Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members are requested to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the Members Code of Conduct, before leaving the meeting room during the discussion on that particular item.

No declarations of interest were made.

Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2012

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 June 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 16 of the meeting held on 21 June 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive that sought approval of the process associated with the development of budget options for 2013-15 and which set out a work programme timetable and information on the re-engineering of the Parks and Green Spaces and Coast and Countryside Service.

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

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the process and work programme for the development of budget options for 2013-15, as outlined in section 2 of the report be approved;

(2)       the Strategic Leadership Team work programme timetable as detailed in Annex A to the report be noted;

(3)       it be noted that detailed budget options will emerge from September 2012 and will be subject to appropriate consultation and engagement;

(4)       the findings and the proposed savings arising out of the re-engineering of Parks and Green Spaces and the Coast and Countryside services contained in Annex B to the report be approved;

(5)       the commencement of a public engagement exercise on the context and strategic choices for the Council going forward be approved; and

(6)       the strategic and operational risks as outlined in section 6 (Risk Management) of the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT on the proposals in the Local Government Finance Bill for the national Council Tax Benefit system to be replaced by a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2013-14, which would reduce expenditure by 10 per cent as part of a wider policy of decentralisation and welfare reform.

The report also set out the details of ‘Localising Support for Council Statement of Intent’ published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in May 2012 on the specific proposals for local authorities to produce a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and hold consultations with interested parties.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT be authorised to publish a draft Council Tax Reduction Scheme with 80% liability (page 26 of the agenda, paragraph b, item b) as the basis for consultation with interested parties in accordance with the approach set out in this report;

(2)      the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT be authorised to undertake consultations on the removal of Council Tax exemptions and discounts;

(3)      the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT submit a report to the Cabinet following the consultation exercise with a recommendation for final agreement by Council; and

(4)      the Council be recommended to give approval to the rescheduling of the Council meeting from 7 February 2013 to 24 January 2013 to enable the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to be approved by the required deadline.

Report of the Director of Older People

Further to Minute No. 17 of the meeting held on 21 June 2012, the Director of Older People submitted a report which provided an update on the consultations which have continued to be held with service providers to formulate specific reduction proposals utilising the commissioning principles previously agreed to meet the budget savings required under the Supporting People Review for 2012/13 and 2013/14.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the progress on the Supporting People Review be noted;

(2)       the managed review and re-commissioning processes outlined in Section 5 of the report, including the integrated re-commissioning of all supported/assisted living services be approved; and

(3)       a further update report be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting.

Report of the Strategic Director - Place

Further to Minute No. 68 of the meeting held on 8 December 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Place which set out the history of the Southport Cultural Centre project, the potential additional cost and time overrun identified within the project: and the measures taken to mitigate this additional cost and time overrun.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the potential ‘worst case’ cost scenario now identified in respect of the completion of the project be noted; and

(2)       the Strategic Director - Place be requested to pursue all potential means of mitigating cost and time overruns, including;

            a.         where possible reducing specifications to the minimum acceptable level for a ‘fit for purpose’ facility;

            b.         undertaking any further possible Value Engineering exercises to maximise cost savings;

            c.         in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT, explore further funding arrangements to mitigate the increase in final project cost; and

            d.         in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Legal Services, explore the potential for minimising and/or recovering additional costs incurred.

Report of the Strategic Director - Place

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Place which sought approval to formally accept a grant of £4,079,000 offered by the Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Big Lottery Fund towards the refurbishment of King’s Gardens, Southport and enter into a Contract with the funders governing how the Council would deliver and manage the project.

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

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the terms and conditions of the funders’ Contract relating to King’s Gardens, Southport as appended to the report be accepted and the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to enter into Contracts accordingly;

(2)            approval be given to the commencement of the procurement and tender process for the selection of a suitable Main Contractor to undertake the works and the outcome of the tender process be reported at a future meeting of Cabinet;

(3)       it be noted that the existing Economic Regeneration and Tourism  and Landscape Services’ budgets for Management and Maintenance costs total £180,734 and the funding Contract requires the ongoing provision of this funding to ensure the gardens are adequately maintained upon completion;

(4)            approval be given to the ring-fencing of the existing Economic Regeneration and Tourism and Landscape Services King’s Gardens’ budgets referred to in (3) above and that at the end of subsequent financial years, any underspend be carried forward into the following financial year to fund cyclical maintenance;

(5)            approval be given to a maximum contribution of £50,000 towards the refurbishment of the Marine Lake Café, to be provided from the Property Intervention Fund;

(6)       the Strategic Director - Place and Head of Corporate Legal Services, be granted delegated authority to approve a new 30-year Lease and Agreement for the development between the Council and the current leaseholders of Marine Lake Café, King’s Gardens, Southport; and

(7)       the Strategic Director - Place be authorised to agree a programme management structure necessary to demonstrate the Council’s commitment to the successful delivery and long term management of the improved facility.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Place which provided details of the tenders received for the proposed new extension for the provision of a new library, IT Suite, 2 classrooms and 3 nurture rooms at Meols Cop High School.  The total cost of the scheme was within the Children’s Services Capital Programme budget provision, funded from Capital Maintenance grant.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the tender submitted by D. Henderson and Son of Southport in the sum of £727,682 be accepted; and

(2)      the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to enter into a contract with the successful tenderer.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which sought approval to commence consultations on the emerging draft Supplementary Planning Document for assessing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and self-contained flats, and to revoke the Interim Planning Guidance “New Housing in South Sefton”.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the draft Supplementary Planning Document be approved as the basis for public consultation;

(2)       the Interim Planning Guidance ‘New Housing in South Sefton’ be revoked; and

(3)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but, had not been included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) has been consulted under Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because the current planning policy on HMOs and flats is out of date due to recent appeal decisions (26 March 2012) and changes to the housing benefits system.  This could leave the Council at risk from either granting planning permission for poor quality accommodation or facing appeals to the Planning Inspectorate where the Council may be liable to applications to pay legal costs.