The Chair agreed to take item 8 next prior to the presentation on the ‘grotspots’ campaign.

The Constituency Manager introduced a report which provided an update on the Constituency Committee’s available spend and outlined the Committee’s budget for 2017/18, seeking decisions around how that budget was allocated.

With regard to the Transport Plan for Growth Fund (£3,596.93) there were three proposals for funding.

Councillor Ron Abbey referred to the very poor condition of the footpath at Kellet Road and Boyd Road, Leasowe which was consistently flooding and requested that the Committee support this scheme for the reconstruction of the footpath. He informed the Committee that he had been assured that any shortfall in funding would be met by the department.

Councillor Ian Lewis expressed support for the Kellet Road and Boyd Road scheme and stated that he was happy to defer the proposed scheme for Broadway Avenue / Belvidere Road if it meant that the scheme in Leasowe could proceed.

Members also expressed support for the dropped crossing proposals at Yew Tree Centre, Moreton.

On a motion by Councillor Ron Abbey, duly seconded, it was –

(1)  Resolved – That the following allocations of funding be made from the Transport Plan for Growth fund:

·  £3,596.93 towards the reconstruction of the footpath Kellet Road and Boyd Road, Leasowe.

The Chair agreed to give consideration to spend of £224.15 from the Committee’s Problem Solving Fund for the dropped crossing scheme at Yew Tree Centre, Moreton, due to the pressing nature of the issue.

With regard to the Community Clean Ups budget, the Constituency Manager reported that £3,930.83 was remaining. Following the suggestion made at the last meeting (minute 34 refers – 6 April, 2017) an appendix to the report gave details of proposals made by Keep Britain Tidy. Members expressed the view that they were not generally in favour of these proposals and would rather the funding was spent to tackle local issues identified by Members.

Councillor Paul Stuart asked the Committee to support the replacement of a bin on Poulton Road and requested a new bin on Brighton Street.

Mike Cockburn, Lead Commissioner for Environment, commented that Environmental Services would be funding community clean ups in the future under the ‘Love where you live’ promotion. There was a project to replace open bins with closed top bins and the Council did have an ongoing replacement programme for bins.

Councillor Stuart then withdrew his proposal for a replacement bin on Poulton Road and on a motion duly seconded, it was –

(2)  Resolved – That a new bin be funded for Brighton Street at a cost of £320.56.

With regard to the underspend of £8,691 from its core budget and £13,340 committed to its Problem Solving Fund, which were available to be spent in 2017/18, Members made a number of suggestions as to how some of these funds could be spent.

The Constituency Manager reminded the Committee that in accordance with its Handbook all decisions should be made in public and the awarding of funds to any groups should be done in an open and transparent way.

After some further debate on possible projects for funding, it was moved by Councillor Ian Lewis, seconded by Councillor Bernie Mooney and –

(3)  Resolved – That a small working group of a maximum of 3 Members meet to discuss possible proposals for ways in which these funds could be spent and that a special meeting of the Committee be held before the end of the month to decide on a way forward, with any possible options being emailed to the Constituency Manager.