Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Paul Fraser Senior Democratic Services Officer
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: No apologies for absence were received.
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Declarations of Interest Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.
Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.
Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.
Minutes: No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting Minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2020 Minutes: Decision Made:
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2020 be approved as a correct record.
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Report of the Chief Executive
A presentation will also be made to Cabinet Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive that provided an overview of the Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; that ensured that Cabinet Members were fully informed on the impacts and mitigations; and were engaged in discussions on management and potential changes to affected services.
The Cabinet also received a presentation from Dwayne Johnson, Chief Executive on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic that provided information on:
· The Council’s approach to the pandemic which included supporting the most vulnerable, working alongside partner agencies and businesses, communications with communities and planning for recovery · Governance arrangements in place which included membership of the Merseyside Resilience Forum’s Strategic and Tactical Groups; the establishment of Strategic and Tactical Groups for Sefton, supported by 12 operational cells; continued proactive communications with communities and the workforce; and strategic and tactical recovery planning that was underway · The immediate Council response to the pandemic following Royal Assent of the Coronavirus 2020 Act on 25 March which included an announcement of business grants and rate relief; agile working; virtual meetings; maintaining services – e.g. social work, cleansing services and on-line library services; the closure of some services – libraries; leisure services; Atkinson; the establishment of support infrastructure for clinically vulnerable shielding residents including emergency food support, basic care needs and delivery of medicines; staff volunteering to work in other departments; the ordering of significant amounts of PPE; and communications · Key statistics so far which included grants paid totalling almost £45M to over 4,000 businesses; support provided to over 3,000 Sefton residents who were considered extremely vulnerable and in need of shielding; 1,000 Sefton residents who had registered as volunteers and Sefton Councillors who had been actively been involved in contacting over 3,000 households; the redeployment of over 500 Officers to support alternative service areas to meet new or additional demands; almost 1000 lab-confirmed positive Covid cases in Sefton being reported; and tragically over 278 people had died in Sefton of Covid 19 · Support for residents and communities and the Council’s workforce in relation to children social care and youth services; schools and early years services; adult social care; public health; the provision of temporary accommodation to over 140 homeless households; highways; cultural activities; economic and business support; Registrars; refuse services; Contact centre; shielded residents; Voluntary Sector partnership and support; and elected members visiting socially isolated residents · The economic impacts in Sefton which included 27,700 jobs furloughed in the borough as at 31st May 2020 and that financial support for 8,500 self-employed individuals had been provided; and details of the potential job losses in various employment sectors; · Core objectives for recovery planning which included the development and implementation of a recovery plan for the borough that supported delivery of the partnership 2030 vision for Sefton, the Council’s effectiveness in its role in that plan, including maximising opportunity for transformation and continuous improvement and collaborative work with partners to develop and implement this plan, ensuring prioritisation of shared objectives and the 2030 Vision; the return to local democracy ... view the full minutes text for item 12. |
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Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided an initial view on the financial issues that may affect the Council’s finances and financial sustainability as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. The report provided details of the key areas that would require monitoring and reporting together with an early estimate of the financial impact in both the current year and future years; and in doing so, the report updated on the dialogue that was ongoing with central government and the required guidance and support that the Council required.
The report was the first in a series of reports that would be provided to each future Cabinet meeting on the financial impact of the pandemic, with revisions being made to future reports both in terms of the financial estimates and the proposed approach to addressing each issue as per central government guidance.
Decision Made:
That:
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Covid-19 Procurement Arrangements Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that as part of the central government response to the COVID 19 pandemic, a number of Policy Procurement Notes (PPN) were issued to all Council’s that provided direction on how certain procurement activities should be administered and how existing contractual relationships between the Council and 3rd parties should be maintained or could be varied.
The report detailed that the Council’s own Contract Procedure Rules set out how the Council should administer its contractual arrangements and therefore it was important that visibility was provided on how these maybe impacted. As a result, the report sought to delegate authority to officers in order to amend current Council goods and/or services and works contracts to ensure continuity in the operation of Council services, or appoint an emergency contractor as per the Government’s PPNs.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
To expedite approval for each contract variation or new contract appointment arising due to COVID-19 and to ensure that there is no delay in effecting an appointment or variation due to governance issues and to comply with government guidance.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
In the event that this delegation was not put in place, each responsible officer would ... view the full minutes text for item 14. |
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Medically Managed Residential Detoxification for Substance Use Report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing Minutes: Further to Minute No. 105 of 7 March 2019 the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing advising that Medically Managed Residential Detoxification Services were highly specialised services, and few existed outside of NHS Trusts; that in March 2016, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust were awarded a contract to provide these services with effect from 1st July 2016; that the contract was awarded for three years with an option to extend for up to a further two years; that quarterly performance and service reviews throughout the duration of the contract proved entirely satisfactory and on 7th March 2019 Cabinet approved a two-year contract extension to be exercised with effect from the 1st July 2019.
The report concluded that consideration was now required on re-procuring this service as the current extension term expired on the 30th June 2021.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
Medically Managed Residential Detoxification Services are a critical part of any substance use treatment system. As part of this treatment system, Sefton Council commissions residential detoxification services for individuals wanting to realise a drug and /or alcohol-free life, but where physical or mental ill health, family or social circumstances makes it unlikely that they are able to achieve this goal in a community setting. Medically Managed Residential Detoxification Services are often the means by which people with complex health care needs go on to achieve full rehabilitation and integration back into employment, education or training opportunities.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
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Report of the Executive Director of Children's Social Care and Education Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Children’s Social Care and Education that advised of the work agencies had undertaken to safeguard children from child sexual and criminal exploitation and children who have been reported as missing from home / care.
Decision Made:
That the work taking place in Sefton regarding child sexual and criminal exploitation and safeguarding children who have been reported as missing from home /care be noted.
Reasons for Decision:
To ensure Cabinet is aware of the partnership activity undertaken to safeguard children from child sexual and criminal exploitation in Sefton and when they have been reported as missing, in respect of the statutory duties of every local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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Business Discretionary Grants Report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing that advised, in accordance with the Constitution of the Council, of the decision of the Leader of the Council to exercise his powers to make urgent decisions because of the necessity to deliver emergency grant funding to Sefton businesses as part of the Government’s Covid-19 response in Sefton.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
To advise of the decisions taken by the Leader of the Council, in accordance with the Constitution of the Council, to exercise his powers to make urgent decisions because of the necessity to deliver emergency grant funding to Sefton businesses as part of the Government’s Covid19 response as to delay would cause them further financial hardship and distress.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
Delay of approval of the scheme until the date of this Cabinet meeting. This was rejected as to delay any further would have caused business recipients further financial hardship and distress and potentially place many businesses at risk of contraction or closure.
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