Prior to consideration of the submitted report of the Birkenhead Constituency Manager, the Chair permitted two short presentations on matters pertinent to the Birkenhead Constituency and the wider work of the Committee.

Tranmere Rovers Football Club

Mark Palios, Chairman of Tranmere Rovers Football Club, was in attendance at the meeting with the National League Play-off Final Trophy.

He noted and endorsed comments made about community and partnership working that had been made during the meeting, advising that the Club was seeking to work in a similar manner to bring the community together.  Examples of work being undertaken in the community were outlined to the Committee.  Mr Palios commented that he felt the spirit generated by working together had contributed to the success of the team at the Wembley final.

Policing Update

Inspector Georgina Minnery, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector, in referencing earlier remarks relating to partnership working, noted the importance of collaborative working in the current challenging policing landscape. 

Reference was made to a recent day of action in an area of Rock Ferry that included the execution of four warrants, the making of three arrests and the closure of a house.  The police work had been supported by other agencies, including the Council and the Probation Payback Team, in undertaking complementary work in the same area.  Members of the Committee thanked Inspector Minnery for the action taken, noting also the other multi-agency issues that had been addressed and actions taken.

In response to a query from a member of the public, Inspector Minnery indicated that the Police were aware of and appreciated the issues caused by off-road motor bikes.  While noting that this was a difficult issue to deal with, it was confirmed that the Police did seek to address such matters.

Report of the Birkenhead Constituency Manager

The Committee then received and noted the report of the Birkenhead Constituency Manager that provided an update on progress in relation to agreed schemes of work from the budget devolved to the Constituency Committee and in relation to other Birkenhead Constituency Committee neighbourhood projects in progress.

The report considered and reported on progress of projects and schemes under the following areas –

• Keeping Birkenhead Clean
  • Progress on the current five ‘love where you live’ hubs and litterpick kits;
  • The 2018 ‘In Bloom’ projects, together with examples of where agencies had put in time and funds to work with schools and residents to make improvements.  A number of positive outcomes from ‘In Bloom’ projects were highlighted;
  • Skip Fund Community Partnership days and clean-ups which had removed an estimated 120 tonnes of waste;
  • Clean-up dates in the past 12 months; and
  • Work undertaken and jobs completed by the ‘Community Payback Team’.

• Feeding Birkenhead
  • Beechwood Update – including the official opening of the Skateboard Park; activities at the Little Centre Beechwood; meetings to look at a new community partnership to takeover running of the Ballantyne Centre; securing of a non-levy apprenticeship contract by the Beechwood Community Trust; and the Beechwood Digital Hub;
  • Gautby Road Community Centre – including the offer of a discounted supermarket, kitchen refurbishment at the Centre, work to support youth activity and holiday food provision; and
  • Livingstone Street Centre – including details of activities offered, becoming an Open Awards accredited centre, and looking at future and ongoing projects.

• Improving Life Chances
  • Update for Improving Life Chances Community Pilots, including community and agency involvement in the Pilots and the good outputs that had already been achieved; and
  • Improving Life Chances Actions for 2017-18.

• Community Connectors Project
  • Setting out the purpose, activities and objectives for the Connectors in providing support for individuals to access local community activity to improve their wellbeing and, as appropriate, readiness for work.

• Birkenhead First Activity Update 2017
  • Work of the Birkenhead Improvement District (BID) Team, including forthcoming events during June and July 2018.

• Birkenhead Assets Update
  • Progress and developments in respect of the Beechwood Centre and the Beaconsfield Centre.

·  Pathfinder project

o  Activities and evaluation of the Pathfinder Project, a partnership between the Police, Council, Youth Offending Team, local schools, the CELLS project, army and leisure services, to deter offending.

An appendix to the submitted report provided an update on neighbourhood engagement undertaken by the Birkenhead Constituency Team, including work on Birkenhead in Bloom, Community Action Days, the Good Neighbour Scheme and an arson awareness campaign.

RESOLVED: That -

(1)  MrPalios and Inspector Minnery be thanked for their presentations to the Committee;

(2)  the partnership work undertaken for clean-up days, and future clean-up days funded by the skip fund, be noted;

(3)  the contribution of probation to Birkenhead clean-ups be noted;

(4)  the 2018 Birkenhead in Bloom schemes and the £1k allocation to each Ward to support projects be noted;

(5)  the updates from food hubs and holiday food projects be noted;

(6)  the updates regarding the Improving Life Chances community pilots be noted;

(7)  the updates for the Birkenhead Improvement District (BID) Team, Community Connectors, the Pathfinder Project and those related to assets be noted.