New Course! Neighbourhoods on the move

Have a look at this from Steph Reid at Tranmere Alliance


Hello all. Have just received details of this course which seems to fit the bill in being useful to yourselves. Please let me know if you are interested and I can give them a call.

Steph Reid Tranmere Alliance 644 1100


-----Original Message-----
From: Site Administrator On behalf of b.watson@traffordhall.com
Sent: 05 December 2006 15:24
To: communitydevelopment@tranmerealliance.org.uk
Subject: New Course! Neighbourhoods on the move

Neighbourhoods on the move - "What's in the white paper?" 22-24 January 2007
Trainers Partners in Change

The Government has now published its plans to reshape local government. It says it amounts to 'a new settlement between central government, local government and citizens' with stronger council leadership and more say for communities. There are changes in how councils are run, and steps to strengthen citizen involvement in decisions, with new opportunities for empowered community bodies ' Tenant Management Organisations, parish councils and community groups'

So what are these changes and how can community and neighbourhood groups prepare to make the most of them?

This course will
· Explain all the changes promised in the white paper
· Give you a chance to ask questions, especially about neighbourhood and tenant management and how the changes might give new powers to these groups
· Consider how and why to set up or develop a front-line council often called a parish council but now to have an enhanced role to go with the new name
· Point you in the right direction to get more support in future. This is a big subject. The course will be tailored to meet the needs of participants. Make sure you tell us what you are looking for and we will try to give you the answers to your questions.

For more information or to request a booking form please contact Lesley Donovan on 01244 300 246 or amill.donovan@traffordhall.com

Fuel Poverty Newsletter

Thanks to Steph Reid from Tranmere Alliance for a copy of the Fuel Poverty newsletter which can be found at the following link. It might take a little while to download.

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/atoz/documents/Fuel%20Poverty%20Newsletter%20Dec06.pdf

I have reprinted below the local news from this newsletter.


Review The Strategy!
The fourth Wirral Fuel Poverty Forum will include a full review of the Wirral Affordable Warmth Strategy with the assistance of NEA (National Energy Action) and we would like your views on how the Strategy should be delivered over the next three years. This will take us up to the Government’s first fuel poverty eradication target of 2010 amongst vulnerable households and so it is a crucial time for everyone involved in affordable warmth.

Wirral have made great strides since the local Affordable Warmth Strategy was launched in 2004 and more households than ever are being assisted in making their energy bills more affordable. However, with the steep rise in average fuel bills over the past few years, it is estimated that a million extra households nationally are now in fuel poverty compared with 2003.

The Forum is taking place on Tuesday 5th December 2006, 9.30am – 12.30pm at Wallasey Town Hall. A complimentary buffet lunch will follow.

Rock Ferry - High Profile Take-up Campaign Begins
Rock Ferry is being targeted throughout November and December for a high profile energy efficiency take-up campaign. A Cosy Homes road show was held outside the One-Stop Shop on 22nd November where the Council’s insulation partner, APS Limited, and Merseyside Energy Efficiency Advice Centre were on hand to provide information and to book residents in for insulation surveys. The road show was preceded by a mail-shot of around 1700 Rock Ferry homes to promote Cosy Homes and will be followed with door-to-door visits to talk to residents about the initiative.

Rock Ferry was chosen for the campaign due to the low take-up of Cosy Homes grants compared to other areas and its high prevalence of fuel poverty. If you would like any further information or would like to assist in getting the message out to households in Rock Ferry, please telephone Kate Alcock at Energy Projects Plus on 0151 637 3674

Baskets and pots pinched

I have had a couple of comments about stolen hanging baskets and pots. Mine (that is the one pot that the council left for me) was stolen within about 5 days and so it seems were others. Anyone else had the same experience?

I caught someone last year trying to pinch a hanging basket from my front door. I chased him down the street and traded punches outside the post office before he ran off. I got the basket but I don't think he intended to use the basket for his own home.

He was just drunk and being stupid.

Wirral Waters - Peel Holdings

Peel Holdings have now established an amazing web site with tons of data on their proposed £4.5bn development in Birkenhead docks. The website shows they are serious about this development which they claim will create 27,000 jobs. Bring it on!

http://www.wirralwaters.com/

Here is a sample of the graphics on this site.

Housing sales in Wirral - graphs' source

I have had a couple of requests from blog readers to post the contact information for the source of the two housing sales graphs below. They came from the following paper.

A Market in Two Halves – Enhancing Housing Intelligence in Wirral - A paper presented to The Housing Studies Association Conference April 19th – 20th 2006

By Joe Bickerton, Chris Young and Michael Lloyd

http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/hsa/spring06/pdf&ppt/bickerton.pdf

House prices and sales

Here are some interesting charts that I came across. Click on each to expand them and then use the back button on your browser to read the rest of this text.

One shows prices paid (red is high and blue is low) and the other is the numbers of house sales with red being very popular housing areas and blue being much slower sales. Both are for early 2005.

In summary the prices are lowest in East Wirral, particularly around Tranmere and Rock Ferry whilst the sales activity is also highest in the same areas.

By the same token you can see from these maps that the highest prices - West Wirral and in particular areas around Gayton and Caldy are also the places where the house sales are slowest.

Now call me a ninny if you like but isn't this what housing markets are supposed to do - encourage sales where prices are lowest and discourage sales where they are highest?

Nothing wrong with that you might think. But then you have the problem that we are in the midst of our HMRI which is supposed to be justified on the basis that the housing market has failed in Tranmere and Rock Ferry. Makes you think a bit.

Have a look at the graphs for yourselves. They are from a York University paper to a housing conference earlier this year.

Madness of King George 111rd

You can see a bigger version of this poster if you double click anywhere on the image.

This is the next play at the Gladstone Theatre with TRACE members in it. It is being rehearsed now at the Theatre in Port Sunlight and will be running at the end of February. For more information contact jameslkay@ntlworld.com

Mobile Phone Hoax

I got an email - sent in good faith - yesterday about an alleged risk to mobile phones. It is a hoax - there is no way that your SIM card be attacked in the way suggested in the email. Whoever started this off - 15 months ago according to Lancashire Police - obviously gets off on winding people up. - and the more get wound up - the better. So, score one for the sad guys!

However there are a lot of mobile phone scams at the moment - the most popular being calling your phone and ringing off after two rings. You get to your phone - and hit the call back button to find out who has missed you - only to discover that you have called a premium rate number and paid someone £1.50 a minute or more to listen to an automated message.

There are others but the general advice is don't respond to anything coming to you unless you know who it has come from.

The hoax email follows ...

Subject: Mobile phone fraud

Message from: Phil Corris, Police Constable/Crime Prevention Officer If you receive a phone call on your mobile from any person, saying that, he or she is a company engineer, or telling you that they're checking your mobile line, and you have to press #90 or #09 or any other number. End this call immediately without pressing any numbers. There is a fraud company using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can access your "SIM"

A phone number for "Phil Corris" was then given ... I called it and spoke to a police officer who confirmed that it was a hoax.

HMRI Nov Residents Meeting

Church Road Residents Consultation Planning Meeting
Royal Standards House Wednesday 8TH November 2006 2.00pm

Present:

Hazel Roberts Tranmere Resident
John Steele Tranmere Resident
James Kay Tranmere Resident
Steph Reid Tranmere Allaince
Chris Bowen WMBC
Emma Foley WMBC

Apologies:

Bruce Lister, Lovell
James Hurley, WMBC


Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed

HMRI Programme Update
CB reported that Cabinet had agreed to bring forward £3 million from next years budget to help keep up the momentum of acquisitions that have already been agreed. A priority list has been drawn up, with preference being given to properties which are needed for the first development phase in Tranmere and Rock Ferry. Some owners with whom we have agreed a price will still have to wait until further funding comes through in April 2007.

Development Update
The outline planning application will be submitted towards the end of the month with four outline applications being submitted for the following schemes which make up the Church Road Development Area.

* Church Road (main development area)
* Whitford Road
* Hillside Road (former Hillside Court site)
* Pearson Road site

If the Scheme is submitted at the end of November, it is unlikely that it will get before a planning committee until February. A detailed planning application will then have to be submitted for the first development phase which includes the already cleared sites on Hillside Road and Whitford Road and the Abakhan site on the corner of Seymour Street and Church Road.


We also plan to have a further community consultation event before the detailed plans are submitted. It was therefore suggested that the summer would be a more realistic timetable for starting on site to allow for adequate consultation.

Project Update

CB said that Atmore had organised a first meeting with some of the traders on 15th November 2005

Venture and Family Housing Associations were in the process of agreeing a price with the Council to acquire the site on Leighton Road / Thompson Street which is now cleared. The agreed price will have to go to Cabinet in December for approval.

Work on the Homeswap properties is progressing well with completion due on most of them by the end of the month. There has been interest in a couple of them from residents in clearance areas, however if they are not all sold to residents in clearance areas, they will be offered for sale on the open market.

It was reported that 30/32 Seymour Street were open to access. This will be passed on the Environmental Wardens / Empty Property Team to action.

JS highlighted the problems with pigeons and rats around one of the large properties in Seymour Street which has scaffolding up but is in a serious state of disrepair. It was reported that Environmental Health weren’t prepared to serve a notice pending a decision of an outstanding grant application. EF to Check with Jim Ashley, Home Improvements Team manager to check the status of this application.

Youth Issues

Rob Walsh has been unable to broker a meeting between some of the providers of youth services in the area. He is about to go off on leave for several months so it will have to be picked up again in the New Year.

Art Regeneration Project Update

EF gave an update on the Art regeneration project which was launched successfully on 18th October. Since then it has been open on Tuesdays and Thursdays an has been working with residents from Prospect House, the Methodist Church Luncheon Club, Tranmere Alliance, a young mums group, excluded kids programme and Prenton High School. The artists will remain in residence at 35-37 Church Road until Christmas and will be displaying the work in an exhibition in January 2007.

AOB

Steph reported on a Biodiversity Forum she had attended on 3rd November, in particular a talk by Matthew Frith on Greening the Cities. She will try to get a copy of his presentation for the group.

EF said that the HMRI Team were making a film about how the HMR Programme is being delivered in Wirral. She asked for volunteers to talk about their experiences of HMRI. HR and JS kindly offered to participate.

Date of next meeting

Wednesday 10th January 2007 @ 2.00pm, Royal Standards House

UCG minutes Nov 06

Thanks to Steph Reid for these notes from the recent meeting. I have changed the layout a bit to fit the blog and taken out people's email addresses and phone numbers.

United Communities Group
Minutes Thurs 16th Nov 10.30am Prospect House

Present:
Hazel Roberts Chair, Tranmere Action Group
Steph Reid Tranmere Alliance Community Development Officer
Ann Adams TRAC 644-7002
John Steele Together NMP/ Wirral Federation of Tenants + Residents
Les Neish Clifton Park RA
James Kay TRACE
Graham Williamson Friends of the Parks/Tranmere Methodist Church
Terry Neill Whitfield St. RA
Andrew Wilson Whitfield St. RA
John Chesworth St. Paul’s + St. Luke’s Church
Colin Clayton WBC Environmental Health Officer

Apologies:
Malcolm Birchall (Lees Avenue RA), Hugh Langford (TRAP), Marilyn McDougall (The Meadows RA)

Last meeting minutes: 21st Sept. 06
Read and agreed

Matters arising:

SR. Health Walks in Parks will be every 2 weeks now, they will vary days to include more people, next one Friday 17th 11 am from Tranmere Alliance Community Hall Albany Rd.

Guest Speaker:
Colin Clayton – Environmental Health Officer WBC

Colin works as Section Manager on the Team dealing with Public Health Enforcement Services 691-8370/8344/8278– Pest Control 606-2020, Public Toilet maintenance + cleanliness, Disrepair in privately rented properties, Landlord harassment, Filthy and verminous premises.

Colin is happy to deal with referred complaints/issues made through Hazel as chair of UCG

20 Seymour St. Tranmere
Large opening in roof around 80 Pigeons have been accessing and breeding in side for years. Excrement inches deep in front of house. They are congregating on other properties causing problems and possible transference of viruses to children and elderly. HMRI Team aware that a grant application is being processed which includes the repair of the roof, but this has been the case for the last 9 months and the situation is detrimental to the area and neighbouring properties, the team have been asked to expedite matters.

Asked for a Case Study to be done to set a president for similar situations that blight neighbourhoods –This property is not scheduled for demolition. It is occupied. In Grant process. Vermin reports made, no action taken against cause of problem. Other properties have had numerous infestations.

Entry behind shops on Church Rd./Seymour St. Chip Shop 49,51,53
Rubbish up to top of wall level and needs removing.

53 Church Rd. Tranmere
Two premises owned by WBC (purchased by HMRI) have pigeon problem and should not be left to worsen and degrade the area until they are demolished, surely the council should put their own house in order.

57 Church Rd. Tranmere
Vandalised some time ago, window has not been made safe or repaired.

Railway Bridge St. Paul’s Rd Rock Ferry + Green Lane Bridge
Pigeon droppings are a concern, make pavement surface slippy/unsafe, obviously preventative measures are not effective enough to stop the pigeons landing Who is accountable? Wall of property at top of Bedford Drive not safe, bank of soil against it. Members of UCG are eloquent enough to complain but most residents don’t feel able and are unaware of the route to do so.

Hamilton Square has become a “no go” area since seemingly homeless people have been moved on from precinct shopping area. Muggings and verbal abuse from aggressive beggars, drug and alcohol users is occurring and the benched landscaped central part is littered with cans, bottles and rubbish.

Can anything be done to act against anti-sociable families who live a life of grime in our area in privately rented accommodation to help the landlord secure eviction quicker which is backed and supported by judges? Also that the families are tracked effectively to stop the cycle re-occurring with next landlord and neighbours going through same lengthy process and costs.We have had previous experiences with such families and presently one in Elmswood where it is not suitable for children living in the property.

Details handed over from Lees Avenue R A

[ends]

Santa Express - 16th December

Tranmere Alliance are now advertising their Santa Express. This is a day out for under 12s to Llangollen to meet up with Santa (although quite why Santa should be in Llangollen is not explained - but I suppose if I can believe in a guy with a red romper suit and a white beard on a sleigh pulled by magical flying reindeer - the idea that he might choose to hang out in North Wales is only a small additional bit of disbelief to suspend.) Either way Tranmere Alliance are running this day out on Saturday the 16th of December from 9.30 to 5.30.

They are also appealing for help from 'Grandparents for the day' who are asked to call Wendy on 0151 644 1100. I think Wendy will probably be able to explain to parents how they can get their little darlings booked onto the trip.

Another fine idea from Tranmere Alliance.

UCG minutes Sept 06

Thanks to Hazel Roberts for these

UNITED COMMUNITIES GROUP

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN PROSPECT HOUSE
21ST SEPTEMBER 2006

PRESENT:
Hazel Roberts T A G ( chair )
John Steele Hillside R G
Steph Reid Tranmere Alliance
Terry Neill W. A. M. A.
Ann Adams T. R. A. C.
Les Neish C. P.R. A.
James Kay T. R. A. C. E.
Malcolm Birchall L. R. A.
Marilyn McDougal M. R. A.

APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received from Victoria Campbell and Lorraine Norris.

MINUTES:
The minutes of the previous meeting held June 8th 2006 were approved as a correct record of the meeting.

MATTERS ARISING:
There were no matters arising from the minutes.

RESIDENT GROUPS REPORTS:
W.A.M.A. Terry reported that they are a new group and have only has two meetings. The local residents are having problems with the children and young people that are using the T. C. P. He is at present trying to arrange a meeting with Jill Quayle the project Manager. He is getting assistance from Rob Walsh ( Together )

T. A. G. Hazel reported that the Trampoline Club is still getting 35or so 8 to 12 year olds and have now extended the hours for the 12 to 16 years. New times are 8to 12 years 5:15pm to 7:15pm. 12 to 16 years 7:30pm to 9:30pm. All children and young people from the Tranmere and Rock Ferry area are welcome.

T. R. A. C.
a) Ann said that the Holistic Therapies continue to be successful and will be looking for funding to continue through next year.
b) The booking list for the trip to Botany Bay is now open.
c) Those that had attended the Healthy Walk around Victoria Park would like them to be more often. Every two weeks rather than once a month.” Hazel is to bring this up at the next Health meeting.” Next Walk is Friday 27th October 2006 from Albany Hall.

C. P. R. A.
Les said that he has been doing his best to form a new resident group committee, a meeting is planned for a couple of weeks time. Les has also been trying hard to get his Muslim neighbours involved in the resident group but with no success so far.

a) M. R. A. Marilyn reported that the Yellow House Drama and Art youth Club is running very well they hope to extend to 13 to 19 year olds on Friday Nights for Film Making.
b) The Council have funding to restore the Football Cage in St, Paul’s Road. They have a pot of money to clean up grot spots. They have also identified an area next to the Vikings Youth Club for funding.

L. R. A.
a) Malcolm said that Len has resigned as Vice chair so they are in the process of looking for his replacement
b) The housing development at the back of Bedford Road is causing concern Malcolm is hoping to be shown the plans.
c) The question was asked by several members as to what can be done about residents that own their properties and like to live a life of grime. Steph said that she would take this problem to the Living Environment Thematic group meeting and ask if we could have an Environmental health Officer can attend our next meeting as residents owners need to have accountability of keeping their house to a certain standard.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
1) Hazel asked for volunteers for the Bag a Bargain Terry said he thinks two from his resident group will help.
2) Ann Adams said that a complaint needs to go to the Together Office about sending out information and minutes of meetings. Residents are not getting the information in time for them to attend meetings.
3 ) W.V.C.S.N. Double Devolution Conference Friday 22nd September 2006.
Registration from 9:30 am. Conference closes at 3:30pm.


NEXT MEETING:
Thursday 16th November 2006 at 10:30am in Prospect House.

Living Environment Group Notes

These are the notes from this group which meets about once a month. These minutes are made maily for the use of those attending the meetings but they do contain important information of relevance to local resients.

TOGETHER Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder
Living Environment Thematic Group Meeting 18.9.06
Royal Standard House

Present
Alex Butler Kate Thomas Steve Eaves
Keith Farrell Hugh Owen John Ford Len McCormick Sheila Kirwan Steve Jackson

Apologies:
Emma Foley Tara Dumas, Fergus Adams


Actions/minutes


Previous minutes

Action - JF to request a formal update from JC re Tenancy reference scheme

Access to services

HO updated group on progress

Looking at housing services as first service to apply methodology which would be used to evaluate effectiveness of organisations approach to customer /resident access .
Three parts to model:

1 Self assessment
2 Reality checks
3 Focus groups

An action plan (toolkit) will be produced.

Action – JF to feedback to Jenny Naylor on access to services methodology

SK Stated that maritime are training trainers for mystery shopping.

Action - SK to pass on related information to HO and the access to services group


UGLI scheme

SE updated group on progress. Three sites identified for action in pathfinder area. Groundwork are the chosen contractor for improvement works.


Wardens report

Health walks – 17 people attended the first walk which the PCT said was a very good start.

Next walk is Fri 27th October 11am from Albany Hall

Resident group has been set up at Bedford/Haddon Rd as a response to ASB issues. Wardens resident survey and report has been passed to Mick Blease.


Mobile CCTV

Group discussed use of mobile CCTV as part of planned approach to environmental enforcement (and its potential re information relating to ASB)

Action - JF to inform group about status of mobile CCTV.


NET team

The group agreed that a steering group would be desirable, to meet as required to discuss the development of the NET team

NET steering group to consist of:

Include (NET) manager
Len McCormick
Streetscene representative
John Ford
Lowell Williams


Action - JF to present a progress report on the NET to the next meeting.

HO stressed the need to consider the long term approach which would need to involve Biffa.


Secondary fires/ Arson prevention

LW requested NET involvement in removal of combustibles on the lead in to to bonfire night. Steve Eaves also wished to include any void properties which present a fire hazard.

Action - JF to arrange meeting with LW and SE to develop an approach.


Performance management

HO stated that we need to fill gaps re the targets in the groups 06-08 action plan.

Action - JF to implement with Together information officer.


AOB

LM stated that the box recycling service continues to be ineffective. Streetscene rep would be asked to next residents together meeting.

Next meeting
13th November 10am Together NMP office.

Renaming Higher Tranmere?

I sent the following email last week to Emma Foley - the Housing Regeneration Manager for Wirral and she replied as follows.


Hi Emma
I have been asked by a few residents locally what is happening about the idea of renaming the area. I know that a suggestion had been made for Holt Hill Village but also that many - including myself - think that Higher Tranmere is fine and should continue to be the name for the area. Do you know any more about this?

James Kay

Chair - TRACE


Emma replied today - 31st October

Hi James,

I was hoping that Nicky Rigby our Communications and Marketing Manager would have been able to update you at the last residents meeting but unfortunately she was unable to attend. Nicky will be running a high profile street naming competition for some of the new streets and the new retail centre in Church Road which will be promoted by Radio City in February next year. This will be widely publicised and will give more people the chance to participate than we previously consulted.

I think Nicky, who is employed by Newheartlands rather than Wirral Council, will be offering some attractive prizes to encourage people to participate.

Hopefully we will have more information at the next Church Road Residents meeting on 8th November

Kind Regards

Emma

Housing Regeneration Manager
Department of Regeneration and Cultural Services
Wallasey Town Hall North Annex
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH44 8ED


Any thoughts on this ... ?

Recycling - a comment

Malcom Birchall comments on Biffa and recycling

Just a comment on recycling.
In our area (Lees Avenue), the collection on the whole has been pretty consistent. What I have noticed since the change over to Biffa is, they appear to put all items for recycling in the one recepticle, papers, glass and tins all get thrown into the one bin. When Onyx did it, the 3 items where placed in seperate compartments on the same wagon. I just wonder how Biffa seperate the 3 items when they have been squashed together in the one bin. Has anyone else noticed this happening.

regards

Malcolm

- response - from James

yes I have noticed this and I was told that Biffa were going to separate these items back at their depot and this meant that they needed less staff to conduct the collection and could therefor do it more reliably. Time will tell whether that turns out to be true but they seem to have started off at least better than the past.

Recycling update

Things are beginning to look up (I think) on the recycling front. For the first time that I can remember the black boxes have been collected on two occasions, on the due dates - every second Friday in Seymour Street - and moreover running at the appointed time.

The replacement boxes and blue bags have been left out for us to fill again. It's clear that there are many residents interested in recycling within Tranmere. Lets hope that this service is now going to become more reliable and settles down to become an important part of the recycling effort within our community.

Let us know if you have experience of this scheme - good or bad and we'll cover them in the blog.

Better news for some on hanging baskets

After a previous row over hanging baskets - see below - a new batch have been delivered to houses in Seymour Street and possibly others. After some good lobbying by Hazel Roberts a second tranch of pots have been created and delivered to residents on Seymour Street and possibly some others.

I have now received a pot which is nestling amongst the scaffolding outside my house on Seymour Street and others on the street have also been delivered such pots. It's a good idea to brighten up an area which is looking more than usually battered at the moment but I think a few people have been left outside the scheme and may still be cross about it.

What do you think?

James

TRACE member on local stage

Accrington Pals
at the Gladstone Theatre 7th to 11th November

In the next few weeks Caroline Sawley - who lives on Seymour Street - is to take the stage as May in Bebington Dramatic Society's production of Accrington Pals. For more go to
www.bebingtondramaticsociety.co.uk

HMRI Consultation Minutes

Church Road Residents Consultation Planning Meeting
Royal Standard House - Wednesday 4th October 2006

Present:

Hazel Roberts UCG / Together - Chair
James Kay TRACE
Ann Keggin Tranmere Community Project
Rob Walsh Together
Bruce Lister Lovell
Steph Reid Tranmere Alliance
James Hurley Wirral MBC
John Steele Together
Terry Neill Whitfield St Residents Association
Andrew Wilson Whitfield St Residents Association
Janet Monday Whitfield St Residents Association
Pat Hynes Whitfield St Residents Association
Cllr Phil Davies Wirral MBC
Chris Bowen Wirral MBC
Emma Foley Wirral MBC

Apologies:

Graham Williamson - Together



Matters Arising from previous minutes

JK asked if there was any further response to the CABE feedback. BL said it was the collective view of the project team that the proposals for Church Road were fairly robust and that there was no need to amend the plans significantly in light of the CABE feedback. He said that Lovell did not foresee any major problems with the planning application.

BL said that an outline planning application is likely to be submitted in October, with detailed planning applications likely to be determined by March. Lovell are still hoping to be on site in spring 2007.

SR asked whether the parking standards would be consistent with the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF). BL said that representatives from the planning department had been involved in the development of the design to ensure synergy with local and national planning guidance.

JK asked if there was any news on improvement grants for properties within the original NRA area which are now to be retained. EF said that the Grants team were finalising some of he detail of the grant scheme with the Council’s Legal Services, but if all went well, the Home Improvement Team would be looking to send out a letter and visit all potential applicants before Christmas 2006.

JH has drafted a letter advising all businesses in Church Road who had been affected by the traffic lights that they may have grounds to appeal. He will send the letter out shortly with the appropriate contact details.


Development Update

BL said that Lovell had now received an underwriting letter from the council, which gave them the necessary assurances to proceed while the legal agreement is being finalised.

BL said that a planning application is likely to be submitted at the end of October.

An important next step will be a scoping meeting between the retail developers Atmore and the Council which is BL will organise as soon as possible.

HMRI Programme

CB said that the acquisitions were progressing very quickly with many acquisitions already lined up for the new financial year in April 2007. In the meantime the Council have had to prioritise acquisitions to those, which are needed for the first phase of development in Fiveways and Church Road. This has meant that some owners may have to wait until 1st April to complete the sale of their property to the Council.

This slow down may be short term if the Council is able to find funding from other sources including the NWDA, NewHeartlands or the Council releasing some of next years funding early.

Wirral’s HMRI Team have a new Marketing and Communications Manager, Nicky Rigby who’s role is to publicise and promote NewHeartlands funded schemes in the Wirral and to make sure that Tranmere and Rock Ferry are marketed as places where people chose to come and live. Nicky will be invited to the next meeting to explain about her role further.

HR asked if there was any further news about what shops would be going into the new development. BL said that they would like to offer as many of the existing successful businesses a place the new development including the Co-op which would be an ideal anchor store. Detailed discussions with businesses are scheduled for the next few months.

TN asked if we have any idea of the cost of the new units. BL said that the design work needs to be progressed further before detailed figures can be worked out. There is the potential for some of the units to be customised for individual businesses so the individual cost of units may vary depending on requirements.

CB described the first phase of the new housing development, which would be on site in the Spring. This includes Lovell’s developments on the Whitford Road and Hillside Court sites which is all open market housing and a scheme by Venture and Family Housing on the now cleared Leighton Road / Thompson Street site which will include ten, three bedroom family houses and four two bedroom bungalows for rent.

Audit Inspection

CB reported on the recent Audit Commission Inspection of the HMRI Programme in Tranmere and thanked the residents who took part in the focus group with the inspector Tony Earnshaw.

The feedback was good with no recommendations, although there are comments in the report which will be taken on board with a view to continually improving the service offered to local residents.


30 – 32 Seymour Street

EF gave an update on the two properties, which are piloting the new Perspex boards after a resident request that the tin sheets were preventing him from selling his property.
Steve Eaves from the Empty Property Team will be looking after these properties in the short term.

Long term, it is proposed that a Housing Association renovates them to let as large family units. One housing association has expressed an interest in renovating them. EF to report back when there is further news.


Youth Provision

RW had expected discussions with local community groups and service providers to have been further progressed, but he offered to report back at the next meeting.

Together have recently appointed a Youth Co-ordinator, Margaret, to engage with young people.

RW reminded the group that the Youth Advocates were now in post for Tranmere. CB mentioned a successful schools project which he had been involved in at Wallasey High school for Girls which he would like to replicate in Tranmere / Rock Ferry. It would be an ideal project for the Youth Advocates to get involved with.

Tranmere Parks

PD reported on the recent meetings regarding the two Tranmere parks, which has focused on community safety and anti-social behaviour issues. Options currently include CCTV, an alcohol ban in the parks and a clamp down on local off-licences and a Section 30 Order. Residents have requested a further public meeting towards the end of the year. HR asked for invites to be extended to Seymour Street residents.

It is also hoped that long term improvements to the infrastructure of the parks will be brought forward subject to funding becoming available.

In the meantime the HMRI team have recently consulted residents on a lighting scheme for Mersey Park which will be installed by the Parks and Countryside Service in the new year.

It was agreed that parks improvements would complement the new housing in the Church Road Regeneration area.

AOB

JS asked if there was anything that could be done about the weeds in Seymour Street. EF to refer to the Environmental Wardens

JH gave an update on 42 Church Road. He explained that the hoardings had gone up because kids were climbing on the scaffolding. He was hopeful that building control powers could be used to repair the damage to the buildings so that the scaffolding could be taken down. JH to report the fault with the traffic lights and to circulate a direct number for reporting faults in future.


JK suggested that a notice board be provided for residents. EF said that NR was looking into it. He asked about advertising / displaying information via the hoardings around Tranmere. EF said that this had been explored by NR but it had proved to be too expensive.

PH said that a Council street cleanser was actually walking past dropped litter and failing to pick it up. PD to report to Streetscene.

RW requested articles for the next Together newsletter. The deadline will be 6-8 weeks.

RW reported that Together will be piloting the re-opening of the Together office on Church Road for limited times during the week (Wed, Thurs and Fri 1-4pm). A member of the HMRI Team will be available between 1-4pm every Wednesday until further notice.

The Bag a Bargain Scheme will start on Tuesday next week

BL said that site investigations will be starting on three sites in Tranmere next month.

The Art Regeneration Project will be launched at the former Hutton’s Off Licence at 35/37 Church Road on 19th October @ 6.15pm

Date of Next Meeting
2.00pm Wednesday 8th November 2006 - Royal Standard House

Workshops on land use in Wirral

Steph Reid from Tranmere Alliance has sent the following message around by email.

Hello All
Have just received notification of workshops being held for those people interested in WBC future approach to strategic priorities for allocating land use across the borough (green space/housing/business).

If you feel you would like to attend please contact myself or ring Hazel Edwards on 691 8225 to register by 8th Nov:-

[workshops on ...]
Friday 17th Nov 2pm
Wed 22nd Nov 6pm
Wallasey Town Hall, Committee room 2.

Thanks
Steph Reid
Community Development Officer
Tranmere Alliance
Tel:644 1100