Agenda and minutes

Councillor Maher reported that Councillor P. Dowd had been delayed in his arrival for the meeting and he took the Chair.  Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robertson.

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 13 October 2011

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 13 October 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Annual Report of the Director of Public Health

Dr. Janet Atherton, Director of Public Health for NHS Sefton and Sefton Council will give a brief presentation to the Cabinet

The Cabinet received a presentation by Dr. Janet Atherton, Director of Public Health for NHS Sefton and Sefton Council on the 2011 Public Health Report entitled Solid Foundations: Building for the Future - Sefton’s Health 2011”.

A copy of the full report had been circulated with the agenda and Dr. Atherton responded to Members’ questions and comments in relation to life expectancy across the electoral Wards in the Borough.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 49 of the meeting held on 13 October 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the progress made under the Transformation Programme in the delivery of budgetary savings for 2011/12 previously approved by the Council.

This was not a Key Decision but it had been included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the progress to date on approved savings proposals, reviews and cessation of external funding as set out in the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 50 of the meeting held on 13 October 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the progress of the Transformation Programme in the establishment of the 2012/13 budget, reviews of service and consultation processes being undertaken on the budget savings options.  The report also set out a package of savings proposals relating to internal consultation options.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the work programme timetable set out in Annex A of the report be noted;

(2)       the Council be requested to note that the Cabinet considers that the first stage of consultation on the change proposals set out in Annex B of the report is complete;

(3)       the Council be recommended to approve the change proposals in Annex B of the report and Officers be authorised to prepare for implementation immediately, pending final decisions of the Council, including the issue of relevant statutory and contractual notifications, if appropriate to achieve change;

(4)       the risks and mitigating actions outlined in Annex B of the report be noted; and

(5)       it be noted that further options may be subsequently developed and submitted to Council for approval.  However any such options will require appropriate consultation prior to their approval and implementation.

This item has been withdrawn from the agenda and will be included on the agenda for the Cabinet Meeting to be held on 8 December 2011

This item was withdrawn from the agenda and will be included on the agenda for the Cabinet meeting to be held on 8 December 2011.

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided details of the Treasury Management Activities undertaken in the first half of 2011/12 and the recent activity of credit rating agencies.  The report also sought approval to an amendment to the credit criteria set out in the Treasury Management Strategy document.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Treasury Management update be noted; and

(2)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the credit criteria for investing with institutions set out in Paragraph 2.8.9 of the Treasury Management Strategy document being revised from “Fitch rating F1 + AA - to Fitch rating F1 A-“.

Report of the Head of Corporate Legal Services

Further to Minute No. 41 of the meeting held on 18 August 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Legal Services which provided an update on the current operation and future development of Sefton New Directions, as part of the Council’s shareholding interest in the company.

RESOLVED:

That the Board of Sefton New Directions be requested to consider and come forward with proposals on the future strategic direction and structure of the company and to provide a progress report to the Cabinet meeting on 8 December 2011, to include any relevant issues for consideration by the shareholder.

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 Paragraphs 1 and 4 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

(1)       under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 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;

(2)       the representatives of the Trade Unions be permitted to remain in the meeting during the consideration of Minute No. 63.

Report of the Director of Corporate Support Services

Further to Minute No. 33 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) held on 6 September 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Personnel in relation to a survey of the redundancy payments in other Councils.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report be noted; and

(2)       the Director of Corporate Support Services be requested to raise the issue of redundancy pay policy across the region at the next meeting of the North West Employers Organisation Human Resources Committee and report back to Cabinet.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the tender received as a result of the marketing exercise for the disposal of the Council’s leasehold interest in the site at Marine Drive, Southport.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the receipt of planning permission, approval be given to the disposal of the Council’s leasehold interest in the site at Marine Drive, Southport, to the tenderer, for the figure detailed in the report, on terms and conditions to be agreed.