Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Booth

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of interest were received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2010

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 16 December 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 126 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 26 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval of proposals to increase the parking charges on the Crosby Town Centre car parks and set the charges on the Waterloo and Crosby seafront car parks, in order to achieve the fee income target approved by the Council.

In accordance with Rule 27 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the Cabinet considered a petition signed by 36 Sefton residents objecting to the proposals in the report.  Ms. J. Edgar, the representative of the petitioners, addressed the Cabinet in support of the terms of the petition.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the petition be noted; and

(2)       the proposals set out in the report be deferred for further consideration at the Cabinet Meeting to be held in May 2011.

Report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy which provided details of the key features of the Provisional Local Government Financial Settlement for 2011/12 and 2012/13 both nationally and for the Council and its impact on the Medium Term Financial Plan.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the contents of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement be noted;

(2)       the Authority’s response to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement be noted; and

(3)       the impact on the budget gap forecast in the Medium Term Financial Plan be noted.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive on the initial outcome of the review undertaken by a project group of Members and Officers on how the Council supports, commissions and procures services through the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector.  The review is one of the six ‘Big Ideas’ projects being undertaken as part of the Council’s Transformation Programme.

A copy of a letter from the General Manager of Southport YMCA in response to the proposed termination of funding to the organisation as referred to in the report was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the initial outcomes of Stage 1 of the review of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector in Sefton be noted:

(2)       the funding allocations excluded from the review as detailed at Appendix A of the report be noted;

(3)       the impact of the reduction in specific Coalition Government grants on the Sector, over which the Council could not assert any influence be noted;

(4)       the developments in relation to progressing the Big Ideas transformation programme on becoming a Commissioning Council be noted;

(5)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the honouring of 90 day contractual commitments for all Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector organisations or groups that lose 100% funding as set out in Appendix D1 and D2 to the report, and to the sum of £10,661 being prioritised in the 2011/12 budget (£5,242 for schemes in Appendix D1 and £5,419 for schemes reduced in Appendix D2 of the report);

(6)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the reduced allocations of funding for organisations as detailed in Appendix D1 of the report and to Officers being mandated to formally write to the organisations advising them that the funding has ceased;

(7)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the proposed reductions in funding for organisations as detailed in Appendix D2 of the report and to Officers being mandated to formally write to the organisations advising them that the funding has been proportionately reduced and/or ceased and that this will be further reviewed in 2011/12;

(8)       the Council be recommended to give approval to officers being mandated to formally write to the organisations in Appendix B1, 2 and 3 of the report advising them that the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative funding has ceased and/or will cease and the Council will not have the resources to continue with these schemes once the specific funding comes to a natural end;

(9)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the sum of £15,705 (core) being retained and to the provision of £56,258 for the activity detailed in Appendix C of the report continuing for one year only;

(10)     the Council be recommended to give approval to the establishment of a set of reviews as detailed at Appendix E of the report and to the sum of £1,855,353 being prioritised in 2011/12 pending the outcomes of the reviews;

(11)     the Council be recommended to give approval to the establishment of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 162 of the meeting held on 16 December 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the Transformation Programme and set out recommendations on the relative priority of Council services in the light of the forecast savings required following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.  This prioritisation informed the identification of further budget options which will reduce the 2011/12-2013/14 budget gap.

A schedule setting out the feedback of comments posted on the Council’s website with regard to the Transformation Programme and the prioritisation of Council services was circulated at the meeting.

Mr. J Allan, Branch Officer of Unison addressed the Cabinet on the trade union perspective of the budget savings to be made by the Council and the specific proposal set out in the report for a 5% reduction ‘across the board’ in employees pay

The Chief Executive reported a correction in Appendix C -PE35, relating to the funding stream of the Southport Partnership, from the European Regional Development Fund to the North West Development Agency and a correction to the annual cost of service/activity from £100,000 to £112,400.  In addition, she referred to the references in Appendix E, under Sure Start and Tourism, to decommissioning which should be removed, as these were meant to be Service descriptions.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)      the progress to date on the Transformation Programme be noted;

(2)      the Economic Development Division review be endorsed and the Council be recommended to give approval to the activities of the Economic Development Division being directly funded from successful bids for external funding, realising a core budget saving of £714,000, and the Economic Development Division be allowed to reinvest future “other achievements” of external funding into maintaining and further developing service provision;

(3)      the high level implementation plans contained in Appendix A of the report be endorsed and it be noted that the financial implications of any implementation beyond 1 April 2011 would be built into the financial forecasts;

(4)      the Decommissioning Guidance contained in Appendix D of the report be endorsed;

(5)      approval be given to a Cabinet Meeting being convened, as provisionally advised at the last meeting, on Thursday 17 February 2011 at Bootle Town Hall and it be noted that further proposals will be presented to that meeting.

(6)      the Council be recommended to give approval to officers being mandated to continue the consultation process with employees and Trade Unions with a view to realising the reduction in costs identified for the Specialist Transport Unit including the issue of relevant statutory and contractual notifications;

(7)      the Council be recommended to approve the further tactical savings options set out in Appendix B of the report subject to:

          a)       the amendment of option SCL4A to a budget saving of £40,000 to be achieved across the Borough including a reduction in winter bedding

          b)       the deferral of option CM60

          c)       a revised charge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 183.

Report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy which provided details of the Council’s revenue budget position as at the end of December 2010, and the projected year-end financial position.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy which provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Activities undertaken in the third quarter of 2010/11.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy on the requirement for the Council to set its Council Tax Base for 2011/12.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:-

That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 1992 as amended, the amount calculated by Sefton Council as the Council tax base for Sefton and for each Parish Area for 2011-12 shall be as follows:

            In the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton                         93,075.91

            In the Parish of Aintree Village                                                  2,287.05

            In the Parish of Ince Blundell                                                    194.56

            In the Parish of Little Altcar                                                          287.83

            In the Parish of Lydiate                                                             2,260.07

            In the Parish of Maghull                                                             7,148.48

            In the Parish of Melling                                                              1,092.33

            In the Parish of Sefton                                                      246.68

            In the Parish of Thornton                                                              819.14

            In the Parish of Hightown                                                             887.78

            In the Parish of Formby                                                             9,478.63

Report of the Monitoring Officer

The Cabinet considered the report of the Acting Head of Corporate Legal Services and Monitoring Officer on proposals to amend the constitution with regard to the setting of the Revenue Budget.

RESOLVED:

That the Council be recommended to give approval to the amendment of the Constitution to provide that the provisions of Rule 15.4 (Content and Length of Speeches) and 17 (Previous Decision and Motions) of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules be suspended only to enable statements to be made on behalf of the three Political Groups on the forthcoming year’s Revenue Budget and to allow Political Group Leaders to move amendments to the forthcoming Revenue Budget where items have been previously debated and voted upon at a Council meeting in the past six months.

Report of the Strategic Director - Social Care and Wellbeing

Further to Minute No. 97 of the Council Meeting held on 2 September 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Social Care and Wellbeing which provided further information relating to the I.T. Capital Programme for the Adult Social Care Department together with proposals to use the ICT Strategy Capital in conjunction with the Adult Social Care infrastructure grant to support the implementation of a new Client Management Database.

RESOLVED:

That the Council be recommended to approve the following three schemes in the Capital Programme for completion:-

• Adult Social Care ICT Strategy.  (£194,600)
• Adult Social Care IT Infrastructure Grant 2008/2011.  (£317,052)
• Capital Investment for Transformation of Adult Social Care.  (£197,000)

Report of the Adult Social Care Director

Further to Minute No. 176 of the meeting held on 16 December 2010 and Minute No. 52 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Health and Social Care held on 19 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Adult Social Care Director on the commencement of an “expressions of interest” exercise to be undertaken with suitable providers who would be able to resume responsibility for all or parts of the work currently placed with Sefton New Directions.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families on proposals for Crosby High School and Litherland High School to change their status from Foundation Schools to Trust Schools in accordance with the Education and Inspection Act 2006 and for the transfer of all land and buildings held and used by the schools to the new charitable trusts.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the change of status of Crosby High School and the proposed change of status of Litherland High School be noted;

(2)       that approval be given to the land transfers detailed in Section 5 of the report; and

(3)       the Strategic Director - Communities and the Acting Head of Corporate Legal Services be requested to progress these transfers.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 78 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children’s Services held on 18 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families seeking approval to the implementation of additional works at Aintree Davenhill Primary School to be funded from the Primary Capital Programme.

RESOLVED:

That the scheme be included in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and Neighbourhood and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No. 127 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 26 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the joint report and supplementary note of the Planning and Economic Development Director and Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director which indicated that the REECH (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Community Housing) Project had now been approved by the North West Development Agency; and seeking, subject to the agreement of arrangements for the delivery of economic development activity, approval to accept the Offer Letter and to approve the revenue and capital financial implications of the Project.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the Council approving the arrangements for the future delivery of Economic Development referred to in Minute 182 (2) above:

(a)       the Offer Letter from the North West Development Agency in relation to the REECH Project be accepted when it is received and approval be given to a start date of 1 January 2011;

(b)       the Council be requested to give approval to the inclusion of the REECH Project in the Capital Programme as set out in Annex A of the report in the sum of £7,170,624 to be fully funded from European Regional Development Fund grant; and

(c)        the Revenue budget for the project as set out in Annex A of the report which requires that the Council provides revenue match funding from existing resources amounting to £413,862 over 3 calendar years, be approved.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 134 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which sought approval to the Liverpool City Region Renewable Energy Capacity Study, which forms part of the evidence for the Core Strategy and other Local Development Framework documents.

RESOLVED:

That the Liverpool City Region Renewable Energy Capacity Study be approved.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 136 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which related to the second Preferred Options stage of the joint Merseyside Waste Development Plan Document (DPD).  The first stage identified a number of sites to accommodate waste.

The report also sought approval to the commencement of public consultation on the second Preferred Options Stage of the DPD.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the results of consultation on the Waste Development Plan Document Preferred Options Report be noted;

(2)       the inclusion of the additional site off Farriers Way, Atlantic Industrial Estate, Netherton in the Preferred Options 2: New Sites Consultation Report be not endorsed;

(3)            subject to the deletion of the site off Farriers Way, referred to in resolution (2) above, approval be given to the Preferred Options 2: New Sites Consultation Report being the subject of a six-week public consultation commencing in early 2011; and

(4)       the funding arrangements agreement by the City Region Cabinet be noted and approval be given to appropriate financial provision being made in 2011/12 and 2012/13 to complete the Joint Waste Development Plan Document as set out in Section 6 of Annex 1 to the report.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 135 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which provided details of comments received to consultation on an updated Statement of Community Involvement.

RESOLVED:

That the updated Statement of Community Involvement be approved.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 130 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 26 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval to extend the length of the existing Parking Enforcement Contract by a further twelve months; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to allow continued parking enforcement within the Borough.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the extension of the current Parking Enforcement Contract with Legion Parking Services by a further twelve months until 31 March 2012.

Report of the Operational Services Director

Further to Minute No. 79 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Operational Services Director seeking approval to extend the current interim recycling collection service arrangements, pending the evaluation of the tenders for a new recycling collection contract.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to a further extension of the current interim arrangement with Palm Recycling Limited of Ellesmere Port until 31 July 2011, and if necessary, for further monthly extensions until new contracted recycling collection services commence.

Report of the Operational Services Director

Further to Minute No. 84 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Operational Services Director on the tendering exercise undertaken in respect of the award of the new Green Waste (Composting) Contract.

RESOLVED:

That the contract be awarded to Armstrongs of Bolton for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 with an option to exercise a one year extension, subject to satisfactory performance.

Report of the Operational Services Director

Further to Minute No. 80 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 12 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Operational Services Director on the proposed commercial waste charges to be implemented from 1 April 2011.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the commercial waste charges set out in Appendix A of the report be approved for implementation from 1 April 2011; and

(2)       the decision of the Cabinet Member - Environmental to defer a decision on the Commercial Clinical Waste Service, referred to in the report, pending further clarification be noted.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 168 of the meeting held on 16 December 2010, the Cabinet considered the report and supplementary note of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the latest position relating to the contractors, ROK Building Limited based in Rochdale, who had been placed in administration and the options available for the completion of the works at Southport Indoor Market, Lander Road Primary School and Kew Woods Primary School and the outstanding works at St. Peter’s House.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the update on the situation with regard to ROK Building Limited (in administration) and the potential implications for the Authority be noted; and

(2)       the Environmental and Technical Services Director and the Acting Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to proceed as outlined in the report and submit an update report with recommendations to the next Cabinet Meeting.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 44 of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 17 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the proposed fees and charges for Local Licensing Services in 2011/12.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed fees and charges for 2011/12 as set out in the Annex to the report be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 128 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 26 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the interim report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the response to the recent extreme weather conditions and a re-evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing Winter Service Policy in the light of the weather event which commenced on 17 December 2010.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the interim report be noted;

(2)            approval be given to the procurement of six additional snow ploughs at an approximate cost of £34,000 and the procurement of three additional snowplough blades for footway gritters at an approximate cost of £5,000;  and

(3)       a further report on the remaining Options set out in paragraphs 32 to 41 of the report submitted to a future Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet received reports from the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services, Communities, Corporate Services, Environmental, Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism, Performance and Governance, Regeneration and Technical Services.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member reports be noted.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public; and

Joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 72 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member Regeneration held on 19 January 2011, the Cabinet considered the joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval to the disposal of the Council’s interest in the site of 19-29 Stanley Road, Bootle within the Bedford Road/Queens Road Housing Market Renewal Area.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            approval be given to the disposal of the site 19-29 Stanley Road to Plus Dane Housing Association Limited, at less than best consideration reasonably obtainable, on the basis of the terms and conditions set out in the report; and

(2)       the Strategic Director - Communities and the Acting Head of Corporate Legal Services be given authority to negotiate and agree any other detailed terms and conditions, if any, and complete the transaction.