The following questions / issues were raised:

1.  David Hale – welcomed Councillor Darren Dodd to his first forum meeting and asked if he would consider attending constituted tenants and residents group meetings within his constituency.

Councillor Dodd agreed that he would be willing to attend such meetings and that he would discuss this further at the end of the meeting.

2.  Member of the public – raised issues at Forum Housing flats, Ash Villas, Gorsedale Park; including youths sitting on fence and bragging about drugs, and rubbish being thrown out of flats. There were 40 youths there one evening at 7pm openly dealing drugs. The local residents were told that there would be wardens at the flats, when they were built.

Inspector Bird confirmed that he was aware of the problems at Ash Villas / Gorsedale Park / Pits and confirmed that this was policed until midnight, but requested that the residents report any issues. He added that people do have to sign in and out of the flats.

The Chair confirmed that Mark Smith and Inspector Bird had made a note of the problems and requested that further details be given to Inspector Bird at the end of the meeting.

3.  Dr McWatt – asked why old lampposts were being replaced with new lampposts in Wallasey and Liscard when there were budget issues, as he felt that this was not a good use of limited resources.

Mark Smith – the Council has a budget from the Department of Transport for capital schemes for street improvements. The Council has a large lighting improvement programme to install new lighting where it is required, and still has a healthy allocation and ongoing programme for street lighting improvements for 2010/11, and that as many schemes as possible will be completed.

4.  Joan Hislop (resident of Hampstead Road) asked why there were no 20mph signs in Hampstead Road and Park Drive. The one-way street has caused more speeding traffic along the road used by young people on cycles coming from the park. The Council painted 20mph on the road, but this is ignored.

Mark Smith – the temporary 20mph signs were introduced 18 months ago as part of a scheme called “Accident to Zero”. Residential areas were chosen following assessment of sites suggested by the public. The scheme included signage, posters and community speed watch. He requested that suggestions be included on the forms available at the meeting so that these can be considered under the Council Funding Programme and the Integrated Transport Funding.

The Chair requested that Mark Smith make a note of this issue.

5.  Member of the public – asked if there were any plans for the buildings in Central Park, as there was a lack of venues available in Liscard for community arts performances to be held.

Dianne Ledder – advised that the stable block and former stewards building were occupied by park staff. The walled garden houses the visitor centre and Everyone’s Café and the toilet block is used for storage. She confirmed that the St Johns Church was not connected to the park and that it had been decommissioned five years ago.

Carole Thomas added that the St John’s Church was being re-commissioned as the diocese had decided to take back ownership of the building, which has a listed interior, and that it would be a fantastic music venue.

Member of the public advised that the church organ had been re-located to St James Church.

The Chair agreed to discuss this in more detail at the end of the meeting.

6.  Father Ostaszewski – asked if the lampposts in Central Park could be renovated, and added that Belvidere Road still needed resurfacing work carried out.

Mark Smith agreed to look into issue of lampposts in Park and report back on this.

Chris Jones confirmed that a gas trench had failed at Belvidere Road and that some remedial work had been carried out, but this was being done in stages as need to ensure that the structure is sound before tarmac is laid.

The Chair added that the severe winter weather had affected road repair programmes.

7.  Carol McWatt – asked if there could be adequate lighting installed in Bluebell Wood as this was a health and safety issue.

Mark Smith – this could be included as a suggestion for the Your Wirral fund.

8.  Dave Hanlon – felt that the Allandale Centre should have been open for youth activities rather than being used to host the area forum meeting, and that Councillors should be trying to provide services for young people five nights a week.

The Chair pointed out that the Allandale is an independent charitable trust and the Council does not direct its activity.

9.  John Drew, Seacombe Partnership, requested that information be provided on the Objective One funding programme and how this benefited people through different forms of funding.

Mark Smith agreed to look into this and report back to the forum.

10.Carole Thomas, on behalf of the Central Park and Liscard / Seacombe Partnership, raised concerns over the toilet facilities at Central Park. These are not open long enough and the provision is not adequate for the young people and the anglers who use the park.

Member of the public added - that the toilets had been painted and toilet seats replaced about five years ago, but were in need of refurbishment, and asked what had happened to the £60,000 funding allocated to Central Park.

Mark Smith agreed to raise this with Jim Lester.

11.Dave Hanlon – asked if Central Park could be an agenda item at the next forum meeting.

Chair agreed this.

Minute decision - Resolved that:

(i) Mark Smith to

·  note issues re: speeding traffic at Hampstead Road and Park Drive.

·  report back on results of the Objective One funding programme.

·  raise query re: allocation of £60,000 funding with Jim Lester.

(ii) Michelle Gray to arrange for Central Park to be included as an agenda item on the next forum agenda.