The Chair introduced David Armstrong, who said he is one of three Managers in the Children’s’ Department, but all of them must volunteer to come to the Area Forums to support Tracey and her other colleagues at the Forums, and help her if she requires it.  

They are also responsible for the finance and looking after buildings in the Children’s’  Department.  He reported that £20,000. is to be spent locally and we have to decide where the money will go. 

We will decide here tonight from the list, and because the forms cost a great deal to produce, we think it will be fairer to decide here tonight.  For the past nine years now it has been about £20,000. for a Junior School and considerably more for a Senior School. 

You will see a whole range of options to choose from, and we have to choose from this list –

Community Safety Activities.

a)  Alley gates

b)  Household security

c)  Temporary use of CCTV.

Re-deployment of youth

Adult learning course will be put on for older people.

Sporting youth activities.

Addition opportunities for young people, additional to the items already provided.  We have recently created four new Hopes – Birkenhead, Wallasey, Eastham all linked up  with the Fire Service.

Additional benches, litter bins, additional trees.  Benches in the street, benches in the park.

Notice boards, Parking needs signs.

Community support development.  Separate Development Officer to try and provide more Encouragement with the community

Tracey Smith reported that for the last three years, the Area Forum has been given £3,000. to spend, and we had questionnaires.

Cllr. McCubbin said that this year you have your chance to choose the five most important items you think are needed in your area from the list on the yellow forms we have produced.

Tracey Smith said that the Project Officers of the Council sat in a group.  If there is anything on the questionnaire in the region of £18,000. to £20,000. that you think should be spent, then you should fill it in on the form.  This is £20,000. for extra services in your area.

David Armstrong said that this is the third year – the first two years it was done by distributing forms and people filling them in, and the majority were filled in by young people, and this is good, because it shows their interest, but it was not very fair across the community.  The bulk of the spend went to young people.  In year 2 there was a very poor response.  The Council then decided to try this way, as people of all ages come to the Forums.  If you think that some are wrong, then take it back to your community and come back to us.  Many of the needs on this list have been requested by people in this area, but it is a starting point.

?  I thought this was a fresh start, but this is the same thing with a list provided.

Tracey Smith – we can carry on improving it with your input if you let me have it.

Cllr. Don McCubbin – it is for you to decide.

?  We are not going to resolve the frailties of the Area Forum, but the names and addresses of the elected representatives here might help. Perhaps it would be useful to divide the people here into Ward groups, and then they may be able to decide with people from the same locality.  If there are any Pensby residents here, then please contact me after the meeting to start a Pensby Residents Group.  Our power is working as a Group to try and achieve changes and improvements.

Cllr. Don McCubbin – there is a limited amount of funding.

Sue Proudlove said there is a Group at Pensall/Barncroft Residents Association.  Anyone who wishes to know, please see me later.

John Pyke – if we have got three different areas represented here tonight, it is not reasonable for us to decide for Pensby, or is it all going to one area, or is it going to be split?

Cllr. McCubbin – if people from Pensby, Heswall and Thingwall group themselves, and any others, and you have discussion among yourselves for approximately half an hour, it may be that you can all fill in forms, and we are beginning to find out what it required, and in which area.

This was agreed and the different groups came together and held approximately 30 minutes discussion.

Results of You Decide.

Tracey reported that the results from the earlier discussions among residents of the different areas was as follows:-

Priority No. 1  Number 22 – Community Sports Development Officer.

Priority No. 2. Number 2  -  Household Security.

Priority No. 3. Number 12  - Litter Bins.

Priority No. 4. Number 9  - Adult Learning.

Priority No. 5. Number 10  - Activities for Young People.