Notice of question to be given in writing or by email by noon, Wednesday 4 October 2023 to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (via the online form here: Public Question Form) and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.

For more information on how your personal information will be used, please see this link: Document Data Protection Protocol

Please telephone the Committee Services Officer if you have not received an acknowledgement of your question by the deadline for submission.

The Mayor outlined that 10 public questions had been received.

Wendy Bennett asked a question on behalf of Charlotte Smith to the Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, Councillor Liz Grey, regarding the Kings Gap slipway at Hoylake Beach and the need to clear this of vegetation for public access, including people with disabilities.

In response, Councillor Grey outlined that the slipways acted as an interface between the natural and man-made environment and users were made aware of the hazards present through the adjacent signage and to remove any vegetation without permission would be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

David Pearson asked a question to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Stuart, asking why Wirral Motorcycle Action Group was not consulted on the imposition of 20mph speed limits.

In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that statutory consultees were directly consulted which did not include user groups, but that all residents were able to provide feedback via the Have Your Say consultation,

It was asked as a supplementary question why user groups were not included in the direct consultation. Councillor Stuart undertook to provide a written response.

Linda Ferrie asked a question to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Stuart, further to the statistics provided by Councillor Liz Grey on the number of those killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions in Wirral between 2017 and 2022, seeking the statistics for how many of those were as a result of speeding, drink/drug driving, stolen vehicles and uninsured drivers on which the 20mph zone rollout would have little impact.

In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that he believed Councillor Grey was responding to a specific question in relation to KSI data not the 20mph scheme, but would ask officers to provide those figures in a written response.

It was asked as a supplementary question why the figures were not available, if they had been used for the rollout of the 20mph scheme. Councillor Stuart undertook to ensure that this would be included in the written response.

Elaine Revans asked a question to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Stuart, outlining the opposition to the rollout of the 20mph scheme in Wirral, concerns around the consultation and concerns about the use of resources impact on traffic and asked Councillor Stuart to give reassurances regarding these concerns.

In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that the principle of introducing 20mph speed limits in residential areas of the borough was determined as policy by the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee in 2021 following a series of cross-party road safety working group meetings which included key stakeholders.  Statutory consultation had already taken place on the particular zones proposed for 20mph limits in phases 1 and 2 of the scheme. Phase 1 would be fully implemented by the end of 2023 and a report will presented back to that Committee in December providing feedback on the results of the phase 2 consultation for their decision on whether to proceed with phase 2.  The report would also include details of further comments received since the phase 1 consultation was reported and officers responses to these, as well as the recently published government ‘plan for drivers’ and its potential future implications.

Paul Beacall asked a question to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Stuart, outlining concerns around the impact the rollout of the 20mph scheme would have on bus timetables and pollution following learning from Wales, and asked would the Council acknowledge the government’s recent responses on 20mph schemes.

In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that Wales had rolled out a default 20mph zone which Wirral had not and the Council would await the outcome of the recent declarations by the Prime Minister.

Tony Pritchard asked a question to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Stuart, outlining in his view that the rollout of 20mph zones had been rushed through despite the opposition from residents and asked does the Leader of the Council believe the Council should listen to and act on behalf of Wirral residents.

In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that the Council was listening to the voice and opinions of Wirral residents and actively encouraging residents give their feedback via the Have Your Say portal, and that the scheme had been voted through unanimously at success committees.

A supplementary question was asked why such an unpopular scheme would be voted through and requested that the scheme be put on hold. In response, Councillor Stuart reiterated that all parties had voted for the scheme.

Christine Watson asked a question to the Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, Councillor Liz Grey, asking when as Cabinet Member did she receive permission from the Board of Trade to cancel the Hoylake Beach Management Plan.

In response, Councillor Grey outlined that the conveyance of 1935 of the Hoylake Urban District Council (predecessor to Wirral Borough Council) did not require the consent of the board of trade and that only acts that would prejudice navigation require permission from the Board of Trade.

A supplementary question was asked whether the Chair agreed that the covenant stated that nothing could be done to prejudice or obstruct the public interest. In response, Councillor Grey stated that the 1935 Conveyance wasn’t applicable to the situation at Hoylake Beach today.

Joanne Randles asked a question to the Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, Councillor Liz Grey, asking whether she as Cabinet Member or the Council informed Peel Ports of the cancellation of the Hoylake Beach Management Plan.

In response, Councillor Grey outlined that It would not have been her  role as  Cabinet Member or  in any subsequent role  to contact Peel Ports with  regards to operational matters as referred to you in your question. She outlined that the Conveyance of 1935 allowed for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to maintain, repair or renew cables that were in existence at the time of the conveyance and that the conveyance did not lead to any requirement for the Council to contact Peel Ports in manner that you suggest.

It was asked as a supplementary question whether the Council was aware that Peel Port was of the opinion that the Council and Natural England had no remit on Hoylake Beach unless 500m from the shoreline. Councillor Grey undertook to provide a written response.

Wendy Bennett asked a question to the Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, Councillor Liz Grey, asking if she was aware of the existence of a Beach Covenant dated 1935 stating that Hoylake Beach should be cleaned and maintained completely clear of all vegetation and whether the Council intended to honour this.

In response, Councillor Grey outlined that the Conveyance of 1935 to the Hoylake and West Kirby Urban District Council (predecessor to Wirral Borough Council), in Clause 6 had a covenant which was a requirement  ‘at all times to keep the premises hereby granted in good and proper state of repair and condition free from all defects injurious to navigation or the adjacent lands or public interests.’ and that the Council was compliant with this covenant.

The Director of Law and Governance read a question on behalf of Karen Young relating to the speeds on the B5136 through Thornton Hough seeking the Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee’s commitment to address the speed limit as a matter of urgency.

In response, Councillor Grey outlined that officers were aware of the recent sad fatal collision in Thornton Hough and aside from the 20mph scheme proposals, would undertake a wider review of speed limits on the approaches to the village in conjunction with Merseyside Police and Cheshire West and Chester.