The Constituency Manager introduced the report of the Director for Health and Wellbeing that provided an evaluation of projects funded by Wallasey Constituency Committee through Year 3 Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund (2016/17).

The Constituency Manager informed that at Wallasey Constituency Committee on 26 January 2017 (minute 23 refers), 23 projects were funded to the amount of £20,000 to deliver projects to tackle the Committee’s priorities. The successful applicants and respective amounts awarded were set out in the report appendix. A presentation slide show followed, that provided the Committee and assembled members of the public with photographs and summary detail of how the funding had been used by each organisation.

Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association Presentation.

The Chair then invited Mr Paul Townley, Treasurer Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association to deliver a short presentation on the use of the grant awarded to the organisation from the Bright Ideas Fund.

Mr Townley informed that as a voluntary organisation they had identified that there were some issues on the estate, the main problem being low level anti-social behaviour. The organisation made efforts to engage positively with young people and to encourage taking part in planned activities. He added that the positive engagement and targeting of individuals had made a difference and the grant enabled the purchase of items that could be used by the young people on a daily basis without hindrance. The items included:

• Games Console
• Large TV (48inch)
• Sports equipment
• Pool/Snooker cues & table re-cloth
• Food/Cookery items
• Arts & craft materials

Mr Townley thanked the Committee, stating that thanks to the grant provided from the Bright Ideas Fund, there had ultimately been a reduction in anti-social behaviour in the locality.

The Chair echoed Mr Townley’s thanks to the Panel.

Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park Presentation.

The Chair then invited Mr David Gray, Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park to deliver a short presentation on the use of the grant awarded to the organisation from the Bright Ideas Fund.

Mr Gray informed how the project funded from the Bright Ideas Fund was to help provide access to the Gunsite area of the North Wirral Coastal Park by the installation and repair to the pathways, gate and boardwalk. The Committee was apprised that the Friends Group met every Tuesday and helped maintain, restore and renovate the Park and Dunes, in addition to general works such as fencing repairs and litter clearance.

Mr Gray explained that the project had been developed to ensure access to the central Gunsite are of the Park, which had restricted access for those who experienced problems with mobility and the need to repair and improve the existing walk way.

The Committee noted that working with volunteers, the Council Rangers and support from the Bright Ideas Fund a new boardwalk with gentler gradients, limestone chip pathways and a new mobility access gate had been installed. Mr Gray thanked all those involved with the project and informed that there had been many positive comments received both during the construction and latterly online via the Group’s Facebook Page.

Presentation of Certificates.

The Chair presented a number of certificates in recognition of work undertaken by local community groups.

Certificates were presented to the following groups who were able to attend the meeting:

• Black Pearl Pirates at Art
• St Chad’s Church
• Wallasey Village in Bloom
• Leasowe Play Youth and Community Association
• Ss Peter, Paul & St Philomena’s Church (The Dome of Home)
• Friends of North Wirral Coastal Path
• New Brighton Baptist Church Christians Against Poverty
• Seabank Road Tenants and Residents Association

The Chair personally thanked the community groups who were in attendance, and recognised the work of all the community groups who contributed to help improve the local area.