Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Andrew Mossop 

Media

Items
No. Item

6.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Jo Bird, who had a deputy standing in for her and from Councillor Jean Stapleton.

7.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest / Party Whip

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 are reminded that they should also declare whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 

Members were reminded that they should also declare whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

 

Councillors Steve Foulkes and Jerry Williams declared personal interests in respect of agenda item 7, ‘Update on Liverpool City Region Developments’ as members of the Transport Committee of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

8.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

The Committee is requested to appoint a Vice-Chair.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair invited nominations for Vice-Chair.

 

It was moved by Councillor George Davies and seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes, that –

 

“Councillor Jo Bird be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee.”

 

It was then moved by Councillor Tony Cox and seconded by Councillor Andrew Gardner, that –

 

“Councillor Steve Williams be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee.”

 

The first motion was put and carried (6:5) (One abstention). It was therefore –

 

Resolved (6:5) (One abstention) – That Councillor Jo Bird be appointed Vice-Chair of this Committee.

9.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March, 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were requested to receive the minutes of the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 March, 2019.

 

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 March, 2019, be approved.

10.

Order of Business

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair agreed to vary the order of business and take item 6 on the agenda next.

11.

2018/19 Quarter 4 and Year End Wirral Plan Performance pdf icon PDF 107 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Armstrong, Assistant Chief Executive, introduced a report which provided the 2018/19 Quarter 4 (January - March 2019) performance report for Wirral Plan pledges under the Business theme. The Quarter 4 report was included as Appendix 1 to the report, and provided a description of the progress in Quarter 4, including available data in relation to a range of outcome indicators and supporting measures.

 

The year-end closedown report was included as Appendix 2 and provided a summary of analysis of performance against measures and Wirral Plan delivery of pledge strategy actions at the year end.

 

Responding to a comment from a Member, David Armstrong stated that with regard to the number and type of jobs created he would need to request this information from the Chamber of Commerce and respond to this in writing.

 

Resolved – That the report be noted.

12.

Wirral's Culture Strategy: Imagine Wirral 2018 and Borough of Culture 2019 pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Jane Morgan, Senior Manager – Culture, introduced a report and gave a detailed presentation on the progress made in respect of implementing Wirral’s Culture Strategy, with particular reference to the impact of the 2018 Imagine Wirral culture programme and the 2019 Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture programme.

 

Members made a number of comments and observations following the presentation, including:

 

·  Wirral was now in a good place to build on visitor economy outcomes given progress to date.

·  It was important to ensure that residents / neighbouring areas were fully engaged with events about potential impact, e.g. in respect of noise.

·  With regard to legacy, there was a need for some sustainable projects to keep residents and visitors coming back.

·  In respect of social isolation some of the large scale events were of important social value in terms of volunteering.

·  There was a need to engage with some of the cruise ship companies and ‘blue badge’ guides so that heritage trails and visitor tours benefitted Wirral as well as Liverpool and other parts of the City Region.

·  There was also a need to demonstrate the legacy of cultural and sporting events and show this through evaluation methodologies which were both quantitative and qualitative.

·  These events had attracted visitors from the wider region and beyond and not just from the Wirral.

 

Responding to comments from Members, Jane Morgan commented that the data on the economic benefits of investment in culture was based on a standard recognised survey methodology, using a sample of visitors and she would circulate the information on this. With regard to volunteers there was an application process and an induction; a volunteer manager was also in place at each event to support volunteers. With regard to the social impact, quantitative and qualitative data was collected and case studies were also used. There was also lots of evidence nationally and internationally around culture and wellbeing and there was a need to be able to evaluate this in Wirral on an ongoing basis.

 

Members thanked all those who had been and were involved in organising these events including Lucy Barrow, Jane Morgan and all the team.

 

David Armstrong also added his thanks and appreciation to all the staff from the Culture and Visitor Economy Team and also all the other Council staff, including those involved in organising road closures, cleaning up and the significant number of volunteers.

 

The Chair commented upon the comparatively small amount of money spent by the Council on these events in return for such a large economic impact and the need to continue growing the visitor economy through continued investment.

 

Resolved – That the report, presentation and comments be noted and the thanks of this Committee be accorded to all the staff involved in helping with all these past and future events.

 

13.

Update on Liverpool City Region Developments pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Rose Boylan, Policy and Strategy Manager, introduced a report and gave a presentation setting out a brief overview of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) landscape, including an overview of the Combined Authority members, roles and responsibilities, and current activity underway to implement the City Region devolution deal.

 

In response to a comment from a Member, Rose Boylan stated that she would be happy to report back on the benefits for Wirral residents.

 

Another Member commented upon the £1 tunnel fee which benefited all Wirral residents who had a ‘fast tag’ and the forthcoming delivery of new all accessible trains for the Merseyrail fleet. Though he acknowledged that there was quite some way to go in making all stations accessible. He also looked forward to the delivery of new ferries.

 

The Chair thanked Rose Boylan for her update and presentation. He also referred to the regular email he received with an update on LCR developments and suggested that all Members could receive this.

 

Resolved – That the report be noted.

14.

Business O&S Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the Scrutiny Officer which explained the process of developing and managing a scrutiny work programme for the current municipal year. The report also updated the Committee on the current status of scrutiny reviews and workshops on a variety of topics.

 

With regard to the review of scrutiny arrangements, the Chair referred to a meeting of Scrutiny Committee chairs which would be taking place on 17 July, 2019. The Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee would be referring a report on the matter to Council and it was suggested that the Chair and Party spokespersons from this Committee refer their comments to the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee.

 

With regard to the Camper Vans Scrutiny Review, Councillor Steve Foulkes agreed that the Labour Group would supply a name to replace Councillor Pat Hackett who was part of the original Task and Finish review.

 

The Chair referred to the need for a Task and Finish review into road safety issues and it was agreed that this be added to the Committee’s work programme.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Steve Williams and seconded by Councillor Tony Cox, that –

 

“This Committee writes to the Mayor and asks that Notices of Motion submitted for debate at Council are not sent to this Committee.

 

For the last few years the Committee’s work plan has been at capacity, with items often being carried over to the next municipal year, and some never being debated.

 

The Committee regularly holds extra meetings and workshops and, in addition, five extra meetings were announced yesterday regarding the Local Plan.”

 

Some Members expressed the view that it was not the business of this Committee to interfere in constitutional arrangements.

 

Following advice from the Committee’s legal representative, that the referral of Notices of Motion to Overview and Scrutiny Committees was at the discretion of the Mayor and the motion before the Committee was to ask the Mayor to not exercise that discretion, the motion was put and it was –

 

Resolved (7:3) (Two abstentions) -

 

This Committee writes to the Mayor and asks that Notices of Motion submitted for debate at Council are not sent to this Committee.

 

For the last few years the Committee’s work plan has been at capacity, with items often being carried over to the next municipal year, and some never being debated.

 

The Committee regularly holds extra meetings and workshops and, in addition, five extra meetings were announced yesterday regarding the Local Plan.

15.

Appointment of Highways Representation Panel pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair introduced a report on the need to keep panels under review and, in particular, at the first meeting of a Committee in each municipal year, in accordance with Standing Order 33(1). The Committee was requested to appoint Members to serve on the Highways and Traffic Representation Panel in 2019/20.

 

The membership of the Highways Representation Panel, since its establishment in 2009 had been three members, the Chair of the relevant Scrutiny Committee and usually the two Party Spokespersons, or their nominees. With the Independent Group now having a place on the Committee it was recommended that four Members be appointed to the Panel.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the Highways and Traffic Representation Panel be retained in 2019/20, with the terms of reference identified.

 

(2)  That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Highways and Traffic Representation Panel in 2019/20, with Councillor Steve Williams appointed as Chair –

 

Members

 

1 Conservative – Steve Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Labour – George Davies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Liberal Democrat – Dave Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

1 Independent – Mike Sullivan

 

Deputies

 

Tony Cox

Mike Collins

Andrew Gardner

Geoffrey Watt

Helen Cameron

Alison Wright

Tom Anderson

Jeff Green

 

Jo Bird

Steve Foulkes

Karl Greaney

Jean Stapleton

Joe Walsh

Jerry Williams

Tony Cottier

Samantha Frost

 

Allan Brame

Chris Carubia

Andy Corkhill

Phil Gilchrist

Stuart Kelly

 

Bill Davies

Moira McLaughlin