Verbal update – 10 minutes will be allocated for this item / discussion.

The Chair invited Ms Rachel Musgrave, Consultant in Public Health and Councillor Matthew Patrick, Cabinet Member Localism and Engagement to deliver their joint presentation entitled Wirral Together – working with our local communities.

A review considering the effectiveness of current neighbourhood working arrangements had been undertaken. The Constituency Committees were part of the current approach, the Committees being formed several years ago to replace Area Forums to provide an opportunity for residents to hear updates on local services and to raise issues. Reference was made to a study indicating that 97% of people felt that local communities would improve if people had an input, but that around 51% of Wirral residents felt they had no influence; this suggested that things had to change if the Council wished to increase participation. This was important as 75% of the actions related to the 2020 Vision and Pledges required local working and resident involvement.

The review into Constituency Committee effectiveness had considered what other models there were for neighbourhood working in use elsewhere; what value could be placed on investment to date; and what were the views of partners, residents and councillors.

Rachael Musgrave advised that a review of approaches elsewhere revealed a variety of approaches but none that had been formally evaluated. While there were some success factors, such as in differing ways of engagement and in ensuring ownership and transparency, there was no particular answer but to find the best way forward for Wirral. Looking at social value and return on the Committees’ budget expenditure since 2013, while acknowledging that individual Committee’s adopted their own priorities and approaches the review had shown an average £2.68 return for every £1 Committee grant. In seeking the views of others, there was a consensus that work with partners and the community had both to be done and be valued, and that community action made a difference.

It was concluded that one size would not fit all, and that existing networks should be used to engage with agencies and with communities, as opposed to expecting them to come to the Council. It was felt that a Committee meeting was not necessarily the best way to approach this. Other considerations from consultation were that small grants and seed funding was really useful; that the dedicated officer support for Councillors benefited the process in tackling issues and making connections; there was a need for a ‘community builder’ to better connect local groups; but there was a feeling of apathy with the political system.

Councillor Matthew Patrick informed that the next steps in the review process would take the form of a written report to Wirral Council’s Cabinet.

A number of questions we put to Councillor Matthew Patrick on the use of volunteers and engagement with young people, by including them as youth members on various organisational bodies. Councillor Patrick informed of work that had recently been completed in respect of the Council’s Volunteering Strategy that enabled council staff 2 days paid leave to engage in voluntary work in the borough. He added that such arrangements would expand the council’s network and provide additional opportunities to engage with the community. 

The Chair thanked Ms Musgrave and Councillor Patrick for their presentation.

Resolved – That the presentation be noted.