Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Fairclough and Hardy.

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 received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2013

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 28 March 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

Further to Minute No.122 of the meeting held on 28 February 2013, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided an update on the capital allocations allocated to Sefton for 2013/14 by the Government and proposals for the development of a Capital Investment Plan for 2013/14.

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

Decision Made:

That the Council be recommended to:

(1)       note the Children’s Services capital allocations for 2013/14 for Devolved Formula Capital, Basic Needs, and Capital Maintenance as referred to in paragraph 2.2 of the report;

(2)       note the Disabled Facilities Grant allocation for 2013/14 as referred to in paragraph 2.2 of the report;

(3)       note the detailed profile of the Capital Priorities Fund of £1m as referred to in paragraph 3 of the report; and

(4)       approve the items recommended by the Strategic Capital Investment Group (SCIG) for inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan.  This includes those items classed as pre allocated, those funded from Direct Revenue Funding, and those recommended to SCIG to be funded from the Single Capital Pot as referred to in paragraph 4 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To inform Members of the additional 2013/14 Capital Allocations received that were not reported to Cabinet and Council on 28 February 2013, as they had not been received, and to allow Members to consider how these allocations should be utilised.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The options available for the use of non ring-fenced capital grant allocations are included in the body of the report.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services which provided details of the review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances undertaken by the Independent Remuneration Panel and the recommendations of the Panel

Decision Made:

That the Council be recommended to give approval to:

(1)       the existing Scheme of Allowances being implemented for the 2013/14 Municipal Year;

(2)       the Scheme of Allowances being adjusted annually in accordance with the average of any pay increase awarded to Sefton Council employees;

(3)       the publicity required, as set out in Section 4 of the report being undertaken; and

(4)       the Council’s Consititution being amended to insert the revised Scheme.

Reasons for Decision:

To fulfil the requirements of The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) 2003 (as amended) which require the Council to establish a scheme of Members’ Allowances in accordance with those regulations, to agree and publicise its Members’ Allowance Scheme and have an independent review at least every 4 years.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 137 of the meeting held on 28 March 2013, the Cabinet considered a further report by the Director of Corporate Services which sought the nomination of the Mayor and Deputy Chair for the Muncipal Year 2013/14.

The report indicated that any nominations agreed by the Cabinet would be submitted to the Annual Council meeting to be held on 9 May 2013 for consideration.

Decision Made: 

That:

(1)       it be noted that Councillor M. Fearn stands nominated as Mayor Elect for 2013/14; and

(2)       the appointment of the Deputy Chair be deferred to the Annual Council meeting to be held on 9 May 2013.

Reason for the Decision:

It is a statutory requirement for the Council to appoint a Mayor and Deputy Chair under Sections 3(1) and 5(1) of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which sought approval to proceed with the development of an application for Coastal Communities Funding for the second bidding round which had recently been launched.

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

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the development of a Coastal Communities Fund application for grant funding as described in the report be approved subject to consultations being held with the Town Teams for Crosby, Formby and Waterloo;

(2)       the Director of Built Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Tourism be given delegated authority to approve and submit the completed funding appplication; and

(3)       a further report be submitted to the Cabinet in the event that the bid for funding is successful.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable progress to be made in respect of an external funding application.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Street Scene

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Street Scene which provided an update on the recent changes in the management of Bootle Golf Course and the proposed management arrangements by the Council on an interim basis.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the course be maintained by the Council at a basic playable standard until a further decision is made on longer-term arrangements;

(2)       the Fees and Charges be  maintained at the existing rates and the Director of Street Scene in consultation with the Cabinet Member  Children, Schools, Families and Leisure be given delegated powers to adjust the fees and charges if necessary, to respond to market forces;

(3)       it be noted that there is no budget to accommodate the forecast potential financial shortfall which might result from the interim management arrangements.  If this shortfall cannot be contained within the overall Landscape Services budget, then any shortfall would need to be met by the use of one-off reserves; and

(4)       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 Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) had been consulted under Rule 26 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by the 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 formal arrangements for management of the golf course, the budget for its operation, and the fees and charges which are to be applied, need to be agreed urgently to enable the course to continue to operate.The item was not included on the Forward Plan because the need for the report and accompanying decisions is a result of the liquidation of the previous lessee, and this was not known when the Forward Plan was published.

Reasons for Decisions:

To continue the interim provision of a golf course in Bootle for the local community whilst trying to minimise the costs for the Council.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The only other immediate option would be to close the facility on a temporary basis, which would carry the risk of damage and abuse to the unsecured site, loss of members / players, reputational loss to the Council, and a significant loss of potential income.  The Council’s land management responsibilities and therefore potential liabilities would remain.  Longer-term options are being assessed and would be presented to Cabinet for consideration in due course.

Report of the Strategic Director - Place

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director – Place on the projected outturn for the Southport Cultural Centre scheme.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the projected outturns for the Southport Cultural Centre Project and likely cost overruns be noted;

(2)       the Director of Built Environment in conjunction with the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT be requested to identify the means of meeting the projected funding shortfalls; and

(3)       the Council be recommended to amend the Capital Programme to include the Southport Cultural Centre final outturns.

Reasons for Decision:

To advise Members of progress and likely outturn cost of the refurbishment of Southport Cultural Centre.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet is recommended to pass the following resolution:

That, the press and public be excluded from the meting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

Decision Made:

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 they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favoured exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Strategic Director - Place

Further to Minute No. 147 above, the Cabinet considered a further report by the Strategic Director – Place on the proposed actions to address the costs of the Southport Cultural Centre Scheme.

Decision Made:

That the proposed actions to address elements of additional costs incurred within the projected outturn be endorsed.

Reasons for Decision:

To advise Members of progress and likely outturn cost of the refurbishment of Southport Cultural Centre.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.