45 minutes will be allocated for community questions – these can be raised in advance of the meeting by emailing janemorgan@wirral.gov.uk

The Chair invited questions from members of the public upon matters that were relevant to the Wirral West Constituency. One written question had been submitted in advance of the meeting from Ms Keren O’Rourke:

·  “The Hoylake Golf Resort proposal includes 200 executive homes on Green Belt land and a Flood Plain. The Government White Paper published on Tuesday stated that Green Belt Protection will not be downgraded and Councils can only take land out of Green Belt in exceptional circumstances and that they should have looked at every alternative first. The Council’s recent study into tourism on the Wirral showed that tourists overwhelmingly come here for the countryside, coat and nature and NOT for Golf. Better outcomes for jobs can be found by investing elsewhere. Do the Councillors agree that there is no ‘exceptional circumstances justification for building on the Green Belt and that the Council is wasting £100,000s of tax payer’s money on this project?”

o  The Deputy Chief Executive provide an answer to the question on behalf of the Assistant Director: Environmental Services that informed:

o  Changing the boundaries of the Green Belt - Ministers have reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Green Belt – that only in exceptional circumstances may Councils alter Green Belt boundaries after consulting local people and submitting the revised Local Plan for examination and set out for the first time all the actions local authorities must take before considering the Green Belt. Source: Government Press Release 7 February 2017.

o  Existing Green Belt Policy in Wirral - This remains unchanged and is set out in the Unitary Development Plan. Policy GB2 provides the guidelines for development in the Green Belt. It says “Within the Green Belt there is a general presumption against inappropriate development and as such development will not be approved except in very special circumstances…” This is the policy test that the Golf Resort project would have to satisfy within the current planning policy context. Not all aspects of the resort project are inappropriate (for example the golf courses are appropriate development) but the housing and hotel are inappropriate in terms of the policy.

o  It is for the developer to make the case for ‘very special circumstances’ through the planning process and for the Local Planning Authority to assess the case along with all other relevant material planning considerations in determining the planning application.

o  If the planning application was approved through the planning process, the land designation would not change (it would still be Green Belt) but the development, having demonstrated ‘very special circumstances’ would be allowed.

o  The Chair informed of the independence of the Planning Committee and its quasi-judicial role as a Regulatory Committee, Councillor David Elderton also provided an explanation of how Members of the Planning Committee were duty bound to make decisions on planning applications based purely on planning grounds, adhering to planning law.

Additional questions were tabled as follows:

·  A member of the public directed a question to the Committee asking that proposals to introduce on-street parking charges in Hoylake be reconsidered and whether their introduction was primarily to offset the expenditure on Hoylake Golf Resort?

o  Community Representative Ms Jackie Hall, supported the questioners view stating that she was appalled at the proposed introduction of on-street parking charges, and had never experienced such strong local opinions on a topic before. She further stated that a petition of 2,472 signatures opposing the proposal had been raised in just 2 weeks, and that a number of people had expressed the view that should charges be introduced they would not be shopping in Hoylake.

o  The Chair informed that a similar petition regarding the introduction of parking charges in Wirral’s Country Parks had raised in the region of 9,000 signatures, and that an Extraordinary Council Meeting had been called to debate the matter.

·  A resident of Thornton Hough informed the Committee that recent road surfacing work ‘top-dressing’ in the area had started to fail within 24 hours of its installation. He further informed that an estimated 30-90% of the dressing surface / chippings had come away. He identified a particular stretch of road, where in addition pot holes had not been repaired and questioned what actions were being taken to address the poor quality of works.

o  Councillor Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure responded stating he hadn’t been made aware of this specific location and that if details were provided he would ensure the matter was addressed. He informed the meeting that he was aware of the problems associated with recent re-surfacing and that the contractor would be returning to make good the failed works at no additional cost to the Council. Another Member advised that he too had been contacted about the matter and that the works were to be undertaken when the weather would allow, most likely in the summer months.

o  The Chair expressed a view on the dangerous state of some of the roads as a result of the surface failing and advised of the telephone numbers that can be used to report a road or pavement defect that posed an immediate danger to the public (Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm - 0151 606 2004, Outside of these hours - 0151 647 7810)

·  Commenting on the subject of libraries, specifically Greasby Community Library, a member of the public directed a question to the Committee concerning the reductions in library opening hours and support provided to the service from ‘Friends Groups and Volunteers’. He asked for assurance that the  efforts of volunteers were being recognised by the Council, would they be consulted on future proposals involving the libraries, and whether their efforts had all been in vain?

o  Councillor Wendy Clement echoed the questioner’s request, stating that Members should take proactive action to help safeguard the library service.

o  Councillor Mathew Patrick informed that a consultant’s report was to be presented to the Cabinet shortly, and that the implications of the reduction of of £132million from the Council’s current budget over the next 5 years should be recognised. He added that he also wanted to ensure that the contribution of the volunteers to the service should be taken into account.

o  Councillor Mike Sullivan reported his attendance at a meeting of the Library Forum the previous day, commenting on the phenomenal work undertaken by staff, volunteers and friends groups across the borough and efforts to try to keep the borough’s 24 libraries open. He informed that given the required budgetary savings, it would be unlikely that the Council and its library service would exist in their current form in 2020.

·  A member of the public directed a question regarding the shortage of places in Care Homes within the borough and nationally, expressing his belief that it be ‘a disgrace’. He asked whether there had been any lobbying of Government on the subject?

o  The Chair informed that the opposition group had supported a resolution at Council on 19 December 2016 and, up until now, had not been approached to formally endorse any letter from the Leader on this matter. 

·  A member of the public commented on the recent planning application for a Fire Station in Saughall Massie. He asked that given the consultations, meetings and associated public interest and rejection of the application, was there still a likelihood that the same application could be resubmitted in another form? He sought assurance that when it comes back, it would be turned down.

o  The Deputy Chief Executive re-iterated earlier comments from members regarding the planning process but further informed that following the rejection of the application the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had a number of options available to it. The organisation could either: accept the decision of the Planning Committee, Resubmit an amended application, or appeal against the decision. It was the understanding of the Officer that an appeal had been lodged with the planning inspectorate and an alternate planning application submission was also being drafted.

·  A member of the public directed a question to the Committee regarding the pruning of trees in Upton Ward. He had sought clarification on the law regarding ‘ancient light’ from the Council and had not received a response.

o  The Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure advised that he would speak to the questioner after the meeting to obtain details of the complaint.

·  Members of the public then raised a series of questions relating to the terms of reference of the Committee asking if the Chair must be an Elected Member, the use of community venues, and the difficulty in hearing due to the intermittent workings of the microphones and sound system.

o  The Solicitor present informed that the Chair had been elected by the Constituency Committee, but it was the case that one of the other Constituency Committees had until recently been chaired by the local Member of Parliament.

o  The Constituency Manager informed that the Constituency Committee had decided that it would hold its meetings in varied venues across the borough in order to make it easier for local residents to attend. She stated that this in turn had implications for the quality of sound dependent on venues, although it was tested before each meeting. The alternative would mean holding all Wirral West Constituency meetings at Wallasey Town Hall, utilising the sound equipment there.