The Constituency Manager introduced the report of the Director of Strategy and Partnerships that provided an update on the Wallasey Constituency Committee’s Community Clean Ups budget and sought a decision on the proposal for allocation of the remaining funding.  The budget had been devolved to the Constituency Committee and was ring – fenced for activity to improve the local environment. Other options that had been explored by the Committee were set out in the report.

The report informed that at Budget Council on 6 March 2017 (minute 125 refers) it had been agreed that £50,000 would be allocated to the four Constituency Committees, as a permanent budget, to help support local communities to clean up and improve their local areas (‘Community Clean Ups’). This had been split equally between the Constituencies, each being allocated £12,500 per annum.  This funding was therefore available to the Committee for both 2017/18 and 2018/19

In July 2018 the Constituency Team had been advised that due to additional funds being made available following the first year of this devolved funding, no underspends for any Constituencies had been carried forward from the 2016/17 allocation.  The remaining balance from 2016/17 of £5,683.27 was therefore no longer available for the Committee’s use.  The Committee had £25,000 (from 2017/18 and 2018/19) available for its use to improve the local environment.

It was reported that due to similar underspend in Wirral South, a way forward with this funding had been discussed and the proposed approach set out in the report developed to make maximum use of the allocation. Subject to Committee approval, this would see the Engagement Officers from the two Constituency areas work together to support activity in each of the Constituencies, bringing additional capacity and expertise.

It was proposed that the remaining funding of £25,000 be allocated to fund targeted environmental activity within local communities, through both ‘Environmental Action Days’ and a small grants programme for environmental improvements by local community, voluntary and faith groups.  The suggested process for this was outlined in the report.

The Constituency Manager outlined the proposal that the Constituency Engagement Officer co-ordinate an ‘Environmental Action Day’ within each of the Constituency’s six wards in or around the Spring of 2019, in a location identified by elected members.  Due to historic issues over the Mischief, Halloween and Bonfire Nights period, it was further proposed that an earlier and additional Environmental Action Day take place in Seacombe/Egremont in late October/early November specifically to help reduce the amount of flammable material in this location during this time.  The operation of the ‘Days’ would be similar to the ‘Respect Action Days’ previously co-ordinated by the Anti-Social Behaviour Team and the ‘Blitz Days’ currently conducted in Birkenhead Constituency. Each Environmental Action Day would see the co-ordination of multi-agency and community activity to tackle environmental and quality of life issues.

The report identified key partners likely to be included and set out the focus of each Environmental Action Day.  It was reported that the costs incurred for each Environmental Action Day were likely to include, where applicable, resources and materials (e.g. paint, flowers, etc.), wheelie bin amnesty, skip hire, printing (leaflets) and refreshments for volunteers.  The Constituency Manager indicated that an indicative cost for each day was up to £1,000.

The Constituency Manager also outlined the proposal that a Wallasey Constituency Committee ‘Love Where You Live’ Fund’ be launched week commencing 1 October, 2018.  This would be open to community, voluntary and faith groups to apply for funding of no more than £500 to make environmental improvements to any outdoor areas to which the general public had access.  The closing date for bids (typed) would be Monday 3 December 2018, allowing around eight weeks for applications.  As with previous rounds of the Committee’s Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund an assessment of bids, based on the contents of the respective application form, would be undertaken by the Constituency Manager and the outcome of that assessment reported to the next available Wallasey Constituency Committee on 12 March 2019 for decision.  Grants would be awarded to successful groups by early April 2019 and projects would be required to be completed and a short typed evaluation report (with receipts) submitted to the Constituency Team by no later than Friday 1 November 2019.

The report indicated that due to the nature of the grant an abridged version of the application form for Wallasey Bright Ideas Fund would be drafted.  Groups might only apply for one project and funding would not be permitted for core staff salaries and/or core administration costs.  Applicants must have demonstrated that their project would have a visible positive impact on an outdoor space; this might include (but not exclusively) repainting benches and railings, clearing and planting, creating and installing artwork, by way of example.

Councillor Lesley Rennie commented that there had been problems with fly-tipping in the Buxton Lane area of Wallasey and suggested that the provision of a skip could be look into and although there was clearly a risk that this might attract more tipping would like this to be explored.

The Chair welcomed the funding for community groups to organise their own clean-ups and cited the example of The Voice of Egremont where this had been very successful.

Resolved – That the indicative amounts of £7,000 towards seven Environmental Action Days across the Constituency and £18,000 towards a Wallasey Constituency Committee ‘Love Where You Live’ small grants fund be allocated.