Category: Area Forum

West Wirral Area Forum – 29th June 2011 – Part 1

The West Wirral Area Forum agenda, minutes of the previous meeting and Area Coordinator’s report can be read by following the link. The Chair Cllr Gerry Ellis welcomed over eighty people and said it was “lovely that so many were here tonight”. He said Cllr Foulkes had sent a written statement and there was a … Continue reading “West Wirral Area Forum – 29th June 2011 – Part 1”

The West Wirral Area Forum agenda, minutes of the previous meeting and Area Coordinator’s report can be read by following the link.

The Chair Cllr Gerry Ellis welcomed over eighty people and said it was “lovely that so many were here tonight”. He said Cllr Foulkes had sent a written statement and there was a short film about the lifeboat museum introduced by John Parr which Cllr Ellis described as amazing. Cllr Ellis said there were a “number of other issues”, but they’d “whiz around the main table” to introduce people.

Present:
Jim Thompson (Community Safety Team)
Myles Platt (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service)
John Percival (private sector representative)
Sandra Wall (Older People Parliament)
Cllr Eddie Boult
Cllr David Elderton
Cllr Geoffrey Watt
Tracey Smith
Cllr Gerry Ellis
Kevin Adderley (Lead Officer)
Margaret Shaunessy (Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust)
Cynthia Radford (Community rep)
Inspector Mike Blease (Merseyside Police)
Jim Lester (Head of Parks & Open spaces)
Mark Traynor (Streetscene)
Gary Evans (Community rep)

Apologies were received from Cllr Hale and Cllr Green who were at a local government conference

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 6

Gary Cummings (Streetscene) said they could build out with chicanes and that because of the “20 is plenty” campaign sometimes a road was left for the emergency services eg police and ambulance. He would look at the alternatives, however it didn’t have to be humps. They could look at signing and speed activated signs.

A member of the public raised the issue of the roads in Noctorum and how dangerous it was when getting a bus. They had speed cameras, buut they didn’t seem to do anything. They had been told they can’t afford anything more. There was another slow sign and they had lived there three years. Cllr Foulkes said there had been an automated speed sign.

A member of the public asked about Park Road South. Cllr Foulkes said due to buses and ambulances there were no humps here. He referred to the lady from Sumner Road being against speed bumps and said the speed of traffic in Tollemache Road was a significant nuisance. Cllr Davies said it was a clear road.

John Brace raised about concerns raised at the Bidston Village Conservation Area committee about the speed of traffic on Bidston Village Road. Cllr Foulkes responded.

Michelle Gray said there was £200,000 for road safety, £20,000 of which would be decided by this Area Forum under You Decide. Whatever was needed in the local area, she could liase and feed back to the Forum and to councillors. Streetscene needed a list of roads and footways that needed maintenace.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 4

There was a flyer from the Friends of Wirral Archives. With regards to Needham Crescent, Noctorum Cllr Davies talked about access and provision for parking. He said he had spoken to Technical Services. Highway Inspectors had been to the area over the provision of parking. However it was down to money and access.

Michelle Gray said about the PA system, it was still under consideration, however they could use other equipment or it would be available in the venues used for Area Forums.

Cllr Roberts said she gathered there were a few people from Sumner Road to discuss road safety which they could do so now. Angela Holland of Sumner Road spoke about the speed of the traffic and parking and said something needs to be done before there is an accident. Another member of the public asked about Noctorum and how they said they couldn’t afford to do Claughton Road. Angela Holland continued about Sumner Road. Cllr Roberts suggested community Speedwatch where local residents were trained to use radar guns. Angela said “No thank you.” Cllr George Davies went through the reasons why Sumner Road was isolated.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 Library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 3

A member of the public asked in reference to the minutes about patient representatives and how people got engaged. They felt there was no opportunity to be engaged in the changing nature of affairs. Unfortunately Dr. Mantgani wasn’t present to answer.

At 6:40pm Cllr McLachlan arrived.

Cllr Foulkes answered that the structure was changing with a Health & Wellbeing Board. There would be democratic access and he was confident the Wirral Council would be looking at the structure. He said it may have lay representatives but he wasn’t 100% sure. The Health Scrutiny Board could make representations to that. There would be scrutiny of health and he promised access to the public.

Paul Smith said there were NHS Trust governor elections in the next few weeks and you could put your name forward. Cllr Roberts asked how it had been publicised. The answer given was in the newspapers and on the website.

Michelle Gray said there were a couple of issues on page 7. Any issues raised had received a response from the relevant department. There was concern regarding the Boundary Road pedestrian refuge island which will be monitored. The dumped rubbish was hopefully cleared up. There had been £55000 assigned for grit bins with an allocation of ten bins per a ward (twenty for this Area Forum). There had been 300 requests for new and additional bins.

The Highways Inspectors had been out and the one “nicked” from Borough Road had been replaced. Another four or five were stolen or missing which Technical Services was “looking into”. There was a register for the highways structural maintenance program which was gathering information for 2012/2013. People could either put suggestions on the register or see her at the end of the meeting.

Area Forum – 8/6/2011 Bidston & Claughton, 8/6/2011 starting at 6.30pm, library, University Academy Birkenhead (formerly Park High) Part 1

Present: Cllr George Davies (Claughton)
Cllr Steve Foulkes (Claughton)
Cllr Denise Roberts (Claughton)
Cllr Jim Crabtree
Also: Lucy Beed
Michelle Gray
Ian Brand
Jim Thompson
Community Patrol
Police representative
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service
+ members of the public

The Chair Cllr Roberts welcomed those present to the Area Forum and introduced those present. Ian Brand was the lead officer, Cllr Foulkes was a Claughton councillor and Leader of Wirral Council. Cllr Davies was also a Claughton councillor. Lucy Beed was there from planning and customer engagement. Gary Cummings was there from Streetscene, Jim Thompson introduced himself. So did a person from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service but I didn’t manage to catch their name. A sergeant from Laird Street was also there as well as Cllr Crabtree and Michelle Gray.

Apologies had been received from Jean McIntosh (community representative), Dr. Abi Mantgani (NHS), Pat Landsborough (community representative)

Cllr Foulkes said that he was going to every Area Forum and introducing himself as the new Leader of Wirral Council. He wanted people to approach him directly. The Area Forums when created had drifted away from their original aims in devolving power and resources. He wanted a good turnout at meetings and for Area Forums to be revived. Area Forums would play a huge part in owning Neighbourhood Plans. By December Bidston & St. James/Claughton Area Forum would have its own neighbourhood plan, which would influence himself as Council Leader regarding the area’s needs and priorities.