Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations of interest were made.

Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2015

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 February 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

In accordance with the provisions set out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution,

Councillor Dawson has submitted a petition containing 42 signatures on behalf of a local deputation for consideration by the Cabinet which:

“Petitions Sefton Council to press the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure that no plans are made to sell off Southport Police Station until there is a confirmed better-situated Police Station facility within Southport.”

The Chair reported that Councillor Dawson had submitted a petition containing 42 signatures on behalf of a local deputation which:

“Petitions Sefton Council to press the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure that no plans are made to sell off Southport Police Station until there is a confirmed better-situated Police Station facility within Southport.”

Councillor Dawson was not present at the time that this agenda item was considered and was unable to make any representations on the petition.

The Chair also reported that Jane Kennedy, the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner had attended the meeting of the Southport Area Committee on 3 December 2014 to present the Merseyside Police Estate Strategy and Stakeholder Consultation and the response of the Committee to the consultation had been submitted to the Police and Crime Commissioner. Upon receipt of the petition, the response of the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner to the petition from Councillor Dawson had been sought and the following response had been received:

“It has always been my intention that current police stations will not close until there is a Community Police Station, or a Neighbourhood Patrol Hub in place to replace them. In Southport, the intention is to develop a new Neighbourhood and Patrol Hub as well as a new Community Police Station with a General Enquiry Office and then dispose of the existing station. I will bring forward the business cases and site locations when we are in a position to do so.”

Decision Made:

That the petition and response from the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner to the petition be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

The Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner had submitted her response to the petition.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet heard representations from Lindsay Scottwho had submitted a petition containing 2,028 signatures on behalf of the Friends of Brookdale which stated:

“Our campaign is to challenge the proposed closure of the Brookdale Resource Centre in Ainsdale. We need the Council and MP’s to listen and work out a way to keep this centre open.”

The Cabinet also heard representations from Mrs Margaret Mathieson who had submitted a petition containing 27 signatures on behalf of a deputation which states:

“We ask that the Elected Members investigate the administrative process in order to ensure that both the monitoring and scrutinisation of the outcomes of the questionnaire relating to the remodelling of the day services provision is truly representative of the recipients.”

 The Cabinet then considered the report of the Director of Older People which provided details of the outcome of the Remodelling of Day Opportunities consultation and sought approval for associated planned activity. The report also detailed the required changes associated with the Care Act 2014.

The Director of Older People referred to the following key issues, with regard to the proposals set out in the report:

1.         The Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2013 - 2018 sought the provision of care facilities and services closer to the home of the service user, through the use of direct payments, which allowed great choice and control on the use of facilities and services.

2.         The Sefton Strategic Needs Assessment (SSNA) indicated a decline in the number of people using day centres. More people were using personal budgets and the direct payments system to improve their choice and control. The latest data in the SSNA indicated that the average unit cost in 2012/13 was £193, which was 45% higher than the average Metropolitan Authority and represented a 14% increase on 2010/11. 

3.         The day care provision provided by the Council had steadily declined over the last three years. He stated that this trend was a national one with average attendance numbers falling by 28% between 2011/12 and 2013/14.

4.         The majority of day care facilities in the Borough were in need of significant repair and maintenance. The facilities needed to be modernised and re-modelled to accommodate people with highly complexed needs in order to provide a more efficient and effective service.

5.         The consultation process had been agreed by the Public Consultation and Engagement Panel and the Cabinet Member – Older People and Health. Since July 2014, he had met monthly with a wide range of voluntary organisations, User Groups and Advocacy Organisations to discuss a wide range of issues as set out in the report.

6.         The first stage of the consultation had been held in October 2014 to discuss the vision, the provision of activities and transport provision. The second stage had commenced at the end of November 2014 on the various options for the two year programme of modernisation after taking into account the responses to the first stage consultation.

7.         404 responses to the second stage consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Councillor McKinley, the Lead Member of Town Centres Working Group will attend the meeting to outline the key issues and recommendations set out in the report

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Corporate Service which incorporated the report of the Town Centres Working Group which had been appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) to undertake a review in to development of town centres in the Borough.

Councillor McKinley, the Lead Member of the Working Group outlined the key findings and recommendations set out in the report. He also thanked the witnesses and the Scrutiny Support Officer, Ruth Harrison for their support and professionalism throughout the scrutiny process.

Decision Made:

That the recommendations of the Town Centres Working Group be referred to the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Tourism for consideration; and the views of the Cabinet Member on the recommendations be submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet to be held on 16 April 2015.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the recommendations of the Working Group to be considered in more detail by the Cabinet Member, prior to the Cabinet making its formal response to the recommendations set out in the report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided details of the proposed procedures and strategy to be adopted in respect of the Council’s Treasury Management Function in 2015/16.

The Head of Corporate Finance and ICT referred to the proactive work undertaken by the Treasury Management Team which had enabled reductions in debt management costs of over £3m to be achieved in the last three years.

Decision Made:

That the Council be recommended to give approval to:

(1)       the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2015/16 as set out in Annex A of the report;

(2)       the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2015/16 as set out in Annex B of the report;

(3)       the amendment to the Banking arrangements contained within the Financial Procedure Rules of the Constitution, as referred to in paragraph 3 and Annex A of the report; and

(4)       the basis to be used in the calculation of the Minimum Revenue Provision for Debt Repayment in 2015/16.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Council to effectively manage its treasury activities.

Alternative Options considered and Rejected:

None

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT on proposals to establish the Prudential Indicators required under the Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  This would enable the Council to effectively manage its Capital Finance Activities and comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

Decision Made:

That the Council be recommended to:

(1)       approve the Prudential Indicators as detailed in the report, and summarised in Annex A of the report, be approved as the basis for compliance with The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities;

(2)       give approval to the relevant Prudential Indicators being amended, should any changes to unsupported borrowing be approved as part of the 2015/16 Revenue Budget;

(3)       note that estimates of capital expenditure may change as grant allocations are received, as indicated in paragraph 2.2 of the report; and

(4)       grant delegated authority to the Head of Corporate Finance & ICT to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Council to effectively manage its Capital Financing activities, and comply with the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided an update on the Capital Investment Plan 2014/15; details of the Government Capital Allocations for 2015/16 that had been received to date and their use in the development of a new starts programme for 2015/2016. The report also outlined £16.1m of new investments which were aimed to improve the facilities and services to residents throughout Sefton. 

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       the 2015/16 capital allocations received to date, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report be noted;

(2)       the Council be recommended to approve for inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan, the Capital schemes to be funded from the 2015/2016 Single Capital Pot as outlined in Appendix A and the Prudential Borrowing Scheme in Appendix B of the report; and

(3)       approval be given to an increase in the existing Capital Programme for business growth grants from £1.3m to £1.55m, to be met from external funding.

Reasons for Decision:

To update Members on the 2014/2015 Capital Investment Plan; inform Members of the 2015/16 Capital Allocations received to date; to allow Members to consider how these allocations should be utilised and to seek approval for a scheme to be funded from Prudential Borrowing.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The options available to Members 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

Further to Minute No. 28 of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 21 January 2015, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services which provided sought approval to the appointment of a Council representative to serve on the Committee in Common (Healthy Living Programme).

Decision Made:

That Councillor Cummins be appointed as the Council’s representative to serve on the Committee in Common (Healthy Living Programme).

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet has delegated powers to approve the Council’s representatives to serve on Outside Bodies.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.