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

Prior to the Constituency Manager Update, the Chair invited Acting Sergeant Neil Bradley to give a verbal update on the issue of burglaries and thefts that had occurred in recent months.

Acting Sergeant Bradley informed that the geographical area for Wirral West Constituency fell under the remit of the Community Police Team – ‘Hub One’ area team. He informed that, in general, Wirral West had relatively low levels of reported crime but issues of concern remained with regard to burglaries. He informed that the standard advice of keeping items of value out of sight, and locking doors and windows did help in preventing crimes of this nature. He added that members of the public should also be wary of ‘cold-callers’ who in some cases were fraudulently knocking on the doors of vulnerable persons with a view to assessing the security and value of possible target properties. Sergeant Bradley explained that burglaries were often aimed at those homes with high value vehicles – with vehicle keys being the primary (but not only) target.

Acting Sergeant Bradley provided a detailed summary of actions taken by the Merseyside Police to combat crime in the area and provided extensive explanation in respect of successful arrests and prosecutions for a range of recent criminal activity that included anti-social behaviour, vehicle theft, suspicious behaviour, distraction-based crimes, drugs etc.

Members questioned Acting Sergeant Bradley on some specific matters relevant to certain locations and recent meetings attended by residents. The questions also included a request for ongoing communication / feedback and whether the Police Force was coping, or would benefit from additional Police Officers. Acting Sergeant Bradley responded stating that he was confident in the ability of the Officers working in the ‘Hub One’ area team, but additional staffing would always be welcomed. He added that in all cases, response to crime was prioritised on risk-based assessments. 

The Chair and Members of the Committee thanked Acting Sergeant Bradley for his update. 

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Nicola Jones, Senior Public Health Manager delivered a verbal update on behalf of the Wirral West Constituency Manager that provided an update on key achievements in respect of projects funded by the Constituency Committee since the last meeting in October 2017. The update included information on the following:

• Completion of work on the 2nd Memorial Garden on Hoole Road by ‘Flourish at Ford Way’ using Community Fund underspend in Upton ward - the garden will be officially opened at 1pm on Monday 19th March to mark the improvements that have taken place. The Princes Trust will be presented with certificates of achievement by Flourish for all their help with the project.

• The Little Brothers project, funded by the Constituency Committee through its ASB budget, had been awarded the High Sheriff of Merseyside Award in recognition of great and valuable services to the community. The initiative had also been awarded a certificate from National Crimebeat commending their outstanding contribution to helping reduce crime and creating a safer community. Little Brothers and Little Sisters had been set up to provide activities for pupils in Years 5 and 6 in an attempt to reduce the chances of the children becoming involved in ASB and early criminal activity. It started 2 years ago and was led by young men and women who were excellent role models due to their involvement in sport and coaching. The clubs were overseen by the school Home/School Link Worker who lived on the estate and knew the families and the barriers and risks facing the pupils. The clubs took place two nights per week. Pupils had designed a logo for both clubs, made rules and a promise, completed homework tasks and been involved in healthy living and making choices sessions.  They were also given guidance, academic support and were able to access 1 to 1 sessions with the coaches to discuss worries or fears which may arise in their lives. 

The report also included information on a number of projects funded in Pensby and Thingwall Ward using the remaining Community Fund allocation for this area, these included:

• Holidays at Home - a group who support people within the community aged 60+ who may be socially isolated while other groups closed for the summer holidays. The group provided company and support and aimed to help individuals to meet other liked minded people in the community.

• Kylemore Luncheon Club – the club provided a meeting place 1 day a week, 50 weeks a year for elderly people to socialise, enjoy a hot meal and to have a much needed change of environment. The funding paid for singers, speakers and musicians to come along and entertain the members once a month.

• Pensby Library Volunteers – to promote enjoyment of reading and easy access to books as well as enhance the use of Pensby Library within the community. The funding would help towards an ongoing project to light up Pensby from Christmas 2018 and in following years, with the installation of streetlamp Christmas lights.

The report summarised that 42 Community Fund projects had been completed from the last round of funding (2016/17), and that a number of projects had been given extensions:

• Greasby Community Association, Traffic and Heritage Team – The funding helped towards the Installation of a series of new boundary place-name signs. The signs proclaim that the township of Greasby contained information that it was the earliest dated settlement in Western Britain, and one of the oldest in the country – remains having been found and dated from around 8,500BC.

• Wirral Festival of Firsts – the 2017 Festival focused on celebrating Hoylake old and new, community participation and inclusion of disability groups such as Hoylake Wild Cats Basketball team were both very strong features of the Parade – 335 people were a part of the event and approximately 2,500 people came to watch. The funding helped towards the traffic management for the event.

• Carers Get Together – the group held monthly meetings for carers and former carers in the Pensby & Thingwall Ward who provided a better quality of life for those they love, who through a wide range of disabilities, cannot provide for themselves. The group offered mutual support and friendship and in doing so helped to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation. The funding paid for two short trips out for the carers.

• HYPE (Helping Young People Everywhere) – a youth organisation working with young people aged 9-24 that aimed to improve health, social and educational skills and enhance opportunity for employment. The group delivered workshops, events and projects. Funding helped towards developing an area of land in Woodchurch into a multi-purpose community space, carried out by the young people. The space is to include an exercise area, gardening, relaxation and child friendly area.

• Friends of Grange Community Park – Funding was used to re-vamp equipment in Grange Community Park. The Friends had now transformed the equipment with help from a group of young people carrying out their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Members noted two underspend items within the Constituency Committee area, as follows:

Upton: Flourish at Ford Way – a local community gardening group, ‘Flourish at Ford Way’ with help from Wirral Met College’s Princes Trust team and support from the Wirral West Constituency Team had worked to bring the 2nd Memorial Garden on Hoole in Woodchurch back into use after it fell into disrepair many years ago. The gardens were established to provide a place of reflection for people who have lost loved ones on the estate.

West Kirby & Thurstaston and Hoylake & Meols: West Kirby Drop-In – the group was set up to help those with any degree of mental health, providing somewhere to go to be with other people, to be accepted and through interaction with others, be understood. Funding support to help towards running costs for the group.

In conclusion the report informed that the Constituency Engagement Officer had also worked hard to support the Love Where You Live initiative, with local hubs now having equipment on hand for use by litter picking groups. In addition the West Kirby group ‘The High Tidiers’ were reported as going from strength to strength, working closely with the Council to shape future approaches to assist with local clear ups, e.g. actions to aid the reduction of single use plastics.

Resolved – That the report be noted.