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 any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2016

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 February 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Note attached

The Cabinet heard representations from Peter Hennessy who had submitted a petition on behalf of residents in Little Crosby containing 181 signatures which stated:

“Little Crosby Residents Petition to reduce the speed limit to 20mph through our village up to St.Mary’s Primary School and upgrade the speed bumps.

The residents of Little Crosby Village wish to protest against the speed in which vehicles travel through our village. It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident.

We request the lowering of the speed limit to 20MPH through the village, up to St Mary’s Primary School, as exists in the majority of Crosby’s roads.

The existing speed bumps are worn and ineffective and need to be raised to facilitate this change or another effective deterrent introduced.”

The Cabinet was advised that the Cabinet Member – Locality Services had requested officers to investigate the feasibility of creating a 20mph School Zone, and undertake a review of the existing traffic calming features and the provision of additional speed cushions in the vicinity of the Church and school in Little Crosby and a potential scheme would be developed for further consideration.

Mr Hennessy thanked the Cabinet Member – Locality Services for agreeing to that course of action

Decision Made: That

(1)       the petition be noted; and

(2)       the action being taken by Highway officers to investigate and prepare a potential scheme to address the issues raised in the petition for consideration by the Cabinet Member – Locality Services be noted.

Reason for Decision:

The action to be taken will address the issues raised in the petition.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Director of Social Care and Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Social Care and Health which provided details of the work, various agencies had undertaken to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation and children who have been reported as missing from home / care / education. 

Decision Made:

That the work taking place in Sefton regarding Child Sexual Exploitation and safeguarding children, who had been reported as missing from home / care / education be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet members are aware of the partnership activity undertaken to safeguard children from child sexual exploitation in Sefton and when they have been reported as missing, in accordance with their duties under  the Children Act 1989 the general duty of every local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Head of Schools and Families

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Schools and Families which provided details of the outcome of the consultation process on the draft Post 16 SEN Transport Policy Statement for 2016-17.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the outcome of the consultation process on the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement for 2016-17 and proposed amendments to the consultation draft be noted;

(2)       the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement 2016/17 be approved; and

(3)       the statutory requirement to publish a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement annually be noted and Cabinet Member – Children, Schools and Families be granted delegated authority to agree any minor updates to the statement.

Reasons for Decision:

To agree changes to the Post 16 Transport Policy Statement.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

It is a statutory requirement to publish a Post 16 Transport Policy Statement and any significant changes would require further consultation.

Report of the Head of Schools and Families

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Schools and Families which provided details of proposals to conduct a procurement process to establish a contract for the provision of outreach support services for children and young people with a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder.

Decision Made: That

(1)       approval be given to the procurement process and evaluation criteria for tenders to provide the outreach support service for children and young people with autistic spectrum disorder;

(2)       it be noted that the current arrangements will be continued until 1September 2016 to ensure continuity of support for current service users;

(3)       it be noted that the contract will run for three years with the option to extend for one year plus one further year, subject to a satisfactory review under the terms of the contract; and

(4)       the Head of Schools and Families be authorised to accept the highest scoring tender(s) based on the approved evaluation criteria.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure that children and young people with an autistic spectrum disorder are provided with high quality outreach support, matched to their individual special educational needs, in line with statutory requirements.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

No, soft market testing has indicated sufficient interest to warrant undertaking a formal procurement process.

Report of the Head of Inward Investment and Employment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Inward Investment and Employment which provided details of the progress of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Ways to Work European Social Fund (ESF) bid submission and a ESF and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) grant offer for delivery in Sefton.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the in-principle approval received for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority ‘Ways to Work’ ESF programme be noted; and

(2)       the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills be granted delegated authority to accept the ESF grant offer for delivery in Sefton in line with the advice received from the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Regulation and Compliance prior to the bid submission.

Reasons for Decision:

To accept the offer of an ESF grant award of £2,742,123 and Youth Employment Initiative award of £1,062,919 for Sefton. This is part of the wider Combined Authority bid which totals £19,123,473 ESF and £10,416,183 YEI for the City Region Combined Authority partners.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not to apply for EU funding would be to forego the benefits (financial, social and economic) associated with external funding. EU funding would provide an essential component of the future funding of key elements of the Council’s Investment and Employment Service from 2016 onwards, and would support the delivery of key objectives for prosperity and jobs. The opportunity to attract Youth Employment Initiative funding in addition to European Social Fund offers a particularly desirable level of grant intervention rate. It is considered that this would provide the only possible method of securing this level of investment to improving the life chances of vulnerable young people the Council could pursue over the next three years.

Report of the Head of Inward Investment and Employment

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Inward Investment and Employment which provided details of progress with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Liverpool City Region Integrated Business Support project submission and sought approval to accept the ERDF grant offer for delivery in Sefton.

Decision Made: That

(i)            the in-principle approval received for the ERDF Liverpool City Region Integrated Business Support project be noted; and

(ii)        the Cabinet Member-Regeneration and Skills be granted delegated authority to accept the ERDF grant offer for delivery in Sefton in line with the advice received from the Chief Finance Officer and Head of Regulation and Compliance  prior to the bid submission.

Reasons for Decision:

To accept the offer of an ERDF grant award of £1,088,415 for Sefton. This is part of the wider Liverpool City Region Combined Authority bid which totals £2,934,124

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not to apply for EU funding would be to forego the benefits (financial, social and economic) associated with external funding. EU funding would provide an essential component of the future funding of key elements of the council’s Investment and Employment Service from 2016 onwards, and would support the delivery of key objectives for prosperity and jobs. It was considered that this was the only possible method of securing this level of investment to support Sefton businesses the council could pursue over the next three years.

Report of the Head of Locality Services - Commissioned

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Locality Services - Commissioned which provided details of proposals to utilise the option of a second 12 month extension of the current Hired Passenger Transport Framework Agreement for a period of 12 months from 1 January 2017 until 31December 2017.

Decision Made:

That approval be given to the utilisation of the second extension option of the current Hired Passenger Transport Framework Agreements for a period of 12 months from 1January 2017 until 31 December 2017.

Reasons for Decision:

The current Framework Agreement, core period from 1January 2014 to 31 December 2015, had an option to extend by 2 x 1 year extension periods at the discretion of Sefton Council. The decision was made following the successful performance of the suppliers over the preceding core period and the first of two extension periods and the pricing had remained stable over these periods of the Framework Agreement.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The option of going back out to tender via an OJEU compliant process for a new Framework Agreement was rejected because it was considered more appropriate to utilise resources to undertake a review of routes and to offer revised routes to the current framework transport providers. This would be via a competitive process within the existing framework agreement, which provides appropriate financial control.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided details of the consultation undertaken by the Council on the House Extensions and New Housing Supplementary Planning Documents, the comments received and the proposed changes to be made to the documents.

Decision Made:

That approval be given to the adoption of the House Extensions and New Housing Supplementary Planning Documents, which would replace the existing Supplementary Planning Documents and be used for development management purposes.

Reasons for Decision:

Supplementary Planning Documents are required to be officially adopted by the Council in order for them to be given weight when determining planning applications.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

One alternative would be not to update the existing Supplementary Planning Documents. 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.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided details of the urgent decisions taken by the Leader under ‘Matters delegated to the Leader’ during the Local Plan examination hearings.

These changes had been made to the submitted Local Plan, as a result of the discussion at the hearings which were held between 17 November 2015 and 15 January 2016. In some cases they replace decisions taken by the Leader and Cabinet on 1 October 2015 and 5 November 2015 (Minutes 51 and 63), and those reported to Cabinet on 3 December 2015 (Minute 78), which cover the changes made prior to the hearings taking place.

Consultation on the Modifications would take place when the Inspector’s interim report and the proposed Modifications to the Local Plan had been approved by the Council later this year.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the Council be noted; and

(2)       the appreciation of the Cabinet be recorded for the sterling work undertaken by the staff in the Planning Team in the preparation of the draft Local Plan and during the Local Plan examination hearings.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council’s Constitution requires that any urgent decisions taken by the Leader be reported to the Cabinet.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None. This is required by the Council’s Constitution.

The Chair reported that this would be the last Cabinet meeting that the Head of Corporate Support, Graham Bayliss would be attending before he retires on 1 April 2016.

He indicated that Graham had 34 years service in local government and joined Sefton in August 1993. Since then, he has spent the vast majority of those years leading and directing service improvements within the Leisure Services Department before taking on responsibilities for Commissioning and Corporate Services in the last few years. Graham was very well respected by Councillors and Officers as a very professional officer who always strives to deliver the best possible services

Decision Made.

That the Head of Corporate Support, Graham Bayliss be thanked for his devoted service to Sefton Council over the last 23 years and best wishes be extended to him for the future.