We asked, you said, we did

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.

We asked

On 28 February 2022, Budget Council agreed a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. The budget was based on assumptions that some services within the Council would stop in order to generate savings and allow for the balanced budget to be achievable.

This included the closure (for a 12-month period) of Wirral Tennis & Sports Centre for redevelopment. A public consultation with regards to this option was opened on the Councils Have Your Say platform between 31 January and 27 March 2022.

You said

The questionnaire had 148 online and 9 paper responses. Of those responses, 65% said they, or somebody they cared for were regular users of Wirral Tennis Centre, and 48% said they were members of the Invigor8 scheme. The overall results were mixed, with an average response over the 3 questions of 43% in favour, and 42% against the budget saving.

The consultation exercise also received representation from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in their capacity as the national governing body for tennis. The LTA expressed concern at the proposed closure of three out of the six indoor tennis courts at the site. Consequently, the LTA have proposed a package of measures that will both deliver the required level of saving at the site together with a wider package of investment funding.

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

We did

The outcome of the consultation, together with the partnership agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association, was reported to the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure committee on Thursday, 16 June 2022. The committee agreed the reinstatement of the tennis offer, and development of community offer at the Wirral Tennis & Sports Centre (WTSC) subject to the implementation of a new model for tennis at the site, established through a partnership agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association.

We asked

On 28 February 2022, Budget Council agreed a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. The budget was based on assumptions that some services within the Council would stop in order to generate savings and allow for the balanced budget to be achievable. This included the permanent closure of Woodchurch Leisure Centre. A public consultation with regards to this option was opened on the Councils Have Your Say platform between 31 January and 27 March 2022.

You said

The questionnaire had 303 responses. Of those responses, 72% said they, or somebody they cared for were regular users of Wirral Council swimming pools, and 24% said they were members of the Invigor8 scheme. The overall results show a disagreement with the saving, with an average disagree response over 3 questions of 81%.

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

We did

The outcome of the consultation, together with proposed savings, was reported to the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure committee on Thursday, 16 June 2022, where the permanent closure of Woodchurch Leisure Centre was approved.

We asked

On 28 February 2022, Budget Council agreed a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. The budget was based on assumptions that some services within the Council would stop in order to generate savings and allow for the balanced budget to be achievable. This included the closure of the two poorest performing 18-hole golf courses – Brackenwood and Hoylake, as well as two leisure based recreational sites at New Brighton. A public consultation with regards to this option was opened on the Councils Have Your Say platform between 31 January -27 March 2022.

You said

The questionnaire had 433 online responses, with no paper copies submitted. Of those responses, 65% said they, or somebody they cared for were regular users of Wirral’s Municipal Golf Courses, and 39% said they were members of the Invigor8 scheme. 68% of respondents disagree with the budget proposal to close Brackenwood Golf Course, and 62% of respondents disagreed with the budget saving, to closure Hoylake Golf course. In respect of the Leisure golf courses, 45% of respondents disagreed with the closure, in comparison to 41% agreeing with the budget saving.

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

We did

The outcome of the consultation, together with proposed savings, was reported to the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure committee on Thursday, 16 June 2022, where the closure of Brackenwood and Hoylake golf courses, and the closure of Kings Parade and Wallasey Beach pitch n putt golf courses were approved.

We asked

On 28 February 2022, Budget Council agreed a balanced budget for the 2022/23 financial year. The budget was based on assumptions that some services within the Council would stop in order to generate savings and allow for the balanced budget to be achievable. This included the closure of the Fun (Leisure) Pool at Europa Pools and the development of a fitness facility. A public consultation was opened on the Councils Have Your Say platform between 31 January and 27 March 2022.

You said

The questionnaire had 240 responses. Of those responses, 74% said they, or somebody they cared for were regular users of Wirral Council swimming pools, and 28% said they were members of the Invigor8 scheme. The overall results show a lack of agreement with the saving, with an average disagree response over 4 questions of 75%.

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

We did

The outcome of the consultation, together with proposed savings, was reported to the Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure committee on Thursday, 16 June 2022. The committee considered all public feedback and made recommendations. They approved the permanent closure of the leisure pool at Europa Pools, with alternative provision and pool-based activities for children and young people within the main competition pool (and other sites where permissible). In addition, the alternative fitness offer within the space previously occupied by the leisure pool at Europa Pools was retained.

Between 1 December and 24 December 2021 a consultation on seven draft Traffic Regulation Orders (“TROs”) under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“RTRA) was carried out by the Council. Four of these TROs relate to existing off-street car parks and the other TROs would entail the introduction of on-street car parking charges.

The result of the consultation and the approval of the introduction of on-street and off-street car parking charges in various new locations was listed as an agenda item for the Environment, Climate, Emergency and Transport Committee on 20 June 2022. However, the item was deferred following correspondence received from a local business in relation to the legality of the proposals.

In light of this the Council has decided to wait until its new Parking Strategy is completed and adopted before proceeding with a fresh consultation process for off-street and on-street car parking.

We asked

The Culture and Heritage Strategy for Birkenhead was commissioned in support of the Council’s ambitious regeneration plans. The strategy will set out how the Council will work in partnership to make sure that culture and heritage are at the heart of plans for renewal, including transforming our precious public realm. Celebrating Birkenhead’s history, telling our story in new ways and energising our communities through cultural experiences has never been more important as we recover from the pandemic and look ahead to the future.

The Council carried out public and stakeholder engagement through the Have Your Say portal alongside a range of stakeholder engagement. The consultation invited views on areas including what Birkenhead’s cultural assets are, what are the main opportunities for and from culture and heritage, what aspects of culture and heritage should be priorities for support and development within the new culture and heritage strategy and what successful culture and heritage strategy outcomes would look like.

You said

Residents and stakeholders provided a range of feedback on developing the strategy including noting the strong assets which were Birkenhead’s parks and gardens, heritage and museums and galleries. There was also feedback on priority areas for support and development and ensuring that provision was provided for children and young people. Issues and challenges to developing culture and heritage were also identified including maximising funding opportunities, ensuring connection with communities and creatives, and improving visitor experience.

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

We did

The findings from the engagement were reviewed and a draft strategy was developed and taken to the Council’s Tourism, Culture and Leisure Committee on 17 November 2021 for review. Following that, further engagement was undertaken with key stakeholders to finalise the strategy and to develop an action plan for the next 12 months. A number of changes have been made to the strategy in response to the engagement, for example strengthening the strategic themes and priorities to ensure that the Council’s and partners’ commitment to promote and protect the history and heritage of Birkenhead and Wirral is fully articulated.

The Heritage and Culture Strategy for Birkenhead was approved by the Council’s Tourism, Culture and Leisure Committee on 8 March 2022, and the action plan is now being delivered.

We asked: On 1st September 2021 Wirral Council embarked on the first of a series of consultation events aimed at capturing stakeholders’ ideas and feedback on the Dock Branch Park proposal, including a virtual 'Idea's Board' here on Have Your Say. The consultation events were designed to engage with stakeholders from a wide demographic spectrum including young people, people with a disability, parent groups and the public who will use the park on a daily basis

You said: In total 491 residents and stakeholders have contributed to the consultation carried out on the Ideas Board, Igloo workshops and pop-up events run by 'Placed'. Overall, there is support for the project to transform an unused part of Birkenhead into a valuable community asset. There is also a desire to be fully involved in the process of design to ensure that Dock Branch is responsive and designed in partnership with local communities.

For more information, and to see the results of these consultation events, click here.

We Did: The results of the consultation will be presented to the design team consisting of Mott McDonald, Building Design Partnership (BDP), Optimised Environments (OpEn) and officers of the Council. The findings of the consultation will be taken in to account and incorporated into the design of the park. Further consultation is planned for later in 2022.

We Asked

We asked residents whether we should change to 'whole council' elections or continue with the current system of ‘elections by thirds’.

You Said

527 people contributed to the consultation, which took the form of a poll. Most people (60.9%) thought that the council should move to an all-out electoral system. 38.0% did not think the council should move to this system, and 1.1% had no preference.

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

We Did

The consultation report was presented to an extraordinary meeting of the council on 21st March 2022. Based on the report, the committee agreed to move to whole Whole Council elections from 2023.