Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

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 by switching their camera and microphone off 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 by 12 Noon the day before the meeting to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, 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.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2020

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 September 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Planning Officer

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer in relation to the recently published, for consultation, Planning White Paper “Planning for the Future”.  The report set out the implications of the Planning White Paper on future Planning Services.

Decision Made:      That:

(1)       the report be noted; and

(2)       the Chief Planning Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control be requested to submit the Council’s response before 31 October 2020.

Reason for the Decisions:

To allow Cabinet Members to express views on the Council’s draft response to the Planning White Paper.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Chair, Councillor Maher left the meeting.

Vice Chair, Councillor Fairclough in the Chair.

Report of the Executive Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director in relation to the recent progress of the Southport Town Deal, the Town Deal Board and the Town Investment Plan of which will be submitted to Government at the end of October 2020.

The report set out that Southport was one of the 100 towns across the country invited to bid for £25 million in funding as part of the Government’s Town Fund.  Further guidance received included the opportunity to pursue up to £50 million of funding and that this would be subject to greater level of scrutiny.

In order to secure a share of the funding and in line with the guidance, a Town Deal Board was established with the responsibility of developing and agreeing an evidenced based Town Investment Plan; developing a clear programme of interventions and coordinating resources and influencing stakeholders.

The report also set out Membership details of the Town Deal Board, the Consultation and Engagement processes undertaken and the Town Investment Plan Approval Process. 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Councillor Atkinson thanked the Town Deal Board Members for all their hard work, commitment, passion and vision and paid tribute to the sterling work of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, Mr Rob Fletcher and Mr Andrew Booth.   

Councillor Atkinson also paid tribute to the hard work of Sefton Officers and emphasised how their commitment had played a pivotal role in driving the bid forward.

The need for Government Funding to be made available to all Town Centres across the Borough was also highlighted.

Decision Made:      That:

(1)           the work undertaken by the Town Deal Board, be noted;

(2)           Sefton Council will undertake the role of Accountable Body for the submission of the Bid at the end of October 2020; for negotiation of Heads of Terms; agreement of the Town Deal and the administration of grant funding thereafter, be agreed;

(3)           the submission of a Town Deal bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the end of October 2020, in accordance with the Town Deal bid process, be agreed;

(4)           the Head of Terms and the Town Deal, and in turn the formalisation of the role of Accountable Body, will require Cabinet and Council approval during the twelve-month period following submission, be noted; and

(5)           the Executive Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills be granted delegated authority for the finalisation of the bid and Town Investment Plan, for submission at the end of October 2020 on behalf of the Town Deal Board.

Reasons for the Decisions:

Southport is one of 100 towns identified as potential recipients of Town Deal funding, for which a bid submission and Town Investment Plan (TIP) is required.  The process requires leadership of a Town Deal Board, with a private sector Chair, but the Council is required to undertake the role of Accountable Body for the bid (which in the case of Southport will be submitted at the end of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources & Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services in relation to the award of the gas supply contract to North-East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO) Gas Framework for a three year plus one year contract, in order to secure value for money and excellent customer service.

Decision Made:      That:

(1)           Sefton Council remain on the North-East Purchasing Organisation framework contract for the supply of gas to cover the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2025 with the option to extend for one year to 31 March 2026;

(2)           the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services be granted delegated authority to award an extension; and

(3)           the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services be granted delegated authority to approve purchasing decision.

Reasons for the Decisions:

Sefton have recently reviewed its options across 4 of the largest public sector buying organisation procurement frameworks, including Crown Commercial Services (CCS), North-East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO), Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) and Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO).  NEPO were able to demonstrate value for money, excellent customer service and consistency of gas supplier.  Remaining on the NEPO framework will also minimise disruption to services and minimise impact on staff resourcing.

Given the recent volatility in gas prices, a consortium approach to purchasing will bring the most benefit to Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Option 1

Do nothing – In order to comply with EU and UK Procurement Rules, and due to the 12-18 month lead in times, it is necessary to now either re-procure the above contract directly to market by Sefton Council via the prescribed European Journal (OJEU) route, or receive a supply contract available from an EU compliant Energy Procurement Framework with a Central Purchasing Body (CPB). Therefore, this action was rejected.

Option 2

Delay this decision - The lead time for making a change to our current gas supply arrangements is significant, so any delay in making a decision would shorten our window for purchasing gas in advance. This would reduce our options and increase the risk associated with market conditions during that time. Therefore, this action was rejected.

Option 3

Adopt a different procurement strategy – for example purchasing all gas supplies at a fixed price. Whilst Sefton has used this strategy in the past and made savings from it, it does internalise the risk associated with achieving the best prices, increases staff workload and given current volatility in the wholesale gas market increases the risks associated with achieving a competitive price. Therefore, this option was rejected.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources & Customer Services

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources & Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services that advised of the latest position regarding Government funding announcements for 2021/22; and provided an update to the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2021/22 to 2023/24 taking account of the most up to date information available.

The Cabinet Member for Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Services, Councillor Lappin commended and thanked staff within the Corporate Resources team for all their hard work in working under difficult circumstances with very little information from Central Government in relation to the Local Government Financial Settlements.  

Decision Made:

That the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2021/22 to 2023/24 including any assumptions made, be approved.

Reasons for the Decision:

In February 2020 Council approved a one-year budget plan for 2020/21. As part of this report, an indicative budget gap of £19m for 2021/22 to 2022/23 was reported.  The MTFP for this period has subsequently been updated to reflect the latest information available and to include extend the MTFP to 2023/24.  In approving the recommendation laid out in this report, the Council will continue to ensure resources are well managed and reflect the key priorities of the residents of Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.