The following questions / issues were raised:

1.  What was the timescale for the disabled access proposals at the train stations?

David Ball – confirmed that this would be covered within the detailed report to be brought to the next meeting.

2.  Clint Agard – would there be any consultation with / feedback to communities around proposed planned local cuts in spending announced by Central Government?

David Ball – confirmed that the new Government had already made announcements on budget reductions for this financial year, and that more cuts were expected to be announced in next week’s budget. The Government Review would set out further proposed cuts over the next three years and a comprehensive picture on this would probably be available around November. The following changes to funding have been announced / made:

• No more Future Jobs Funding
• Six month job scheme for the unemployed to be stopped by September 2011
• £1m cut to £30m fund for tackling economic issues
• £3-4m fund for housing schemes suspended
• Budget reduction to Supporting People Project
• £7-8m budget reductions within Housing and Regeneration
• Removal of ring-fencing from a variety of Government Funding sources.

David confirmed that a report was being put together to identify cuts but that he was not sure how this was going to be communicated.

Councillor Phil Davies added that the councillors at this forum were not the best people to ask as they were Labour Councillors, but confirmed that there were to be £9.5 m Council cuts. The biggest being Education (£3m), but was not sure where the cuts would be made, but possibly from positive action for young people, social care, child protection, commissioning for service for young families. The cuts to take place in this financial year were affecting the agreed budget, such as cuts to the working neighbourhoods fund and housing market renewal. The cuts would have serious consequences for a lot of people living in the forum area, but he assured the forum that the councillors would be doing their best to put forward arguments for reducing such proposed cuts. The next cabinet meeting was to be held on 24^th June 2010 and would cover budget issues and he invited people to come along to the meeting.

3.  Jim Cadwallader - - was the HMR Funding Fiveways Project still to be completed?

David Ball – confirmed that the project was being moved forward and would be completed. The national budget was cut and the pro-rata 16% reduction for Wirral amounted to £1.4m from Wirral’s £9.5m programme.

4.  Jim Cadwallader – has any progress been made re: New Ferry Tip, Bromborough Landfill Site and Rock Ferry Park?

Councillor Moira McLaughlin – confirmed that this was still in the early stages. The Landfill Site scheme was signed up by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) last year. The Mersey Coastal Park project was still being worked on, the budgets were constrained but this was still being driven forward by the ward councillors as they fully support this important scheme.

5.  Jim Cadwallader – raised concern that the new government focus seemed to be on funding not people and that cutting budgets would affect people’s standards of living / health.

David Ball – confirmed that the cabinet member for housing visited the HMRI area on 14^th June 2010 and was impressed with the work that had been carried out and felt that it was important that this should be completed.

6.  Chair – what was happening with the Church Road / Abakhan site?

David Ball – confirmed that the proposal for new shopping / retail units was close to being signed for go ahead.

7.  Jim Cadwallader – asked if the St Catherine’s Hospital project was on site yet and if the developer could be invited to attend the next meeting?

David Ball – confirmed that the developer was on site and that the Health partners could give an update on this project.

8.  Collette McDonagh – what was happening re: the Strategic Asset Review (SAR) and the selling off of sports / community centres?

David Ball – confirmed that the community asset transfer project started by the previous administration was still being progressed, and that the new administration had asked for a review of the process to be carried out and reported to Cabinet at the end of June 2010. He agreed to feedback on this at the next forum meeting.

9.  Graham – what was happening re: business plan for Byrne Avenue centre? He also informed the forum that the opening of the Viking Youth Club as a community centre (not just for young people) and its amalgamation with Lairdside was going ahead at a great pace.

Councillor Phil Davies – confirmed that officers were looking at the business plan and would report back to cabinet who would decide if the transfer would take place. David Ball agreed to look into progress on this and report back to the forum.

10.Roy – what was happening re: installation of pedestrian / pelican crossing at Kings Lane / Old Chester Road and was this the type of request that could be included on the You Decide forms?

 Councillor Moira McLaughlin – confirmed that such a request could be included on the You Decide form, but a petition / strong force behind the request would assist with this.

11.Roy – what was happening re: motorists parking illegally outside Tescos and on the double yellow lines at Bebington Road?

Councillor Chris Meaden – confirmed that talks were being held with Tescos, but that the Council could not do anything about this as it was owned by Tescos. Inspector Mick Blease has been contacted re: illegal parking on the main road. Councillor McLaughlin agreed to ask the enforcement officers to patrol the Bebington Road area, but added that local residents could also get caught for parking in this area.

12.Hugh Langford – raised concern re: parking on double yellow lines at Church Road and asked if a representative from Merseytravel be invited to attend the next meeting to talk about access at stations.

David Ball agreed to invite a Merseytravel representative to the next forum meeting.

13.Pauline Kirwan – raised concern over proposal to close Rock Ferry / Park High School to become an academy despite opposition from parents, cares and local people who raised concerns over the closure and additional travel. She added that local children deserved the best services and asked if there was any progress to report on this.

Councillor Moira McLaughlin – confirmed that here was concern that the success of the academy being dependent on the new build and informed the forum that Professor Colin Hankinson from the University of Chester was exploring options for this, and that we have to trust that they understand the strength of feeling for this. The fact that a new site would be the best option available has been recognised, but the academy can get up and running before the new build is available, as this has happened at Ellesmere Park.

Councillor Phil Davies added that there has to be some uncertainty re: funding as there have been lots of reports re: capital schemes being put on hold. He agreed to continue to feedback further on this when further information was available.

Minute decision – resolved that:

(i)  David Ball to feedback to the next forum meeting on the review of the community asset transfer project report to be taken to Cabinet at the end of June 2010 and on the progress re: the proposed asset transfer of Byrne Avenue centre.

(ii)  David Ball to invite a representative from Merseytravel to the next meeting to discuss access at stations

(iii)  Councillor Moira McLaughlin to request that the enforcement officers patrol the Bebington Road area.