We asked, you said, we did

We asked

As part of the budget consultation exercise for the 2023-24 budget, a budget proposal for Street Cleansing was put forward. Residents were asked their views on reductions in the scale of regular service street cleansing across the borough in residential areas.

You said and we did

61.5% of the responses either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposals. The option to reduce the scale of regular service street cleansing across the borough in residential areas was therefore removed from the final budget proposals set before Budget P&R Committee on 15 February 2023, and taken for final ratification at Budget Council on 27 February 2023.

The budget page is here.

We Asked

Wirral Council is looking to introduce more 20mph speed limits to improve air quality and reduce traffic speeds so that people can feel safer on the road. 15 Zones were consulted upon. We asked for residents' views on the introduction of the scheme, by each zone.

You Said

919 people responded to the survey, 66.4% objected to the introduction of the scheme and 33.6% supported it.

The survey identified some concerns about the introduction of the scheme, which included that:

• It would increase journey times.
• It would increase air pollution.
• It would increase congestion.
• It was not appropriate for main roads.
• It would not make the roads safer.
• It would not be enforceable.

Supporters believed that the scheme would:

• Make the roads safer.
• Change driver attitude for the better
• Become and accepted aspect of road safety, like seatbelts.

We Did

During the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee on 30th January 2023, officers were able to provide detailed responses to resident's concerns, which can be viewed in the documents section of the 20mph Scheme project page.

It was recommended and agreed that 20mph speed limits are introduced in the 15 zones identified, as part of phase 1 of this scheme.

We Asked

The Community Champions programme was launched on 1 September 2020 by Wirral Council to support the need for clear, accurate information, shared by trusted voices, during the pandemic. Since that time more than 600 people have signed up to help keep their communities safe.

The local authority wanted to gain residents views over a series of questions relating to COVID-19 to help them evaluate their response to the pandemic. The survey evaluated the community champions programme and the role they have played distributing key messages to communities throughout the pandemic.

You Said

1. There have been some shifts in attitudes toward covid and covid safe behaviours. People felt less at risk as the research progressed.
2. There were many social and economic changes that could have contributed to people’s changing attitudes.
3. Members of the public might take a defensive stance against government recommendations after being confused about changing rules during the pandemic.
4. Misinformation during the pandemic has likely led to a lack of trust.
5. Risk perception and covid safe behaviours change in different demographics.
6. Information over-load might have made the public disengage from messaging about covid-19.
7. Community champions played a valuable role during covid, but now their role is likely to change
8. Community champions wanted to remain community champions, but with a focus on different behaviours. Some suggestions were mental and physical health, asylum seeker support, and support for families in poverty

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We Did

The community champions programme is to be relaunched in early 2023 based on the recommendations within the report. Champions will be categorised based on their interests and a training and communications programme developed for each thematic area. The first area of interest to be developed is Cost of Living.

We asked

in order to develop a pollinator strategy, the consultation sought the views of Wirral residents' feedback on the following 5 key areas:

You said

The questionnaire yielded 172 responses, and the mapping tool received 48 pollinator site recommendations. Responses conveyed strong support for the development of a pollinator strategy for Wirral in order to address the decline in pollinators and support the local commitment to tackle the declared climate emergency

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

Following the consultation, a strategy was developed to support pollinators in Wirral. The Wirral Pollinator Strategy sets out five broad aims that the Council and its partners will work together to deliver:

1. Ensure the needs of pollinators are represented in local plans, policy, and guidance for regeneration and economic development.
2. Protect, increase, and enhance the amount of pollinator habitat in Wirral to prevent extinctions and improve the status of any locally threatened species
3. Increase awareness of pollinators and their habitat needs across local residents, community and voluntary groups, businesses, and other landowners
4. Increase the contribution to pollinator conservation of all land under the ownership of, or managed by the Council
5. Improve our knowledge and understanding of pollinators in our local area

The Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport committee on 30th November 2022 reviewed and approved the consultation and strategy.

The strategy in full can be found on the consultation page.

We asked

The consultation sought the views of parents/carers and other stakeholders on options for change in schools. One proposal was an amalgamation of Manor Primary School and Hillside Primary School: the closure of both schools and opening of a new combined school on one site. Pupils from both schools would be guaranteed a place at the single school. The second proposal was amalgamation of St Peter’s Catholic Primary School and St Paul’s Catholic Primary School; the closure of both schools and opening of a new combined school on one site. Pupils from both schools would be guaranteed a place at the single school.

You said

The questionnaire had 421 responses, 104 direct representations were received and a petition specific to Manor Primary school from 238 individuals objecting to the proposal being consulted. There was significant opposition by the local community to the possibility of amalgamation of the schools.

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

Following consultation alternative proposals were put forward and these were supported by Officer Decision Making by the Council. In summary these are:

• For St Peter’s and St Paul’s RC Primary Schools to maintain the schools as is with greater collaboration between schools moving forward land at an opportune time look to either a soft federation (each school retains its governing body but there is a shared leadership structure) or a hard federation (the school has one governing body but operates as two separate schools).
• Hillside Primary School have made an application to the DFE in relation to joining the Co-op Multi Academy Trust (MAT). Senior officers from the local authority have met with the CEO of the Co-op MAT, they have confirmed that given the expected pupil numbers that will attend the school in medium/long term they can support Hillside Primary School in remaining viable. This can be achieved through additional support they are willing to offer the school as part of the trust.
• Manor Primary School have shared an alternative proposal in relation to receiving continued support from the Leading Learners Trust. Senior Officers from the local authority have met with the CEO of the Leading Learners Trust. The school have been receiving support from the trust in relation to school improvement for the last 12 months and have articulated that with continued partnership the school can be supported to remain viable in the future.

We asked

The Safer Streets 2 Project was a crime reduction programme in Central Birkenhead and Seacombe which was completed in March 2022. Part of the funding was used to install around 30 new alleygates in Central Birkenhead and Seacombe, as well as new CCTV and streetlighting upgrades. In order to assess the impact of the Safer Streets 2 project we asked for your thoughts on the new alleygates, CCTV provision and streetlighting, including whether or not you noticed a reduction in crime or anti-social behaviour in the area.

You said

A total of 31 survey responses were received, however 12 were excluded due to the respondent's postcode being outside of the Safer Streets 2 area.

The responses were mixed on alleygates, with most respondents using positive language when describing how they feel going into their alleyways following the transformation, but most respondents responded with negative sentiments about the alleyways and stated that the clean-up of the alleyways or installation of alleygates did not do much to change their negative perceptions. Some respondents stated that they now feel safer or have no change in experience.

The responses were also mixed for CCTV, with the majority of respondents reporting no change in their experience of criminal behaviour since the installation of CCTV cameras in their area and no change in how safe they feel in their community since the installation of CCTV cameras. A number of respondents stated that they felt they had to install CCTV on their properties in order to protect their properties or in response to instances of crime.

When asked about whether changes to streetlighting had changed their experiences of criminal behaviour, the majority of respondents stated that they had no change in experience, whereas some stated that they had experienced less instances of crime.

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

Following the consultation, the feedback will be used to help the council target resources more effectively and help structure bids for future projects.

We asked

The Knife Angel was located at the Grand Arch, Birkenhead Park throughout July 2022 to act as a catalyst for turning the tide on violent and aggressive behaviour, and as a poignant memorial for the countless lives lost to knife crime.

Visitors to the Angel were asked to provide feedback about the Knife Angel at the site by writing messages on the Knife Angel banners or engaging with the chaplains and also online on a Have your say website Guestbook in order pledge commitment to the national anti-violence message.

You said

A number of key themes were identified in the messages received on the banners, these included: requests for individuals to consider the consequences of their actions if they use a knife, messages emphasising the negative impacts of knife crime, reflecting on the emotional impact of visiting the Knife Angel and many shorter messages from younger children which summarised the general message of the seriousness of violence and knife crime.

For more information and to view the pledge report click here.

We did

These banners will continue to be used as an educational resource and talking point for future work on the issue of knife crime with the Detached Youth Work Team.

We asked

A Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), which describes current pharmacy services in Wirral and an assessment of the needs of the local people for pharmacy services, was created after an initial phase of consultation at the end of 2021. This second phase of consultation asked residents to provide feedback on the draft 2022-2025 PNA, particularly if there were omissions, additions or any general comments that could be made.

You said

A total of 51 survey responses were received. The responses highlighted a number of queries, questions or comments related to the draft PNA. Overall, the responses received support the review of the Wirral Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022-2025. A number of points raised through the consultation in terms of operational considerations, will be considered by Wirral PNA Development Group.

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

Following the consultation, feedback was considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 6 October 2022, where the Board approved the PNA for publication.

We asked

As part of its budget setting process for 2022-2023, Wirral Council carried out a budget consultation with residents about what council services matter most to them. The consultation ran from 2 to 28 November 2022, and asked residents what their priorities are, what council services they felt made a difference, and where they believe the Council should be focusing its efforts to help develop the budget plan.

You said

A total of 534 survey responses were received, 530 online responses and 4 paper copies. In summing up responses, Parks and Open Spaces and Children’s Services were highlighted as being among the top 3 for both most valued services and most important services to invest more resources in. Safe and Pleasant Communities was the priority most frequently placed as most important, specifically ‘working with partner agencies to reduce crime and tackle anti-social behaviour’.

112 contributions were made to the ideas board by 78 participants. The most common themes were the Council’s operation and structure, ideas relating to maintenance and ideas relating to golf courses.

For more information about the consultation and to view the consultation report click here.

We did

Following the consultation, feedback was considered by the Policy and Resources Committee on 17 January 2022 and referred to the specific Budget meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 15 February 2022, where recommendation of the budget savings was made. This was ratified at Budget Council on 28 February 2022.

We asked

As part of the budget consultation exercise in 2022 a budget proposal for public conveniences was put forward and residents were asked their views on the closure of some of the Councils conveniences. Five public conveniences were proposed to be closed; these were toilets that had not been re-opened since the pandemic due to the enhance cleaning required

You said

There were 364 responses to the consultation and of these 88% used public toilets. In total 79% of respondents disagreed with the planned closures.

We did

On 25 October 2022 the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee approved the proposals to shut toilets at Moreton Cross, West Kirby Concourse, Meols Parade and New Ferry. For these public toilets approval was given that they be declared surplus to requirement and the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to consider other options for the sites including marketing them for sale, demolition and clearance or any expressions of interest from communities.

The Committee resolved that Council officers work towards a solution where the Public Toilets in Thornton Hough are available while sports teams are using the green and open at weekends.

Facilities at West Kirby Marine Lake, Harrison Drive in New Brighton, Hoylake and Moreton Common will remain. The four toilets remaining in use were chosen as to meet the needs of residents and visitors due to their location, frequency of use, ability to maintain good cleaning standards and in maintaining a good provision of toilet facilities within a given radius.