15 minutes will be allocated for this item

Presentation by Constituency Team / MFRS and Energy Project Plus.

The Constituency Manager (Wirral West) gave a presentation to the Committee on the ‘Stay Safe, Warm and Well’ project.

4,000 leaflets and 60 posters, with up to date numbers were produced to distribute to relevant support groups and services. People were referred to additional support groups and services in a co-ordinated way using a single referral form. As a result of the campaign,

·  21 groups were visited and a total of nearly 300 winter warmth packs given out (fleece blankets, flasks, gloves etc.)

·  Nearly 200 referrals to additional services were made as a result:

o  42% of referrals were made to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for services like Home Safety Checks

o  24% of referrals were made to Energy Projects Plus for services like fuel debt advice

o  20% of referrals were made to existing Council services such as Healthy Homes, Adaptations and POPIN

o  14% of referrals were made to Age UK for services like befriending

Details were also given of the budget for the campaign with £3,243 spent and £2,407 remaining for the 2015/16 campaign.

Presentations were also received from some of the partner agencies involved, including Dominic Griffiths, Business Relationship Manager, at Energy Projects Plus who explained the work of his charitable organisation, based in Wallasey.

Steve Gadsdon, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, gave a presentation on the work of his organisation in the campaign. This included the provision of oil filled radiators and other equipment. The Service’s Prevention Team had followed up referrals with tailored Home Fire Safety Checks, of which there had been 1,273 between October, 2014 and March, 2015. Referrals to other agencies had also been made, where appropriate, to deal with longer term issues (e.g. managing fuel bills, adaptations, assistive technology, befriending, health, social services benefits checks, etc.) and the provision of further risk reduction equipment, if needed.

He thanked the Committee for pushing this project forward and praised Jane Morgan and Helen Gallagher for all their work and commitment to the scheme.

The Chair thanked Jane and Helen for their fantastic work on this project, which he noted had also been cited as a case study in the new Wirral Council Plan, ‘A 2020 Vision’. He also offered his and the Committee’s thanks to Dominic, Steve and to other partners for all their work on the scheme.

Councillor Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, thanked all those involved for their work on this project on behalf of the Administration and commented that this was what the ‘2020 Vision’ Council plan was all about, achieving significant benefits to the community with a modest sum of money.

It was noted that a number of Age UK volunteers had given up their time to be part of the project and that they were unable to be in attendance at the meeting. These volunteers would be invited to the Town Hall to be presented with a certificate of thanks on behalf of the Committee.

Resolved – That the thanks of the Committee be accorded to all those involved in the project.