Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Cummins.

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.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2020

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Report of the Interim Director of Children's Social Care and Education

Further to Minute No. 48 of the meeting held on 3 October 2019 the Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Social Care and Education indicating that the Governing body of St Teresa’s Catholic Infant School had written to the local authority stating that they had been unable to set a balanced budget and requesting that the possibility of a merger with their neighbouring Catholic primary school, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, be explored; that the current financial position indicated that the school was heading for a forecast in-year deficit of £0.050m; and based on reducing numbers, as indicated by the recent October 2019 census data (pupil numbers reduced by nine compared to the October 2018 census), this position would worsen to a deficit of £0.120m by the end of 2020/21; and to a deficit of £0.200m by the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

The report also indicated that On 3 October 2019 Cabinet agreed to begin Stage One of a statutory consultation exercise and the purpose of this report was for Cabinet to consider the outcome of that consultation and also invite Cabinet to agree to next steps; that the Stage One proposal had set out a plan to close St. Teresa’s Catholic Infant School and to expand provision of our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School; the Archdiocesan Education Department had confirmed that it was properly consulted on the proposal;  Archdiocesan officers were involved in the consultation meetings and had engaged with the local authority and schools during the statutory process to date; and the Archdiocese could confirm the provision of sufficient primary phase Catholic school places in the area based on the recommendation made in this report.

Attached to the report were Annex A Consultation Leaflet – St Teresa’s; Annex B-   Consultation Summary; and Annex C. St. Teresa’s OLOL – Consultation outcome

Decision Made: That

Reasons for Decision:

The Local Authority has the power to consider all options and to allow for further consultation including closing a maintained school following the statutory process detailed in the report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Alternative options have been explored by the governing body with support from Officers prior to the governing body making their request.  It was felt that more time could be given to consider the alternative option presented by the Governing Body of St Teresa’s.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising of:

Councillor Moncur, Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing raised concern about the long delay in the Government confirming the public health grant allocations to local authorities across the country, as this delay was hampering the ability of Sefton and other councils to plan the best possible services and support to improve public health in their communities.

Decision Made: That

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the forecast outturn position for the 2019/2020 Revenue Budget as at the end of January 2020, including delivery of agreed savings, and to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 77 of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive that set out progress against the Cabinet Approved action plan responding to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Peer Review team’s recommendations. The report indicated that the Peer Review, undertaken in September 2018, was an independent check on how the Council was performing in terms of planning for and delivering against its ambitious plans for the future.

Decision Made: That

Reasons for Decision:

Peer Reviews are a proven tool for sector-led improvement and the Council has always been open to learning from others and sharing good practice.   The peer challenge in 2018 provided external recognition of the things it believed the Council was doing well, highlighted where the Council could learn from other Councils considering best practice elsewhere and recommended several key actions. In January 2019 Cabinet considered and agreed an action plan responding to the Peer Team’s recommendations.

The report seeks to keep Members informed of the progress. The LGA will follow up the initial review with a visit within 18 months to 2 years to assess progress against their recommendations.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.