Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Atkinson.

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 any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2015

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 3 September 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Interim Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Director of Public Health which sought approval for a three month extension of the current residential detoxification service contract which expires on 31 March 2016 and the commencement of a procurement exercise for a substance misuse detoxification service.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       approval be given to the waiver of the contract procedure rules and to a maximum of a three month extension to the existing contract with Mersey Care from the 1April 2016 until 30 June 2016 for the delivery of the residential substance misuse detoxification service with the same terms and conditions;

(2)       the Interim Director of Public Health be authorised to conduct an OJEU Light-Touch Regime tender exercise for a substance misuse detoxification service to run for a period of three years from 1July 2016 with the option of two further one-year extensions; and

(3)       the Interim Director of Public Health and Chief Finance Officer be given delegated authority to award the contract to the highest scoring bidder(s) subject to financial sustainability.

Reasons for Decision:

Detoxification services are a critical part of any substance misuse treatment system. As part of this system, Sefton Council commissions residential detoxification services for individuals wishing to realise a drug and/or alcohol-free life, but whose physical or mental ill health, family or social circumstances makes it unlikely that the person is able to realise this goal in a community setting. This is commissioned from Mersey Care NHS Trust. Community detoxification is part of the substance misuse treatment service commissioned from Lifeline.

The current contract for residential detoxification services expires on 31March 2016 and has an annual value of £510,522.

A review of the balance between residential and community detoxification services could potentially lead to efficiencies and a more effective and sustainable service for Sefton residents.

The procurement process would be required to follow an OJEU Light-Touch Regime Open Procedure. The value of the total contract requires Cabinet authorisation and delegation to a Chief Officer to award the contract at the end of the tender process.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The implications of carrying out a quicker procurement exercise with new service contract from 1April 2016 would be:

• The service review would not fully explore alternatives to the current model and potential efficiencies from changing the balance between residential and community detoxification services

• Opportunity to improve the service, gain cost efficiencies and add value would be lost
• Within the contract period substantial changes to the model may be required, as evidence comes to light on best, efficient and effective models, resulting in substantial contract variation and potential withdrawal/termination by the provider.
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The implications of deciding not to procure substance misuse residential detoxification services would be:

• Reputational and financial risk to the authority by the potential failure to perform its statutory duty to deliver public health services for substance misuse individuals, through a missing element of an integrated treatment system
• The most vulnerable and at risk would be denied the opportunity to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Report of the Interim Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the report on the Interim Director of Public Health which provided details of the draft service specification for the Integrated Wellness Service in order to progress the previously agreed procurement exercise in line with the defined timetable.

Decision Made:

That the report be deferred for consideration at a future meeting.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Cabinet to consider the specification in further detail at a future meeting.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None

Report of the Head of Locality Services - Commissioned

The Cabinet considered the report on the Head of Locality Services – Commissioned on the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy which provided details of how the Council would manage flooding and coastal erosion in its area.

Decision Made:

That the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

The strategy is a requirement under Section 9 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 which requires each Lead Local Flood Authority in England and Wales to set out how it will manage flooding and coastal erosion in its area. Sefton Council is a Lead Local Flood Authority and adoption of this strategy would satisfy this statutory need. It also satisfies the requirements under the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 for a Flood Risk Management Plan under Regulation 26 of the Flood Risk Regulations 2009/3042.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet considered the report and a supplementary note of the Chief Executive which provided details of a number of proposed changes to the Local Plan following its submission for examination take account of representations where they will help to secure that the Plan is ‘sound’, updated evidence and to make minor editorial changes etc, which is regarded as good practice.

The report also sought approval of the Local Development Scheme and Authority Monitoring Report; and provided an update on a number of recently completed studies.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       the list of proposed post submission changes to the Local Plan be approved for consideration by the Planning Inspector at the Local Plan examination, including changes to the Policy Map, subject to the text in local plan reference 11.52 referring to Moss Lane Allotments being amended to read Moss Road Allotments;

(2)       the Local Development Scheme be adopted; and

(3)       the Authority Monitoring Report for 2015 be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

To have in place a number of proposed changes to the Local Plan prior to the examination hearings. This would help show how the Council intends to respond to a number of representations were it accepts the premise of the argument and which would help to make the Plan sound.

To fulfil the Council’s requirement to have an up-to-date Local Development Scheme and Authority Monitoring Report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None. It is good practice to suggest post submission changes which the Council supports before the examination of the Local Plan. This will also help to reduce the length of the examination hearings, and would mean that officers are relying on out-of-date evidence.

Further to Minute No. 56 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 30 September 2015, the Cabinet considered the report on the Chief Executive which provided details of the draft House Extensions and New Housing Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD), the rationale for the SPD and the key proposed changes from the existing documents.

The Cabinet was advised that the Planning Committee had requested an amendment to the proposals within the SPD with regard to the size of garden/open areas for flats in future developments.

Decision Made:

That the Draft House Extensions and New Housing SPD’s be approved for public consultation, subject to the size of garden spaces for flats in future developments being amended from 5 sq metres to 20 sq metres.

Reasons for Decision:

Draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD’s) are required to undergo public consultation prior to adoption. Approval for consultation of draft versions of the House Extensions and New Housing SPD’s is necessary to progress both documents and give them maximum weight when used to determine planning applications.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

One alternative would be not to update the existing SPD’s. However this would result in the existing documents becoming further inconsistent with national planning policy and consequently being of limited weight in making decisions on planning applications.