To receive reports about and receive questions and answers on decisions made by Committees since the last meeting of Council. 

The minutes of all committees which have met since the beginning of October, up until 19 November are attached, as follows:

·  Policy and Resources Committee – 7 October and 11 November

·  Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee – 13 October and 19 November (to follow)

·  Children, Young People and Education Committee – 20 October

·  Economy, Regeneration and Development Committee – 27 October

·  Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee – 22 October

·  Housing Committee – 28 October

·  Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee – 26 October

·  Partnerships Committee – 9 November

·  Audit and Risk Management Committee – 16 November

·  Licensing Act Committee – 14 October

·  Pensions Committee – 2 November

·  Planning Committee – 15 October and 12 November

·  Regulatory and General Purposes Committee – 14 October and 18 November

The Civic Mayor introduced the minutes of the various Committees which had met since the beginning of October up until 19 November, and asked for questions to Committee Chairs on any of the minutes being received.

Councillor Phil Gilchrist asked a question of Councillor Janette Williamson in respect of minute 5, of the Policy and Resources Committee of 7 October, 2020 regarding the sale of land at Arrowe Park Road, Upton and the timetable for the advertising of this sale of the public open space and that Members be advised as to how many objections had come forward by the closing date. Councillor Williamson responded that a written response would be provided once enquiries had been made after the meeting.

Councillor Chris Cooke asked a question of Councillor Wendy Clements in respect of minute 9 of the Children, Young People and Education Committee of 20 October, 2020 on what recent progress the Council had made in the light of the report to tackle the acute problem of obesity among Wirral’s children. Councillor Clements responded that the former Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee had accepted the recommendations of the healthy weight workshops at its last meeting in March. Since then other matters had taken precedence for Members and officers, yet the work hadn’t been lost, it remained on the Committee’s work programme. Many of the recommendations that were made were actually cross cutting themes, such as the School Streets initiative, Healthy High Streets programme and matters around business rates. It was accepted at the time that these were out of the remit of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. She commented that hopefully walking had been encouraged by lockdown but there was definitely more to do.

Councillor Ian Lewis asked a question of Councillor Elizabeth Grey regarding the meeting of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee of 22 October, 2020 on whether she would accept his apology for the rude discourteous behaviour shown by a member of the Conservative group at the last meeting of the Committee. In response, Councillor Grey accepted the apology and appreciated and understood what Councillor Lewis was saying.

Councillor Ian Lewis asked a question of Councillor Julie McManus regarding the Housing Committee minutes of 28 October, 2020 and asked for the Chair’s commitment that the Council would respond to the consultation by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which was closing on 11 January, 2021, and ask for tougher safety measures for tenants in social housing who required better smoke detection and carbon monoxide detections. He also asked that future consultations were brought to the Committee’s agenda as and when she saw fit. In response, Councillor McManus stated that she was happy to confirm that officers and members alike welcomed any improved safety measures for residents to be protected. Officers would be considering their full response to questions on those specific issues within the consultation.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham asked a question of Councillor Tom Anderson in respect of minute 9 of the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee of 26 October, 2020 and the Chair’s plans to build on the success in recent years of Wirral’s cultural programme, particularly when Wirral was the City Region’s Borough of Culture. Councillor Anderson responded that the Council was currently going through a budgetary process which would define the Committee’s work programme for the future. Councillor Whittingham was welcome to attend the meeting and listen to any discussions and he was always open to any suggestions. With regard to the library consultation, Councillor Anderson also commented that any Member was welcome to raise any issues with him which would be addressed by the committee.

Resolved – That all the Committee minutes be received.