The Chair indicated that he had asked that time be set aside to give members of the public the opportunity to ask any questions relevant to the Wirral West Constituency. He confirmed that no advance notice of any question had been received.

The following questions were asked –

·  A request was made for Members and officers around the table to introduce themselves. And a show of hands was requested to indicate which wards members of the public had travelled from.

o  The Chair asked that all Members and officers introduce themselves. However, he expressed a view that the attendance of members of the public and their willingness to engage with the Constituency Committee process was of greater value than their place of abode. He hoped that future meetings would be held in other parts of the Constituency so as to allow attendance of people from all areas.

The Committee recognised the good level of attendance from members of the public, with approximately 80 residents present. It was hoped that, in future, robust monitoring of numbers in attendance and where they had travelled from to attend would be incorporated into the record.

·  Specifically in relation to the savings option to introduce parking charges at public parks and other leisure areas, is ‘What Really Matters?’ true consultation or a ‘fait accompli’? This in the light of recent press coverage, that such charges would be introduced.

·  Will the results of the consultation be made public?

·  Will consideration be given to alternative ways of managing public parks, such as by friends groups and other community organisations?

o  The Chair advised that the consultation was in relation to a set of proposals brought forward by the Chief Executive and Chief Officer team. At the end of the process, the Cabinet would then come to a view.

o  The results of the consultation would be made public.

o  The Chair anticipated that as the Constituency Committee evolved and its resource was increased, it would be able to move forward with friends groups to explore alternative approaches as to how best to manage public parks and open spaces.

·  In respect of the proposed parking charges at various parks and open spaces in the Constituency a further question was asked as to what consideration had been given to the potential congestion that could be caused by cars parking in neighbouring roads?

o  Members agreed that the impact of savings options needed to be carefully evaluated as to their impact on residents and local businesses. However, the Chair was of the view that the Committee should not be a part of the political process. No decision had yet been taken in relation to any matters in the published consultation document. However, elected Members would ultimately be held to account for the decisions they take and he suggested awaiting the conclusion of the consultation process.

·  How many applications had been received from persons interested in being co-opted by the Committee as a Community Representative?

o  The Constituency Manager indicated that a total of nine applications had been received and the process for selection was ongoing, prior to formal co-option at the next meeting.

The Chair had previously commented that it was his intention to involve more local residents in the business of the Constituency Committee than those who would be formally co-opted as Community Representatives. He asked that the officers investigate the feasibility of a dedicated website to achieve greater participation.

·  A question was asked as to how autonomous the Constituency Committee was in terms of its decision making powers.

o  The Chair agreed that the business of the Wirral West Constituency Committee was still, to some degree, subject to the Council’s political process. However, he hoped that the Committee would not be a mini-Council but, would work with and engage local people in decisions to make the area better. Nevertheless, it was vital that any proposals from the Committee were evidence based.

·  A local resident from the Woodchurch area expressed her view that the Committee was intimidating and that the Area Forums were a better way for the Council to engage with local people. She also expressed a view that parts of Upton Ward did not fit appropriately with the other Wards in Wirral West.

o  The Chair commented that decisions on Ward and Constituency boundaries were outside the remit of the Constituency Committee. The Chair was confident that all Ward Councillors would state the case for the communities they represented and he assured members of the public that all Members of the Committee would work together, so as to meet their expectations.

He accepted that the Area Forums had merits and he commented that the work they had undertaken would not be lost. However, the Council had taken a decision to move forward on the basis of four Constituency Committees across Wirral and it was incumbent on members of the public to liaise with their Ward Councillors in order to influence the development of the Constituency Plan.

The Chair referred also to a Community Asset Audit being undertaken in Birkenhead and he anticipated that something on a similar basis could be undertaken in Wirral West.

·  The Chair of the Older People’s Parliament in Wirral referred to the biggest area of the Council’s budget being Adult Social Care. She commented that significant numbers of elderly people across Wirral were lonely and isolated and she expressed a view that if more people looked out for elderly people in their neighbourhoods, Council spending in this area could be reduced.

o  The Chair agreed with the points made and was confident that the officers would investigate the points made.

The Chair concluded this part of the meeting by thanking members of the public for their questions and requesting that the officers take such actions arising as are appropriate.