointment and concerns over the lack of progress in developing a Wirral wide strategic Neighbourhood Development Plan, which was approved by Cabinet in October 2015.

 

Information on work completed in each of the Wirral South Constituency Wards was detailed within the report.

 

Mark Craig, Com Rep for New Ferry thanked Members of the Council for agreeing to allocate funds to the New Ferry community following the March 2017 explosion. He advised the Committee that as the second anniversary of the explosion approaches, an event is being organised to mark the occasion. He advised that some residents remain traumatised and therefore the proposal is to hold a quiet and respectful lantern parade.

 

Ray Squire, Com Rep for Heswall addressed the Committee to express his disappointment in the disbanding of the Committee and commented how it had been a great shame to not have any Cabinet Members on the Committee.

 

It was moved by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor D Mitchell that an additional recommendation be agreed as follows:

 

 “ This Committee places on record it’s grateful thanks to all Com Reps” and:

 

Resolved That (12:0):

 

(1)   the Chair liaises with the appropriate Council Officers to ensure that the resolutions approved in the Com Rep report in October are actioned as a priority; and

(2)  this Committee places on record its grateful thanks to all Com Reps.

 

 

21.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT - IMPLEMENTING A NEW MODEL FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Constituency Manager presented a report advising of a Council decision taken on 10 December 2018, on receipt of a recommendation from the Cabinet, to implement a new model of community engagement.  The new model, to commence in the 2019/20 Municipal Year, would involve the establishment of Ward Member budgets and the submitted report advised on:-

 

·  the distribution of funding across Wards according to a weighting mechanism based upon 75% per head of population, 15% deprivation, 5% under 5 years population and 5% over 75 years population, details of which, together with allocations in respect of each Ward Member;

·  the governance arrangements for the processes of applications for Ward Member budget funding and for annual review and evaluation; and

·  Member support arrangements to aid Ward Councillors.

 

The decision of the Council also deleted the Constituency Committees, meaning that this would be the final meeting of the Wirral South Constituency Committee. Members were therefore invited to consider arrangements for collaborative working outside of formal governance conditions.

 

The report considered the background to the decision of the Council arising from a review undertaken by the former Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, key principles as to how the Ward Member budgets were to operate, a process for funding applications and approval, the availability of Member support, and options available for Members to work together within and across Ward boundaries.  Draft guidance and a proposed application form were further appended to the submitted report for consideration.

 

An amendment to the second recommendation within the report was proposed by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor C Muspratt and it was:

 

Resolved (12:0) That

 

Members recognise the detailed consideration given to joint working at the recent workshops. Members also recognise that opportunities for future joint working and funding. In order to further this, in the new municipal year, an opportunity be sought to draw up a scheme to fund social isolation that is acceptable to Members, involving contributions from Members.

 

The Committee then moved onto the recommendations in the report. It was moved by Councillor P Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor C Muspratt and:

 

Resolved ( 12:0) That:

 

elected Members note the process and criteria as set out in the appendices attached to this report and the necessary Officer delegations to administer the Ward Member budgets; and Members recognise the detailed consideration given to joint working at the recent workshops. Members also recognise that opportunities for future joint working and funding. In order to further this, in the new municipal year, an opportunity be sought to draw up a scheme to fund social isolation that is acceptable to Members, involving contributions from Members.

 

22.

Wirral South Constituency Committee: A Positive Legacy

To receive a presentation by the Constituency Manager showing some of the positive outcomes from the Committee since its inception. Some details to be provided from the elected member workshop held in February in relation to future working.

 

Minutes:

Members were provided with a presentation on the legacy of the Wirral South Constituency Committee and key work conducted was identified as follows:

 

·  Wirral South Youth Counselling Service had been operating for 30 months and was delivered from Eastham Youth Club, New Ferry Youth Club and Heswall Hall. 45 young people had accessed a programme of counselling sessions and 136 young people accessed counselling and advice via informal drop in sessions.

 

·  The Wirral South Christmas Together programme had been operational over 3 years and had engaged with 529 individuals and 214 volunteers had been involved.

 

·  Wirral South in Bloom had been operational over 3 years and had funded over 30 projects.

 

·  Wirral South Improved Open Spaces had enabled five individual parks to be supported, delivered £75,000 worth of improvements and had resulted in 2 new green flags being awarded.

 

Members and Com Reps expressed their thanks to the Constituency Manager for all work involved. Members resolved to continue with the work they had achieved and to work in a way to fully benefit their communities.

 

Resolved – That Members note the content of the verbal report.