The Constituency Manager introduced a report which provided an update on the Constituency Committee’s committed spend and outlined the Committee’s budget for 2016/17. It also sought the Committee’s views on how the budget was allocated. The Core budget of £50,000, with the addition of three underspent budgets, amounted to £55,513.08.

At Wallasey Constituency Committee on 26 June 2014 (minute 9 refers), the Committee agreed its three year priorities to:

·  improve personal wellbeing

·  improve economic wellbeing

·  improve neighbourhood wellbeing

An up-to-date profile for Wallasey Constituency was currently being developed which would be used in due course to inform a Constituency Plan for the area. This would be developed following the production of a new Neighbourhood Working Strategy. With there being a large number of ongoing projects, funded by the Committee, currently being delivered, including the Constituency based project of the New Brighton Coastal Community Team, the Constituency Manager recommended that the Committee gave consideration to investing its available budget to supporting local communities with Christmas lighting displays, supporting the existing work of New Brighton Coastal Community Team and providing a further grants programme to both support local voluntary, community and faith groups and to help the Committee tackle its priorities.

With regard to the Problem Solving Fund, since the last meeting an amount of £70 had been allocated for four ‘Do not feed the birds’ signs at the model boating lake in New Brighton. An amount of £14,480 remained in the Problem Solving Fund.

A ‘community clean ups’ budget was available of £10,000 and also a devolved budget of £32,500 from the Transport Plan for Growth.

The Chair agreed that the Committee consider each recommendation in turn.

The Constituency Manager reported that since the local election only one party spokesperson had been in place and the Committee handbook required that two party spokespersons administer the Problem Solving Fund.

The Chair asked if the Conservatives wished to put forward a spokesperson. Councillor Blakeley stated that it should be for the Committee to allocate funding from the Problem Solving Fund.

On a motion by Councillor Janette Williamson, seconded by Councillor Chris Spriggs, it was –

(1)  Resolved (11:3) (One abstention) – That the Chair be designated to administer the Problem Solving Fund and any spend agreed between Committees be reported back to the subsequent Committee.

With regard to recommendations 2 and 3 and Community Clean Ups, Members asked regarding the provision of extra litter bins including collection and also the possibility of providing skips for communities to clear large items of rubbish.

The Constituency Manager stated that she would make enquiries regarding any ongoing revenue charge in respect of emptying any additional bins bought by the Committee. Any suggestions for further community clean ups should be sent to her in the next three weeks on or before 23 October; these could then be costed up and brought back to the January Committee.

(2)  Resolved – That £3,000 be allocated from the devolved ‘community clean ups’ budget for the purchase of a supply of litter pickers and bag hoops (for free loan) and compostable bin bags to support community-based cleansing activity and environmental clean ups.

(3)  Resolved – That suggestions for ‘clean up’ projects be forwarded to the Constituency Manager on or before 23 October, as to how the remainder of the devolved budget can be allocated and a report be brought back to the January Committee with these items costed up.

With regard to the devolved budget for Transport Plan for Growth of £32,500, the Constituency Manager reported that she had received some suggestions as to how this money could be spent and asked that any more suggestions be sent to her in the next two weeks, on or before 16 October so that these could be costed up and brought back to the January Committee.

(4)  Resolved – That suggestions for the Transport Plan for Growth budget be forwarded to the Constituency Manager on or before 16 October, and a report be brought back to the January Committee with these items costed up.

With regard to the core budget of £55,513.08 it was then moved by Councillor Chris Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Steve Williams, that –

“An allocation of £20,000 be made for Christmas lighting and the remaining £35,513.08 be divided equally between the six wards with £5,918.84 being allocated to projects within each ward.”

The motion was put and lost (4:11).

The Committee then debated the proposed allocation of the core budget with some Members suggesting less to be spent on the Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund and others suggesting a larger allocation. Some Members expressed reservations at the proposed allocation to the New Brighton Coastal Community Team as millions of pounds had already been spent on the resort.

The Chair suggested that the New Brighton Coastal Community Team was slightly different from other groups and that it was working with other coastal teams around the country.

The Constituency Manager informed the meeting that the proposed funding would help in delivering the Economic Plan for the resort and New Brighton was being used as a blueprint with a view to developing the approach across the borough. The bulk of the spend on Christmas lights was for installation and community groups did rely heavily on this funding.

Two alternative proposals for the allocation of the £55,513.08 budget were then each proposed and seconded as follows:

A.  Christmas Lighting   - £20,000

New Brighton Coastal Communities Team   - £10,000

Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund   - £25,513.08

B.  Christmas Lighting   - £20,000

New Brighton Coastal Communities Team   - £10,000

Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund   - £15,000

With a reserve fund of   - £10,513.08

Each proposal was put and not carried (6:6).

A compromise proposal was then moved, seconded and carried (14:0), and it was -

(5)  Resolved – That an allocation of further funding of £20,000, from the Committee’s core budget, for Christmas lighting, to support local traders’ associations and community groups for this festive season, be approved.

(6)  Resolved – That an allocation of £10,000 be made to support the work of New Brighton Coastal Community Team from the Committee’s core budget, to support delivery of the Economic Plan for New Brighton, the use of which will be administered and overseen by the Constituency Manager on behalf of the Coastal Community Team.

(7)  Resolved – That an allocation of £20,000 be provided for a further small grants programme (Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund) for 2016/17, from the Committee’s core budget, adopting the additional criteria set out in paragraph 4.2.22 of the report and the remaining £5,513.08 be held in reserves.