Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer seeking the views of the Committee on the Work Programme for 2018/19, the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by a Working Group(s) appointed by the Committee and the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan.

Paul Fraser, Senior Democratic Services Officer advised that he had been contacted by the Head of Locality Services regarding the submission of the report on the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) to the meeting on 6 November 2018. The PFRA was a requirement under the Flood Risk Regulations, 2009. And was a strategic assessment of areas at significant flood risk. The PRFA was reviewed on a 6 year cycle and a review was undertaken in 2017 and considered by this Committee for comment prior to submission. The next review was due in 2023. A summary of the PFRA would be noted in the Flood Risk Annual Report which would be considered by this Committee on 6 November 2018. Accordingly, it was recommended that the a report on PFRA be no longer submitted to the next meeting.

Members asked questions/raised issues on the following matter:-

·         The effectiveness of the Council’s enforcement activities , for example in relation to fly-tipping, planning and Public Space Protection Orders, and the associated byelaws and regulations

RESOLVED: That

(1)

subject to the deletion the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment report, the Work Programme for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(2)

the reports updating on the implementation of recommendations arising from the Shale Gas Working Group and United Utilities – Update on Increase in Charges be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 6 November 2018;

(3)

Career Connect be requested to submit a presentation to the next meeting of the Committee on the impact in Sefton of their contract, due to end in March 2019, to deliver support for NEET young people in vulnerable groups;

(4)

approval be given to the establishment of a Joint Working Group with Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) to examine post-19 provision for Special Educational Needs and Disability, in order to improve conditions for this vulnerable group of young people;

(5)

Councillors Dowd and Michael O’Brien be appointed to serve on the Joint Working Group referred to in (4) above;

(6)

the establishment of the Apprenticeships Working Group as agreed by Minute No. 7 (2) of 3 July 2018 be no longer pursued;

(7)

a Working Group be established to review the topic of the effectiveness of the Council’s enforcement activities; and the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer be requested to contact members of the Committee to seek their willingness to serve on the Working Group.