The Chair welcomed attendees and viewers to the meeting and reminded everyone that the meeting was webcast and retained on the Council’s website for two years.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gill Wood, Councillor Richie Pitt and Councillor Graham Davies who were deputised by Councillor Paula Basnett, Councillor Ann Ainsworth and Councillor Jenny Johnson respectively.

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 were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest.

Councillor Steve Foulkes declared a personal non prejudicial interest by virtue of his role as Chair on the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee. Councillor Janette Williamson declared a personal non prejudicial interest by virtue of her role as a Member of the Liverpool City Region Transport Committee.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2025.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2025 be approved and adopted as a correct record.

Please telephone the Committee Services Officer if you have not received an acknowledgement of your question/statement by the deadline for submission.

Notice of question to be given in writing or by email by 12 noon, Thursday 6^th March, to the Council’s Monitoring Officer via this link: Public Question Form and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.

For more information on how your personal information will be used, please see this link: Document Data Protection Protocol for Public Speakers at Committees | Wirral Council

Please telephone the Committee Services Officer if you have not received an acknowledgement of your question by the deadline for submission.

Stephen Taylor attended the meeting and asked a question about the exclusion of Ian Fraser Walk from the 2025/26 slurry maintenance programme. The Chair responded that Ian Fraser Walk had a specialist-coloured material, and the Council had been working with contractors to consider suitable surface treatments with the desired colour match. The Chair confirmed that there was a plan to undertake a test patch this summer to evaluate texture, adhesion and colour. Should this be successful, a scheme would be presented and proposed in the following years structural maintenance programme.

Notice of representations to be given in writing or by email by 12 noon, Thursday 6^th March, to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk) and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 11.1.

To register your intention to give a statement please do so via this link: Notify Wirral Council that you wish to make a Statement at a Council or Committee Meeting and this will be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 11.1.

 Petitions may be presented to the Committee. The person presenting the petition will be allowed to address the meeting briefly (not exceeding one minute) to outline the aims of the petition. The Chair will refer the matter to another appropriate body of the Council within whose terms of reference it falls without discussion, unless a relevant item appears elsewhere on the Agenda. Please give notice of petitions to committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk in advance of the meeting.

Mark Anthony Craig attended the meeting and presented a petition which requested the Council to improve unsafe underpasses in New Ferry.

Questions by Members to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Orders 12.3 to 12.8.

There were no questions by Members.

The Head of Finance – Place introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which set out the financial monitoring information for the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee as at Quarter 3 (31 December) of 2024/25.

The report provided Members with an overview of budget performance, including progress on the delivery of the 2024/25 saving programme and a summary of reserves and balances, to enable the Committee to take ownership of the budgets and provide robust challenge and scrutiny to Officers and where appropriate, Committees on the performance of those budgets.

At the end of Quarter 3, the financial outlook had improved since quarter 2. Estimates forecasted an adverse outturn position of £0.707m on the Committees spend. This position was based on activity to date, projected trends in income and expenditure and changes to Council funding.

The Council had faced a severe financial challenge throughout the year to achieve a balanced budget. All possible measures to curtail spending and generate substantial cost savings had been applied. However, the current forecast showed that the Council would not be in a position to provide a balanced budget by financial year-end. Consequently, the Section 151 officer had submitted an application for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).

In response to a query about highway maintenance and the Council’s regeneration scheme, the Assistant Director: Highways and Infrastructure gave assurance to Members that the highways team were mindful of the regeneration programme when scheduling works to avoid any duplication of works.

Members enquired about the Coastal Sea Defence and Environmental enforcement programmes and were advised that a full response would be provided to the Committee within 10 working days.

The Chair noted that the outcome of the application to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for exceptional financial support had been received and that recommendation 2 should be amended to reflect this.

On a motion by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes, it was:

Resolved – That

(1)  the forecast adverse position of £0.707m presented at Quarter 3 and  the urgent need to examine all available options to address the position be noted.

(2)  that the Director of Finance had made an application to the Ministry  of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) for Exceptional Financial Support and that this had been granted be noted.

(3)  the progress on delivery of the 2024/25 savings programme at  Quarter 3 be noted.

(4)  the forecast level of reserves and balances at Quarter 3 be noted.

(5)  the budget virements, as detailed in paragraph 3.23 be approved.

(6)  the capital position at the end of Quarter 3 be noted.

The Environment Services Area Manager introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which outlined the variation to the contract with Biffa Waste Services Limited to modify services currently provided to include separate weekly food waste collections from all domestic dwellings from 1 April 2026.

Members noted that the procurement of the caddies, bins and appropriate vehicles, was being managed through the Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership with early indications that the capital costs were in the region of £4.5m with Wirral being awarded £2.4m and raised concerns about the funding shortfall. The Head of Finance – Place advised Members that since the report had been written, a further £0.7m had been awarded to deliver the caddies programme.

Members were reassured by reports from Officers that the caddies would be lockable and all food waste would have to be bagged to mitigate spillage and infestation. The Chair reported that there had been regular briefings for the Chair and Spokes and that this issue had been discussed and considered at length.

The Chair requested that communications with residents were undertaken to explain the change in system and give reassurance.

Members requested that a report be added to the work programme to look into options for recycling in public bins.

Resolved – That

(1)  the variation of the current contract with Biffa Waste Services Ltd for separate food waste collections for indicative start date of 1 April 2026 be approved, pending readiness of Merseyside Recycling Waste Authority (MRWA) transfer and treatment solutions.

(2)  the Director of Neighbourhoods Services be authorised to jointly procure the required food waste vehicles and caddies to enable separate food waste collections for households as part of the Liverpool City Region Waste & Resources Partnership.

The Senior Network Manager introduced to report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which requested approval of the recommended City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Combined Authority Transport Plan (CATP) programme for 2025/26. The report also sought approval for the indicative recommended CRSTS CATP programme for 2026-2027.

Members sought reassurance that schemes would be delivered in a timely manner and that spend would be met as half of this years budget was made up of money that wasn’t spent in the previous year. The Assistant Director: Highways and Infrastructure advised Members that the Council had approached the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to discuss using capital money to provide external support given the pace of delivery and that there was a sound plan to significantly improve the delivery of programmes throughout 2025/26.

In response to a query about School Streets, the Committee were advised that there was an allocation of £150k to support new and existing School Streets.

Members highlighted that there were a lot of unreported collisions across the network and noted that some roads presented false safety data as the roads were so dangerous that residents avoided using them which gave a false positive and encouraged officers to looking at preventative rather than reactionary measures to prevent collisions.

 Resolved – That

(1)  the proposed City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (“CRSTS”) Combined Authority Transport Plan programme for 2025/26 and the spending of the associated grant funding once accepted by the Council’s Section 151 Officer, as set out in Appendix A to this report be approved.

(2)  the indicative CRSTS Combined Authority Transport Plan  programme for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix B to this report be approved.

(3)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorised to amend the  Liverpool City Region's Sustainable Transport Settlement Combined Authority Transport Plan programme for 2025 -26 having regard for available resources and risk -based prioritization of schemes in consultation with the chair and party spokes of this committee

(4)  the Director of Law and Corporate Services be authorised to execute  any grant funding agreements associated with these recommendations.

The Senior Highway Maintenance Street Light Manager introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which requested approval for the disbursement of grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2025/26 into the Council’s Capital Programme for Highways Structural Maintenance and Bridge Maintenance. The report also recommended acceptance of an indicative highway condition matrix that would be used to inform future programme investment decisions.

Members welcomed the report and the £8.7m that the government had put into the “pothole fund”, noting that there were some flexibilities within that fund for innovation. Members were keen to get the funding spent ensuring that projects would be delivered.

Resolved – That

(1)  the proposed programme of works for Wirral’s Carriageways, Footway Improvements and Bridge Maintenance for 2025/26 be approved, using any relevant grant funding allocated to the Council by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement - Highways Structural Maintenance allocation, and the spending of the associated grant funding on these works, once accepted by the Council’s Section 151 Officer, as set out in Appendix 2 to this report;

(2)  the indicative Red, Amber, Green rated highway network condition matrix as set out in Appendix 4 to this report be approved, to be used by the Director of Neighbourhood Services as one of the decision tools when developing the Council’s highway structural maintenance programmes.

(3)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorised to revise or amend the delivery or implementation of the work programmes, as deemed necessary, having due regard for the available resources and applicable risk-based prioritisation of locations selected for intervention and treatment, in consultation with the Chair and Party Spokespersons of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee; and

(4)  the Director of Law and Corporate Services be authorised to negotiate and finalise any grant funding agreements on behalf of the council, amongst the relevant subject areas over the next 3 years, as set out in Appendix 1 to this report and for any additional grant funding received during this period relevant to the subject area.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services introduced the report which provided a quarterly performance report in relation to the Council Plan: Wirral Working Together 2023-27 for the Theme promoting independence and healthier lives. The report provided an update on measures that have changed in the Quarter 3 period, October to December 2024.

Members thanked Officers for providing data on Sites of Special Scientific Interest  and for providing figures rather than percentages as it gave a fuller picture. Members noted that some sites had not been surveyed for over 15 years and requested Officers to look into a suggested timeframe for surveying.

Members requested further information on air pollution and whether high levels of mortality coincided with locations of high levels of air pollution. It was requested that the percentages of trees planted be provided as well as the number of trees planted and the number of trees that have survived.

Resolved – That the content of the report be considered and any areas that required further clarification or action be referred up to Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chair introduced the report which enabled Members of the Environment Climate Emergency and Transport Committee to contribute to the delivery of the annual work programme.

Members agreed that they would review the work programme at the beginning of the next municipal year.

Resolved – That the Environment Climate Emergency and Transport Committee work programme be noted.

The Highway Asset Manager introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which sought approval to commence with the procurement process for four contracts to enable the Council to carry out essential highway maintenance of existing carriageway and footway surfaces:

A1.1 Surface Dressing and Micro Carriageway Surfacing

A1.2 Footway Slurry and Carriageway Micro Hand Patching

A1.3 Carriageway and Footway Retread

A2 Carriageway Structural Resurfacing

The works provided under the proposed contracts would enable the Council to continue to meet its statutory duties under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980.

Resolved – That

(1)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorised to proceed with procurement exercises with a view to appointing, in each case, a contractor to deliver the following essential highway maintenance works on a 3-year contract:

a) the A1.1 Surface Dressing and Micro Carriageway Surfacing contract.

b) the A1.2 Footway Slurry and Carriageway Micro Hand Patching contract.

c) the A1.3 Carriageway and Footway Retread contract.

d) the A2 Carriageway Structural Resurfacing contract; and

(2)   the Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorised to appoint in each case the preferred tenderer on the basis of the most economically advantageous tenderer criteria.