Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cummins and Maher.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2016

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 May 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance which provided an update on the recent consideration of the operation of Area Committees following the reports to the three Area Committees in December 2015 and January 2016 and the comprehensive public engagement exercise that was completed during February / March 2016.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the results of the consultation and engagement process set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

(2)       the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) be requested to undertake an examination of the operation of Area Committees by way of a Scrutiny Review.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the operation of Area Committees. and submit a report on their recommendations to the Cabinet for consideration.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

A number of options were set out in Section 4 of the report.

Report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing on proposals to revoke a number of obsolete Supplementary Planning Guidance notes currently in force in Sefton that are no longer required.

Decision Made:

Reasons for Decision:

Many of the Supplementary Planning Guidance notes were adopted in 2003 and relate to the soon to be superseded Sefton Unitary Development Plan. Whilst some have resulted in successful development being carried out in the Bedford / Queens and Klondyke Housing Market Renewal Initiative neighbourhoods, there is no funding to carry out the proposals for the Knowsley / Peel /Linacre Area. Others are inconsistent with the National Planning Policy Framework or the emerging Sefton Local Plan. As a result they are no longer required and should be revoked.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

One alternative would be not to revoke the Supplementary Planning Guidance notes. However as they are mostly out of date, they would be given little weight in the decision making process. This would lead to confusion when people are seeking policy advice in relation to planning applications.

Report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing seeking approval to publish Sefton’s Housing Strategy, which sets out the vision, key themes and strategic housing priorities for Sefton over the next five years.

Decision Made: That

(1)       approval be given to the publication of Sefton’s Housing Strategy 2016 – 2021 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report for publication; and

(2)       it be noted that  further work would be undertaken in Summer/Autumn 2016 on the Housing Strategy Action Plan and Monitoring Report. The action plan framework will include specific activities and actions to be undertaken by the Council to achieve the strategic priorities as identified in the Housing Strategy document.

Reasons for Decision:

The Government had recognised that “housing should provide a secure foundation for individuals to live the lives they want to live. Finding the right home, in the right place, can be an essential platform for people seeking to support their families and sustain work”. This updated Housing Strategy sets out the locally agreed, long-term vision for housing and sets out strategic housing priorities, objectives and broad target outcomes to help achieve this aim.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources which provided details of the 2016/17 Capital Allocations received to date and their proposed use in the development of a new starts programme for 2016/2017. The report indicated that £5.245m of new investments from the Single Capital Pot are aimed to improve the facilities and services to residents throughout Sefton.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the 2016/2017 capital allocations received to date, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report be noted;

(2)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan of the capital schemes to be funded from the 2016/17 Single Capital Pot, as outlined in Appendix A of the report;

(3)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan of the capital scheme to be funded from Prudential Borrowing as outlined in Appendix B of the report;

(4)       the Council be recommended to give approval to the inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan of the self-funded capital schemes as outlined in Appendix C of the report; and

(5)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions. Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) had been consulted under Rule 27 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by the Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan in view of the need progress the capital schemes to approval stage.

Reasons for Decision:

To update Members on the 2015/2016 Capital Investment Plan and Capital Allocations received to date and to allow Members to consider how these allocations should be utilised and for one 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 report.

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance

Councillor Kevin Cluskey, Member of the Working Group will attend the meeting to report on the work undertaken by the Working Group and the recommendations

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance which incorporated the report of the Working Group appointed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Services to review the customer experience of claiming Council administered benefits and financial support.

The Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services commended the work undertaken by the Working Group and indicated that the recommendations would feed into the general review of Customer Services.

Decision Made: That

Reasons for Decision:

The Working Group had made a number of recommendations that require approval by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) and the Cabinet.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.