Agenda and minutes

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 4 January 2024

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 January 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health indicating that extra care housing was specialist housing provision that combined accommodation with care and support services designed to offer safe, private, and secure accommodation whilst allowing service uses to retain the independence of having their own home.

Some 1306 units of accommodation (approximately 15 schemes) would be required across the Borough by 2036.

The aim of the Extra Care Allocations Policy, as set out at Appendix A to the report, was to underpin and support requirement. The policy would also promote independence and well-being; facilitate a balanced, vibrant, and sustainable community for residents with care and support needs which would play a key role in preventing and avoiding admissions to residential care and hospitals and contribute to the preventative agenda.

The Extra Care Allocations Policy detailed the eligibility, process, and system for applying for Extra Care Housing in Sefton.

The policy would be the main mechanism to support plans in relation to Extra Care Housing in Sefton and ensure that the residents of Sefton had a clear and robust system and process for accessing the accommodation.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix A - Extra Care Allocations Policy

·       Appendix B - Equality Impact Assessment

·       Appendix C - Public Engagement and Consultation Report

Decisions Made:

That

(1)      the content of the report, Consultation Responses and Equality Impact Assessment be noted;

(2)      the adoption of the Extra Care Allocations Policy be approved; and

(3)      the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Adult Social Care, be authorised to make any minor amendments to the Extra Care Allocations Policy as required ,due to either regulation/legislation.

Reasons for the Decisions:

(1)      The strategic priority to deliver Extra Care Housing was included in several key strategies including:-

·       Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2019).

·       Sefton 2030 Vision (2016).

·       ASC – Market Position Statement (2021 -2026).

·       Sefton Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2020 – 2025).

·       Sefton Older Peoples Strategy (2019-2024).

·       Sefton Housing Strategy (2022-2027).

(2)      Extra Care Housing provided an alternative housing option to residents and would help to reduce our reliance on alternative more restrictive options such as residential care.

(3)      Without a robust allocations policy, system and process the outcomes the Council hoped to achieve would be difficult to meet.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.             Do nothing – Continue to use current extra care housing provision without any formal policy, system, or process to support.

Risks would include:-

a)    Sefton residents not being prioritised and unable to access Extra Care Housing Provision within the Borough.

b)    ASC revenue budgets required to support the delivery of Extra Care Housing not meeting intended outcomes.

c)    Housing Providers reverting to their own waiting lists due to inadequate nominations received from the Council.

2.             Introduce local letting policies for each individual scheme:-

Risks: -

Sefton residents not being prioritised and unable to access Extra Care Housing Provision within the Borough with multiple systems  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

Report of the Assistant Director – Integrated Life Course Commissioning

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director – Integrated Life Course Commissioning on Extra Care Housing which the was defined as housing with care. The housing was usually provided through a registered social landlord and had 24-hour care and support provider on site. The report outlined the care and support contract for Parkhaven Trust which was an extra care housing scheme that supported 24 Sefton residents. Approval was sought for the direct award of a contract to Parkhaven Trust for a 2-year period for the provision of care and support. During this period new extra care housing schemes would be developed and a framework of providers who would provide care and support into these new schemes would be established. The contract would be aligned to the timeframe for a new Sefton Extra Care Housing Care and Support framework.

Decisions Made:

That

(1)      the award of a contract utilising the Extra Care Liverpool City Region Flexible Purchasing System (LCRFPS) be approved. This route to market allows for a direct award of a contract in exceptional circumstances of which the alignment with future models is one; and

(2)      the direct award for a 2-year period to Parkhaven Trust, commencing on 1 April 2024 to 3March 2026, to facilitate the provision of Care and Support at Parkhaven Court Extra Care Housing Scheme, be approved.

Reasons for the Decisions:

The proposal allowed continuity of service within an established Sefton Extra Care facility and would align to the commissioning of services into Extra Care Housing over the next 2 years.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Option 1.

The option to procure a longer-term contract was dismissed to align with the wider Extra Care Housing strategy.

Option 2.

Allow the contract to expire. This was not an option as the service supports people who are eligible for service under the Care Act 2014.

Report of the Executive Director - People

Further to Minute No. 31 of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Skills) of 16 January 2024, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – People advising that a steering group comprising Council officers, and representatives from the creative and voluntary sector, had been working towards the development of a Cultural Strategy for Sefton. A draft strategy document had been prepared using the evidence base from consultation and engagement activity and further engagement between January to March 2024 was proposed to develop an Action Plan, with objectives for delivery between 2024 and 2030. This would be co-produced between the Council and wider representation from cultural stakeholders. Once the Action Plan was completed any outstanding elements of the strategy document would be finalised, leading to the publication of a final strategy from which the activities would commence.

The following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Draft Culture Strategy document

The Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing expressed her thanks and appreciation to Councillor Waterfield who had been instrumental in working with her on the Strategy.

Decision Made:

That the Cultural Strategy for Sefton be approved.

Reasons for the Decision:

To utilise the strategy and progress with the Action Plan January to March 2024 that would complete the Cultural Strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

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

1)    The current position relating to the 2023/24 revenue budget.

2)    The current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2023/24.

3)    The monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of December 2023 relating to:

·       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.

The following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Capital Programme 2023/24 To 2025/26

Decisions Made:

That

Revenue Budget

(1)      the current position relating to the 2023/24 revenue budget be noted;

(2)      the actions being taken to refine forecasts and identify mitigating efficiencies to ensure each service achieves a balanced position be noted;

(3)      the Remedial Action Plan actions to offset the budget pressures being faced in 2023/24 be approved;

(4)      the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2023/24 revenue budget be recognised and the fact that the forecast outturn position will continue to be reviewed, and remedial actions put in place, to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved, be acknowledged;

Capital Programme

(5)      the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme, as set out at paragraph 7.1 of the report, be noted;

(6)      the latest capital expenditure position as at 31 December 2023 of £24.364m, as set out at paragraph 7.3 of the report; and the latest full year forecast is £50.476m, as set out at paragraph 7.4 of the report, be noted; and

(7)      it be noted that capital resources will be managed by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services to ensure the capital programme remains fully funded and that capital funding arrangements secure the maximum financial benefit to the Council, as set out at paragraphs 7.7-7.9 of the report.

Reasons for the Decisions:

To ensure the Cabinet was informed of the current position in relation to the 2023/24 revenue budget.

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 2023/24 and agreed allocations for future years.

To progress any changes that were 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 could be applied to capital schemes in the delivery of the Council’s overall capital strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

To comply with Regulation 5(2) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, notice has been published regarding the intention to consider the following matter(s) in private for the reasons set out below.

The Cabinet is recommended to pass the following resolution:

That, under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

To comply with Regulation 5(2) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, notice had been published regarding the intention to consider the following matter in private for the reason set out below.

Decision Made:

That, under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

Exempt appendix of the Executive Director - People

The Cabinet considered exempt information provided by the Executive Director – People in relation to the Procurement of Fully Integrated Community Domestic Abuse Service (Minute No. 124 below refers).

Decision Made:

That the exempt information be considered as part of the report in relation to the Procurement of Fully Integrated Community Domestic Abuse Service (Minute No. 124 below refers).

Reasons for the Decision:

The exempt information was required to be considered with the information in the public domain in order that an informed decision might be made.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet meeting will now move back into open session to consider the following agenda item

Decision Made:

That the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

Report of the Executive Director - People

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – People indicating that the Council was seeking to procure a fully Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) from 2024 for a minimum of 3 years. The service would provide holistic support to the victims and families of domestic abuse, irrespective of protected characteristic or risk level. The service would provide therapeutic counselling to those that required it in order to build resilience and aid recovery from the long-term effects of domestic abuse. The service would address a number of the priorities outlined in the action plan accompanying the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2023-2028.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 – Equality Impact Assessment

·       Appendix 2 – Financial & Commercially Sensitive Information

Decisions Made:

That

(1)      the Assistant Director of People (Communities) be authorised to conduct a procurement exercise for a fully Integrated Domestic Abuse Service with a view to entering a contract for a minimum period of 3 years, plus 2 optional years (1+1); and

(2)      the Assistant Director of People (Communities), in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Communities and Housing, be authorised to award the Contract(s) resulting from the procurement and to award any extension thereof following a review of the original award.

Reasons for the Decisions:

The IDAS would provide holistic support to the victims and families of domestic abuse, irrespective of protected characteristic or risk level. The integrated service model would underpin the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2023-2028 and would address key priorities outlined within the action plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The current system was disjointed and based on risk.