To consider a report by Constituency Manager, Fergus Adams.

The Constituency Manager introduced his progress report on the resolved priorities and allocated budget for the Committee in 2015/16 and beyond.

The Committee was informed that, in respect of the Improved Open Spaces initiative, Officers had worked with the Friends of Dawstone Park in Heswall to ensure that all proposed improvements (supported by the Committee) could be delivered as expediently as possible. Also, progress had been made on the dual location approach (Torr Park, Eastham and New Ferry Park, Bromborough) spanning 2016/17 and 2017/18 and arrangements were being made to discuss local resident’s involvement.

The Committee was informed that the successful provider for the Wirral South One to One Counselling Service was now in place and was delivering sessions in suitable venues in Eastham, Bebington and Heswall. The new service was already fully subscribed based upon young people from Wirral South who were on the Wirral-Wide waiting list with Response at the time of establishing the new service. This meant instant impact upon waiting times for the young people in question from Wirral South.

The Committee was informed that the Wirral South specific provider (GIFT Network) continued to deliver their service throughout the five wards and was currently supporting 22 individuals. Also, new referral channels were being developed, including a proactive relationship with The Orchard GP Surgery in Bromborough.  This social   prescription pilot would refer relevant patients (with consent) to the network. Members noted that the progress of these individuals would be mapped using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). The concept would then be promoted to other clinics throughout the five wards.  Initial interest was already being expressed in Heswall.

The Committee also noted the progress of the Your Wirral funded work stream proposal including its eligible criteria and the successful applicants during 2015/16.  There was £16,630 left to allocate from the 2015/16 budget.

The Constituency Manager reported that the Wirral South Anti-Social Behaviour Task and Finish Group had met on 27 October 2015 and set out the detail of the projects approved to receive funding.

The Constituency Manager also reported that the Engagement Officer for Wirral South continued to introduce herself to community groups across the constituency and had been intrinsically involved in some very interesting community development projects to date. A list of the projects she had been involved in included:

·  Friends and Residents of Town Lane

·  Wirral Arts Festival

·  Improved Open Spaces Development

The overarching Neighbourhood Working Strategy would be considered by the Cabinet   at a meeting in September 2016.  It was then intended to draw up ward based constituency plans.  There would be a meeting of the Task and Finish Group that had been asked to draw up the plans to discuss and agree a process that would ensure maximum engagement.

Councillor Phil Gilchrist proposed the following Motion which was seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell:

This Committee

(1)  Places on record its concern at the delay in notification of the key elements of the Constituency budget.

(2)  Expresses its concern at the impact on our forward planning, continuity

of approach and commissioning of initiatives.

(3)  Requests Cabinet to issue budgetary information as soon as possible.

(4)  Looks forward to a more substantial devolution of powers and budgets to enable our activities to be more widely recognised.  

(5)  Would welcome an opportunity to discuss our future role and development with the appropriate Cabinet Member/ Members.

Councillor Walter Smith proposed an Amendment that (1) and (2) above be deleted.

Some Members expressed concern over the late submission of the Motion and requested that, in future, they be submitted sooner so that more time could be afforded to Members to consider them.

Mr Peter Wright had regard to the Constituency Committee Handbook and registered concern that it limited the number of Community Representatives that could sit on a Task and Finish Group.  The Constituency Manager informed that the Handbook was out of date and would be revised following the agreement of the revised Neighbourhood Working Strategy.

Councillor Matthew Patrick was in attendance at the meeting and informed that he appreciated the need for budgetary information to be provided swiftly.  He was very interested in the discussions and would be taking lots of ideas away.  He told the Committee that he understood it’s desire for more power and resources to be made available to it.

Councillor Christina Muspratt informed that community groups were not happy about the delay in receiving budgetary details.  The Constituency Manager informed that if he was given specific details he would follow this up.

Further discussion ensued and a proposal was put forward to replace (1) above with the following and delete (2):

(1)  Welcomes the recent allocation of £50k for this year.

This Amendment was put to the vote and lost 6 for and 8 against (1 abstention).

The Committee then reconsidered the original Motion with the revised (1) and revised (3) where the word ‘further’ was added after issue and before budgetary.

This Amended Motion was put to the vote and carried 8 for and 6 against (1 abstention).

RESOLVED:

That this Committee

(1)  Welcomes the recent allocation of £50k for this year.

(2)  Expresses its concern at the impact on our forward planning, continuity of approach and commissioning of initiatives.

(3)  Requests Cabinet to issue further budgetary information as soon as possible.

(4)  Looks forward to a more substantial devolution of powers and budgets to enable our activities to be more widely recognised.  

(5)  Would welcome an opportunity to discuss our future role and development with the appropriate Cabinet Member/ Members.