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

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.

There were no declarations of interests.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2021, attached.

Resolved - 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee held on 16 June 2021 be approved and adopted as a correct record.

One public question had been received from New Brighton Coastal Community Team (NBCCT) who were unable to attend.

The question was read out by the Chair.

Question

The NBCCT would wish to draw to the Committee's attention the unsanitary conditions in New Brighton which have been a result of limited provision of good quality public toilets. This has been an issue for us prior to Covid, however Covid has made the situation worse. We are striving to present New Brighton as a place of welcome and well being, but this issue detracts from our work.

We have been in correspondence with the Senior Environmental Health Manager and he has very clearly explained the limitations on the toilet cleaning team.

We also appreciate that Marine Point toilets are not the responsibility of the Council

On the 1st July we received correspondence from the Council requesting comments in the siting of temporary toilets. However only 2 options were given Vale Park and Marine Park. Replies had to be returned by 2nd July.

Could we please be advised how many temporary toilets are envisaged and where will they be located.

As the school holidays are already underway, we would suggest temporary toilets also in Fort Perch Rock Car Park. Contrary to opinion FPR car park is not tidal.

We would also ask if any of the forth coming plans for New Brighton include the provision of more basic human amenities/public toilets.

Answer

Due to a number of Anti Social behaviour issues experienced last summer, the operational decision was taken, not to provide any additional temporary toilets but rather to utilise any available funding to provide additional enhanced cleaning regimes to the existing Council owned and operated public toilets in the area. The extensive public toilet provision at the Floral Pavilion is also available, free to use and accessible facilities are also in situ. Other private businesses in the area – such as Morrisons also provide a free to use public toilet provision.

Nikki Butterworth, Director of Neighbourhood Services, introduced this report regarding the Community Safety Strategy which was a statutory responsibility for Councils. The report introduced the Community Safety Strategy 2021-2026 which had been co-produced following significant consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.

Members debated types of crime reported to them or of concern to them, such as domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, hate crime and road safety, and wished for a greater frequency of reporting than annually. Paul Morrison, Neighbourhood Safety Officer, and Police Superintendent Martin Earle answered Members questions.

Resolved - That

(1)   the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy (Community Safety Strategy) be noted and its submission to the Council Meeting for final approval be endorsed.

(2)   the Assistant Director Neighbourhoods, Safety and Transport be requested to provide regular updates (twice a year) to the Committee on the progress made in respect to the delivery of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy (Community Safety Strategy).

Nikki Butterworth, Director of Neighbourhood Services, presented this report which was an update on the development of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for Wirral Leisure Services (formerly Leisure Strategy), which had been written following engagement with residents, communities, and other stakeholders. The key focus of the Strategy was to set out the priorities for sport and leisure facilities, services and activities and seeks to redress the balance between being a provider of facilities and tackling inequality through preventative, outreach, and early intervention work. It was not a statutory requirement to have a sport and physical activity strategy, but it was seen as good practice to outline the Council’s plans for leisure services for the period 2020-2025 based on the evidence base and emerging Covid-19 landscape.

Members expressed concern at the stated levels of inactivity and requested additional details about the demographics behind that and any correlation with other elements of the strategy.

Resolved – That:

(1)  the progress made in the development of the outline Sport and Physical Activity Strategy be noted.

(2)  the further development of the Strategy be presented to Committee in Autumn.

Andy McCartan, the Assistant Director for Leisure, Libraries and Customer Engagement, introduced this report which provided an update on municipal golf in Wirral. The focus of the report was to highlight the challenges and opportunities relating to Wirral’s golf service and seeks approval to explore future options for all sites. The key aim was for municipal golf in Wirral to positively contribute to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), the developing Sports and Physical Activity Strategy, and key health priorities and outcomes. Any options were to aim to partially or fully mitigate the current golf net subsidy of around £270,000 whilst providing an improved and quality golf offer in Wirral.

Members expressed their wish that the facilities capitalise on the Open Golf Championship which was taking place on the Wirral in 2023 and to receive a report on this at a future meeting.

Several Members were interested in being part of a proposed Working Group to consider the future of the municipal golf courses which all required investment. Members noted the proposal for a development of a broader sports village near Arrowe Park but were concerned that the location was hard to reach and was not in an area which would benefit greatly from investment.

Resolved – That:

(1)  the work being progressed on the Arrowe Park Sports Village feasibility study with FMG Consulting Ltd. be noted

(2)  the work and outcomes of the full drainage assessment undertaken by consultant STRI (sports turf agronomists) be noted.

(3)  a member working group be established to develop options for the future of municipal golf. Outcomes and recommendations to be presented back to this committee in November 2021.

(4)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services be requested to undertake a full review of the current pricing and membership structure relating to golf to enable recommendations for a new membership/’pay and play’ structure for the 2022/23 financial year to be presented back to the committee in November 2021.

The Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee was responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme. This work programme was to align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the key decisions which are within the remit of the Committee. 

Members noted the addition of reports referred to in other items of the meeting.

Resolved - 

That the work programme for the Tourism,Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year be agreed subject to the addition of:

1. Reports each six months on the progress made in respect to the delivery of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy (Community Safety Strategy)
2. A report detailing proposals to capitalise on the Open Golf Championship which will take place on the Wirral in 2023.