MERSEYSIDE POLICE: Inspector McGregor explained there has been a reduction in crime generally.  Officers have been trained, in dealing with those who are out joyriding in the local area..  Overall good picture for this area.  The YMCA gave Police use of a canal barge not just for rehabilitation use, but took out a group OAPs and some young people on the barge, this was a positive day for all.

Wirral – Your Neighbourhood Newsletter was available at the meeting.

MERSEYSIDE FIRE AND RESCUE: Paul Murphy explained Birkenhead Fire Station is to be demolished next month via PFI private finance initiative.  We are committed to maintaining high standards, despite the current financial restraints being faced. Focusing on a more targeted approach towards the more vulnerable and at risk members of our communities, we will visit a minimum of 13,000 properties in Wirral which have never been visited.

We have seen 7.7% reduction in anti-social behavior secondary fires on Wirral.  Our Planning for this year’s bonfire period is underway with our first meeting with partners being held on the 19 June 2012.

The prevention team are currently working in conjunction with operation crews from Birkenhead to embedded a multi-agency process to increase awareness for operational crews and community safety staff of the localities of rough sleepers in Wirral. Our aim is to work in partnership with relevant agencies, to share information regarding locations of rough sleeping with operational crews. We are also looking to provide a resettlement pathway, when a homeless person moves into medium or long term accommodation we can complete a HFSC and implement any risk reduction interventions.

Wirral Prevention team are currently developing a Home Fire Safety Check referral pathway with the probation service. 

COMMUNITY SAFETY: Ian Lowrie asked the forum members to consider Neighbourhood watch schemes in their area as they are very successful.  Vehicle crime is down.  Hate crime is moving on quite a pace and being reported and dealt with.  This is thanks to the work and support of Pauline Cocker.

NHS: Lorna Quigley Chief Officer Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group explained the changes occurring within the NHS.  Currently Services are commissioned by the Primary Care Trust, from April 2012, these will no longer exist due to the health bill, which requires GP’s to form into groups to becoming clinical commissioning groups. The reason for this is because GP’s are aware of the needs of their patients and the population that they serve. All 61 GP practices within Wirral have become a member of the Wirral Clinical Commissioning group. Due to the demographics within Wirral they have split into 3 further groups in order to serve their patient population more effectively.  

The Commissioning group will be:

• Close to patients, carers and the public.
• Driven by clinicians and working with others to commission high quality care
• Ensuring the future of the NHS by making sure it remains free.

In order to do this, the newly formed CCG has to go through an authorisation process, to ensure that they have procedures in place and are capable to undertake commissioning.

Most practices have a patient participation group and this is an opportunity for people to get involved in decisions regarding their health.

TO BE ACTIONED:

• ASB - young people drinking on Tollemache Road?
• Grange Road West sports centre car park - always has screaming cars throughout the night and have had drug activity there.  There was a stabbing in the last fortnight also.

Inspector McGregor – We have extra staff on a Friday night for the Tollemache area and we also have operations set up with off licences, we also take alcohol off youths. Will look into the issue raised for the Grange Road West area.

• There is a Telegraph pole in front of someone’s house/gate in Stanley Road, right in the middle. It is awkward to get around it and use pavement or access this house.

Technical Services Rob Clifford I will take this back with me and look into it.