Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Veidman.

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.

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

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2021.

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 June 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Health and Wellbeing in relation to Children, Young People and Families Public Health Commissioned Services.  The report detailed the reasons for the proposal to extend the existing contracts for a further 1-year period for both the Sefton’s Integrated 0-19 Healthy Child Programme Service and for also the Sefton’s Young People and Family Substance Use Service – We are With You.

Decision Made:      That:

Reasons for the Decisions:

Services have been working in business continuity for the last 14 months, adapting and responding to the requirements and restrictions associated with COVID-19 guidance. Currently, the services are going through a period of recovery and restoration which needs to be fully exercised to ensure stability in service delivery.

The impacts of COVID-19 on children, young people and families are significant and long lasting. Themes are emerging, which include a decline in emotional health and wellbeing, widening inequalities and increased demand on specialist services. As children return to school and services resume face to face delivery, issues hidden during restrictive periods are presenting. Time to fully assess the changing needs of children, young people and families is required to enable the design of future services that are responsive to those needs.

There is provision for this allocation via a contract variation under Regulation 72 of the Public Contract Regulations which states:

“Contracts and framework agreements may be modified without a new procurement procedure in accordance with this Part in any of the following cases:

c) where all the following conditions are fulfilled: -

(i) the need for modification has been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen;

(ii) the modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract;

(iii) any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract or framework agreement.

In this instance:

(i) the need for modification has been brought about by the Impact of COVID-19 as described within this report and could not have been foreseen.

(ii) the request to extend the contract does not alter the existing conditions within the contracts 

(iii) any increase in price will not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract or framework agreement.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

To re-tender the services. This is not the preferred option due to the services working in business continuity during COVID-19 restrictive periods and the potentially destabilising effect on the wider system. The preferred option is for the services to have time to go through a period of restoration and for the emerging impacts of COVID-19 on children, young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education in relation to the Sefton Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026.  The report highlighted that the Sefton Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2026 would link closely to the Sefton Health and Wellbeing Strategy and would also work alongside the Children and Young People’s Plan 2020/25.

The report referred to the partnership approach in the development of the strategy ensuring that the strategy provided the overarching framework, key issue points, and clear direction to improve the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people in Sefton.

The report also highlighted the need to adapt and refresh the strategy as and when required. 

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Councillor Doyle reported that the Strategy was a well presented and concise document and commended it to the Cabinet for approval.

Decision Made:      That the adoption of the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Sefton be approved.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Strategy has received oversight from the Health and Wellbeing Board and Overview and Scrutiny before submission to Cabinet.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in relation to the capital funding for a short-term assessment unit.

Reasons for the Decisions:

(1)           The new service model reflects both local and national priorities to commission joined up health and social care services at place, that prevent hospital admission and support timely discharge from an acute setting, whilst improving outcomes for individuals accessing the service.

(2)           At present there are multiple commissioning arrangements in place, both in borough and out of borough, for some of the most complex individuals and the proposed new service model will enable us to commission a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in relation to the procurement of an integrated Sefton advocacy hub with a lead provider that will provide a single point of access to service users and referrers but still provide essential specialist provision to people who feel excluded from mainstream services.

Decision Made:      That:

Reasons for the Decisions:

This new service model reflects the key priorities identified within the Integrated Commissioning Work Plan, which is to commission joined up Social Care and Health services with streamlined pathways that improve the service user / patient journey by providing efficient and effective service provision at place.

The commissioning of an Integrated Sefton Advocacy Hub also meets the requirements of the Care Act 2014, which states that individuals accessing advocacy services should have consistency with the advocate supporting them through their journey. It states that if an individual’s needs change the advocate should be skilled to continue to support the person and not be signposted to another service where they are not known.

The new service model will underpin Sefton’s Advocacy Strategy for the next 3-5 years and reflects the aims and vision of the Council’s New Realities Agreement which outlines our commitment to working in partnership with the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

To do nothing in terms of maintaining the current service delivery arrangements has been considered, but on the basis of being able to develop services further and achieve greater system wide efficiencies, as well as improved experiences for users of advocacy services this option is not recommended.

There are potential TUPE implications that will need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Report of the Executive Director – Place.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Place in relation to the submission of a pre-development funding bid of up to £2.5m to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCR CA), along with a capital funding bid submission to Arts Council England (ACE) of up to £5m.

The report also detailed the proposal to procure a range of required consultancy services for the proposed new Southport Marine Lake Events Centre, in order to progress the design, business case and operating model, to enable the required Town Deal submission by March 2022 to draw down the necessary funds.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, Councillor Atkinson referred to the hard work of officers and key partners in seeking and securing funds to assist with the delivery of the Marine Lake Events Centre.  Councillor Atkinson thanked officers, members of the Southport Town Deal Board and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for their continued support and hard work. 

Councillor Atkinson also referred to the fantastic opening of Southport Market that had taken place on Thursday 22 July 2021 and congratulated the Tourism team and partners for all their hard work and commitment.   

Decisions Made:    That:

Reasons for the Decisions:

Cabinet have previously approved to progress with a new Events Centre in Southport as part of the successful Southport Town Deal. To enable progression of the project at pace, there is now opportunity to secure up to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

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 2020/21 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 2020/21.

A copy of the Council’s Corporate Performance Report for 2020/21 was attached as an appendix to the report.

Decisions Made:    That:

(A)          In respect of the Revenue Outturn:

(B)          In respect of the Capital Outturn

(C)          The Council’s Corporate Performance Report for 2020/21, be noted.

Reasons for the Decisions:

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.

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

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 2021; 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 2020; 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 2021 and the update to 31st May 2021; 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 2021 and to 31st May 2021 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.

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director for Corporate Resources and Customer Services and were advised of:

(1)              the current estimated financial impact of COVID-19 on the 2021/22 Budget;

(2)        the current position relating to the 2021/22 revenue budget;

(3)              the current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2021/22; and

(4)              the monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of June 2021 in relation to:

·       the forecast expenditure to year end;

·       variations against the approved budgets and an explanation of those variations; and

·       updates to spending profiles and proposed amendments to capital budgets necessary to ensure the efficient delivery of capital projects.

The Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, Councillor Lappin thanked the Executive Director and his team for all their hard work and extended her appreciation to all teams across the Council for their continued support in the management of the Councils resources.

Decisions Made:    That:

(A)              in respect of the Revenue Budget:

(1)       the current estimated impact of COVID-19 on the 2021/22 Budget together with the key issues that will influence the final position, be noted;

(2)       the various Government grants that have been received to support residents and businesses which will be utilised in accordance with central government guidance, be noted;

(3)       that the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing be granted delegated authority to make decisions on the use of the discretionary elements of the Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund, be approved;

(4)       the Executive Director – People in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing be granted delegated authority to make decisions in relation to the use of the Local Support Grant, be approved;

(5)       the current position relating to the 2021/22 revenue budget, be noted;

(6)       the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2021/22 revenue budget be recognised and acknowledged that the forecast outturn position will continue to be reviewed to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved;

(B)              that in respect of Grant Funding, the offer of £969,724 Adult Education Budget funding available to Sefton Council, which is ring-fenced for the delivery of adult community learning provision for residents aged over 19, be noted and accepted; and

(C)             that in respect of the Capital Programme:

(1)       the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme, as detailed in paragraph 7.1 of the report, be noted;

(2)    the revised Transport Allocations for Key Route Network maintenance (£0.471m) and the Pipeline Development Fund (£0.368m) as detailed in paragraph 7.7 of the report, be approved;

(3)    the Council be recommended to approve the revised Highways Maintenance allocation of £3.100m as detailed in paragraph 7.7 of the report, be agreed;

(4)    the supplementary capital estimate of £0.195m for the Regional Coastal Monitoring programme as detailed in paragraph 7.10 of the report, be approved.

(5)    the latest capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.