Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor 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.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2012

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 8 November 2012 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT on the current position in respect of the achievement of the approved budget savings for 2012/13.

Decision Made:

The progress to date on the achievement of the approved savings for 2012/13 be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the latest position on the achievement of savings for the current financial year and to facilitate the achievement of the savings targets for 2012/13.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Head of Transformation Services and Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

Further to Minute No. 27 of the meeting held on 19 July 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which outlined the results of the consultation relating to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme including the Equality Analysis Report, and the results of consultation relating to the removal of Council Tax discounts and exemptions for unoccupied properties, together with an update on Government changes to proposed legislation, including the Equality Analysis Report.

The report also set out a proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme and a range of Council Tax discounts and exemption changes; provided an update on the latest Government announcement regarding transitional funding being made available to Local Authorities for the Council Tax Reduction scheme, together with the impact of the proposed grant on Sefton Council; and identified ways in which the Council proposes to help those most financially affected by the change through a hardship fund in order to meet its objective of protecting the most vulnerable residents of Sefton.

The report contained the following annexes:

Annex A:        Council Tax Reduction Scheme options – with financial implications

Annex B:        Council Tax Technical changes with financial implications

Annex C:        Consultation and Engagement relating to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax Technical Changes

Annex D:        Equality Analysis Report – Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Annex E:        Equality Analysis Report – Council Tax Technical changes relating to discount and exemptions for vacant unoccupied properties

Annex F:         Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Decision Taken:

1.                 That the Council be recommended that

(i)         the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2013/14 summarised in paragraph 14 and set out in Annex F to the report, be approved and adopted to take effect from 1 April 2013;

(ii)        the changes to discounts and exemptions for empty and unoccupied properties be approved to  take effect from 1 April 2013 in order to minimise the impact for non-pensioner claimants, as summarised in paragraph 14, and set out in Annex B of the report;

(iii)       the introduction of an empty homes premium to take effect from 1 April 2013, as summarised in paragraph 14, and set out in Annex B of the report; be approved;

            (iv)       the Government transitional grant be not accepted.

2.         The consideration of any minor changes in legislation/guidance in relation to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax Reduction Technical Changes be delegated to the Head of Corporate Finance & ICT in consultation with the Leader of the Council, and that any significant changes in such legislation/guidance and any further recommendations be reported to the Cabinet meeting on 17 January 2013; and

3.         The consideration and implementation of any minor textual changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme be delegated to the Head of Corporate Finance & ICT;

Reasons for Decisions:

The Government is abolishing the current national Council Tax Benefit Scheme and requires the Council to formally have in place a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme by 31 January 2013, to take effect from 1 April 2013.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 69 of the Council meeting held on 22 November 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment, which indicated that in accordance with Rule 84 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the following motion had been referred to the Cabinet for consideration of the financial implications in advance of any budgetary commitment and prior to any action being taken to implement the decision:

“This Council welcomes the appointment of consultants for a sustainable energy action plan for the Liverpool City Region.

The Council recognises that a sustainable energy action plan will be of immense importance for investment, businesses, jobs and the environment within Sefton.

This Council commits itself to implementing a sustainable energy action plan and notes that delaying the implementation of an action plan will cost jobs and money.”

Decision Made:

That further to the Council motion on 22 November 2012, it be noted that the Sustainable Energy Action Plan is a mechanism for Liverpool City Region and Sefton Council to co-ordinate its own, externally funded and partner activities to deliver low carbon economy goals, is effectively self funding and in itself has no direct additional financial demands on core Council resources above contributory work streams already in progress.

Reason for the Decision:

To provide clarification of the financial implications of the Council Motion in accordance with Rule 84 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules (Motions on Expenditure).

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 123 of the meeting held on 1 March 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the outcome of key studies which had been undertaken on employment land and premises issues, the Council’s housing requirements and agricultural land issues, to assist in the preparation of the Local Plan for Sefton.  The report also included the proposed brief for a Consequences Study and the updated timetable for the Local Plan.

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

Decisions Made:

(1)       the findings of the studies referred to in the report be accepted for the purposes of carrying out a Consequences Study;

(2)       approval be given to the updated housing figures, as set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report for use in the Consequences Study;

(3)       the brief for the Consequences Study, as set out in Annex 1 to the report be approved, subject to any minor alterations that may be necessary, to be delegated to the Head of Planning Services;

(4)       the revised Local Development Scheme setting out the updated timetable for preparing the Local Plan, as set out in section 5 of the report be approved; and

(5)       the use of the Planning Advisory Service to provide critical advice at key stages of Sefton’s Local Plan be endorsed.

Reasons for Decisions:

To inform Members of the results of the key studies and to agree the next steps in the preparation of the Local Plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the Housing Tenancy Strategy which had been produced in accordance with the provisions on Housing Tenure reform set out in the Localism Act 2011 which place a statutory duty on local housing authorities to prepare and publish a tenancy strategy.

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

Decision Made:

That the Housing Tenancy Strategy as set out in the report be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

To meet the requirements of Section 150 of the Localism Act 2011, which requires local housing authorities to publish a tenancy strategy by January 2013.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 130 of the meeting held on 29 March 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the consultation response to the Draft Sefton Economic Strategy.

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

Decisions Made:

(1)       the contents of the report and the consultation response be noted;

(2)       the final version of the Strategy which included a completed Equalities Impact Analysis be approved; and

(3)       the Director of Built Environment be granted delegated authority to produce and publish a summary version of the Strategy.

Reasons for Decisions:

To adopt the Sefton Economic Strategy as Council Policy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Older People

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Older People on the various commissioning options for a Local Sefton Healthwatch and Independent Complaints Advocacy Service and the Officers’ recommendations which reflected the views of the various stakeholders who have been consulted during the last year whilst LINks have been preparing for the transition process for the implementation of Local Healthwatch.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 amended the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to make provisions for a Local Healthwatch as the consumer champion for health and social care services. Local Authorities had a responsibility for commissioning this new service to replace the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) from 1 April 2013 and for the commissioning of a Local Independent Complaints Advocacy Service which was previously commissioned by the NHS.

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

Decisions Made:

(1)       that approval be given to “a transitional host being commissioned to help set up a Local Healthwatch as a social enterprise which could be a trading arm of the host organisation”; and

(2)       that approval be given to a joint commissioning approach for an Independent Complaints Advocacy with other Merseyside local authorities being adopted, with Liverpool City Council leading the procurement exercise and Sefton Council being represented on the Selection Panel.

Reasons for Decisions:

Section 182 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 imposed a duty on the Council to make contractual arrangements with a Local Healthwatch organisation for the involvement of local people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of health and social services.

Section 185 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 transfers from the government to local authorities the duty to make arrangements for the provision of independent advocacy services for complaints relating to health services.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Details of the alternative options are set out within the report.

Report of the Director of Young People and Families

Further to Minute No. 4 of the meeting held on 24 May 2012, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Young People and Families which sought approval to an increase in the Children’s Services funding provision from the Government Capital Allocation of £3,198,000 received for 2012/13.

Decisions Made:

(1)       approval be given to the allocation of £536,250 to the proposed schemes set out in the report, to be funded from Capital Maintenance Grant included within the Capital Programme 2012/13;

(2)       the Director of Young People and Families be authorised to progress the projects in conjunction with Capita Symonds; and

(3)       the Council be recommended to approve the addition of the identified schemes totalling £536,250 into the Capital Programme.

Reasons for Decisions:

Final approval for new projects within the Capital Programme is required from Cabinet and Full Council under Paragraph 31 of Chapter 11 of the Constitution.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Corporate Support Services