The Constituency Manager updated Members on Keeping Birkenhead Clean. In 2015-16 the Constituency Committee had been allocated £20,000 for environmental funds which had been fully allocated as follows:

·  £14K Involve North West – Continued Grotspot project

·  £6K skip fund 

LCT was now called Involved North West. They had continued to deliver the Grotspot project and reactive fly tipping contract. They had also completed a series of clean-ups which were highlighted in Appendix 2 within the Constituency Managers report (Agenda Item 4). They have picked up any fly tipping not under the Biffa contract and the joined up environmental service had become effective with no outstanding issues reported. Involve had also planted up planters in Claughton Village and worked with Bidston Avenue Primary to plant daffodils on Bidston Avenue.

The Royal Horticultural Society co-ordinated an ‘North West In Bloom’ competition for local neighbourhood groups to enter. Judging was to take place in July against set criteria of: impact of planting, community involvement, using sustainable methods, biodiversity etc. Involve had allocated £1K to each ward for Birkenhead in Bloom for planning schemes and planting from March to July 2016 out of the Grotspot contract.

Wirral Environmental Network had agreed to deliver a hanging basket engagement day in each area. The eco-schools co-ordinator had written to each school in the identified area to deliver engagement afternoons with local schools. The police had suggested that they would like to be involved in engagement days and clean-ups prior to ‘In Bloom’ judging and Big Local Beechwood had agreed to contribute £3K for Beachwood and Bidston Village.

The Constituency Manager indicated that a Big Lunch would be held on conjunction with Food Share to celebrate the competition and also as a thank you to all participants for their hard work.

A Member indicated that at a previous meeting, the Committee had asked that Biffa be requested to provide a breakdown of contract spend in the Birkenhead area which had still to be received.

In response to the Constituency Manager comments, the Chair suggested and it was agreed by Members that in relation the Council’s contract with Biffa, a plan be drawn up which reflected the needs of each local area.

In relation to the preparation for the ‘In Bloom’ competition, the Constituency Manager indicated that following a meeting she had, had, Probation had agreed to do some work on weed spraying in readiness for the competition submission. In response, the Chair asked if Probation could undertake the weed spraying prior to the flowers being planted.

A Member asked that particular attention be given to Balls Road, Oxton which was need of urgent cleansing.

A Member also raised an issue regarding the increased litter on the strategic routes into the area, such as Whetstone Lane and New Chester Road and suggested that Community Payback could be asked to clear these areas.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  in relation to the Council’s contract with Biffa, the Constituency Manager be requested to draw up a plan which reflected the needs of each local area in relation to cleansing;

(2)  the Constituency Manager be requested to liaise with Probation who would be doing some work on weed spraying to ask if the weed spraying could be done prior to the flowers being planted in readiness for the ‘In Bloom’ competition;and

(3)  the Constituency Manager be requested to liaise with the Environment team regarding issues reaised by Members in relation to Balls Road, Oxton which was in need of urgent cleansing and also the issue of increased litter on the strategic routes in the area; to include Whetstone Lane and New Chester Road and ask if Community Payback could be asked to clear these areas.