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 received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2013

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 May 2013 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet heard representations from Mrs B. Porter on behalf of a deputation who had submitted a petition containing the signatures of 26 residents of the Borough, which related to the proposed Local Plan for Sefton and stated:

“We the undersigned support the proposal by the Ainsdale Community Wildlife Trust (A.C.W.T.) to re-establish and extend the sand dune conservation area into the green belt presently occupied by the former Ainsdale Hope High School playing field, to protect it for the future and to enable use by the Ainsdale community at large.”

Further to Minute No. 16 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 June 2013, the Cabinet then considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which presented the Preferred Option Document, a key stage in the preparation of Sefton’s Local Plan. The Document set out the issues and challenges facing Sefton, which included:

·         a vision for Sefton’s planning ahead to 2030;

·         a strategy for how Sefton’s housing, business and other  development needs can be met;

·         a ‘preferred’ option indicating where those needs might be met including detailed site allocations;

·         details of other options which have been considered and discounted;

·         development management policies to help guide development and provide a policy framework for making decisions on planning applications; and

·         details of the 12 week consultation arrangements.

This was a corporate strategy document which was being developed within the statutory planning framework. The Preferred Option Document was a key stage in the process of adopting a Local Plan, which would in due course replace the Unitary Development Plan.

The Director of Built Environment circulated an addendum note to the report which set out two minor updates to the Preferred Option document.

Members of the Cabinet raised questions on the following issues referred to in the report and officers responded to the Issues as indicated below:

Report of Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 18 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 12 June 2013, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the proposed adoption of the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan following a public consultation on the proposed modifications to the Waste Local Plan, which was undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013.

The report explained that all local authorities were required to prepare a Local Plan that provided a policy framework and land allocations for a new waste management infrastructure to meet the identified needs of each Council. The report was in addition to the Local Plan which is referred to in Minute No. 11 above.

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

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the results of the public consultation on the proposed modifications to the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan, which was undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013, be noted;

(2)       it be noted that the report from the Planning Inspector concluded that, subject to the proposed modifications, the Plan “meets the criteria for soundness in the National Planning Policy Framework” and “provides an appropriate basis for waste planning for Merseyside and Halton over the next 15 years”;

(3)       it be noted that several of the Sefton Unitary Development Plan ‘saved’ policies would be replaced by Waste Local Plan policies including the site allocations; and

(4)       the Council be recommended to adopt the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan as part of the statutory development plan.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure the Joint Waste Local Plan becomes part of the statutory planning framework, within which, it would be possible to assess proposals for new waste energy infrastructure in Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

No. All local authorities are required to have a Plan of this kind.

Further to Minute No. 97 of the meeting held on 31 January 2013 and Minute No. 142 (3) of the meeting held on 25 April 2013, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services on the proposed purpose and priorities for the use of the Community Support Fund and the Capital Priorities Fund, and the governance structure for decision making on the utilisation of the financial resources available.

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

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the purpose of the funds as set out in paragraphs 2.1 - 2.3 of the report be approved;

(2)       approval be given to the delegation of decision making on the:

Community Support Fund to the Cabinet Member - Communities and Environment and on the Cabinet Priorities Fund to the Cabinet Member - Regeneration and Tourism; and

(3)       all decisions to be made in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member portfolio holder and any comments arising from the consultation be included in the reports to the Cabinet Members referred to in Resolution (2) above.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Council to achieve its budget reduction targets, but enable alternative methods of service delivery to be explored at no future cost to the Council and to further advance the delivery of priorities determined by the Council

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

One option would be to not have these funds in place but this would limit the development of priorities and alternative methods of delivery and potentially prevent new ideas being explored. 

Further to Minute No. 115 of the meeting held on 14 February 2013, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Street regarding the previous decision to outsource the operation of the vehicle maintenance stores and make arrangements for the procurement of spare parts necessary to maintain the Council’s vehicle fleet; and the revised proposals for the operation of the stores to remain in-house, and for discounted parts to be sourced from a range of suppliers as opposed to a single source.

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

Decision Made:

That the report be referred to Cabinet Member – Transportation to enable clarification to be sought on issues raised in the report and the Cabinet Member be given delegated powers to take the final decision on the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Cabinet Member to seek further clarification on issues in the report prior to a decision been taken under delegated powers.

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 proposals to award a new term service contract for traffic signal maintenance.

Decision Made:

That the report be referred to Cabinet Member – Transportation to enable clarification to be sought on issues raised in the report and the Cabinet Member be given delegated powers to take the final decision on the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Cabinet Member to seek further clarification on issues in the report prior to a decision been taken under delegated powers.

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 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 Paragraph 3 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 Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 15 above, the Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Built Environment which provided details of the quality and financial assessment of the tenders submitted for the term service contract for traffic signal maintenance.

Decision Made:

That the report be referred to Cabinet Member – Transportation to enable clarification to be sought on issues raised in the report and the Cabinet Member be given delegated powers to take the final decision on the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Cabinet Member to seek further clarification on issues in the report prior to a decision been taken under delegated powers.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None