Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that included the most recent reports from the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing; Locality Services; Planning and Building Control; and Regeneration and Skills.

Councillor Atkinson, Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills presented her report and particularly referenced:

·       The positive results detailed in the latest data from Career Connect associated with NEET Reduction and Early Intervention

·       The engagement with local businesses and case studies undertaken

·       Business visits undertaken to Print Room UK Ltd. and Character Mailing, Aintree

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following aspects of Councillor Atkinson’s report:

·       In respect of the Southport Food and Drink Festival a comment was made that the entrance fee to the event was too high; a complaint was made that attendees were not allowed to bring their own food and drink into the event; it was alleged that the costs for a certain product at the event was very high; and a question was asked whether the Council had control over conditions attached to the event

·       In respect of the European Social Fund (ESF) concern was expressed at the cessation of funding at the end of 2023; and that without replacement funding, Ways to Work in Sefton and the Positive Inclusions Project were under threat. Clarification was sought on the scale of the problem; and whether this issue was included on the Council’s corporate risk register

Councillor Hardy, Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing presented her report and particularly referenced:

·       Major infrastructure work begins on the People’s Network

·       Improvement works to Meadows Library

·       The breakdown of funding secured through the Rough Sleeper Initiative over the next 3 years

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following aspects of Councillor Hardy’s report:

·       In respect of equalities issues, the low response of staff getting in touch in relation to the disability staff group and LGBT staff group

·       In respect of Neighbourhoods and Partnerships, were elected Members automatically invited to attend events in their wards

Members of the Committee also asked questions/commented on the following matters:

·       Work underway to move the Careline onto a Cloud-based platform (the migration of older physical systems to a brand-new Cloud service) that would significantly improve the operation of the service

·       The potential to purchase or lease specialist equipment to remove gum from pavements

·       How volunteer groups are alerted to the availability of funding, via ward funds, for small value capital issues

RESOLVED: That