Tag: Birkenhead

Bidston and Claughton Area Forum | St James Centre | 5th February 2013 | Part 1

Bidston & Claughton Area Forum | St James Centre | 5th February 2013 Part 1 | Proposals abolishing Area Forums

Bidston & Claughton Area Forum
St James Centre

Present:
Ian Brand (Lead Officer)
Tracey Smith (Community Engagement)
Jim Parsons (Community Rep)
Jean McIntosh (Community Rep)
Pat Lansborough (Community Rep)
Steve Preston (Community Safety)
Paul Murphy (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service)
Cllr Denise Roberts (Chair)
Cllr Harry Smith
Cllr Steve Foulkes
Cllr George Davies
Cllr Ann McLachlan

+ various members of the public

The Chair, Cllr Denise Roberts welcomed people to the Bidston & Claughton Area Forum and asked the Lead Officer, Ian Brand to read out a statement. Ian Brand said it was a standard statement that was being read at each Area Forum. A report proposing a new approach had been recommended in January and would be voted on by councillors in the coming weeks. The proposal was for four neighbourhood teams, with devolved decision-making and budgets. These would consist of multi agency teams including the local authority, police, health, fire and would result in the abolition of the eleven Area Forums.

These local committees would draw down and allocate resources based on a neighbourhood plan. The benefits would be that costs would be reduced and there would be better outcomes for local people. The area covered would be each of the four parliamentary constituencies which would each have a public service board, chaired by councillors. There would also be an overarching Wirral Together Public Service Board. If the proposal was agreed it would be implemented from May 1st [2013]. Ian Brand said he would be happy to go over any points people missed and answer questions.

Various questions were then asked of Mr. Brand. He answered that the new public service boards would replace the Area Forums covering the area of a parliamentary constituency (in this case Birkenhead). Details such as allocation of funding was yet to be finalised. Cllr George Davies pointed out that the Birkenhead public service board would cover the existing wards of Bidston & St. James, Birkenhead and Tranmere, Claughton, Prenton, Oxton and Rock Ferry. Cllr Roberts said that people would get more news at the next Forum.

Tracey Smith said that on one issue from the last Forum, on the changes to Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit, the finance department had provided a detailed response from Neil Powell which was attached to the minutes of the last meeting.

Cllr Harry Smith pointed out that he’d attended the last meeting, but that this wasn’t reflected in the minutes. Cllr Roberts apologised and asked if there were any questions arising from the minutes.

Boundary Commission proposes keeping Bidston and St. James ward in Birkenhead for 2015 General Election

Although the initial proposals that the Boundary Commission drew up proposed moving Bidston & St. James ward to Wallasey constituency (from 2015), the revised proposals place Bidston & St. James ward far more sensibly in Birkenhead constituency. The consultation on the revised proposals are running until 10th December 2012.

The effect of Bidston & St. James ward staying in Birkenhead under the revised proposals, is that Upton ward is moved in the revised proposals from Birkenhead to Wallasey (it’s currently in Wirral West, which is proposed to be renamed Wirral Deeside). These changes are of course subject to a vote in the House of Commons before 2015, which the Lib Dem Party has now stated they won’t support (although they agreed to it in the Coalition Agreement in 2010) because of stalled House of Lords reforms due (in part) to a rebellion by backbench Conservative Party MPs.

Birkenhead Market: National Market Day events (23rd June)

To celebrate National Market Day on the 23rd June, Birkenhead Market will be running a number of offers and demonstrations this Saturday including:-

a cookery demonstration by Masterchef: The Professionals winner Claire Lara (during the morning only)

another cookery demonstration by Moyo Benson (again during the morning)

freshly cooked paella cooked by a Spanish chef

a karate demonstration in the late afternoon

a magician making balloon animals and

various special offers from the stallholders.

The event is organised by Birkenhead Market and Birkenhead Market Traders Association.

Delivery of nomination papers – Independent candidate Bidston & St. James ward

Well today, myself and my election agent delivered my nomination papers to the Town Hall for the election of a councillor for the Bidston & St. James ward, with polling day held on 3rd May 2012. They were checked and found to be OK and my agent should get official notification through the post.

I’ll find out who the other candidates are at the end of the nomination period (I am assuming this election will be contested as it would be highly unlikely for it not to be), but I’m expecting there will be at least Labour candidate, a Conservative candidate and a Lib Dem candidate.

So thank you to the ten people who proposed, nominated and assented to my nomination. Oh and thanks to my election agent Leonora Brace too, who also proposed my nomination (which I accepted).

Certainly it was easier filling out the nomination papers this year as I didn’t have to get a Designated Nominating Officer’s signature or decide on emblem/description and local people seemed to be somewhat disillusioned with one (or more) of the mainstream political parties.

Planning Committee (Wirral Council) 3rd January 2011 Part 5 APP/11/01118 – Land to the North , South and East of Gasholders, Hind Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 5DA

The Chair said that item 8 (APP/11/01118 – Land to the North , South and East of Gasholders, Hind Street, Birkenhead, Wirral CH41 5DA – Application to replace an extant planning permission 2005/07764 – Erection of non food retail, office, trade sales, restaurant/public house, car showroom and crèche (Outline)) had been before the Committee before.

Matthew said that the application was for an extension of time for the 2005 & 2008 applications. They had to look if anything had changed since then. There was a North West Regional Spatial Strategy, Planning Policy Statement 4 and any assessment had to take into account policies. It was for a signficant edge of centre development with regeneration benefits. There was the opportunity for trade and Birkenhead had a sub regional role. The application was to extend the time limit by three years.

The Chair mentioned page 45.
The Vice-Chair asked a question about access for emergency vehicles in reference to the previous outline planning consent given and asked why this wasn’t continued?
The Chair said this was about the decision of 12th January 2009.
The Vice-Chair asked about other conditions?
The Chair asked Matthew to find it and asked the Vice-Chair if she didn’t have the conditions on her?
The Vice-Chair answered no.
Matthew said yes, information had been added to the decision notice, they did this when there was other legislation or in response to a response from the fire service. However it was only informative on the decision notice.
The Vice Chair said it did not have to be as a condition.

Cllr Peter Johnson proposed approval. Cllr John Salter seconded approval. The application was put to the vote.

For: Cllrs Elderton, Clements, Boult, Johnson, Kenny, Salter, Realey, Mooney, Walsh, Kelly and Mitchell (11)
Against: None (0)
Abstention: None (0)

Planning application APP/11/01118 was approved with conditions (11:0:0)