NHS Trust:  David Hammond, Membership Manager for Wirral Community NHS Trust, explained that the Trust was formed last year from NHS community services.  The Trust provides dietary advice, etc, runs the walk in centre in Eastham and provides services in people’s homes. 

One of the aims of the Trust is to become a Foundation Trust by 2014.  Foundation trusts have more flexibility in how they deliver their services and they are more accountable.  As part of the application to become a Foundation Trust, a number of public meetings were held in the Spring when about a thousand people were asked a range of questions about becoming a Foundation Trust.  The consultation closed in May, the information is being collated, and will be available on the website.  The results will be published in the local Press at the end of June.

Having completed the consultation, the Trust is now looking to develop its membership. The Foundation Trust model is more accountable to local people by having elected members who represent the people of Wirral and can give feedback on their experience of services and the improvements they would like to see.

Anyone who lives in Wirral and is over the age of 18 can join and people can become involved at different levels.  Members will be invited to attend events organised to receive feedback on ways to improve services, but many people will be happy just to receive information.

All members will be eligible to stand as a Governor to represent their local area, and all members will have a vote on who represents them.  Members will also be able to use the NHS discount scheme available to NHS staff, and receive shopping vouchers etc

David urged members of the public to become members and he offered to answer questions on the consultation or the membership scheme.  No questions were raised. 

The Chair thanked David Hammond for the presentation.

Merseyside Police:  The only issue in this area is noise from the skateboard park, A member of the public raised concerns about the quality of life of nearby residents because of the noise level at the park, which attracts children from all areas of Wirral.

Members of the public expressed the frustration they felt when calls to the police were not responded to, or the officer called was not available, and messages left were not passed on or not responded to.

The police have received very few calls about anti social behaviour in the skateboard park. 

Considerable dialogue continued between members of the public, the police officers and the community safety officer.

Councillor Mitchell raised the issue of the safety of the equipment used by the children.  He quoted an email from Council officers advising that the small ramps would be removed because they had become dangerous.  The noise was caused because the ramps were hollow.  The larger ramp would be retained but treated with a rubber coating to reduce noise levels.  In the longer term, Officers have been asked to look at the possibility of replacing the ramps with solid ramps. 

A member of the public stated that although designed as a skateboard park, the facility is now used by children who have modern scooters, and they create all the noise.  Large numbers of children go down the ramp on their scooter and see how hard they can slam it on the ramp; there could be a really bad accident if something goes wrong.  Jim Lester and another officer visited the site and said it is not safe.  This raises a question of liability if there is an accident.

Councillor Harney stated that had he known about Jim Lester’s visit he would have attended.  He agreed that it was totally unacceptable for the facility to be used until 11.30 pm, and was aware that the noise could be heard over a wide area.  In listening to the discussion, it was clear that there had been a total breakdown in communication.  There is a need for a comprehensive risk assessment and a management plan which involves all the agencies involved and takes account of changes of use since the skate board park was constructed. 

A member of the public stated that a young person had taken the initiative and emailed all the local councillors about the safety of the equipment in the park.  The member of the public continued that there is a need to involve young people in the process as well as community police officers.

Liz Hawkins, youth worker, explained that the young person referred to is part of a group of young people who engage with the Youth Service.  She acknowledged that there are some young people who use the skateboard park for other reasons.  She explained ways in which youth workers are trying to engage young people in alternative activities.

Mark Craig again raised the issue of the use of motor bikes on the dual-carriage way near the New Ferry by-pass, particularly between 4 pm and 6 pm. at weekends.  He had made frequent requests to the Police to do something about it.

The police stated that they would send someone to the area.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service:  Paul Murphy reported that last year in the two areas combined, there were 17 accidental fires within the home.  This year started well, but there was a ‘spike’ in May with four fires in the two wards.  Fire Station managers are actively involved in community education and home safety checks etc to prevent fires.  Last year, 2071 home safety checks were undertaken. 

Last year, in the two wards there were 105 secondary fires, in bins etc.  Between April and May this year, there have only been two fires across Wirral, a reduction of 77%.

Fire Officers work with the road safety team and colleagues in the Police when serious road traffic accidents occur.  Last year, the service attended 12 road traffic collisions – an average of one a month; so far this year, one incident has been attended. 

In common with other public services, the Fire and Rescue Service is facing cuts in funding, and an announcement will be made in December of the further cuts the service will face.

As part of the plan for Wirral, areas have been classified as high or low risk areas. For example, Birkenhead is classed as a high risk area, and Caldy is classed as low risk area, but there are vulnerable people in low risk areas.  A further 13,000 homes will be visited in Wirral, and a freephone number is available if anyone knows of vulnerable people who need a fire safety visit.

The service is also working with Wirral’s Safeguarding Board, identifying vulnerable people, working with people in residential care, including night time visits, attending events and fetes and engaging with the local community.

The Community Safety plan for Wirral is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it offers value for money, and is available on the Fire Service website. 

Community Safety:  Steve Preston reported that the Community Safety team is visiting all area forum meetings to encourage people to set up Neighbourhood Watch schemes.  People have to set up the scheme themselves, but officers are available to advice and assist people.  Information will be available at the end of the meeting.

Steve Preston stated that, similar to the Police, the Community Safety team has not received any calls from the public about the skateboard park, but for someone to say they are too busy to attend is unacceptable.  He offered his personal card to anyone who wished to talk to him personally about the issue.

A member of the public stated that she had rang the community safety team, the call had been answered by a helpful person who gave an assurance that someone would be sent out, but nothing has happened.

Steve Preston stated that the call had not been passed on to him.  He explained how the logging system works and apologised that it had not worked on the occasion referred to.  He said he would investigate and report back directly to the member of the public