Where on earth is local democracy on Merseyside?
If we don’t know what’s going on, or what decisions are being made, how can we figure out if any of it should be happening the way it is or not, or what, if anything, we can do about it?
It’s a thought that sits at the heart of what we’re trying to do here at the Monitor. It’s also why we’d really like to thank those who got in touch following our recent piece about a Q&A session with metro mayor Steve Rotheram. The story partly circled the issue of low democratic engagement, among other things, which we hope to explore in future pieces (so watch this space).
We had some people contact us who had been unaware the event, right on their doorsteps, was even taking place, saying they would have gone otherwise. It got us thinking, because we did know about the event before it happened and we could have shared that with you. It’s given us an idea.
We plan to publish a regular piece about upcoming local democracy-related events and meetings on Merseyside. It‘s not going to be a literary masterpiece, it might indeed be the driest thing we ever publish, but it will include any council meetings coming up, a bit of what’s up for discussion, why it might matter and how you can either observe or get involved. We’ll also try to keep track of other events, such as the Q&A, in more informal spaces where issues around local democracy are up for discussion in some way.
We’re going to be figuring this out as we go along, including working out what should and shouldn’t be listed, and indeed whether there’s enough going on to justify this being a weekly email or it turns out it would be better done monthly or folded into other newsletters we send, so the format may well change over the coming weeks as we tweak what works best.
We’d like it to be an exhaustive list, but my cats don’t do research and they make up more than half our team at the moment, so we could do with a bit of help to make it as comprehensive as possible.
It would be great if you could let us know about anything you think our readers ought to know is coming up and we can include in the new diary. Examples of events we could have let you know about recently include a ‘how local democracy can help tackle racism’ event at Wirral Change, which we had hoped to attend but were sadly stymied by half term - but maybe you could have made it? Or, indeed, the metro mayor‘s Q&A.
It’s a bit of a time-consuming process, and if there’s anyone interested in coming on board to help with this task, we’d love to hear from you too. We’re entirely reader-funded, not for profit and utterly skint on the whole, so we can’t reimburse you right now (but would like that to change in time) so this would be in a voluntary capacity, and if you do have any capacity, please do get in touch.
Drop us an email at themerseymonitor@outlook.com or message us on 07442 402 023. If you would like to help fund what we’re doing here at the Monitor, please also feel free to sign up as a regular or one-off donor, we’d be very grateful (details at the bottom).
Any events we get wind of, we can add to the list and the diary will drop conveniently into your inboxes (if you’re signed up to receive emails, it’s completely free) usually on a Sunday night, but we thought we might as well confuse things this week by sending the first on a Monday morning.
We will also keep a live diary article up on our homepage, which we will update regularly, so you can also check back there to see if there’s anything that piques your interest.
We do appreciate some of these meetings can seem a bit potentially dull as dishwater, although I’ve long argued that a full council meeting in Sefton can be far more entertaining and interesting than an episode of any soap opera - but the need for an element of tolerance for bureaucratic process and language is admittedly high, I get it’s not for everyone. We want to bring what they’re about as down to earth as possible.
As dry as they can be, though, these meetings are where many decisions that affect us in our daily lives are getting made, so it’s important stuff and worth being aware of, even if there’s no time or capacity to get involved. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.
Finally, back to our initial question: where’s local democracy on Merseyside? On its most basic level, it happens when we vote in our politicians, of course, but that’s far from the end of the story.
At least in part, it’s here now with all of us, in the very act of taking an interest. It’s also in sometimes sparsely attended meetings and events where strategies are devised and decisions made that affect us all.
If people don’t know when those meetings are happening, what decisions are being made or why any of it matters, it’s difficult for anyone to take part. So, in that spirit, for your perusal …
Decisions, decisions, decisions
Welcome to the Monitor’s live guide to (local) democracy-related events and meetings on Merseyside.
This guide is not exhaustive, but we would like to be as comprehensive as possible, so if we’ve overlooked something important, please do get in touch and we can add it to this live diary. You can email themerseymonitor@outlook.com or drop us a text on 07442 402 023.
Just click on an event to see more details, including any booking links. All events listed are free to attend. We have not verified the information in the events listings, so please do get in touch if something appears amiss.
Monday 8 June
Sefton Council employment procedure committee, 12pm, Bootle town hall
What’s being discussed: interviews are being held for a consultant in public health.
How to get involved: In short, you can’t. The press and public are excluded from this meeting, but we figured it was still worth letting you know it’s happening.
Agenda: https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=12353
Sefton Council, licensing and regulatory committee, 6.30pm, Bootle town hall
What’s being discussed: Much of the agenda is taken up with annual reports on the council’s licensing services, giving an insight into how they have operated over the past year. The taxi licensing report shows a sharp rise in the number of private hire licences, with almost 13,000 live taxi-related licences now in force across the borough, while the council says 25 licences were revoked and five suspended during the year, mainly for offences involving drugs, violence, sexual offending or serious driving matters. The committee will also be asked to approve the next stage of the ‘Les Transformations de Southport’ a public realm scheme aimed at reshaping the promenade around the new Marine Lake Events Centre and pier, including new pedestrian crossings, a segregated cycle lane, changes to traffic flows and revised parking and drop off arrangements.
How to get involved: The meeting is open to the public and can be attended in person.
Agenda and reports pack: https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=124&MId=12260
Watch: The meeting takes place in the committee room at Bootle Town Hall. Previous meetings have been live-streamed, although the agenda doesn’t confirm if this is this case for this meeting. If it is, it will be available here: https://sefton.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
Carers Conference - Building Carer Friendly Communities, from 10am - 7pm, Eureka! science and discovery centre
What is it: Hosted by Wirral Carers Alliance, this conference includes morning, afternoon and early evening sessions so there’s still time to book. The event brings various sectors together to look at how to improve the situation for the army of unpaid carers out there.
How to get involved: Free ticketed event, details available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/carers-conference-building-carer-friendly-communities-tickets-1990837094341?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#location
Digital Help Sessions for Visually Impaired Users, various times, Liverpool Central Library
What is it: Free in-person sessions where staff will help visually impaired to explore and access digital library services. People are advised it’s best to bring your own device. There are also sessions on Friday 12 June.
How to get involved: Tickets can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-digital-help-sessions-for-visually-impaired-users-tickets-1989991777977?aff=ebdssbdestsearch#organizer-card
Liverpool City Region: Shaping the Future of Health, 1-8pm, Pembroke House (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
What is it: This is an event hosted by Biograd Ltd aimed at ‘leaders and professionals across healthcare, policy, research, innovation, education, industry and community organisations who are passionate about improving health outcomes for women and shaping the future of equitable healthcare.’ It’s about exploring partnership approaches to drive more equitable health outcomes for women with the lineup including local councillor Rahima Farah, who is also a governor at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and member of the Liverpool Women’s Health Taskforce. The event is part of a LCR series taking place this June.
How to get involved: Tickets can be booked here.
Tuesday 9 June
Sefton Council, Overview and scrutiny committee (regulatory, compliance and public services). 6.30pm, Southport town hall
What the committee does: Overview and Scrutiny committees do not make decisions themselves. Instead, they hold the council to account by examining policies, monitoring performance and questioning whether services and projects are delivering what was promised.
What’s being discussed: The main item is Sefton’s annual Climate Emergency progress report. Councillors will review how far the authority has progressed towards its target of becoming a net zero council by 2030. The report says council emissions have fallen by 43% since 2019, but that progress has slowed, with only a very marginal reduction in the past year. Members will also hear about projects including energy efficiency upgrades to Bootle Library, new solar panel installations at leisure centres, home retrofit schemes for residents and plans to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The committee will also hear a cabinet member update and set its work programme for the coming year, deciding which issues it wants to scrutinise in future.
How you can get involved: The meeting is open to the public. More details here.
St Helens Council, Planning Committee, 5.30pm, St Helens town hall
What’s being discussed: An application to convert the former Bird I’th Hand pub on Prescot Road into six apartments, alongside the construction of five new townhouses on the surrounding land. The plans have attracted 25 objections from local residents, raising concerns about the scale of the development, parking, traffic, loss of the pub and its impact on the character of the area, but council officers are recommending approval. The committee will also consider an application relating to the former Pilkington Welfare / Ruskin Leisure site.
How to get involved: The meeting is open to the public and can be attended at St Helens Town Hall or watched live through the council’s webcast service. St Helens allows public speaking on planning applications, with separate opportunities for supporters and objectors to address the committee, although this has to be arranged in advance. The webcast also includes a dedicated Speakers section, so if someone is registered to speak you can watch their contribution live or afterwards.
Agenda and reports pack:
Watch live: https://sthelens.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1090338
Wirral Council: Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, 6pm, Wallasey town hall
What’s being discussed: It is a fairly substantial agenda this month. Members will be asked to approve a new three-year Domestic Abuse Strategy, receive an annual update on the borough’s Drugs Strategy, consider the annual report from the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board and review the draft Quality Account for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The committee will also look at the Better Care Fund, which pools NHS and council money for integrated health and social care services, and receive updates on the council’s adult social care budget and performance.
How to get involved: The meeting is open to the public, although Wirral Council asks anyone planning to attend to register in advance because seating is limited. It will also be webcast live. Members of the public can submit questions, statements and petitions under the council’s public participation rules, although these must usually be lodged before the meeting.
Agenda and reports pack:
https://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=908&MId=12768
St Helens Council, An Introduction to St Helens Archive Service, 12 - 1pm, Ecclestone Library
What is it: Does what it says on the tin - an introduction to the council’s archiving service and how you can use it to find out about the area’s past.
How to get involved: Book online for free here.
Language Networks Now: Living the Language, 1 - 5pm, University of Liverpool Management School
What is it: It is an event by the Centre for Teaching Excellence of Language Learning, focused on language learning and how this can be better encouraged within educational settings on Merseyside and in the wider north west, with a range of speakers from local schools, the council and the university.
How to get involved: Book online here.
Developing more resilient communities, 6:45 - 8:30pm, Quaker Meeting House
What is it: One of a series of events across Merseyside linked in with the People’s Emergency Briefing (which you can find out more about here). This event organised by Transition Liverpool focuses on how to create more resilient communities and promises free soup and bread alongside open discussion.
How to get involved: Book for free here
Finance and Funding Clinic, 10 - 12pm, Liverpool Science Park
What is it: Organised by the Liverpool City Region finance hub, this is a business clinic for local residents to get more information about funding and finance, as the name suggests.
How to get involved: Book your slot here.
Wednesday 10 June
Sefton Planning Committee, 6.30pm, Bootle Town Hall
What the committee does: Planning committees decide whether developments get the go-ahead and can have a direct impact on local communities.
What’s being discussed: Developers behind the East of Maghull development want permission for an additional 100 homes to be occupied before the planned spine road linking Poverty Lane and School Lane is completed. Officers are recommending approval, while local residents and Maghull Town Council have raised concerns about traffic and infrastructure. The committee will also consider planning applications in Litherland and Birkdale.
How to get involved: The public can attend the meeting and Sefton also webcasts many meetings. People wishing to speak on planning applications usually need to arrange this in advance. This meeting doesn’t appear to be live-streamed.
Committee calendar and papers:
https://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=12191
Liverpool Council Health and Wellbeing Board, 1pm, Liverpool town hall
What the committee does: The Health and Wellbeing Board brings together the council, NHS, Healthwatch and other organisations to discuss the overall health of the city and set long-term priorities. Meetings are held in public and focus on the bigger picture rather than day-to-day NHS operations.
What’s being discussed: This week’s agenda includes a look back at Liverpool’s 40 years as part of the World Health Organisation’s Healthy Cities network, an update on future priorities for the board and an overview of the new five-year Cheshire and Merseyside NHS strategic commissioning plan, which sets out how health services are expected to evolve over the coming years.
How to get involved: This meeting can be attended in person and there is a public question function - questions or statements must be submitted at least two days in advance of meetings and follow certain criteria - details here
Liverpool City Council: Street Trading Sub-Committee, 1pm, Liverpool Town Hall
What the committee does: Deals with street trading applications and related licensing matters.
What’s being discussed: An application for a street trading license and renewal.
How to get involved: Press and public tend to be excluded due to personal information being discussed, but worth knowing it exists.
Thursday 11 June
St Helens Council, People’s Board, 2,30pm, St Helens town hall
What it does: The People’s Board looks at issues affecting the wellbeing of residents and the delivery of local services.
What’s being discussed: Unclear, no agenda has been released.
How to get involved: This meeting can be attended in person, any live-streaming is available here.
UPDATE - this committee has been disbanded and replace by the Health and Wellbeing board. The meeting was still on the calendar in error and has since been removed.
SEND Laws - How do they affect my child? 10-11.30am, University of Chester, Westminster building
What is it: Bit out of our neck of the woods, but close enough it felt worth mentioning. Information session organised by University of Chester for parents and carers whose children are affected by SEND laws.
How to get involved: Book here.
Help Shape Sefton’s Collective Response to Improving Oral Health, 9.15 - 1pm, Brunswick Youth and Community Centre
What is it: Sefton Public Health is developing a new Oral Health Improvement Plan, with a focus on prevention. This workshop organised by the council and LJMU is about help to shape that action plan.
How to get involved: You can book tickets to take part here
Friday 12 June
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Annual Meeting, 1pm, No. 1 Mann Island
What it does: The annual meeting of the Combined Authority, which brings together the six Merseyside councils to make decisions on issues that cross local boundaries, such as transport, housing, skills, economic development and major investment projects.
What’s being discussed: As this is the authority’s annual meeting, much of the agenda is about governance, including appointing members to committees and updating the constitution. Alongside that, members will consider the Combined Authority’s annual review, its latest performance report, investment fund updates, plans for Liverpool North Docks, and the award of a contract to roll out more electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the city region.
How you can get involved: The meeting can be watched live online here. Members of the public can also attend in person and take part by submitting questions or petitions in advance through the Combined Authority’s democratic services team.
Planning Ahead for Growth, Business Growth Workshops, 10 -11.30am, Strawberry Field
What is it: Run by the Business Growth Service at Liverpool Council, this is one of a series of workshops to explore key areas and themes relevant to business growth. EVENT CANCELLED.
How to get involved: Book here
Introduction To Domestic Abuse, 1-3pm, Formby Library
What is it: Organised by the Sefton Domestic Abuse Service, this session is about understanding domestic abuse, patterns of behaviour, victim experiences, approaches to tackling DV and keeping people safe, and where the criminal and civil justice systems fit in.
How to get involved: Book to attend here.
Saturday June 13
Town Hall Time Machine, 1.30 - 4.30pm, Start-Yard, Birkenhead
What is it: A creative community session exploring the past, present, and future of Birkenhead Town Hall. Involves zines, collages and shared ideas. Organised by Make, in conjunction with Placed.
How to get involved: Book here
hang on a sec …
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