This report by the Constituency Manager details the impact of the Wirral South Constituency Committee’s various funding and priority activities throughout 2014/15 including details of budgetary spend.

A report of the Constituency Manager provided the Committee with an update on progress in relation to the resolved priorities and allocated budget for the Wirral South Constituency Committee in 2015/16 and beyond.

The Constituency Manager updated the Committee on the following:

Improved Open Spaces

In relation to Dawstone Park, work with The Friends of Dawstone Park and colleagues in Parks had progressed since the previous Committee and details of the various planned and completed work and the remaining budget was detailed within paragraph 3.1.2 of the report attached. It was proposed that the Constituency Manager would continue to work with colleagues in parks, the Friends of Dawstone Park and the Wirral South Parks Task and Finish Group to complete the improvement works in the chosen location as soon as possible.

Since the last Committee, Mayer Park (the subject of the Committee’s support in 2014/15) had had its green flag raising ceremony. Members of the Committee congratulated the Friends Group on their excellent work.

Gap in Youth Provision

Due to resource implications it had not been possible to release the opportunity to tender and establish an on-going service reflecting that of the pilot project with the expected launch date of the service in October 2015, but work was to continue with colleagues in the youth service and public health to ensure the service was commissioned as soon as possible.

Social Isolation

The evaluation had now been complete and letters were being drafted to the successful and unsuccessful bidders. The timeline for awarding contract was early November with contract commencement in December 2015 and a full presentation would be given to the Committee at its meeting in February 2016.

Your Wirral

The first tranche of funding for Your Wirral in 2015/16 closed at noon on the 14 September 2015 and the Your Wirral Assessment Panel met on the 6 October 2015.

The following projects had been granted funding (one further project has been asked to clarify an element of their application):

Bromborough Village Community Association – Christmas Trees

Christ Church Community Centre – Defibrillator

Eastham Community Centre – Children’s Play Area Project

Heswall District Business Association – Heswall Festive Christmas Lights

Higher Bebington Christ Church – Woodland Garden

Mid-Wirral Crime Prevention Panel – Wirral Escape Programme

Mockbeggar Morris – Morris Music

Wirral Cricket Club – Coaching Project

The remaining amount would be launched before the end of the calendar year.

Anti-Social Behaviour Funding

Historic evidence had now been analysed by the ASB team which highlighted various hotspots within Wirral South, a suite of options had been produced and shared with Members to be considered by the Wirral South ASB Task and Finish Group who were scheduled to meet on 27 October 2015 to discuss their approach in relation to the devolved budget (£15K). A full report would be submitted to the February Constituency Committee. 

Community Clean Up Funding

Meetings had taken place with colleagues in the Waste and Environment Team to discuss proposals for the devolved budget. A number of options had been developed and a “Shopping List” of items that would add value to current services had been developed. Meetings to discuss this spend were to continue on a ward by ward basis, a full report would be submitted to the February Constituency Committee.

Love Wirral

At the last meeting (January 2015), it was agreed that a “Love Wirral” task and finish group be set up (minute 31 refers), comprising the following members: Councillors P Gilchrist, C Muspratt, S Niblock, T Pilgrim and L Rowlands

It was agreed that budget be split evenly between the five wards and meetings to discuss spend was to continue on a ward by ward basis.

General Engagement

The Constituency Manager introduced Wirral South’s new Engagement Officer, Shannon Kennedy, to get in touch with Shannon e-mail: shannonkennedy@wirral.gov.uk or phone direct on: 07771 938 871(during office hours only).

RESOLVED: That

(1)  The Constituency Manager be requested to continue to work with colleagues in parks, the Friends of Dawstone Park and the Wirral South Parks Task and Finish Group to progress the improvement works in the chosen location as expediently as possible to include the delegated power to spend the relevant parks budget as in 2015/16;

(2)  Members note the progress outlined within the report; and

(3)  the Friends of Mayer Park Group be congratulated on their excellent work.