I (James Kay) am an individual member of the Wirral Citizens Panel. This means that once every few months I complete a questionnaire which - together with the responses of many hundreds of local citizens in Wirral - goes off to the local authority, health bodiesand others planning local services.
This quarter I have received back a newsletter which tells me what results have come recently from this community consultation and how they have been used. Here is what was said.
"In recent questionnaires, we have asked for your views on a range of topics. These are influencing the planning and delivery of Council services in a number of important areas.
Previous results are being used by the Council as follows:
Local Transport Plan
The Local Transport Plan (LTP) is the joint strategy of the Merseyside Local Authorities and Merseytravel working together to improve transport and encourage the use of sustainable transport options within the area and to support regeneration.
The questions in the 2006 survey were to obtain information on how the LTP initiatives are working and ascertain panel members’ views of them. Respondents were asked what type of transport they generally used and how often. Responses show that 67% travel by private car to work, 71% travel by private car to do grocery shopping, 43% stated that the youngest child walked to school. Respondents were asked about various services provided by public transport and whether they had improved or worsened. The top three areas showing improvement were cleanliness of trains (64%), rail punctuality (49%) and rail reliability (45%). The top three areas of dissatisfaction were value for money in using the bus service (50%), frequency of evening/ weekend buses (40%) and frequency of daytime buses (33%).
The Citizens Panel has helped inform the development of the transport strategy and priorities for LTP2. Citizens Panel information has been used alongside other consultation event feedback and alongside Government guidance to shape the transport strategy and priorities contained within the plan.
Wirral Library Service:
The Panel was asked about how often they visit libraries in Wirral. Almost a third (30%) of panel members said that they visit libraries once a month or more. Almost a third (32%) of panel members said that they visit a public library in Wirral less than once a year.
The Panel results will be compared with results from Wirral Library Service’s own "non user survey" carried out in March 2006. Some of the same questions were used in both surveys, helping to build a picture of barriers to library. The top 3 most commonly stated reasons for not accessing the library more often were ‘lack of time’, ‘buy own books’ and ‘access the internet at home’.
The findings have been used by Wirral Library Service to help focus marketing more closely on particular groups.
Local Heritage:
These questions were prompted by the suggestions of a panel member who contacted us. Panellists were asked about how satisfied they were with heritage attractions in the area and how often they visited them. The top three most visited attractions were Lady Lever Art Gallery (75% visited at least once), Williamson Art Gallery & Museum (71%) and Fort Perch Rock (58%). The top three attractions in terms of overall satisfaction with the experience were Lady Lever Art Gallery (92% satisfied), Williamson Art Gallery & Museum (88%) and Shore Road Pumping Station (86%).
Plans are currently underway to develop a regular programme of customer consultation on local heritage. The Panel results will act as a starting point to build a picture of the place of local heritage in the public mind and find out the popularity and attractiveness of Wirral’s local heritage attractions compared to attractions in neighbouring areas.
The information gathered will be shared with the other attractions named in the survey. The comments, both positive and negative, will be used to help make decisions about future programming and marketing for the section.
Streetscene and Recycling:
Panellists were asked how satisfied they are with various aspects of the Council’s Streetscene service, in particular the design and appearance of street furniture and the maintenance and cleanliness of Wirral’s roads, pavements and verges.
Some of the results are used to measure public satisfaction with the condition/state of repair and the design of various items of ‘street furniture’ (seats, signs, communal bins and bollards) and about overall satisfaction with the design and appearance of Streetscene generally. For each of the particular ‘street furniture’ items, satisfaction in 2006 was lower than in 2004. However, overall satisfaction with “the design and appearance of Streetscene generally” increased slightly since 2004 (52.6%, 53.0%, 56.7%).
The survey has confirmed that one of the priority areas, in terms of low levels of satisfaction, is litter. This has resulted in publicity over the use of fixed penalty notices for littering. A series of education and enforcement programs has been targeted at shopping areas and the routes from these to schools, with the aim of preventing people from dropping litter. New litter bins have also been installed in some areas of the borough.
Community Involvement:
Panel members were asked about whether they are actively involved in their local community. One quarter (25%) stated that they had participated in voluntary and/or community work in the past 12 months. This compares with a slightly higher percentage (28%) in 2005. 70% ‘strongly agreed’ (18%) or ‘agreed’ (52%) that active involvement in the local community can have an influence on decisions affecting their local area. 91% of Panel members thought the range of community activities had got better or stayed the same. 75% of respondents thought support for community activities had got better or stayed the same.
More information about what the Council has achieved, and about what it plans to do next can be found in the Council’s Performance Plan. This is available on the Council’s website and in libraries and One Stop Shops.
www.wirral.gov.uk
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Monday, June 04, 2007
Church Road Residents Meeting Minutes 25th April 2007
I now have copies of the minutes from the last meeting in April. The next meeting is on the 6th of June - Wednesday - at Royal Standard House - at 2pm
James Kay
James Kay
Were you married at St Paul’s or at St Luke’s?
As part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the parish which serves Lower Tranmere and parts of Rock Ferry, we are holding an event for those who have been married at one of our churches over the years.
It will be on Saturday 23rd June at 2.30 pm and will consist of a short service of thanksgiving to be followed by refreshments in the church hall and an opportunity for people to catch up with old friends.
If you would like to receive an invitation please contact the vicar, John Chesworth, either by phone on (0151) 645 3547 or by email at
paul_luke@englandmail.com
(Thanks to Jihn Chesworth for this post)
It will be on Saturday 23rd June at 2.30 pm and will consist of a short service of thanksgiving to be followed by refreshments in the church hall and an opportunity for people to catch up with old friends.
If you would like to receive an invitation please contact the vicar, John Chesworth, either by phone on (0151) 645 3547 or by email at
paul_luke@englandmail.com
(Thanks to Jihn Chesworth for this post)
Community Funding Scheme - deadline 15th June
Nearly £200k available for local groups
Voluntary and community groups in Wirral are being invited to apply for £193,000 to fund local projects. Funding is allocated on an annual basis to groups in the 11 areas covered by the Council’s Area Forums.
The deadline for applications is June 15.
For 2007/08 the amounts allocated to each Area Forum are:
• £11,000 from the Council’s Community Initiatives Fund - funding for Voluntary and Community organisations in Wirral for proposals that fit the specific criteria set by each of the Area Forums.
• £3,000 from the community safety Fund - funding for Community Safety projects.
£1,500 from the Local Agenda 21 Fund - funding for environmental /sustainable Projects.
The proposals are assessed by a panel selected by the Area Forum from its members. The panel makes recommendations to the Council's Executive Board where the final decision on the funding is made.
Projects that have recently benefited from grants include:
Groundwork Wirral, who were awarded £1,000 from the Community Initiatives Fund to help towards the cost of engaging an artist to work on Brassey Gardens, a new and exciting recreational space for children to play in. The funding enabled the appointment of an artist, Rebecca Ball-Bryson, to carry out the artwork consisting of six panels, viewed from two windows, thus screening an otherwise unattractive view.
The Tall Ships Youth Trust also benefited. The trust received a total of £1,186.95 across a number of forums to send younger people on voyages. The Trust, which owns two 60-metre training brigs, each capable of taking 48 young people to sea, is dedicated to personal development of young people through sail training experiences. They particularly welcome working with younger people from socially deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds. The trust have used their allocation of funding to send a number of young people from the Oxton, Prenton, Birkenhead, Tranmere, Rock Ferry and West Wirral wards on the life changing voyages, with plans to send even more in the future.
Community Groups wishing to submit an application for funding can get an
application pack by writing to the Community Engagement Team, Corporate Services Department, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey CH44 8ED or by phoning 0151 691 8650.
They can also request a pack by emailing engage@wirral.gov.uk
Voluntary and community groups in Wirral are being invited to apply for £193,000 to fund local projects. Funding is allocated on an annual basis to groups in the 11 areas covered by the Council’s Area Forums.
The deadline for applications is June 15.
For 2007/08 the amounts allocated to each Area Forum are:
• £11,000 from the Council’s Community Initiatives Fund - funding for Voluntary and Community organisations in Wirral for proposals that fit the specific criteria set by each of the Area Forums.
• £3,000 from the community safety Fund - funding for Community Safety projects.
£1,500 from the Local Agenda 21 Fund - funding for environmental /sustainable Projects.
The proposals are assessed by a panel selected by the Area Forum from its members. The panel makes recommendations to the Council's Executive Board where the final decision on the funding is made.
Projects that have recently benefited from grants include:
Groundwork Wirral, who were awarded £1,000 from the Community Initiatives Fund to help towards the cost of engaging an artist to work on Brassey Gardens, a new and exciting recreational space for children to play in. The funding enabled the appointment of an artist, Rebecca Ball-Bryson, to carry out the artwork consisting of six panels, viewed from two windows, thus screening an otherwise unattractive view.
The Tall Ships Youth Trust also benefited. The trust received a total of £1,186.95 across a number of forums to send younger people on voyages. The Trust, which owns two 60-metre training brigs, each capable of taking 48 young people to sea, is dedicated to personal development of young people through sail training experiences. They particularly welcome working with younger people from socially deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds. The trust have used their allocation of funding to send a number of young people from the Oxton, Prenton, Birkenhead, Tranmere, Rock Ferry and West Wirral wards on the life changing voyages, with plans to send even more in the future.
Community Groups wishing to submit an application for funding can get an
application pack by writing to the Community Engagement Team, Corporate Services Department, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey CH44 8ED or by phoning 0151 691 8650.
They can also request a pack by emailing engage@wirral.gov.uk
Tranmere Show 24th June
The Tranmere Show goes from Strength to strength. Click on the image below to see the full size poster.
Wirral Carers' Week 11-17 June
People in Wirral who care for a relative or friend will be able to get support, information and advice at events around the borough during Carers’ Week. This year, Carers’ Week will run from Monday, June 11 to Sunday, June 17. In Wirral, the week’s events are being organised by Wirral’s Department of Adult Social Services in partnership with other organisations such as WIRED, the independent organisation which supports carers.
Carers’ Week will get underway on the 11th with an information and advice stand hosted by WIRED in the foyer of Morrison’s supermarket on Dee Lane in West Kirby.
During the rest of the week, there will be information and advice stands in other parts of Wirral including in Liscard on the 12th, Bebington on the 13th and in the Pyramids Centre in Birkenhead on the 14th, 15th and 16th.
The Director of Wirral’s Department of Adult Social Services, Kevin Miller said: “I’m very much hoping that people visiting the information and advice stands will find the help and support available to be genuinely useful. Visitors will be able to ask questions about a wide range of issues that affect carers including direct payments, welfare benefit entitlement, carers assessments and employment issues for carers.”
Linda Roberts, Chief Executive of WIRED added: “We are proud to be working in partnership with the Local Authority and other organisations during Carers week. By providing information points and other events throughout the week, we hope to identify and offer support to people who have caring responsibilities.”
Anyone needing more information about these events or for advice and support about caring for another person can contact the Carers’ Helpline on 670 0777.
Carers’ Week will get underway on the 11th with an information and advice stand hosted by WIRED in the foyer of Morrison’s supermarket on Dee Lane in West Kirby.
During the rest of the week, there will be information and advice stands in other parts of Wirral including in Liscard on the 12th, Bebington on the 13th and in the Pyramids Centre in Birkenhead on the 14th, 15th and 16th.
The Director of Wirral’s Department of Adult Social Services, Kevin Miller said: “I’m very much hoping that people visiting the information and advice stands will find the help and support available to be genuinely useful. Visitors will be able to ask questions about a wide range of issues that affect carers including direct payments, welfare benefit entitlement, carers assessments and employment issues for carers.”
Linda Roberts, Chief Executive of WIRED added: “We are proud to be working in partnership with the Local Authority and other organisations during Carers week. By providing information points and other events throughout the week, we hope to identify and offer support to people who have caring responsibilities.”
Anyone needing more information about these events or for advice and support about caring for another person can contact the Carers’ Helpline on 670 0777.
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