Agenda and minutes

Councillor Maher, Leader of the Council welcomed Members to the first remote meeting of Sefton Council’s Cabinet and he extended a special welcome to members of the public who may be viewing the meeting online; and indicated that this meeting was being held using Microsoft Teams Live Events software and that prior to the meeting a test meeting had been held to ensure that this meeting ran smoothly.

Councillor Maher advised that a protocol for Members attending remote meetings had been circulated prior to the meeting and he requested that Members adhered to this protocol; and indicated that it would be particularly helpful if Members turned their cameras off and muted their microphones when not addressing the meeting. If Members would like to address the meeting at any time they were requested to so indicate by using the chat facility in Microsoft Teams. The chat facility enabled elected Members to raise issues and interact with the meeting in real time.

Councillor Maher concluded that if Members were called to address the meeting could they please pause for a few seconds to enable their microphones to be unmuted and their cameras to be turned on.

No apologies for absence were received.

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 5 March 2020

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

Joint report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services and the Executive Director - People

The Cabinet considered the joint report of the Executive Director - Corporate Resources and Customer Services and the Executive Director – People that indicated that Sefton Council was committed to reducing carbon emissions and had resolved to go further than the UK100 Agreement and to act in line with the scientific consensus that we must reduce emissions to net zero by 2030; and that as such the Council at its meeting in July 2019 declared a climate emergency.  Following that declaration work had progressed within the Council on the agreed actions that were contained and approved by Members; and that as part of that work a Strategy for the delivery of the Council Motion had been developed and this report sought approval of that Strategy.

A copy of the Sefton Council Climate Emergency Strategy and Council Motion were attached to the report.

Decision Made:

That Council be recommended to approve the Sefton Climate Emergency Strategy.

Reasons for Decision:

The Strategy will provide the framework for the delivery of the Council Motion that declared a climate emergency.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 42 of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 11 March 2020 the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive that updated on the progress made against the actions taken and progress made with regard to the Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND Continuous Improvement Plan); and which also updated on the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for Decision:

The Health and Wellbeing Board provides system leadership and keeps the Council’s Cabinet informed of progress and if necessary, will escalate concerns.  On 11th March 2020 the Health and Wellbeing Board agreed the report (attached as an appendix to the Cabinet report) and in relation to recommendation (9) of that report sought to provide assurance of robust oversight of the delivery of the SEND Continuous Improvement Plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 65 of 7 November 2019 the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer seeking the appointment of an elected Member as a Governor of the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University Hospital Council following the resignation of Councillor Friel from that position.

Decision Made:

That Councillor Tony Carr be appointed as the Sefton Council representative to the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University Hospital Council of Governors, with immediate effect, until 2 December 2022.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet has delegated powers set out in Chapter 5, Paragraph 40 of the Constitution to appoint the Council’s representatives to serve on Outside Bodies.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Executive Director – Adult Social Care and Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Adult Social Care and Health outlining proposals on providing additional funding to the Sefton care home market in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decision Made:

That: