Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

The Chair reported that he had agreed that the Cabinet would consider the item on Members Allowances (Minute No. 74) in view of the urgent need to consider the proposed amendments to the Scheme of Members Allowances and submit a recommendation to Independent Remuneration Panel prior to the Council meeting on 2 September 2010.

The Chair welcomed the Head of Corporate Legal Services, Jill Coule to her first meeting of the Cabinet.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of interest were received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2010

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 8 July 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive on the proposed frameworks for consultation and engagement with Council employees in delivering savings and all stakeholders on changes to service delivery, which would need to be adopted to manage the significant reduction  in the Council's budget(s) in the next three years.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the consultation frameworks set out in the report be approved; and

(2)            specific proposals be submitted to the Cabinet once the scope and impact of budget reductions on staff and service delivery is known.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report on the recommendations of the three Political Group Leaders for reductions to be made to the Scheme of Members' Allowances.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the recommendations made by the Political Group Leaders in Section 2.3 of the report be referred to the Independent Remuneration Panel for consideration; and

(2)      the Independent Remuneration Panel’s response to the recommendations be reported to the Cabinet and the Council on 2 September 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Report of the Strategic Director – Communities

Further to Minute No. 358 of the meeting held on 15 April 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Communities which provided an update on the progress made on the development of the refurbishment proposals for Southport Indoor Market and the associated Business Plan.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the lowest tender submitted by ROK Build Ltd. of Rochdale in the sum of £2,236,039 in respect of the building refurbishment contract for the Southport Indoor Market be accepted;

(2)      the outcome of the due diligence exercise carried out on the Business Plan be noted;

(3)      the reduced overall scheme cost from £3.222m to £3.032m with the consequent reduction in capital financing costs be noted;

(4)      the improved viability of the project owing to the increased letting space to generate additional income contained within the revised Business Plan be noted; and

(5)      it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but, unfortunately, had not been included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) had been consulted under Rule 15 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 because the tender is only valid for the duration of the current Forward Plan.

Report of the Strategic Director – Communities

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Communities on the proposed entry of the Cycle Town Work Programme into the Capital Programme for 2010/11.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the Cycle Town Work Programme be included in the Capital Programme for 2010/11; and

(2)      it be noted that the revenue implications within the report would be funded from the Cycling England / Department for Transport Grant.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 22 of the Meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 13 July 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families seeking approval to the implementation of schemes to be funded from the Youth Capital Fund Allocation for 2010/11.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the proposed schemes be approved as detailed in the report; and

(2)      the schemes be included in the Children, Schools & Families Capital Programme 2010/11; and

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the tenders received for the demolition of Balliol House, Bootle.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the most advantageous Option A tender be accepted subject to the total scheme cost not exceeding £1,000,000; and

(2)       the Head of Corporate Legal Services be requested to enter into a formal contract with the successful tenderer.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the tenders received in respect of the proposed construction of a two storey extension at Kew Woods Primary School, Southport.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the lowest tender submitted by ROK Build Ltd. of Rochdale in the sum of £633,646 be accepted; and

(2)      the Head of Corporate Legal Services be requested to enter into a contract with the successful tenderer.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 341 of the meeting held on 15 April 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the final outcome of the tendering process for the construction of a replacement Netherton Activity Centre.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the basis for the funding of the project set out in Section 3 of the report be approved;

(2)       the agreed Target Cost, which together with contingency allowance totals £4,507,789 be accepted; and

(3)       the Head of Corporate Legal Services be requested to enter into a formal contract with the successful contractor.

Report of the Strategic Director – Communities

Further to Minute Nos. 75 to 80 above, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Communities which provided an update on the capital schemes which had not been contractually committed for completion.

The Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families requested approval to the inclusion of the Chesterfield High School 14 to 19 Diploma Scheme and the Target Capital Fund - Special Educational Needs Scheme (£2m) in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11.

The Cabinet also gave further consideration to the report on the Playbuilder Capital Grant Schemes which was deferred at the last meeting (Minute No. 58) pending the receipt of further report on the revenue and capital implications of the proposals.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the Chesterfield High School 14 to 19 Diploma Scheme (£135k) to be funded from specific resources be included in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11;

(2)      the sum of £2m in respect of the Target Capital Fund - Special Educational Needs Scheme, to be funded from specific resources be included in the Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme 2010/11 and the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families be requested to submit a report to a future Cabinet meeting on the revenue savings to be achieved from the inclusion of this scheme in the Capital Programme;

(3)      the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) be requested to undertake a review of the Asset Management Plan and in particular the revenue savings made from capital investment in schemes and a report on the review be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting;

(4)      officers continue to progress the remaining uncommitted capital schemes in the Annexe to the report which will receive ring-fenced grant monies;

(5)      the remaining uncommitted capital schemes in the Annexe to the report which do not have ring-fenced grant monies be reviewed at the next Cabinet meeting.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 22 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 4 August 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Environment and Technical Services Director detailing the strategic coastal defence policies for Sefton for the next 100 years as presented in the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan review (SMP2).

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the policies set out in the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan for the Sefton Coastline be adopted.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director, the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director, Neighbourhood and Investment Programmes Director and the Environment and Technical Services Director on the progress made since November 2009 in developing a policy for tackling climate change and the development of a Low Carbon Economy.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)       the Interim Framework for Action set out in Paragraph 4.1 of the report be endorsed;

(3)            approval be given to the commissioning of a Community Mapping Awareness Study;

(4)            approval be given to the engagement with community and voluntary sectors;

(5)            approval be given to the sponsorship of a programme of Low Carbon Economy seminars for appropriate public sector agencies in Sefton;

(6)       the establishment of a Climate Change Forum be endorsed;

(7)       the lead officer responsibilities and the supervisory role of the Strategic Director - Communities be noted;

(8)       the creation of a Climate Change Network be endorsed; and

(9)       the proposal for a Sefton Climate Change Conference be supported and appropriate officers be requested to prepare and present a self-funding proposal.

Joint report of Planning and Economic Development Director and Neighbourhood and Investment Programmes Director

This item was deferred to enable officers to obtain further information on the scheme and submit a report to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No. 34 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Regeneration held on 4 August 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director which provided an update on the establishment of a Merseyside sub-regional choice based lettings scheme and the proposed governance arrangements.

The report also sought approval to the Council entering into a contract with an IT supplier for the provision of an IT system for the choice based lettings scheme and to the implementation of a consultation exercise being undertaken with stakeholders on the draft allocations policy.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:    That

(1)      the draft Allocations Policy be approved for consultation according to statutory guidance;

(2)      the proposed governance arrangements be approved;

(3)      approval be given to the appointment of Abritas as the IT supplier;

(4)      the estimated set-up costs of the scheme be approved;

(5)      that the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director be authorised to enter into an agreement with the other local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool and Wirral, or at least 3 of them) to govern the implementation of the contract with Abritas referred to above;

(6)      the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director in consultation with the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to enter into a contract with Abritas for the provision of the IT system;

(7)      the one-off set-up costs be met from existing provision in the Housing Capital Programme approved by the Council on 8 July 2010;

(8)      approval be given to continued development of the scheme with the sub-regional partners, and

(9)      a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member (Regeneration) and Cabinet on the results of the consultation exercise on the Allocations Policy.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No. 35 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Regeneration held on 4 August 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director on the proposed changes to the arrangements for, and amounts of disturbance payments to be made to residents (both tenants and owner-occupiers) moving as a direct consequence of Housing Market Renewal redevelopment activity.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the levels of disturbance payments to be made to residents (both tenants and owner-occupiers) moving as a direct consequence of Housing Market Renewal redevelopment activity be adjusted as set out in Table 1 at paragraph 14 of the report; and

(2)       the level of disturbance payments be revised annually on 1 April to take account of changes to the Consumer Price Index.

Report of the Strategic Director - Social Care and Well-Being

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director - Social Care and Well Being which incorporated a summary of the Sefton Strategy for Older People and the draft Action Plan for the strategy which had been produced by the Sefton Partnership for Older People.

The Strategic Director also reported that the Leisure and Tourism Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director would be the officer champions for Older Peoples issues.

Mr. R. Pontefract, the Chair of the Sefton Partnership for Older People outlined the content of the summary document.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the endorsement of the Strategy by the Sefton Borough Partnership be        noted;

(2)       the prioritisation of older people as a cross-cutting theme, and the initiatives set out in the Action Plan to achieve the outcomes identified in the Strategy be supported; and

(3)            Councillor Moncur be appointed as the Member Champion for Older People's Issues, and be the Council's representative on the Sefton Partnership for Older Citizens.

The Cabinet received reports from the Cabinet Members for Children's Services, Communities, Corporate Services, Environmental, Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism, Performance and Governance, Regeneration and Technical Services.

The Cabinet Member – Regeneration reported that the Housing and Communities Agency had approved funding of £2.3m for the Kickstart Scheme at Queens Road, Bootle and congratulated the Housing Market Renewal Team for the efforts in achieving the funding.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member reports be noted;

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 54 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 4 August 2010, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director on the recent reduction in Area Based Grant funding, which was currently used to fund the operation of the Merseyside Camera Partnership.  The report highlighted the reduced contribution on 2010/11 used to fund Child Pedestrian training across Merseyside, and the subsequent impact on staff resources in the Planning and Economic Development Department.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       it be noted that the Child Pedestrian Training Programme has a significant impact on improving road safety awareness in key stage 1 children, that this provides the foundation for all road safety education in Sefton and contributes greatly to the on-going reduction in child pedestrian casualty rates in the Borough;

(2)       the cessation of the Area Based Grant funding of Child Pedestrian Training to a total of £21k in 2010/11 be noted;

(3)       the Cabinet Member - Technical Services be requested to review the Local Transport Plan Capital Programmes to determine priorities for funding Child Safety, School and Workplace Travel Plan Programmes for 2010/11 and 2011/12 onwards; and

(4)       a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member - Technical Services and Cabinet detailing the review.

Report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy which sought approval to the write-off of irrecoverable debts with balances of over £10,000.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the write-off of 20 non-domestic rate debts amounting to £907,620.56 and 3 sundry debt invoices amounting to £48,098.65.