A blog about Wirral Council's public meetings, Wirral Council's councillors, Bidston & St. James ward and other public bodies on Merseyside
Author: John Brace
New media journalist from Birkenhead, England who writes about Wirral Council.
Published and promoted by John Brace, 134 Boundary Road, Bidston, CH43 7PH. Printed by UK Webhosting Ltd t/a Tsohost, 113-114 Buckingham Avenue, Slough, Berkshire, England, SL1 4PF.
What I scanned in today was part of one of the schedules about land. Included below is the Bebington headlease along with the index page for the schedules.
The Council’s Design and Building Contract Direct Agreement
Part 3
The Council’s Support Services Management Direct Agreement
Part 4
Design and Building Contract Performance Guarantee
Part 5
Support Services Management Agreement Performance Guarantee
Part 6
Initial Senior Funding Agreements
Part 7
Other Initial Funding Agreements
Part 8
Rules for Refinancing
SCHEDULE 3
WORKS
Part 1
Design Development Procedure
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Index of Schedules Schedule 3 (Works) to Schedule 9 (Insurance) page 2 of 4
Part 2
Prohibited Materials
Part 3
Schedule of Key Dates
Part 4
Outline Design Documents
Part 5
The Completion Standards
Part 6
Decant Programme Methodology
Appendix 1
Decant Programme: Park High
Appendix 2
Decant: Further Obligations
Part 7
Handback Requirements
Part 8
Project Programme
Part 9
Construction Site Rules
Part 10
Handback Survey
SCHEDULE 4
PAYMENTS
Part 1
Definitions
Part 2
Services Contract Payment
Part 3
Performance Deduction Look-Up Table
Part 4
Table of Service Units per School
Part 5
Monitoring
Part 6
Utility Services
Part 7
Third Party Use
Part 7A
Catering
Part 8
Value for Money Testing
Appendix 1
Form of Performance and Payment Report
SCHEDULE 5
ACCOMMODATION SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATIONS
SCHEDULE 6
SUPPORT SERVICES OUTPUT SPECIFICATIONS
Part 1
Building and Asset Maintenance Output Specification
Part 2
Support Service Requirements and Performance Tables
Part 3
Service Level Agreements
Part 4
Service Level Agreements Alteration Procedure
SCHEDULE 7
REPORTS AND RECORDS
Part 1
Reports
Part 2
Records
SCHEDULE 8
VARIATIONS
Variation Notice
SCHEDULE 9
INSURANCE
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Index of Schedules Schedule 9 (Insurance) to Schedule 19 (Admission Agreements and Bonds) page 3 of 4
Part 1
The Part 1 Insurance Period
Part 2
The Part 2 Insurance Period
Appendix 1
Endorsements
Appendix 2
Broker’s Letter of Undertaking
Appendix 3
Business Interruption Insurance – the Authority’s Obligations as Insurer
Appendix 4
Schedule of Insured Parties
SCHEDULE 10
LIAISON COMMITTEE
SCHEDULE 11
COMPENSATION ON TERMINATION
Part 1
Definitions
Part 2
Project Co Default
Part 3
Authority Default
Part 4
Notice by the Authority
Part 5
Force Majeure, Uninsurability and Planning Challenge
Part 6
Corrupt Gifts
SCHEDULE 12
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
SCHEDULE 13
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES
SCHEDULE 14
COMPENSATION EVENTS
SCHEDULE 15
METHODOLOGY FOR ASBESTOS
Appendix 1
MB Wirral Policy
Appendix 2
Asbestos Survey Risk Assessment
SCHEDULE 16
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
SCHEDULE 17
QUALITY SYSTEMS
Part 1
Design and Build Period Quality System
Part 2
Operational Period Quality System
Appendix A
Quality Policy
Appendix B
Certificate of Approval
Appendix C
Proposed QA Implementation Plan
Appendix D
Contact Directory
Appendix E
Local Procedures
SCHEDULE 18
EMPLOYEES
Part 1
Employee Information
Part 2
Terms and Conditions of Employment
SCHEDULE 19
ADMISSION AGREEMENTS AND BONDS
Part 1
Jarvis Workspace FM Limited
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Index of Schedules Schedule 19 (Admission Agreements and Bonds) to Schedule 24 (New Moveable Equipment Schedule of Rates) page 4 of 4
Part 2
Compass Group PLC
Part 3
MTL Commercial Limited
SCHEDULE 20
STAFF SECURITY PROTOCOL
SCHEDULE 21
OPERATIONAL SITE RULES
SCHEDULE 22
DRAFT TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 23
CITY LEARNING CENTRE
SCHEDULE 24
NEW MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE OF RATES
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 1 of 13
SCHEDULE 1
LAND
Part 1
Bebington Headlease
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 2 of 13
DATED 2001
(1) WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL
(2) WIRRAL SCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED
HEADLEASE
-of-
Bebington High School, Bebington Road
Bebington, Merseyside
THIS LEASE IS A NEW TENANCY FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT
(COVENANTS) ACT 1995
ROWE & MAW
20 Black Friars Lane
London EC4V 6HD
Tel: 020 7248 4282
Fax: 020 7248 2009
Ref: 709/476/27909.00001
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 3 of 13
CONTENTS
Clause
Subject Matter
Page
1.
Definitions and Interpretation
4
2.
Demise and Rents
6
3.
Tenant’s Covenants
6
4.
Landlord’s Covenants
8
5.
Agreements and Declarations
8
6.
New Tenancy
9
Schedule 1
(The Premises)
Schedule 2
(Easements and Rights granted)
Schedule 3
(Rights excepted and reserved)
Schedule 4
(The documents (if any) containing incumbrances to which the Premises are subject)
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 4 of 13
THIS LEASE made the day of 2001
BETWEEN:
WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL of Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral, Merseyside, CH44 8ED (the “Landlord”); and
WIRRAL SCHOOLS SERVICES LIMITED having its registered office at Frogmore Park, Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire SG14 3RU (registration number 4115637) (the “Tenant”).
WITNESSES as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions
In this lease the following expressions have the respective specified meanings (subject to any particular interpretation required by clause 1.2):
“Adjoining Premises” means any land or buildings neighbouring or adjoining or adjacent to the Premises;
“Buildings” means the buildings now or hereafter during the Term at the Premises and “Building” means any one of them;
“Permitted Use” means use of the Premises to comply with the obligations and exercise the rights of the Tenant under the Project Agreement;
“Perpetuity Period” means the period of eighty years from the date hereof which is the perpetuity period applicable to this lease;
“Plan” means the plan attached hereto;
“Premises” means the Premises described in Schedule 1;
“Project Agreement” means the agreement entitled Project Agreement made between (1) the Landlord and (2) the Tenant dated and as varied from time to time under Clause 32 thereof or supplemented or any other agreement superseding that agreement or substituted for that agreement and in either case expressed to be made subsequent to it;
“Rent” means a peppercorn, if demanded, per annum;
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 5 of 13
“Service Media” means all sewers drains pipes gullies gutters ducts mains channels wires cables conduits flues and any other conducting media;
“Services” means soil water electricity gas compressed air telecommunications signals and other liquids gasses or signals capable of passing along or through Service Media; and
“Term” means a term of 30 years from and including the date hereof subject to the provisions for the prior determination of the Term hereinafter contained;
1.2 Interpretation
(1) Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa and words importing one gender shall include both genders.
(2) Where a party comprises more than one person covenants and obligations of that party take effect as joint and several covenants and obligations.
(3) A covenant by the Tenant not to do (or omit) any act or thing also operates as a covenant not knowingly to permit or suffer it to be done (or omitted) and to prevent (or as the case may be to require) it being done.
(4) References in this lease to:
(a) any clause sub-clause schedule or paragraph is a reference to the relevant clause sub-clause schedule or paragraph of this lease and clause and schedule headings shall not affect the construction of this lease;
(b) the Premises shall be construed as extending to any part of the Premises and shall include all and each and every part of any:
(i) Buildings from time to time thereon;
(ii) Service Media within the Premises and exclusively serving the Premises;
(iii) additions alterations and improvements thereto; and
(iv) Landlord’s fixtures and fittings therein;
(c) any statute (whether generally or specifically) shall include all derivative instruments orders regulations and in each case any re-enactment or modification thereof from time to time.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 6 of 13
2. DEMISE AND RENTS
Subject to compliance by the Tenant with its obligations under the Project Agreement the Landlord DEMISES unto the Tenant ALL THAT the Premises TOGETHER WITH the easements and rights (in common with the Landlord and all others with its authority or otherwise from time to time entitled thereto) specified in Schedule 2 which shall enure for the benefit of the Tenant and all those expressly authorised by the Tenant EXCEPT AND RESERVING to the Landlord and all other persons from time to time entitled to the rights mentioned in Schedule 3 TO HOLD the Premises unto the Tenant for the Term SUBJECT to:
(a) the provisions contained or referred to and rights granted to any party in the documents specified in schedule 4 insofar as they relate to the Premises;
YIELDING AND PAYING therefor during the Term to the Landlord the Rent payable annually in advance the first payments being made on the date hereof.
3. TENANT’S COVENANTS
The Tenant COVENANTS with the Landlord:
3.1 Pay rent
To pay the Rent without deduction set-off or counterclaim at the times and in the manner aforesaid.
3.2 Use
Not to use the Premises for anything other than the Permitted Use.
3.3 Easements
(1) Not to obstruct any window or light or abandon any easements from time to time enjoyed by the Premises.
(2) To give immediate written notice to the Landlord of any encroachment on or circumstances which might result in the acquisition of any easement or other right over the Premises and at the Tenant’s expense to take or join in such proceedings or take such other steps as the Landlord may require to prevent any such acquisition.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 7 of 13
3.4 Incumbrances
To comply with all covenants and other matters relating to the Premises (and in particular those contained or referred to in the documents specified in schedule 4) so far as they are enforceable and still subsisting.
3.5 Alienation
(a) The Tenant shall not assign, underlet, charge, hold on trust for another, part with or share possession or occupation of the whole or any part or parts of the Premises except as may be permitted or required by this lease. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Clause 3.5(a) shall prevent the Tenant from charging the whole of the Premises in favour of any person providing funding under the Funding Agreement (as defined in the Project Agreement) from time to time.
(b) Notwithstanding the terms of Clause 3.5(a) the Tenant must assign the whole of the lease to a permitted assignee of the Tenant’s interest under the Project Agreement, such assignment of this lease to take place simultaneously with the assignment of the Project Agreement.
(c) The Tenant shall not underlet any part or the whole of the Premises without the consent of the Landlord save that the Tenant shall be permitted to grant an underlease of the whole of the Premises to the Landlord on the date hereof in the form of the underlease annexed to the Project Agreement.
3.6 Overriding lease
If at any time during the Term the Landlord shall grant a tenancy of the reversion immediately expectant on the determination of this lease whether persuant to section 19 Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 or otherwise any covenant on the part of the Tenant to obtain the consent of the Landlord under this lease to any dealing shall be deemed to include a further covenant also to obtain the consent of the lessor under such tenancy to such dealing.
3.7 Permit Entry
To permit the Landlord and any others authorised by the Landlord to enter the Premises on reasonable notice at reasonable times (except in emergency) to ascertain that the covenants on the part of the Tenant in this lease are being observed and performed and to enable the Landlord to exercise his rights or fulfil its obligations
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 8 of 13
under the Project Agreement subject to complying with the obligations of the Landlord under the Project Agreement.
3.8 Project Agreement
The parties to this lease agree that where the provisions of this lease and the Project Agreement conflict, the terms of the Project Agreement shall prevail.
4. LANDLORD’s COVENANT
The Landlord covenants with the Tenant that the Tenant paying the rents and complying with its obligations under this lease and the Project Agreement may peaceably hold and enjoy the Premises during the Term without any interruption by the Landlord or any person lawfully claiming through under or in trust for it.
AGREEMENTS AND DECLARATIONS
PROVIDED ALWAYS AND IT IS AGREED AND DECLARED
5.1 Exclusions
(1) The Tenant shall not have the benefit of any easement right or privilege other than those expressly hereby granted.
(2) Any rights granted or reserved by this lease in respect of anything which does exist at the date hereof shall be effective only if it comes into existence before the expiry of the Perpetuity Period.
(3) The Landlord gives no express or implied warranty that the Permitted Use will be or remain a lawful or authorised use under the Planning Acts or otherwise.
(4) So far as the law shall allow the right of the Tenant (or any undertenant) to compensation on quitting the Premises is excluded.
5.2 Notices
Clause 54.10 of the Project Agreement shall apply in respect of any notices or other communications served or required to be served hereunder.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 9 of 13
5.3 Termination
If the Project Agreement is terminated for any reason or expires the Term shall automatically determine without notice but without prejudice to any claim by one party in respect of any antecedent breach of any obligation of the other under this lease.
5.4 Exclusion of Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
Having been authorised to do so by an order of the Court made on under section 38(4) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (as amended) the parties agree that the provisions of sections 24 to 28 inclusive of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (as amended) shall be excluded in relation to the tenancy hereby created.
NEW TENANCY
This lease is a new tenancy for the purposes of the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995.
IN WITNESS whereof this lease has been duly executed as a deed (but not delivered until) the day and year first above written.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 10 of 13
SCHEDULE 1
(The Premises)
The land and buildings and structures known as Bebington High School Higher Bebington Road Bebington Merseyside shown for the purpose of identification only edged in red on the Plan.
SCHEDULE 2
(Easements and Rights granted)
1. Subject to the Tenant not interfering with any rights granted to any tenant under any lease existing at the Execution Date full right and liberty at any time at the cost of the Tenant to divert (both to the whole and any part of it) the route of any Service Media which the Landlord has the right to use pursuant to Schedule 3 of this Lease whether temporarily or permanently provided that:-
1.1 the Tenant shall give reasonable prior written notice of any such diversion to the Landlord and any other person so entitled;
1.2 all works of diversion shall be carried out in a proper and workmanlike manner in accordance with good practice current at the time and with good quality suitable and sufficient materials as to provide the Landlord and any other person so entitled with Service Media of at least equivalent size quality and capacity to those with are being diverted;
1.3 so far as possible the passage or running of the Services through such Service Media shall not be disrupted and the Tenant will provide temporary arrangements during any period of diversion of permanent Service Media.
2. A right to build upon and to demolish maintain repair replace and renew any buildings upon the Premises to enable the Tenant to comply with or perform its obligations and exercise its rights under the Project Agreement.
3. A right of support and shelter for the Premises from any Adjoining Premises owned by the Landlord.
4. A right (subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Schedule) to the free and uninterrupted passage and running of all services from and to the Premises through and
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 11 of 13
along all Service Media from time to time within but not exclusively serving any Adjoining Premises.
SCHEDULE 3
(Rights excepted and reserved)
1. A right for the Landlord and all those authorised by the Landlord to enter upon the Premises for the purpose of fulfilling any obligations on the part of the Landlord pursuant to the Project Agreement and for all purposes mentioned in this lease but subject to complying with the obligations of the Landlord in the Project Agreement.
2. A right (subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 of this Lease) to the free and uninterrupted passage and running of all services from and to any Adjoining Premises through and along all Service Media from time to time within but not exclusively serving the Premises.
3. A right for the Landlord and all those authorised by the Landlord to enter those parts of the Premises which are not built upon at all reasonable times (having regard to the Tenant’s obligations under the Project Agreement) on giving reasonable notice (except in emergency) and the right to inspect construct lay maintain repair replace alter or renew any Service Media and to make connections to any Service Media within the Premises the person exercising this right doing as little damage and causing as little inconvenience as possible and making good any damage to the Premises thereby occasioned and carrying out all works in a proper and workmanlike manner in accordance with good practice current at the time and with good quality suitable and sufficient materials and at no time shall the exercise of the Landlord’s rights under this paragraph 3 interfere with the Tenant’s obligations under the Project Agreement.
4. All rights of light or air now subsisting or which might (but for this exception) be acquired over any other land.
5. A right to build upon and demolish maintain repair replace and renew any buildings upon any part of any Adjoining Premises owned by the Landlord and any other land owned by the Landlord in such manner as the Landlord may think fit.
6. A right of support and shelter from the Premises for any Adjoining Premises owned by the Landlord.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 12 of 13
Schedule 4
(The documents containing incumbrances to which the Premises are subject)
The rights, reservations, covenants and other matters referred to in the Registers of Title Number MS435412.
Wirral Borough Council Wirral Schools Services Limited PFI contract Schedule 1 Land Part 1 Bebington Headlease page 13 of 13
THE COMMON SEAL of WIRRAL ) BOROUGH COUNCIL )
was affixed to this Deed in the )
presence of: )
…………………………………….
As authorised officer
THE COMMON SEAL of WIRRAL ) SCHOOL SERVICES LIMITED )
was hereunto affixed in the presence of:)
Director
Director/Secretary
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Incredible: Why did ICO find Wirral Council twice broke the law by taking too long to reply to 2 requests?
Incredible: Why did ICO find Wirral Council twice broke the law by taking too long to reply to 2 requests?
ICO Information Commissioner’s Office logo
A bit like the experience I had recently of waiting ages for a bus in Liverpool recently, only for four buses back to back to turn up, the Information Commissioner’s Office have in the last fortnight issued two decision notices involving FOI requests to Wirral Council.
The decision notice states “As the information was disclosed outside the 20 working day timescale the Commissioner has concluded that the Council breached the requirements of regulation 5(2). ”
I made the request on the 26th January 2015. Wirral Council ignored my request, so on the 24th February 2015 I requested an internal review. Wirral Council responded to the internal review on the 23rd March 2015 stating it had the information but was withholding it based on a regulation 12(5)(e) exemption.
“(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), a public authority may refuse to disclose information to the extent that its disclosure would adversely affect
(e) the confidentiality of commercial or industrial information where such confidentiality is provided by law to protect a legitimate economic interest;”
“Following your complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the Council has decided to reverse its position, having previously relied on the exception contained in Regulation 12 (5) (e) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. I do not consider that releasing the information would now adversely affect the legitimate economic interest of a third party. The address of the property, which you have requested is 13 Thorneycroft Street, Birkenhead. I have copied this response to the Information Commissioner’s Office.”
As mentioned in my opening sentence, I’m also aware of a decision notice involving a Freedom of Information request that’s been issued recently that hasn’t yet been published on ICO’s website.
“2. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council has breached section 10(1) of FOIA by failing to respond to the request.
3. The Commissioner requires the public authority to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.
The Council should inform the complainant whether the requested information is held. If the information is held it should provide it to the complainant or else issue a refusal notice in accordance with section 17 of FOIA.
4. The public authority must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this Decision Notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court (or the Court of Session in Scotland) pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.”
and
“9. On receipt of the complaint the Commissioner contacted the Council to remind it of its duty to respond to requests for information within 20 working days and to ask that it respond to the complainant. Neither the complainant nor the Commissioner received a response.”
as well as
“11. The complainant made his request for information to the Council on 6 May 2014 but has failed to receive a response. The Council has clearly exceeded the 20 working day limit very significantly and therefore the Commissioner has found that the Council breached section 10(1) in its handling of the request.”
Certainly the common theme running through the two decision notices is Wirral Council exceeding the time limits in the legislation on responding to requests.
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Wirral Council planning on green belt fire station “inappropriate development” & “potential for significant harm”
Wirral Council planning on green belt fire station “inappropriate development” & “potential for significant harm”
Dan Stephens (Chief Fire Officer) answers questions at a public consultation meeting in Saughall Massie to discuss proposals for a new fire station (20th April 2015)
One of the long running sagas that this blog has reported on has been the future of Upton and West Kirby fire stations. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have had two twelve week consultations on this in the last year. The first consultation was on the controversial Greasby library/community centre site in the heart of Greasby village. However in a dramatic U-turn following opposition Wirral Council who owned the site in question withdrew it from consideration part way through the consultation.
The second consultation, which finished on the 18th May and provoked similar levels of opposition to that shown in Greasby but for different reasons also involved a piece of land in Wirral Council’s ownership in Saughall Massie. A decision by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority following the second consultation is expected towards the end of June.
The emails make for interesting reading. As there are so many emails in three bundles of correspondence I may split this into different blog posts with half of the first bundle of emails below.
I haven’t included copies of the maps that were provided, however if you wish to view them, they’re on the Whatdotheyknow website. I haven’t corrected any typographical errors in the emails below.
Timmins, Kieran
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent:25 September 2013 18:31 To: NyreeCollinson@Merseyfire.gov.uk CC: Henshaw, Janet (Legal); Woods, Stewart; ColinSchofield@merseyfire.gov.uk Subject: Request for sites
Nyree, Please can you forward this to David Ball/David Armstrong at the Wirral. Thanks.
Thank you for a very useful meeting. As we discussed the authority has approved the attached report:-
A Strategic Overview of Estates – Identification of Key Priorities PDF 38Kb
To consider Report CFO/12/13 of the Deputy Chief Executive, concerning a review of the property portfolio of the Authority and recommendations for savings in light of the forecast significant reductions in funding. Additional documents
As I highlighted, we are currently at the exploratory stage of considerations and any firm decision about the future distribution of fire stations would require full authority approval. In order to assist me in taking back options for the Fire authority to consider Please can you:-
a) a suggest potential sites for a fire station in the Greasby area of the Wirral
b) Please can you suggest potential sites in the clatterbridge/bebington area
The approx. area for a stand alone fire station with community facilities is about 1 acre. At Prescot (which is likely to be a join police/fire ambulance station) we had identified a 2.4 acre site. Sites require good arterial road access for emergency response.
Many thanks
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 04 November 2013 13:39 To:‘davidball@wirral.gov.uk’;’davidarmstrong@wirral.gov.uk’ CC: Schofield, Colin Subject: FW: Request for sites
Hi Gents
Have you had a chance to consider what options might be available.
Regards
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
From: Collinson, Nyree Sent: 04 November 2013 12:52 To: Timmins, Kieran Subject: FW: Request for sites
Kieran, is this the email you’re looking for?
Nyree Collinson
PA to Deputy Chief Exec
Tel. 0151 296 4108
From: Collinson, Nyree Sent: 26 September 2013 09:36 To: David Ball – Regeneration Dept., Wirral Borough Council (davidball@wirral.gov.uk);’davidarmstrong@wirral.gov.uk’ Subject: FW: Request for sites
Please see below from Kieran Timmins
Nyree Collinson
PA to Deputy Chief Exec
Tel. 0151 296 4108
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 25 September 2013 18:31 To: Collinson, Nyree CC: Henshaw, Janet (Legal); Woods, Stewart; Schofield, Colin Subject: Request for sites
Dear David/David
Thank you for a very useful meeting. As we discussed the authority has approved the attached report:-
A Strategic Overview of Estates – Identification of Key Priorities PDF 38Kb
To consider Report CFO/12/13 of the Deputy Chief Executive, concerning a review of the property portfolio of the Authority and recommendations for savings in light of the forecast significant reductions in funding. Additional documents
As I highlighted, we are currently at the exploratory stage of considerations and any firm decision about the future distribution of fire stations would require full authority approval. In order to assist me in taking back options for the Fire authority to consider Please can you:-
a) a suggest potential sites for a fire station in the Greasby area of the Wirral
b) Please can you suggest potential sites in the clatterbridge/bebington area
The approx. area for a stand alone fire station with community facilities is about 1 acre. At Prescot (which is likely to be a join police/fire ambulance station) we had identified a 2.4 acre site. Sites require good arterial road access for emergency response.
Many thanks
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 15 November 2013 13:48 To:‘davidball@wirral.gov.uk’;’davidarmstrong@wirral.gov.uk’ CC: Schofield, Colin Subject: RE: Request for sites
Hi Gents
Have you had a chance to consider this yet?
Many thanks
Kieran
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 04 November 2013 13:39 To:‘davidball@wirral.gov.uk’;’davidarmstrong@wirral.gov.uk’ CC: Schofield, Colin Subject: FW: Request for sites
Hi Gents
Have you had a chance to consider what options might be available.
Regards
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
From: Collinson, Nyree Sent: 04 November 2013 12:52 To: Timmins, Kieran Subject: FW: Request for sites
Kieran, is this the email you’re looking for?
Nyree Collinson
PA to Deputy Chief Exec
Tel. 0151 296 4108
From: Collinson, Nyree Sent: 26 September 2013 09:36 To: David Ball – Regeneration Dept., Wirral Borough Council (davidball@wirral.gov.uk);’davidarmstrong@wirral.gov.uk’ Subject: FW: Request for sites
Please see below from Kieran Timmins
Nyree Collinson
PA to Deputy Chief Exec
Tel. 0151 296 4108
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 25 September 2013 18:31 To: Collinson, Nyree CC: Henshaw, Janet (Legal); Woods, Stewart; Schofield, Colin Subject: Request for sites
Dear David/David
Thank you for a very useful meeting. As we discussed the authority has approved the attached report:-
A Strategic Overview of Estates – Identification of Key Priorities PDF 38Kb
To consider Report CFO/12/13 of the Deputy Chief Executive, concerning a review of the property portfolio of the Authority and recommendations for savings in light of the forecast significant reductions in funding. Additional documents
As I highlighted, we are currently at the exploratory stage of considerations and any firm decision about the future distribution of fire stations would require full authority approval. In order to assist me in taking back options for the Fire authority to consider Please can you:-
a) a suggest potential sites for a fire station in the Greasby area of the Wirral
b) Please can you suggest potential sites in the clatterbridge/bebington area
The approx. area for a stand alone fire station with community facilities is about 1 acre. At Prescot (which is likely to be a join police/fire ambulance station) we had identified a 2.4 acre site. Sites require good arterial road access for emergency response.
Many thanks
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
Timmins, Kieran
From: Ball, David S. Sent: 15 November 2013 13:50 To: Timmins, Kieran Subject: Out of Office Autoreply: Request for sites
Thank you for your e-mail.
I am out of the office on Friday afternoon in a series of meetings. I will be accessing e-mails from time to time but if you need anything urgently then please contact Annie Hasprey or Melanie Sloan on 0151 691 8395 and they will be able to help you.
Regards,
David
David Ball
Head of Regeneration and Planning,
Wirral Council
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Timmins, Kieran From: Halpin, Colleen S. on behalf of Armstrong, David Sent: 11 December 2013 14:55 To: Murphy(M), Paul; Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin CC: Royle, Jeanette E. Subject: Request for Sites
Dear Colin, Paul and Kieran
Thank you for your emails and messages regarding a potential site in Greasby for a new fire station. I apologise for not replying sooner. I am afraid a new phone and a series of hospital appointments are slowing me down!
In order to discuss the Greasby site further, can you please contact Tony Simpson on tonysimpson@wirral.gov.uk, tell 666 3892, who will share with you the relevant plans and land ownership issues.
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk
www.wirral.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
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Timmins, Kieran
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 12 December 2013 09:58 To: ‘Armstrong, David’ Cc: Royle, Jeanette E.; Schofield, Colin Subject: RE: Request for Sites
Thanks David, much appreciated. Hope you are ok?
Not sure if Tony can pick this up but it strikes me as making sense if (presuming a Wirral owned site is identified in Greasby) that a land swap for the youth zone in Birkenhead might be a sensible approach for tidying up ownership etc…….. what do you think?
Take care
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
From: Halpin, Colleen S. on behalf of Armstrong, David Sent: 11 December 2013 14:55 To: Murphy(M), Paul; Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin CC: Royle, Jeanette E. Subject: Request for Sites
Dear Colin, Paul and Kieran
Thank you for your emails and messages regarding a potential site in Greasby for a new fire station. I apologise for not replying sooner. I am afraid a new phone and a series of hospital appointments are slowing me down!
In order to discuss the Greasby site further, can you please contact Tony Simpson on tonysimpson@wirral.gov.uk, tell 666 3892, who will share with you the relevant plans and land ownership issues.
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk
www.wirral.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
www.clearswift.com
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 21 January 2014 11:06 To: ‘Armstrong, David’;Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi David
Thanks for the note….. to be very clear on the first point we expressly asked you to identify potential options. You certainly did not propose a site!
In relation to the other points I hope the comments below might help…..
The footprint we discussed was based upon the PFI stations we have built recently….. in general these are two bay with extensive community facilities. However in general most of the fire stations only house one appliance despite having two bays although we have been quite successful with the ambulance service in sharing sites.I can’t envisage us building an old style fire station without community facilities and would expect to have two bays as well to allow operational flexibility.
All three blue lights services have come under significant pressure to work more closely from government and I think there is a clear public expectation that in these challenging times for public services we would consider the possibility on any new build. In Merseyside we work very successfully with both NWAS and the Police and have several successful operations. In broad terms I would expect the presence of colleague services to be relatively small and not to add significantly to the building footprint (if it does suit their business plans). The PFI stations were designed prior to ambulance requests to move in but we have accommodated them without extension. There are lots of benefits for the local community around joint working by having the services co-located
Hope that is of use .Give me a buzz if you need to talk through anything
All the best
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
Incoming and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation.
Steps have been taken to ensure this email and attachments are free from virus. In keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
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From: Halpin, Colleen S. [mailto:ColleenHalpin@wirral.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Armstrong, David Sent: 21 January 2014 09:34 To: Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for this.
A couple of initial responses.
– I think it is important to be clear that I responded to a request from MFRS for possible sites for a fire station on council owned land. We came up with two, of which this was one, the other was felt by MFRS to be too close to the current Upton fire station. This is very different to how the email could be read that “David Armstrong proposed” this site. Clearly MFRS has the option to look also at other suitable sites owned by others.
– Our discussions were around a single bay fire station and in that regard the site appeared to have potential, particularly having the front and rear access required by MFRS. The discussion extended to possible inclusion of the community facilities, in line with the very positive developments undertaken by MFRS in Wallasey and Birkenhead.
– I’d envisage that a marked up drawing would come back showing if and how a one bay fire station would fit on the site and possibly a second option of a one bay plus a community facility.
– To the best of my memory, I don’t recall any mention of possible use by police and ambulance “hence the reason for two acres”. I fully support the principle, both for operational and financial reasons but would ask the question – is that going to result in us trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot here.
– It would be useful to see the footprints of i) single bay fire station, ii) single bay fire station and community, iii) larger joint facility on the land in question.
Sorry if the above sounds negative – I just feel the need to be cautious!
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk www.wirral.gov.uk
From: Subramanayam, Anatha [mailto:] Sent: 20 January 2014 13:16 To: Simpson, Tony Cc: Schofield, Colin; Timmins, Kieran Subject: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC Importance: High
Hello Tony,
As per our meeting on 8th January 2014 – I am emailing you MFRS understanding in confidence about the land in Greasby (attached )
Summarising the way forward as we discussed:
WBC & MFRS discussed the criteria for development of the Fire station in the land proposed by David Armstrong of WBC as potential option.
You have confirmed that WBC have granted a long-term (99 year lease ) to the local community trust occupying the community centre adjacent to the site. Can you please confirm the area of the site we discussed :
1. With community centre
2. With community centre & Library
3. Without community centre and Library
You stated the approval was granted for the development of supermarket in the red cat premises Can please confirm whether the proposed scheme for Tesco/Sainsbury has been approved adjacent to the site Library which can expand the options available for WBC & MFRS to consider development on proposed sensitive site. (see attached drawing for reference)
As we have discussed with you MFRS anticipate greater interest from associated partners – NWAS & Mersey Police for their respective occupational requirements which is the reason we need minimum of 2 acres of Land to avoid any design issues for a feasible development.
As we discussed – ideally MFRS & WBC can look forward on few options :
1. MFRS can ideally build a Fire station in the proposed land subject to area confirmation.
2. MFRS can develop a Fire station in the proposed land along with community facility while transferring the lease agreements from WBC to MFRS for the existing community centre subject to consultation with community centre and area confirmation.
3. MFRS can develop a Fire station along with a community facility & Library facility within the associated occupant Lands subject to an agreement with WBC for Land and lease arrangements.
4. MFRS & WBC can work together to formulate development template in line with any Tesco/Sainsbury proposals in the adjacent Red Cat premises along with Option 3 mentioned above which can be beneficial to all involved stakeholders and community in general.
I look forward to your thoughts on above and please do not hesitate to contact us for any information needed.
Regards
Anu
Anatha Subramanayam | Development Manager – Estates | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service | Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4YD | Office: 0151 296 4314 Mob: 07801156545 Email: anathasubramanayam@merseyfire.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
Incoming and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation.
Kieran, Timmins
From: Halpin, Colleen S. [mailto:ColleenHalpin@wirral.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Armstrong, David Sent: 21 January 2014 09:34 To: Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for this.
A couple of initial responses.
– I think it is important to be clear that I responded to a request from MFRS for possible sites for a fire station on council owned land. We came up with two, of which this was one, the other was felt by MFRS to be too close to the current Upton fire station. This is very different to how the email could be read that “David Armstrong proposed” this site. Clearly MFRS has the option to look also at other suitable sites owned by others.
– Our discussions were around a single bay fire station and in that regard the site appeared to have potential, particularly having the front and rear access required by MFRS. The discussion extended to possible inclusion of the community facilities, in line with the very positive developments undertaken by MFRS in Wallasey and Birkenhead.
– I’d envisage that a marked up drawing would come back showing if and how a one bay fire station would fit on the site and possibly a second option of a one bay plus a community facility.
– To the best of my memory, I don’t recall any mention of possible use by police and ambulance “hence the reason for two acres”. I fully support the principle, both for operational and financial reasons but would ask the question – is that going to result in us trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot here.
– It would be useful to see the footprints of i) single bay fire station, ii) single bay fire station and community, iii) larger joint facility on the land in question.
Sorry if the above sounds negative – I just feel the need to be cautious!
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk www.wirral.gov.uk
From: Subramanayam, Anatha [mailto:] Sent: 20 January 2014 13:16 To: Simpson, Tony Cc: Schofield, Colin; Timmins, Kieran Subject: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC Importance: High
Hello Tony,
As per our meeting on 8th January 2014 – I am emailing you MFRS understanding in confidence about the land in Greasby (attached )
Summarising the way forward as we discussed:
WBC & MFRS discussed the criteria for development of the Fire station in the land proposed by David Armstrong of WBC as potential option.
You have confirmed that WBC have granted a long-term (99 year lease ) to the local community trust occupying the community centre adjacent to the site. Can you please confirm the area of the site we discussed :
1. With community centre
2. With community centre & Library
3. Without community centre and Library
You stated the approval was granted for the development of supermarket in the red cat premises Can please confirm whether the proposed scheme for Tesco/Sainsbury has been approved adjacent to the site Library which can expand the options available for WBC & MFRS to consider development on proposed sensitive site. (see attached drawing for reference)
As we have discussed with you MFRS anticipate greater interest from associated partners – NWAS & Mersey Police for their respective occupational requirements which is the reason we need minimum of 2 acres of Land to avoid any design issues for a feasible development.
As we discussed – ideally MFRS & WBC can look forward on few options :
1. MFRS can ideally build a Fire station in the proposed land subject to area confirmation.
2. MFRS can develop a Fire station in the proposed land along with community facility while transferring the lease agreements from WBC to MFRS for the existing community centre subject to consultation with community centre and area confirmation.
3. MFRS can develop a Fire station along with a community facility & Library facility within the associated occupant Lands subject to an agreement with WBC for Land and lease arrangements.
4. MFRS & WBC can work together to formulate development template in line with any Tesco/Sainsbury proposals in the adjacent Red Cat premises along with Option 3 mentioned above which can be beneficial to all involved stakeholders and community in general.
I look forward to your thoughts on above and please do not hesitate to contact us for any information needed.
Regards
Anu
Anatha Subramanayam | Development Manager – Estates | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service | Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4YD | Office: 0151 296 4314 Mob: 07801156545 Email: anathasubramanayam@merseyfire.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
Steps have been taken to ensure that this email and attachments are free from any virus. In keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.clearswift.com
Timmins, Kieran
From: Simpson, Tony Sent: 25 March 2014 17:08 To:Timmins, Kieran Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi Kieran
Proprietor of Upton Cricket Club, Old Greasby Road, Wirral, CH49 6LT :-
Rose Chaplet Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. No.05678129), and Reveille Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. 05678115), c/o Leverhulme Estates, Estate Office, Thornton Hough, Wirral CH63 1JD and c/o Brabners LLP (Ref. JPW/AFR/LEO), Horton House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL
Regards
Tony
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 21 January 2014 11:06 To: ‘Armstrong, David’;Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi David
Thanks for the note….. to be very clear on the first point we expressly asked you to identify potential options. You certainly did not propose a site!
In relation to the other points I hope the comments below might help…..
The footprint we discussed was based upon the PFI stations we have built recently….. in general these are two bay with extensive community facilities. However in general most of the fire stations only house one appliance despite having two bays although we have been quite successful with the ambulance service in sharing sites.I can’t envisage us building an old style fire station without community facilities and would expect to have two bays as well to allow operational flexibility.
All three blue lights services have come under significant pressure to work more closely from government and I think there is a clear public expectation that in these challenging times for public services we would consider the possibility on any new build. In Merseyside we work very successfully with both NWAS and the Police and have several successful operations. In broad terms I would expect the presence of colleague services to be relatively small and not to add significantly to the building footprint (if it does suit their business plans). The PFI stations were designed prior to ambulance requests to move in but we have accommodated them without extension. There are lots of benefits for the local community around joint working by having the services co-located
Hope that is of use .Give me a buzz if you need to talk through anything
All the best
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
From: Halpin, Colleen S. [mailto:ColleenHalpin@wirral.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Armstrong, David Sent: 21 January 2014 09:34 To: Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for this.
A couple of initial responses.
– I think it is important to be clear that I responded to a request from MFRS for possible sites for a fire station on council owned land. We came up with two, of which this was one, the other was felt by MFRS to be too close to the current Upton fire station. This is very different to how the email could be read that “David Armstrong proposed” this site. Clearly MFRS has the option to look also at other suitable sites owned by others.
– Our discussions were around a single bay fire station and in that regard the site appeared to have potential, particularly having the front and rear access required by MFRS. The discussion extended to possible inclusion of the community facilities, in line with the very positive developments undertaken by MFRS in Wallasey and Birkenhead.
– I’d envisage that a marked up drawing would come back showing if and how a one bay fire station would fit on the site and possibly a second option of a one bay plus a community facility.
– To the best of my memory, I don’t recall any mention of possible use by police and ambulance “hence the reason for two acres”. I fully support the principle, both for operational and financial reasons but would ask the question – is that going to result in us trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot here.
– It would be useful to see the footprints of i) single bay fire station, ii) single bay fire station and community, iii) larger joint facility on the land in question.
Sorry if the above sounds negative – I just feel the need to be cautious!
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk www.wirral.gov.uk
From: Subramanayam, Anatha [mailto:] Sent: 20 January 2014 13:16 To: Simpson, Tony Cc: Schofield, Colin; Timmins, Kieran Subject: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC Importance: High
Hello Tony,
As per our meeting on 8th January 2014 – I am emailing you MFRS understanding in confidence about the land in Greasby (attached )
Summarising the way forward as we discussed:
WBC & MFRS discussed the criteria for development of the Fire station in the land proposed by David Armstrong of WBC as potential option.
You have confirmed that WBC have granted a long-term (99 year lease ) to the local community trust occupying the community centre adjacent to the site. Can you please confirm the area of the site we discussed :
1. With community centre
2. With community centre & Library
3. Without community centre and Library
You stated the approval was granted for the development of supermarket in the red cat premises Can please confirm whether the proposed scheme for Tesco/Sainsbury has been approved adjacent to the site Library which can expand the options available for WBC & MFRS to consider development on proposed sensitive site. (see attached drawing for reference)
As we have discussed with you MFRS anticipate greater interest from associated partners – NWAS & Mersey Police for their respective occupational requirements which is the reason we need minimum of 2 acres of Land to avoid any design issues for a feasible development.
As we discussed – ideally MFRS & WBC can look forward on few options :
1. MFRS can ideally build a Fire station in the proposed land subject to area confirmation.
2. MFRS can develop a Fire station in the proposed land along with community facility while transferring the lease agreements from WBC to MFRS for the existing community centre subject to consultation with community centre and area confirmation.
3. MFRS can develop a Fire station along with a community facility & Library facility within the associated occupant Lands subject to an agreement with WBC for Land and lease arrangements.
4. MFRS & WBC can work together to formulate development template in line with any Tesco/Sainsbury proposals in the adjacent Red Cat premises along with Option 3 mentioned above which can be beneficial to all involved stakeholders and community in general.
I look forward to your thoughts on above and please do not hesitate to contact us for any information needed.
Regards
Anu
Anatha Subramanayam | Development Manager – Estates | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service | Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4YD | Office: 0151 296 4314 Mob: 07801156545 Email: anathasubramanayam@merseyfire.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
Incoming and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation.
Steps have been taken to ensure that this email and attachments are free from any virus. In keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.clearswift.com
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
Incoming and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation.
Steps have been taken to ensure that this email and attachments are free from any virus. In keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
Timmins, Kieran
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 25 March 2014 17:10 To: ‘Simpson, Tony’ Cc: Subramanayam, Anatha; Schofield, Colin; Woods, Stewart Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for prompt research Tony….. although just looking at the listing makes me think this could be complicated!!
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
From: Simpson, Tony Sent: 25 March 2014 17:08 To:Timmins, Kieran Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi Kieran
Proprietor of Upton Cricket Club, Old Greasby Road, Wirral, CH49 6LT :-
Rose Chaplet Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. No.05678129), and Reveille Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. 05678115), c/o Leverhulme Estates, Estate Office, Thornton Hough, Wirral CH63 1JD and c/o Brabners LLP (Ref. JPW/AFR/LEO), Horton House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL
Regards
Tony
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 21 January 2014 11:06 To: ‘Armstrong, David’;Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi David
Thanks for the note….. to be very clear on the first point we expressly asked you to identify potential options. You certainly did not propose a site!
In relation to the other points I hope the comments below might help…..
The footprint we discussed was based upon the PFI stations we have built recently….. in general these are two bay with extensive community facilities. However in general most of the fire stations only house one appliance despite having two bays although we have been quite successful with the ambulance service in sharing sites.I can’t envisage us building an old style fire station without community facilities and would expect to have two bays as well to allow operational flexibility.
All three blue lights services have come under significant pressure to work more closely from government and I think there is a clear public expectation that in these challenging times for public services we would consider the possibility on any new build. In Merseyside we work very successfully with both NWAS and the Police and have several successful operations. In broad terms I would expect the presence of colleague services to be relatively small and not to add significantly to the building footprint (if it does suit their business plans). The PFI stations were designed prior to ambulance requests to move in but we have accommodated them without extension. There are lots of benefits for the local community around joint working by having the services co-located
Hope that is of use .Give me a buzz if you need to talk through anything
All the best
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
From: Halpin, Colleen S. [mailto:ColleenHalpin@wirral.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Armstrong, David Sent: 21 January 2014 09:34 To: Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for this.
A couple of initial responses.
– I think it is important to be clear that I responded to a request from MFRS for possible sites for a fire station on council owned land. We came up with two, of which this was one, the other was felt by MFRS to be too close to the current Upton fire station. This is very different to how the email could be read that “David Armstrong proposed” this site. Clearly MFRS has the option to look also at other suitable sites owned by others.
– Our discussions were around a single bay fire station and in that regard the site appeared to have potential, particularly having the front and rear access required by MFRS. The discussion extended to possible inclusion of the community facilities, in line with the very positive developments undertaken by MFRS in Wallasey and Birkenhead.
– I’d envisage that a marked up drawing would come back showing if and how a one bay fire station would fit on the site and possibly a second option of a one bay plus a community facility.
– To the best of my memory, I don’t recall any mention of possible use by police and ambulance “hence the reason for two acres”. I fully support the principle, both for operational and financial reasons but would ask the question – is that going to result in us trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot here.
– It would be useful to see the footprints of i) single bay fire station, ii) single bay fire station and community, iii) larger joint facility on the land in question.
Sorry if the above sounds negative – I just feel the need to be cautious!
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk www.wirral.gov.uk
From: Subramanayam, Anatha [mailto:] Sent: 20 January 2014 13:16 To: Simpson, Tony Cc: Schofield, Colin; Timmins, Kieran Subject: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC Importance: High
Hello Tony,
As per our meeting on 8th January 2014 – I am emailing you MFRS understanding in confidence about the land in Greasby (attached )
Summarising the way forward as we discussed:
WBC & MFRS discussed the criteria for development of the Fire station in the land proposed by David Armstrong of WBC as potential option.
You have confirmed that WBC have granted a long-term (99 year lease ) to the local community trust occupying the community centre adjacent to the site. Can you please confirm the area of the site we discussed :
1. With community centre
2. With community centre & Library
3. Without community centre and Library
You stated the approval was granted for the development of supermarket in the red cat premises Can please confirm whether the proposed scheme for Tesco/Sainsbury has been approved adjacent to the site Library which can expand the options available for WBC & MFRS to consider development on proposed sensitive site. (see attached drawing for reference)
As we have discussed with you MFRS anticipate greater interest from associated partners – NWAS & Mersey Police for their respective occupational requirements which is the reason we need minimum of 2 acres of Land to avoid any design issues for a feasible development.
As we discussed – ideally MFRS & WBC can look forward on few options :
1. MFRS can ideally build a Fire station in the proposed land subject to area confirmation.
2. MFRS can develop a Fire station in the proposed land along with community facility while transferring the lease agreements from WBC to MFRS for the existing community centre subject to consultation with community centre and area confirmation.
3. MFRS can develop a Fire station along with a community facility & Library facility within the associated occupant Lands subject to an agreement with WBC for Land and lease arrangements.
4. MFRS & WBC can work together to formulate development template in line with any Tesco/Sainsbury proposals in the adjacent Red Cat premises along with Option 3 mentioned above which can be beneficial to all involved stakeholders and community in general.
I look forward to your thoughts on above and please do not hesitate to contact us for any information needed.
Regards
Anu
Anatha Subramanayam | Development Manager – Estates | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service | Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4YD | Office: 0151 296 4314 Mob: 07801156545 Email: anathasubramanayam@merseyfire.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
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http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
Timmins, Kieran
From: Simpson, Tony Sent: 25 March 2014 17:14 To: Timmins, Kieran Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Nothing’s ever easy these days!
Timmins, Kieran
From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 25 March 2014 17:10 To: ‘Simpson, Tony’ Cc: Subramanayam, Anatha; Schofield, Colin; Woods, Stewart Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for prompt research Tony….. although just looking at the listing makes me think this could be complicated!!
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
kierantimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk
www.merseyfire.gov.uk
From: Simpson, Tony Sent: 25 March 2014 17:08 To:Timmins, Kieran Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi Kieran
Proprietor of Upton Cricket Club, Old Greasby Road, Wirral, CH49 6LT :-
Rose Chaplet Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. No.05678129), and Reveille Nominees Ltd., (Co. Regn. 05678115), c/o Leverhulme Estates, Estate Office, Thornton Hough, Wirral CH63 1JD and c/o Brabners LLP (Ref. JPW/AFR/LEO), Horton House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL
Regards
Tony
Timmins, Kieran From: Timmins, Kieran Sent: 21 January 2014 11:06 To: ‘Armstrong, David’;Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Hi David
Thanks for the note….. to be very clear on the first point we expressly asked you to identify potential options. You certainly did not propose a site!
In relation to the other points I hope the comments below might help…..
The footprint we discussed was based upon the PFI stations we have built recently….. in general these are two bay with extensive community facilities. However in general most of the fire stations only house one appliance despite having two bays although we have been quite successful with the ambulance service in sharing sites.I can’t envisage us building an old style fire station without community facilities and would expect to have two bays as well to allow operational flexibility.
All three blue lights services have come under significant pressure to work more closely from government and I think there is a clear public expectation that in these challenging times for public services we would consider the possibility on any new build. In Merseyside we work very successfully with both NWAS and the Police and have several successful operations. In broad terms I would expect the presence of colleague services to be relatively small and not to add significantly to the building footprint (if it does suit their business plans). The PFI stations were designed prior to ambulance requests to move in but we have accommodated them without extension. There are lots of benefits for the local community around joint working by having the services co-located
Hope that is of use .Give me a buzz if you need to talk through anything
All the best
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
From: Halpin, Colleen S. [mailto:ColleenHalpin@wirral.gov.uk] On Behalf Of Armstrong, David Sent: 21 January 2014 09:34 To: Subramanayam, Anatha Cc: Timmins, Kieran; Schofield, Colin; Simpson, Tony Subject: RE: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC
Thanks for this.
A couple of initial responses.
– I think it is important to be clear that I responded to a request from MFRS for possible sites for a fire station on council owned land. We came up with two, of which this was one, the other was felt by MFRS to be too close to the current Upton fire station. This is very different to how the email could be read that “David Armstrong proposed” this site. Clearly MFRS has the option to look also at other suitable sites owned by others.
– Our discussions were around a single bay fire station and in that regard the site appeared to have potential, particularly having the front and rear access required by MFRS. The discussion extended to possible inclusion of the community facilities, in line with the very positive developments undertaken by MFRS in Wallasey and Birkenhead.
– I’d envisage that a marked up drawing would come back showing if and how a one bay fire station would fit on the site and possibly a second option of a one bay plus a community facility.
– To the best of my memory, I don’t recall any mention of possible use by police and ambulance “hence the reason for two acres”. I fully support the principle, both for operational and financial reasons but would ask the question – is that going to result in us trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot here.
– It would be useful to see the footprints of i) single bay fire station, ii) single bay fire station and community, iii) larger joint facility on the land in question.
Sorry if the above sounds negative – I just feel the need to be cautious!
Regards
David Armstrong
Head of Universal Services CYPD
and Assistant Chief Executive
Colleen Halpin
PA to Director of Children’s Services
Children and Young People’s Department
Wirral Council
Tel: 0151 666 4288
Fax: 0151 666 4338
E-mail: colleenhalpin@wirral.gov.uk www.wirral.gov.uk
From: Subramanayam, Anatha [mailto:] Sent: 20 January 2014 13:16 To: Simpson, Tony Cc: Schofield, Colin; Timmins, Kieran Subject: Greasby Land – MFRS/WBC Importance: High
Hello Tony,
As per our meeting on 8th January 2014 – I am emailing you MFRS understanding in confidence about the land in Greasby (attached )
Summarising the way forward as we discussed:
WBC & MFRS discussed the criteria for development of the Fire station in the land proposed by David Armstrong of WBC as potential option.
You have confirmed that WBC have granted a long-term (99 year lease ) to the local community trust occupying the community centre adjacent to the site. Can you please confirm the area of the site we discussed :
1. With community centre
2. With community centre & Library
3. Without community centre and Library
You stated the approval was granted for the development of supermarket in the red cat premises Can please confirm whether the proposed scheme for Tesco/Sainsbury has been approved adjacent to the site Library which can expand the options available for WBC & MFRS to consider development on proposed sensitive site. (see attached drawing for reference)
As we have discussed with you MFRS anticipate greater interest from associated partners – NWAS & Mersey Police for their respective occupational requirements which is the reason we need minimum of 2 acres of Land to avoid any design issues for a feasible development.
As we discussed – ideally MFRS & WBC can look forward on few options :
1. MFRS can ideally build a Fire station in the proposed land subject to area confirmation.
2. MFRS can develop a Fire station in the proposed land along with community facility while transferring the lease agreements from WBC to MFRS for the existing community centre subject to consultation with community centre and area confirmation.
3. MFRS can develop a Fire station along with a community facility & Library facility within the associated occupant Lands subject to an agreement with WBC for Land and lease arrangements.
4. MFRS & WBC can work together to formulate development template in line with any Tesco/Sainsbury proposals in the adjacent Red Cat premises along with Option 3 mentioned above which can be beneficial to all involved stakeholders and community in general.
I look forward to your thoughts on above and please do not hesitate to contact us for any information needed.
Regards
Anu
Anatha Subramanayam | Development Manager – Estates | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service | Bridle Road, Bootle L30 4YD | Office: 0151 296 4314 Mob: 07801156545 Email: anathasubramanayam@merseyfire.gov.uk
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the originator of the message.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, (MFRS) .
Incoming and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation.
Steps have been taken to ensure that this email and attachments are free from any virus. In keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.
http://www.merseyfire.gov.uk/
Timmins, Kieran
From: Ball, David S. Sent: 29 April 2014 09:06 To: Timmins, Kieran Cc: Simpson, Tony; Armstrong, David Subject: RE: Greasby sites
Kieran,
I don’t but I have copied this to Tony and David who may know more about it.
David
DAVID BALL
Head of Regeneration and Planning
Regeneration and Environment Department
Wirral Council
From: Timmins, Kieran [mailto:KieranTimmins@merseyfire.gov.uk] Sent: 29 April 2014 08:54 To: Ball, David S. Subject: Greasby sites
Hi David
Do you know anything about land sited on Frankby road opposite St John the divine church? Is that a possible fire station site?
Cheers
Kieran
Kieran Timmins
Deputy Chief Executive
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
Fire Service HQ
Bridle Road
Bootle
L30 4YD
Tel: 0151 296 4202
Fax: 0151 296 4224
Timmins, Kieran
From: Ball, David S Sent: 29 April 2014 12:58 To: Timmins, Kieran Cc: Armstrong, David; Simpson, Tony Subject FW: Greasby sites
Kieran,
Here is the view on this site from my Forward Planning team. It seems that there would be some planning policy issues here but I can explore it further if you want me to.
David
DAVID BALL
Head of Regeneration and Planning
Regeneration and Environment Department
Wirral Council
From: Entwhistle, John C. Sent: 29 April 2014 12:56 To: Ball, David S. Subject: RE: Greasby sites
David – the land on the opposite site of Frankby road to St John the Divine is in the Green Belt so a fire station would be inappropriate development and very special circumstances would have to be demonstrated. However there is potential for significant harm to the Green Belt in this location because of its role in maintaining separation between Greasby and Frankby.
John Entwistle Principal Forward Planning Officer,
Forward Planning,
Regeneration and Environment,
Wirral Council,
Town Hall, Brighton Street
Wallasey, Merseyside
CH44 8ED
Telephone: 0151 691 8221
email: johnentwistle@wirral.gov.uk
Fax: 0151 691 8273
Visit our website www.wirral.gov.uk
Please save paper and print out only what is necessary.
From: Ball, David S. Sent: 29 April 2014 12:19 To: Entwhistle, John C. Subject: FW: Greasby sites Importance: High
John,
Do we know anything about this site?
Would a fire station be an acceptable use?
David
DAVID BALL
Head of Regeneration and Planning
Regeneration and Environment Department
Wirral Council
Cabinet agrees smoking ban “anywhere on any Council site” and Freedom of Entry recommendation for HMS Astute and TS Astute
Cabinet agrees smoking ban “anywhere on any Council site” and Freedom of Entry recommendation for HMS Astute and TS Astute
Councillor Adrian Jones explains why Freedom of Entry status should be conferred upon TS Astute and HMS Astute (4th June 2015)
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Wirral Council’s Cabinet met for the first time after the elections and unusually there were many members of the public. The item the public were there to hear was whether Wirral Council would be support the transfer of properties from Beechwood and Ballantyne Community Housing Association to Liverpool Housing Trust.
A petition of 250 residents of the Beechwood and Ballantyne estate opposed to the transfer of houses to Liverpool Housing Trust was given to the Councillor George Davies (Cabinet Member for Housing) half an hour before the meeting started. He said, “I should refer this back to Beechwood and Ballantyne Housing Association to reflect upon and that we defer any decision on this item this evening and bring it back to a future Cabinet, hopefully by the 29th of June.”
Cllr Ann McLachlan (ward councillor for the residents who signed the petition) added, “As late as yesterday and until mid-afternoon today I do know that negotiations and consultation were being undertaken with the community to allay and address fears that they had and my understanding was they had been largely addressed and that there was satisfaction regarding outstanding matters, so it has come as a shock to us to hear there is now this petition.
However Chair, if this further short period of consultation does seek to address those concerns, whatever they may be then I think it will be time well spent. Clearly I will want to address the report when it does come back to Cabinet in three weeks time.”
Cllr Phil Davies explained that a decision would be deferred to “give us more opportunity to try and get to the bottom of the issues that the signatories are concerned about and obviously with a view to try to come to some agreement in time hopefully for the next Cabinet meeting”.
Cabinet agreed to defer a decision to the 29th June (its next meeting).
Agreement was given by Cabinet to demolish the buildings of the former Foxfield School site in Douglas Drive, Moreton. Foxfield School has moved from Douglas Drive to a new site in Woodchurch that opened in March. Wirral Council hope to sell off the former site for Foxfield in Moreton and are applying for government permission to do so.
Cabinet agreed a recommendation to confer Freedom of Entry status on the Wallasey Sea Cadets (TS Astute) and HMS Astute (a nuclear powered submarine). A decision on Cabinet’s recommendation will be made at a future special meeting of Council.
Making it clear that this was “not a proposal to sell of the municipal golf courses” Wirral Council’s Cabinet agreed to look for a “delivery partner” for its golf courses (except Hoylake). Wirral Council subsidises its golf courses by £330,000 a year and Cabinet hopes that in future the subsidy won’t be needed. A report will come back to a future Cabinet before any further decision is made.
A policy on smoking that bans smoking (including e-cigarettes) “anywhere on any Council site by all staff, contractors, visitors and the public” was agreed. The new policy extends the ban on smoking to outside as well as inside Council buildings.
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What questions did the public ask Jane Kennedy about antisocial behaviour in Birkenhead?
What questions did the public ask Jane Kennedy about antisocial behaviour in Birkenhead?
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Jane Kennedy (Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside) answering questions from the public at a meeting of the Birkenhead Constituency Committee (Thursday 28th May 2015)
Jane Kennedy (Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside) answered questions from the public about antisocial behaviour in Birkenhead at a meeting of the Birkenhead Constituency Committee held in Birkenhead Town Hall last Thursday evening.
First to ask a question was Paul Haywood. He had seen police officers patrolling Birkenhead in pairs or in pairs of police community support officers but he asked why the two weren’t mixed together? He also asked what police specials were.
Jane Kennedy replied, "In years past, when PCSOs [police community support officers] were introduced, we had more of them and we had more officers in the workforce there would have been more resilience to be able to pair officers with PCSOs. The bare truth is that now that is no longer the case."
Mr Haywood added that pairing PSCOs with police officers would give the PSCOs the experience they need to become police specials.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside answered, "First of all that route into the police is primarily the most successful route for candidates who are joining the force, although we just learned today a period of no recruitment as officers, we are still recruiting PCSOs and people who have had experience as specials, special constables or as PCSOs are usually most successful when it comes to applying to be a full constable.
So we’ve seen quite significant movement through into the force from PCSOs, so you’re right in the sense that having that experience helps, but what you have to hold in mind is that they are doing different jobs. Leaving aside the specials for the moment, police officers even working together in a neighbourhood team are performing slightly different roles to the PCSOs, whose primary focus is engagement and listening and communicating and gathering information. Arresting and responding to reports of crime is more well, they all do it but primarily that’s the job of these sworn officers.
I’m going to ask the Inspector if she would mind saying what the force policy is in terms of patrolling. I don’t think there’s a bar on them patrolling together, it’s just a matter of how they are together on a shift."
Inspector Georgina Minnery said, "The question did come to us and we provided a response. Effectively as the Neighbourhood Inspector I have no concerns with patrolling police officers with PCSOs, but as the Commissioner said they do perform different roles.
The PCSOs primarily are a visible role engaging with the community, listening to the community being out on foot whereas we have less police officers as I’m sure you’re aware and those police officers have to respond to incidents. Primarily they do tend to be in police cars, that’s not something I want for PCSOs and for my colleagues. PCSOs don’t go in vehicles as a rule, there are exceptions to that.
So PCSOs parade, sorry patrol on their own in singles or in pairs after a certain time. We tend to patrol in pairs after 6 o’clock in the evening and the police officers as I say they’re responding to incidents as a rule. The PCSOs are out there gathering intelligence and engaging with the community.
I don’t have a problem with them patrolling together if we had those resources available."
Answering the question about specials, Jane Kennedy answered, "It’s only just to say you’ve probably got a definition of what one is in the papers, primarily they are volunteers who come in but are fully trained and equipped to work as a fully sworn constable. So they do have powers of arrest, but they are volunteers, they are receiving expenses only for their work that they do, that’s right and you suggested PSCOs aren’t trained to the same level. PCSOs are trained, we invest heavily in making sure our staff are well trained, but they’re trained for a different role so we’ve already covered that really and I think we’re taking away the idea you suggested it’s common sense."
Mr Andrews from Bidston asked, "I live in the Bidston & St James ward and we’ve had a lot recently of antisocial behaviour from a particular gang of young lads who are aged between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. Now one of the requests that people keep on asking is why the police station in Laird Street was closed down? I know the answer’s going to be because of lack of funds, but when police officers have to come from the main station, here in Birkenhead when there’s a perfectly good facility there, why can that not be utilised at least for part of the day?"
Jane Kennedy said, "I think Laird Street has been has been affected. Certainly most police stations were closed to the public in terms of general enquiry desks some time ago, certainly before my time but Laird Street there was a long discussion at the Police Authority, I’m looking at Moira here, about how best to bring Laird Street back. I consulted on a strategy for police stations like Laird Street last October & November and the public supported the idea of disposing of the buildings like Laird Street which doesn’t lend itself to modern day policing.
Disposing of the building but find in the neighbourhood before we dispose of it a place where we could have a community police station where a regular surgery would be guaranteed to be held by the force and that’s the plan for Laird Street. It’s going to be quite some time before we do that and in the meantime the facilities at Laird Street I’m told are really very poor. So the force isn’t using it, it’s probably because it isn’t fit for them to use either. It’s not condemned or anything but I don’t think it’s a very comfortable place."
Councillor Moira McLaughlin (one of the representatives on the Merseyside Police and Crime Panel) added, "We do have long discussions, I think the issue that we discussed was that plans for closure went ahead before the alternative provision was located and I think that proved a difficulty certainly in Rock Ferry and I know in Laird Street so that was the issue really.
As the plan went forward these alternative provisions weren’t identified, from what I hear you say at the moment I think that’s still the case, is that right?"
Jane Kennedy responded, "Well I wasn’t aware that, I think that Laird Street was occasionally used by the Force but not to any extent. It has been closed to the public for quite some time and the proposal was always to try and find an alternative facility so we never found that. We’re doing it in a staged process over ten years so we don’t have too great a burden on the police budget in terms of capital investment."
Anna from the St James Centre added, "Just to reassure you we are exploring options for supporting the police to have some kind of base within the North End and the St James Centre at the moment. Very early stages but those conversations are happening. Just to reassure you."
Mr Andrews expressed concern that if the police were based in the St James Centre, then at the times the public needed them that the St James Centre wouldn’t be open. Jane Kennedy replied, "I think what we are looking to provide in a community police station is not a base that will be open every day and used by the force but a base where police officers or PCSOs will be guaranteed in an advertised surgery to be available for the public to come and talk to and the feedback I got from the public was that the fact that the force had closed all its general enquiry desks meant that the public felt the force had moved away from them in their locations.
Now what we don’t want is officers, few as they now are, whether they are PCSOs, general enquiry officers or police officers tied to buildings when we need them out working in the street with housing officers, social workers and all of the others who are working to reduce antisocial behaviour.
So what we’ve found in other areas when we have community police stations there would be a modern, in the window if it is finally agreed at the community centre, St James Centre, if that is the place that is decided upon what we intend to do is to have a modern, digital way of telling the public when the surgery is going to be, advertising it on a screen so that it will be regularly updated including information about recent crime trends when the public have been engaged with and asked for information. So that’s the model we’re going to be implementing. I haven’t got one I can show you yet on the Wirral, but we’re working hard to deliver it and as soon as we do we’ll invite you to come and have a look."
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