To receive the written reports of the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs, and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports in accordance with Standing Orders 10(2)(a) and 11.

The Mayor introduced the reports from the Leader, Cabinet Members and Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs and asked for questions on any of the reports.

Councillor Chris Blakeley asked a question of Councillor Angela Davies, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth, on whether she had had any concerns, when consulted by the Chief Executive, over the appointment of Stewart Halliday as an Interim Director. Councillor Davies responded that at the time she was consulted she had no concerns.

Councillor Steve Williams asked a question of Councillor Angela Davies, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth, regarding her report and that Moreton was mentioned only once with regard to the regeneration by the Wirral Growth Company compared to Birkenhead which was mentioned numerous times. Councillor Davies responded that the Wirral Growth Company would be involved in regeneration across the whole borough but that Birkenhead would form the first phase of this. Moreton was included in the plans with a whole series of work to be undertaken.

Councillor Dave Mitchell asked a question of Councillor Stuart Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, regarding additional funding for highways and repairs to the A41. Councillor Whittingham responded that the extra £500,000 would be spent on improving the condition of the borough’s unclassified roads and a Cabinet report would be published in due course on the roads to be repaired. The Cabinet report for 25 March meeting did include a report on the highway structural maintenance programme which included a list of roads to benefit from this programme and parts of the A41 were included on this list.

Councillor Pat Hackett asked a question of Councillor Angela Davies, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth, regarding the consultation process for the Wirral Growth Company / Muse proposed developments. Councillor Davies responded that residents, community groups and elected Members would all have an opportunity to take part in a consultation process and it was vital as many people as possible had their say. Consultation would start after the elections for 6 months with a series of drop-in events, workshops, postal survey and a consultation website.

The Director of Governance and Assurance intervened when Councillor Tom Anderson started to ask a question of Councillor Chris Jones, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health in respect of another Member and advised that the competence or otherwise of Members once elected, to sit on a committee was down to the group and not a matter that should be for discussion in the Chamber without having first gone through the Standards Committee or some other process. He reminded Members that this was a Chamber for debate of policy and for holding Cabinet Members to account for their formulation and implementation of that policy, not the personal character of a Member.

Councillor Lesley Rennie asked a question of Councillor Stuart Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, regarding how many street lights remained unlit across the borough. Councillor Whittingham replied that he would respond in writing. 

Councillor Moira McLaughlin asked a question of Councillor Stuart Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, regarding how many street lights remained unlit in Rock Ferry and for how long each one remained outstanding. Councillor Whittingham responded that he would make sure a response regarding lights in Rock Ferry was sent out. With regard to the CRM system for logging requests for repair, a brand new asset management system was being installed which would encompass all highways assets including roads and street lights providing improved information across the borough.

Councillor Phil Gilchrist asked a question of Councillor Janette Williamson, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, regarding where the money realised from the sale of the Acre Lane site was ‘disappearing’ to. Councillor Williamson responded that she took issue with the use of the word ‘disappearing’ and that no decision had yet been taken on this.

Councillor David Burgess-Joyce asked a question of Councillor Phil Davies, Leader, regarding the position of a report on the funding and phasing of the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort. Councillor Davies responded that he would expect a report to be available in the next couple of months.

Councillor Sharon Jones asked a question of Councillor Janette Williamson, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Councillor Williamson responded that the Council would be consulting on the scheme which would help 9,000 households in reducing their council tax bills.

Councillor Cherry Povall asked a question of Councillor Anita Leech, Cabinet Member for Environment, regarding the cancellation of the Kingdom Environmental Enforcement contract and how much was owed to the Council from cancelled and unpaid fines. Councillor Leech responded that fines were cancelled for a reason, such as if it was later found out that the recipient of the fine was underage or numerous other reasons. With regard to unpaid fines she would provide a written response on this matter.

Councillor David Elderton asked a question of Councillor George Davies, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, regarding the results of the green belt consultation. Councillor Davies responded that the results had been published in February, 2019.

Councillor Paul Hayes asked a question of Councillor Anita Leech, Cabinet Member for Environment, regarding what action would be taken if a Member or member of the public submitted a request for action in respect of dog fouling. Councillor Leech responded that having terminated the Kingdom enforcement contract the Council did not currently have any enforcement team in operation. A report would be taken back to Overview and Scrutiny Committee to look at the best way forward. In the meantime, the street cleansing team would cleanse the streets as they normally did in terms of dog fouling.

Councillor Ian Lewis asked a question of Councillor Angela Davies, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth, regarding when negotiations with Vue Cinemas would be concluded to release them from their lease on the land and how much this would cost in addition to the £7m spent on the cinema. Councillor Davies responded that she would have to come back with regard to the specific negotiations but did state that the acquisition was an important part of the ambitious plans for the regeneration of Birkenhead town centre.

Councillor Tony Cox asked a question of Councillor Phil Davies, Leader, regarding the proposed Hoylake Golf Resort and who would be funding the by-pass road as the Niklaus Joint Venture Group had stated that no more public money would be required for the scheme. Councillor Davies responded that all the issues relating to the Golf Resort would be covered in the report which would be published once the officers had had a chance to analyse the funding proposals brought forward by the developers and there would be ample opportunity for scrutiny of the proposals.

Councillor Andrew Gardner asked a question of Councillor Angela Davies, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Growth, regarding the £7m purchase of the Vue cinema and the valuation method and independent valuer who advised the Council. Councillor Davies agreed to provide a written response.

Councillor Stuart Kelly asked a question of Councillor Anita Leech, Cabinet Member for Environment, regarding the staff working for Kingdom on the Environmental Enforcement contract. Councillor Leech responded that until a review had been carried out, the Council would not be undertaking any enforcement, once the review had been completed then a decision would be taken as to how enforcement would operate. The ‘Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations’ would apply if enforcement was brought back in-house but currently it did not apply.

Councillor Stuart Kelly asked a question of Councillor George Davies, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, on whether bringing empty homes back into use counted towards any local plan targets. Councillor Davies responded that it did not.

Councillor Paul Stuart asked a question of Councillor Bernie Mooney, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, regarding the improvements in Children’s Services, the progress made towards having more Social Workers employed by the Council rather than agency staff and what was expected from the forthcoming Ofsted report. Councillor Mooney responded by thanking all the Members for the extra £20m made available to Children’s Services. She also thanked the Improvement Board, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and all the staff for their commitment in turning the service around. The re-inspection by Ofsted was likely to take place in early May and she was very hopeful of a much better outcome. Councillor Mooney then reported on a whole host of achievements made in the service.