Items
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Item |
75. |
Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
An apology for absence was received from
Councillor Fairclough.
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76. |
Declarations of Interest
Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary
interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included
in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests
that relate to an item on the agenda.
Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest,
he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the
public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of
business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is
permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a
dispensation.
Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek
advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the
Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw
from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during
the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has
an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or
remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.
Minutes:
No declarations of any
disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were
received.
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77. |
Minutes of the Previous Meeting  PDF 149 KB
Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November
2019.
Minutes:
Decision Made:
That the minutes of the Meeting held on 7
November 2019 be approved as a correct record.
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78. |
Programme of Meetings – 2020/21 Municipal Year
Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic
Officer
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer in relation to the
proposed Programme of Meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal
Year.
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Decision Made:
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That the Programme of Meetings for the Cabinet,
Public Engagement and Consultation Panel, Sefton Safer Communities
Partnership and the Health and Wellbeing Board for 2020/21 as set
out in Annexes A and D of the report be approved.
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Reasons for the Decision:
To
enable the business of the Council and its various
Committees/bodies to be conducted during the 2020/21 Municipal
Year.
Alternative Options Considered and
Rejected:
None. The Council is required to
produce a programme of meetings.
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79. |
Hired Passenger Transport Framework Agreement 2020/21 PDF 68 KB
Report of the Head of Communities
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Head of Communities seeking authority to grant the
two one-year extensions (2020 & 2021) to the existing Framework
Agreement for Hired Passenger Transport service, which had
previously been tendered in accordance with OJEU regulations and
the Council’s procurement regulations as described in the
Cabinet report of 6th April 2017, Minute No 111
refers.
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Decision Made:
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That the Cabinet delegate
authority to the Head of Communities to extend the existing
2018/20 Framework Agreement for two
further one-year extensions.
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Reasons for the Decision:
The current framework agreement
is made up of 15 hired passenger transport companies, in 4 lots,
divided up into vehicle seating capacity. The core period will
expire on 31st December 2019.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None. Based upon the level of
requests from commissioning departments there is currently an
ongoing need for the Council to provide transport to some service
users. As such, this procurement
exercise and the subsequent establishment of a Framework Agreement
provides the Council with the opportunity to procure services at
the most economically advantageous rates, whilst also meeting the
stringent Health and Safety and Safeguarding issues associated with
transporting vulnerable adults and children.
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80. |
Extension of Housing Related Support Contracts PDF 96 KB
Report of the Head of Economic Growth and
Housing
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Head of Economic Growth and Housing that sought
approval from Cabinet to utilise the option to extend the
commissioned Housing Related Support (homelessness) Services
contracts by two years.
The Cabinet Member for
Communities paid tribute to the excellent partnership working in
relation to the Housing related Support (homelessness) Services
contracts and referred to the reduction in homelessness throughout
the Borough in recent months which reflected the excellent work
being undertaken.
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Decision Made: That the
Cabinet:
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(1) delegated authority
to the Head of Economic Growth and Housing to extend the commissioned Housing Related
Support (homelessness) Services contracts by two years.
(2) approved the contract price variation for 2-years, following the
core period ending, to be funded from the Flexible Homelessness
Support Grant
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Reasons for the Decision:
Sefton’s current
commissioned Housing Related Support Services commenced on
1st July 2015 for a period of 5 years, with the option
to extend for two x one year periods.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
The Council could decide not to
extend, which would mean that the contracts would end on
30th June 2020.
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81. |
Senior Management Arrangements PDF 103 KB
Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the
Chief Personnel Officer.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
Joint report of the Chief Executive and the Chief Personnel Officer
in relation to a proposal to facilitate a new Senior Management
Structure at a key strategic level given the recent recruitment of
the Chief Executive and the continuing need for the Authority to
meet existing and future challenges.
The report highlighted that changes were deemed necessary to
facilitate the increased demands facing the council, increasing
challenges in key services, most notably Children’s Services
and Adult Social Care, creating stronger reporting lines, with an
appropriate number of direct reports, and to allow the Chief
Executive to adopt an appropriate concentration on strategic
issues.
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Decision Made: That the Cabinet
approved:
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(1)
that the post of Director of Social Care and Health
which was formerly held by the Chief Executive prior to his
recruitment be deleted;
(2)
that the posts of Executive Director of Adult Social
Care and Health and Executive Director of Children’s Social
Care and Education be formed at salary level at HAY 1 (such salary
level subject to the Pay Policy), which both have recommended level
of remuneration over £100,000 (the salary over £100,000
to be approved by Full Council in accordance with the
constitution). Recruitment of these
posts will be a matter of open recruitment by the Employment
Procedure Committee;
(3)
the amendment of two permanent Executive Director
posts, one to form the post of Executive Director Place and the
other Executive Director People. Such
salary levels will remain unchanged at HAY 1. Amendment of these posts is subject to
consultation with the individuals involved in accordance with
normal Council HR processes. These are
not new posts but reflect a refocus of
responsibilities. Cross and without
portfolio working will still be required as necessary.
(4)
the formation of a new post of Executive Director of
Corporate Resources and Customer Services at HAY 1 and the deletion
of the post of Head of Corporate Resources (such remuneration level
over £100,000 and subject to approval by Full Council in
accordance with the constitution). This
post will be subject to an assimilation.
(5)
the current temporary arrangement of the Executive
Director (Without Portfolio) will continue on a temporary basis to
February 2021 as the Council has secured additional funding from
the Combined Authority to support additional projects which require
capacity. The post will be re-titled
Executive Director (Without Portfolio).
(6)
the alignment of services and posts below Executive
Director level to be in accordance with Annex 1, to the
report. The Chief Executive, in
consultation with the Leader, be authorised to make any necessary
changes in alignment of services and posts below Executive Director
level, however, it is not anticipated that immediate changes in
established posts below will be necessary to existing Head of
Service posts.
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Reasons for the Decision:
To provide for a Strategic
Management Structure which will enable the delivery of the Core
Purpose and Council objectives at both an operational and strategic
level.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
As would be expected the
demands ...
view the full minutes text for item 81.
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82. |
Anti-Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Policy PDF 75 KB
Report of the Head of Corporate Resources
Additional documents:
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Head of Corporate Resources in relation to the revised Sefton Council
Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy for adoption by the
Council.
The report highlighted that the
existing Policy had been reviewed and revised in order to
strengthen and improve the Council’s overall arrangements for
the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud, bribery and
corruption. The revised Policy provides guidance on how any
individual can report, in confidence, any suspected fraudulent or
corrupt activity.
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Decision Made: That the Cabinet:
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(1) noted the contents of the report;
and
(2)
approved the revised Sefton Council Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy for
adoption by the Council.
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Reasons for the Decision:
Sefton Council is required by
law to protect the public funds it administers and to raise
awareness in relation to any potential threats that may affect the
financial and/or reputational position of the Council. The revised Sefton Council Anti-Fraud, Bribery and
Corruption Policy will support the Council’s commitment to
creating an environment in which fraud, bribery and corruption is
minimised and complements a number of other Council policies which
support internal controls and expected standards of
behaviour.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
If the Council fails to put in
place proper policies regarding fraud, bribery and corruption, it
will be unable to demonstrate adherence to proper practices in
relation to the prevention and detection of fraud and its actions
or decisions could be challenged.
The Council also faces
financial and reputational risk in that: -
- standards of public service that the Council is attempting to
achieve are undermined.
- financial resources available to pay for vital services are
reduced.
- public
confidence in the Council is affected.
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83. |
Revenue and Capital Budget Update - Treasury Management Position to October 2019 PDF 225 KB
Report of the Head of Corporate Resources
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Head of Corporate Resources that detailed a review of
the Treasury Management activities undertaken to 31st
October 2019. It was highlighted that the report was the second
report of the ongoing quarterly monitoring provided to Audit &
Governance Committee and the mid-year report to Cabinet and
Council, whose role it is to carry out scrutiny of treasury
management policies and practices.
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Decision Made:
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That the Cabinet noted the
Treasury Management update to 31st October 2019,
reviewed the effects of decisions taken in pursuit of the Treasury
Management Strategy and considered the implications of changes
resulting from regulatory, economic and market factors affecting
the Council’s treasury management activities.
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Reasons for the Decision:
To ensure that Members are
fully appraised of the treasury activity undertaken to
31st October 2019 and to meet the reporting requirements
set out in Sefton’s Treasury Management Practices and those
recommended by the CIPFA code.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
None.
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84. |
Revenue and Capital Budget Update 2019/20 PDF 182 KB
Report of the Head of Corporate Resources
Minutes:
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The Cabinet considered the
report of the Head of Corporate Resources in relation
to:
1.
the current forecast revenue outturn position for
the Council for 2019/20;
2.
the current forecast on Council Tax and Business
Rates collection for 2019/20; and,
3.
the monitoring position of the Council’s
capital programme to the end of October 2019, the forecast
expenditure to year end, variations against the approved budgets
and an explanation of those variations for consideration by
Members. Updates to spending profiles and proposed amendments to
capital budgets necessary to ensure the efficient delivery of
capital projects are also presented for approval.
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Decision Made:
That the Cabinet:
(1)
note and approve the following in relation to the Revenue
Budget;
(a)
note the current forecast revenue outturn position for 2019/20 and
the current position relating to delivery of savings included in
the 2019/20 revenue budget;
(b)
note the mitigating measures being used to ensure a
balanced forecast outturn position, as detailed in paragraph 2.2 to
the report, excluding a forecast for deficit on Housing Benefits
which will be considered at the end of the financial year should it
materialise;
(c)
approve the implementation of the mitigating actions
identified in paragraph 2.10 to ensure a balanced forecast outturn
position;
(d)
note the outcome of the review of earmarked reserves
and the transfers to new reserves to fund the schemes outlined in
section 6.5 to the report
(2) note, review
and approve the following in relation to the Capital
Programme;
(a)
review updates to spending profiles across financial years as
detailed in paragraph 5.1.1 to
the report;
(b)
review the new scheme added to the
Capital Programme under delegated authority for 2019/20 as detailed
in paragraph 5.1.3 to the report;
(c)
the latest capital expenditure position as at 31
October 2019 to date of £8.702m (paragraph 5.2.2) with the
latest full year forecast being £25.214m (paragraph
5.3.1);
(d)
the explanations of variances to project budgets as
detailed in paragraph 5.3.2 to the report; and
(e)
note that capital resources will be managed by the
Head of Corporate Resources to ensure the capital programme remains
fully funded and that capital funding arrangements secure the
maximum financial benefit to the Council, as detailed in paragraph
5.5 to the report.
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Reasons for the Decision:
To ensure Cabinet
are informed of the forecast outturn position for the 2019/2020
Revenue Budget as at the end of October 2019, including delivery of
agreed savings, and to provide an updated forecast of the outturn position with regard to the
collection of Council Tax and Business Rates.
To keep members informed of the
progress of the Capital Programme against the profiled budget for
2019/20 and agreed allocations for future
years.
To progress any changes that are
required in order to maintain a relevant and accurate budget
profile necessary for effective monitoring of the Capital
Programme.
To approve any updates to funding
resources so that they can be applied to capital schemes in the
delivery of the Council’s overall capital
strategy.
In March 2017
...
view the full minutes text for item 84.
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