Agenda item
Members' Questions
Minutes:
The Mayor reported that 8 questions by members had been submitted.
Councillor Pat Cleary asked a question to Councillor Jenny Johnson as Chair of Audit and Risk Management Committee regarding the exercise being undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of programme governance within the regeneration progress, and sought an update on when it would be reported back to the Audit and Risk Management Committee.
In response,
Councillor Johnson outlined that it was a substantial piece of work
that was ongoing and the Committee would be updated on its findings
upon completion, likely be early in 2024.
Councillor Jason Walsh asked a question to Councillor Paul Stuart as Leader of the Council regarding the Councillor Portal regarding cases closed with no update and asked whether Councillor Stuart agreed that a review of the system was required.
In response,
Councillor Stuart outlined that 4,454 cases had been responded to
in a timely manner since 5th May, but shared the
frustration of cases being closed inappropriately and outlined that
officers had given assurances that these were being reported back
to the responsible officers. Councillor Stuart also asked whether
the Chair of the Member Support Steering Group would review these
issues at its next meeting.
Councillor Ewan Tomeny
asked a question to Councillor Tony Jones as Chair of Economy,
Regeneration and Housing Committee asking whether the proposed move
of Birkenhead the proposed move of Birkenhead Market to the Argos
building, if approved, would be a permanent or a temporary
move.
In the absence of Councillor Jones, Councillor Paul Stuart
responded to say that he had met with the Birkenhead Market Traders
Association the same day at the Argos site. He outlined that some
traders didn’t appreciate how large the Argos site was with
several advising that they did not want to move to the House of
Fraser site. Councillor Stuart gave assurances that the Council
would fully engage market traders with the future plans via
meaningful consultation. The Civic Mayor outlined that Councillor
Jones would also provide a written response.
Councillor Ed Lamb asked a question to Councillor Liz Grey as Chair of Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee regarding road safety incidents at Broadway roundabout and sought an update on the progress of the programme of works needed urgently.
In response,
Councillor Grey agreed that the work was needed urgently and
outlined that the feasibility of design had been approved in March
2023 and the work would be included in the programme of work for
2024/25 which was due at the Environment, Climate Emergency and
Transport Committee in March 2024.
Councillor Amanda
Onwuemene asked a question to Councillor Tony Jones as Chair of
Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee regarding whether the
new proposed site for Birkenhead Market would include a multi-use
entertainment facility and food hall and whether a report to
members was required urgently.
The Civic Mayor outlined that in the absence of Councillor Jones, a
written response would be provided.
Councillor Mike Redfern asked a question to Councillor Liz Grey as Chair of Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee on the progress of the Committee’s undertaking to increase allotment provision across the borough by 1000 plots by 2025.
In response,
Councillor Grey outlined how ambitious the target was given an
increase of 1,000 plots represented a 50% increase, and outlined
the variety of additional plots that had been allocated up to a
number of 184, with additional work ongoing to identify further
sites.
Councillor Redfern asked a supplementary question on what the
average wait time for an allotment site was. In response,
Councillor Grey outlined that the average waiting time was under 4
years, with some plots having a waiting time of up to 9 years but
others under a year.
Councillor Phil Gilchrist asked a question to Councillor Paul Stuart as Leader of the Council regarding the brownfield development as part of the progress of the Local Plan and what work was underway to get funding and deliver the brownfield first regeneration as quickly as possible.
In response,
Councillor Stuart outlined that regeneration was a Council Plan
priority and the brownfield first policy had cross party support
and was a bedrock of the Local Plan. Councillor Stuart outlined
that the Council had an excellent record of securing regeneration
funding including the recent £10.78m of Levelling Up funding
for Liscard and was confident the
Council had the resources to deliver on its regeneration
commitments.
Councillor Stuart Kelly asked a question to Councillor Paul Stuart as Leader of the Council querying whether the Cleveland Street council depot had been identified as requiring relocation to Limekiln Lane in order to support housing development in the Cleveland Street area of potentially 1,000 homes and the unlocking of more on the peel estate beyond.
In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that there had been a strategic review of the future requirements of the 4 depot sites, with the Council owning three of the sites and leasing one, noting that the outcome of the review would be considered by the Corporate Property Board in February 2024 and then further with members.
Councillor Kelly asked a supplementary question outlining the need for the Cleveland Street depot to move if the area was to be redeveloped for housing and queried why there was not a definitive date for the move. In response, Councillor Stuart outlined that the site could not be relocated until the review had been undertaken and the site reallocated as part of the Local Plan.