The Chair informed the meeting that a number of questions had been received in advance of the meeting, listed below with the name of the questioner and the respective response given.

Question 1:

Mr McWatt, Moreton

(Form Ref: AF95854)

Question:

Why is WBC thinking of demolishing a perfectly good Europa Pool and building another one so they can put more not-needed restaurants etc in its place? Wallasey is crying out for a swimming pool to replace the two the WBC demolished. This is the economics of the madhouse.

Response from David Ball (Head of Regeneration and Planning)

The proposal to relocate Europa Pools to an adjacent site and to re-develop the current pool site with a restaurant quarter to support the cinema and wider Birkenhead Town Centre regeneration, has been proposed by Neptune Developments.

This proposal was reported to Cabinet on 12 March 2015 (agenda item 12, pages 169-184 and Minute 161 refers).  In that report at paragraphs 3.11 through 3.19, the developer sets out his case for this proposal. He has done market research and there is an evidenced demand for restaurant uses adjacent to the cinema in this location.

The Council has accepted the developer's principles for the purposes of further consultation and a legal test of lawfulness. The Council has made no decision about them but a future report will be taking back to Cabinet in due course.

Question 2:

Mr Knott, Moreton

(Form Ref: AF95842)

Question:

Could someone explain how the Council decided to give public land to a riding establishment in order that the council could fulfill its undertaking to replace land, which they had taken from said establishment so as to permit building high value houses on the original land? Can the Council assure the population of the area that they will limit any development on the common land to that which is already there and that they will not permit any extension to the common land already given away?

Response from Steve McMorran (Manager - Assets and Surveying)

The Pony Club previously occupied a Council owned site adjacent to the Moreton exit of the motorway.  That site was zoned for residential use but could only be developed if the Pony Club could be relocated. Following a Cabinet decision, officers from the Council’s Asset Management Section assisted the Pony Club in identifying alternative Council owned sites and the site in Pasture Avenue, Moreton, known as Kerr’s Field, was considered to be the most appropriate.  The buildings which have recently been erected on the site together with the fencing are temporary, pending determination of a planning application.  Planning consent was granted on 3 June 2015 which approves the incorporation of the current fencing and stables in to a good quality more permanent facility, details of which can be viewed through the Council’s website.

The Council has placed notices in the local press of intentions to lease the land to the Pony Club. As part of the planning process the Council commissioned surveys in respect of environment and habitat which formed part of the planning application.  In addition the results of the planning consultation exercise were also taken in to account as part of the process. There are no other proposals for this site.

The former site occupied by the Pony Club in Manor Drive, Upton is being marketed for residential development by the Council’s property consultants.

Question 3:

Mr Kelly, Moreton

(Form Ref: AF104815)

(Form Ref: AF104817)

Question:

Why have we still got a minimum of 3 councillors for each ward on Wirral council delivering a third less services than they did 2 years ago? What are they doing? Are they immune from redundancy like normal people? The money saved would be enormous.

Response from Head of Legal and Member Services – in attendance at the meeting:

A Notice of Motion on the issue of reducing the number of Councillors to 44 has been referred to the Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee. On Tuesday this week, the Committee agreed to consider the Notice of Motion at its next meeting in September. The deferment was to enable the proposer of the Notice of Motion to attend the meeting.

Question 4:

Mr Stuart, Wallasey

(Form Ref: AF104816)

Question:

Now that Rampworx have pulled out of the project in Seacombe. Will the Wallasey constituency committee ensure any monies previously awarded are returned promptly and ensure that the money is used within the Wallasey constituency as it had already been allocated to the Wallasey constituency, it would be inappropriate for the funding to go back into a Wirral wide fund? Can the committee also ensure that the money awarded to Rampworx will be used for project/ projects aimed at a similar age range, children & teenagers?

Response from David Armstrong (Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Universal and Infrastructure Services):

The Council is in receipt of the £20,000 allocation from Wallasey Constituency Committee which has been returned by Rampworx. This is now available to the Committee to reallocate in line with the terms of the Public Health Outcomes Fund, from which it was sourced. 

The funding provided by the respective former Area Forums for the development of the site in Seacombe, was given to ultimately benefit young people from the funding areas who would travel to the site.  Outreach activity to the value of the amounts previously funded by the respective former Area Forums will be therefore be delivered within the funding Constituencies. This outreach activity will include Rampworx staff using existing skateparks where available and/or creating temporary ramps in appropriate locations and will be targeted at young people aged predominately 13-19 years, in partnership with the Council’s Youth Support Service. A small number of young people from the respective Constituencies may be taken to Rampworx’s site in Liverpool to undertake activities there for free.

Question 5:

Mr McWatt, Wallasey

(Form Ref: AF104821)

Question:

I live in Merton Road Liscard, CH45 4QY. I pay my council tax every month by direct debit. However, why is my street not cleaned on a regular basis by Biffa? The brush cart sometimes goes down the street on a Monday, but not every week.

Response from Adam Sarath (Neighbourhood Environmental Services Officer)

Merton Road, Liscard is cleansed on a weekly basis on Mondays by the assigned Liscard permanent presence (the barrow man).

There is no mechanical cleansing of this road as parked vehicles would prevent the mechanical brush from being able to carry out an effective cleanse of the channels.

In terms of frequency, following the budget savings announced in 2013 the majority of streets in the Borough are cleansed on either a 4 weekly or 12 weekly basis, the exception being areas of high footfall such as retail areas and promenades.

I have spoken to the supervisor for this operative and he will raise the resident’s concerns with him.

I will inspect the road following the next scheduled cleanse to ensure that it meets the required standard.

Question 6:

Mr Swann, Wallasey

(Form Ref: emailed to Michelle Gray)

Note: This question has been abridged as the information is set across a series of emails and contains personal information which has been redacted.

Question:

An entry in Oxford Road was not fitted with alleygates and has led to issues with flytipping, vagrants using the entry to sleep and drink and drug dealing. 

1)  I have been advised that the cost of fitting a used set of alley gates is approximately £4,000-£5,000 and no budget is available.  Would it really cost this amount to fit alleygates?

2)  Can I ask if the Constituency Committee would pay for the fitting of the gates from their ASB budget?

There is an absolute requirement to obtain 100% agreement from all residents affected by the gate. I am happy to canvass all involved and provide evidence that they would all agree to the gates and would be happy to make a donation towards the erection of second hand gates.

Response from Ian Lowrie (Community Safety Manager):

There are no suitable refurbished gates due to the size required.  The total cost would be £2,378 with an additional charge of £6.99 per household for a key. 

The criteria for the installation of alleygates originally was five times the national burglary rate average on a sliding scale.  In 2008, Wirral Council withdrew funding for new alleygate schemes for budgetary reasons. The Council, however, continues to provide a budget towards repairs and maintenance of existing alleygates even if they are in a scheme funded by the community, providing they are fitted by the Council contractor through the Community Safety Team.

The legislation has recently changed and an area may have to be designated with a Public Spaces Protection Order by the Council (under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014), following consultation, to enable alleygates to be erected.

Additional response from Chair:

If the Committee was minded to provide funding for alleygates, it would have to give consideration to the selection criteria as there may well be a number of residents who would be seeking such gates.

Question 7:

Anonymous

(Form Ref: AF105576)

Question:

Plans are always made to tackle anti-social behaviour isn't it about time that people who have suffered the abuse caused by the anti-socialness are supported.

Verbal response to be from Mark Camborne (Head of Corporate & Community Safety)

A number of victim support packages have been launched by the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, that may be found via the Victim Care web link, below: 

http://www.victimcaremerseyside.org/

The Chair then invited questions from the audience.

Rev. Father Leon Ostaszewski informed the Committee of responses to the points he had raised at the last meeting, and actions that would follow. He requested an update on the matter of artwork for the medallion structures at the ‘gateways’ into Liscard Way.

The Constituency Manager informed that designs provided to the Council were not of sufficient quality to enable replica medallions to be manufactured, but further enquiries would be made to try and locate better quality artwork.  The Constituency Manager will provide a cost for this and it would then be a case of Rev. Father Ostaszewski or another group applying for appropriate funding.