Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Paul Fraser Senior Democratic Services Officer
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Apologies for Absence Minutes:
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Fairclough.
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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 25 June 2020 Minutes: Decision Made:
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2020 be approved as a correct record.
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St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School Report of the Interim Head of Education Minutes: Further to Minute No. 119 of 5 March 2020 the Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Education advising that Cabinet had agreed to allow St. Teresa’s Governors further time to provide an alternative financial proposal based on a half form entry from Reception to Year 2; that the Governing Body had been developing a financial plan to try to support the continued operation of the school; that the Local Authority had worked with the Governing Body to discuss the proposals and understand the implications; and that the issues were not related to the quality of the provision, as St Teresa’s last inspection acknowledged that the school was ‘Good’.
The Governing Body had put forward alternative proposals which they believed would support the sustainability of the school both financially and as a community resource; but there did however, remain some concerns about how they would work in practice. It was acknowledged that some of the work had been hampered by the COVID pandemic which had limited their ability to promote themselves as a school within the community. This would be closely monitored and escalated to Cabinet in the future if necessary.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
The Local Authority has the power to consider all options and to allow the Governing Body the opportunity to continue with their action plan to move the school to a balanced budget.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
Alternative options have been explored by the governing body with support from Officers. The Council could proceed to a statutory closure but have decided not to for the reasons outlined in the report.
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Sefton Climate Emergency Implementation Plan Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Minutes: Further to Minute No. 5 of 28 May 2020 the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that Sefton Council was committed to reducing carbon emissions and had resolved to go further than the UK100 Agreement and to act in line with the scientific consensus that we must reduce emissions to net zero by 2030. As such the Council at its meeting in July 2019 declared a climate emergency. Following that declaration work had progressed within the Council on the agreed actions that were contained and approved by Members and the Strategy would be presented to a forthcoming meeting of full Council.
As part of the governance approach to the overall programme a 3-year implementation plan was to be developed for the period 2020-2023 together with details of the work undertaken during the last 12 months.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
The proposed implementation plan for the period 2020-2023 and progress made on the key actions agreed in July 2019 are key documents that will support the delivery of the Council Motion that declared a climate emergency.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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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 that advised of:
Stephan Van Arendsen, Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services verbally updated the Cabinet in respect of the offer of a £1m grant to support projects in Southport. Mr. Van Arendsen advised that the Southport Town Board had informed the Council that they would like to progress 2 schemes to utilise the funding, namely Southport Market Hall and a Street Lighting project. On receipt of appropriate minutes from the Board Mr. Van Arendsen, the Council’s s151 officer would inform MHCLG of this decision and the schemes would progress through the Council’s established governance processes.
Decision Made:
That:
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Financial and Corporate Performance 2019/20 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 advising of the revenue and capital outturn position in relation to the 2019/20 financial year; and that in doing so the report outlined any key variations and where appropriate any impact on future years’ financial performance. In addition, the report provided details of the Council’s Corporate Performance for 2019/20.
A copy of the Council’s Corporate Performance Report for 2019/20 was attached as an appendix to the report.
Decision Made:
Reasons for Decision:
The production of a revenue and capital outturn report is a key feature of effective financial management and will allow Members to make informed decisions that will support service delivery and medium-term financial sustainability.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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Treasury Management Outturn 2019/20 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 that provided a review of the Treasury Management activities undertaken to 31 March 2020; that advised that the outturn report allowed monitoring against the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy and Prudential Indicators approved by Cabinet and Council in February 2019; and which also provided information to the Audit and Governance Committee, whose role it was to carry out scrutiny of treasury management policies and practices.
Decision Made:
That the Treasury Management position to 31st March 2020 and the update to 31st May 2020; the review of the effects of decisions taken in pursuit of the Treasury Management Strategy; the implications of changes resulting from regulatory, economic and market factors affecting the Council’s treasury management activities be noted.
Reasons for Decision:
To ensure that Members are fully apprised of the treasury activity undertaken to 31st March 2020 and to 31st May 2020 in order to meet the reporting requirements set out in Sefton’s Treasury Management Practices and those recommended by the CIPFA code.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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Tender for Banking Services 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 that sought authority to commence a procurement exercise for the provision of banking services.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
The Council’s Contract Procedure Rules require that where expenditure is above £189,330 the process must comply with EU Public Procurement Rules. The banking tender is expected to exceed the EU limit. Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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Overview and Scrutiny Function – Information from the Centre for Public Scrutiny Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer advising that which provided consultation on both the new guidance published by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) and on Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings in Sefton, in general, with a view to providing feedback to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, in due course; together with a proposal that the Management Board develop an Executive / Scrutiny protocol for Sefton.
Decision Made:
That:
Reasons for Decision:
Technically, the issue does not meet the criteria of a Key Decision so does not need to appear on the Forward Plan. Nonetheless, a formal decision is required by the Cabinet.
The Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Board has requested that the guidance published by the Centre for Public Scrutiny should be forwarded to Cabinet Members and the Board has requested feedback from Cabinet Members on Overview and Scrutiny meetings in Sefton in general.
The Centre for Public Scrutiny has advocated the development of an Executive / Scrutiny protocol for use by local authorities.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
No alternative options have been considered because a decision is required by the Cabinet.
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Discretionary Business Grants Update Report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing 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 to exercise his powers to make urgent decisions because of the necessity to revise and deliver emergency grant funding to Sefton businesses as part of the Government’s Covid19 response in Sefton.
Decision Made:
That the report and the necessity for the Leader of the Council to exercise his powers under the Council’s Constitution to make urgent decisions to revise and deliver emergency grant funding to Sefton businesses as part of the Government’s Covid19 response in Sefton be noted.
Reasons for Decision:
To inform members, 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 revise and deliver emergency grant funding to Sefton businesses as part of the Government’s Covid19 response as any delay would cause them further financial hardship and distress.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
Delay approval of the revisions 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. This cuts across the purpose and rationale behind the scheme.
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