Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor Veidman.

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 28 July 2022

Decision Made:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2022 be confirmed as a correct record. 

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive that summarised the impact of the escalating Cost of Living Crisis on local people and outlined the support available and proposed in Sefton; and which sought consideration of the Indices of Deprivation (2019) at Appendix A, Sefton Children and Young People Living in Low Income and Poverty at Appendix B, a factsheet at Appendix C and the Equalities Impact Assessment at Appendix D.

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for the Decision:

For Cabinet to consider the impact of the escalating Cost of Living Crisis on local people and to note the support available and approve plans proposed in Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

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 that updated on work taking place on the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care exercises for Adult Social Care and to seek approval of the governance and approval arrangements for the associated infrastructure costs to drive the programme forward and the required submissions to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for the Decision:

To update Cabinet on the work taking place on meeting the Department of Health and Social Care requirements relating to Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care in relation to Adult Social Care, to seek approval of arrangements for submission of the required plans and reports, to provide details of risks identified to date and to seek approval of arrangements for the infrastructure required to drive forward the programme.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Public Health advising that the Integrated Sexual Health Service was currently provided by Southport & Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trust; that the Service was procured in 2018 through an OJEU light touch open procedure; that the contract started 1st July 2018 and had a four-year nine-month core contract ending on 31st March 2023 with three, one-year built in extension options; and that consideration was now required for activating the first of the 12-month extensions.

The report indicated that the available options were:

Decision Made:

That the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, be granted delegated authority to activate the first of the 12-month contract extension clauses to the Integrated Sexual Health Service contract and the 2 further 12-month extensions as required; and that the first contract extension be activated on the 1st of April 2023.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Integrated Sexual Health Service is a nationally mandated service which all local authorities are required to provide. The Service continues to deliver against the priorities identified in the service specification to a satisfactory level.

The service has been impacted during the covid pandemic and is still in a period of recovery. The service is reviewing the effectiveness of new models of working introduced in response to Covid 19 including a digital offer and telephone triage, to assess how far they meet the needs of the population post pandemic. This will require time for a period of review.

A procurement exercise has the potential to destabilise current service delivery and create uncertainty at a time when it is important to fully re-establish provision. The service is currently the testing site for Monkeypox within the borough and there are national NHS England plans for sexual health services to become local vaccination centres. The stability of the service is important for implementation of local service delivery. Public Health have recently completed a sexual health needs assessment which is intended to inform service developments which will require time to implement across the wider system and will need to be considered within the context of the new Integrated Care Board.

It is expected that a new national sexual health strategy will be launched in 2022/23 and it is advisable to wait and assess any new requirements before entering into a procurement exercise for a new service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The alterative option is not to extend the current contract with the Service and move to procure a new Integrated Sexual Health Service. This has been rejected due to economic and operational reasons. Moving to a procurement exercise has the potential to destabilise current Service delivery and to stall progress in re-establishing the service post pandemic. Additionally, there would be a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Public Health seeking authority to accept the Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant and allocate it accordingly. The report indicated that in February 2022, the Office of Health Inequalities and Disparities (OHID) Department of Health and Social Care announced additional supplemental drugs funding which all Local Authorities were eligible to receive through a Section 31 Grant to support the delivery of the December 2021 national drug strategy. In April, Sefton Council received notification of the 3 years funding from 2022/23 to 2024/25 subject to the submission of a OHID approved plan. The Sefton high level plan and 2022/23 detailed plan has now been approved.  Detailed plans outlining the interventions for 2023/24 and 2024/25 will be required to be submitted for approval before the start of each of those years.

Sefton Council will receive this enhanced funding for 3yrs starting from 2022/23. See allocation table below:

* Indicative Figures

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for the Decision:

The Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant should be used by LAs to directly address the aims of the treatment and recovery section of the drug strategy. The additional funding should deliver:

·                New high-quality treatment places, including:

Ø  New places for opiate and crack users,

Ø  a treatment place for every offender with an addiction

Ø  New treatment places for non-opiate users and alcohol users

Ø  More young people in treatment

·       More people in long-term recovery from substance dependence

·       More medical, mental health and other professionals within the drug treatment system

·       Additional drug and alcohol and criminal justice workers

·       Sufficient commissioning and co-ordinator capacity in every local authority

The expectation is that each local area will deliver against the above aims and meet national reporting and monitoring requirements. In order to achieve these outcomes, it is necessary to transfer funds to thecurrent providers of Substance Use: Assessment, Treatment and Recovery Services and Young People and Families Substance Use Service.

The local intention is to expand the treatment provision within the existing services to improve access by creating more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Report of the Assistant Director of Education

The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director of Education indicating that when Sefton’s Local Plan was adopted in 2017 it was agreed that contributions would be sought from the housing developers of the site at Land East of Maghull to expand Summerhill Primary School to provide additional school places in the Maghull area to meet the increased demand from families who moved into the area; and the report provided an update on that project and set out the next steps which needed to be put in place for it to proceed.

A copy of the public notice and complete proposal for Summerhill Primary School was appended to the report.

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for the Decision:

The local authority has the power to consider all options including expanding a maintained school following the statutory process detailed in the report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

As part of the development of the Local Plan options were explored and it was determined that Summerhill Primary School be identified for expansion.

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 that informed of:

Decision Made:

That in respect of the Revenue Budget:

That in respect of the Capital Programme:

Report of the Executive Director - Place

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Place that updated on the current condition of Southport Pier decking following completed technical survey work, and the recommended necessary remedial actions required including the replacement of the full pier timber decking.

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons for the Decision:

Southport Pier is a critical visitor attraction that holds significant importance to Sefton’s economy and brand. It is also a Grade-II listed structure. As part of the routine maintenance, it became apparent the pier decking was starting to fail in isolated areas, therefore several detailed inspections from timber experts have taken place. The recommendation is now to replace the entire decking after the 2022 summer season from October 2022 with most works taking place in the Winter. to ensure the Pier is fit for purpose, remains safe, and continues to be a critical historic asset for Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The following other options have been considered and rejected:

1. Ongoing replacement – This would result in decking boards being replaced as part of the current yearly maintenance programme, as has been the case of the last 5 years. This has been rejected following the recent deck survey and the recommended requirement to replace the whole decking.

2. Full replacement over several years – This would result in the pier decking being replaced in phases over 10 to 15 years. This has been rejected due to the costs, the impact on the pier concession and wider economy and following the conclusions of the recent deck survey and the recommended requirement to replace the whole decking.

3. Do nothing – This has been rejected on Health and Safety grounds.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 29 (2) of the meeting held on 28 July 2022 the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer seeking the appointment a further elected Member to serve on the Sefton New Directions Limited Board. 

Decision Made:

That Cabinet, at its next meeting to be held on 6 October 2022, appoint the second representative to serve on the Sefton New Directions Limited Board and that the term of office expire on 25 May, 2023.

Reasons for the 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.

To comply with a previous decision of Cabinet that the appointment be made at this meeting of the Cabinet. 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

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 items on the grounds that they involve 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 has been published regarding the intention to consider the following matters in private for the reasons 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 items 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.

Report of the Executive Director - Place

Further to Minute No. 41 of the meeting held on 28 July 2022 the Cabinet considered exempt information in relation to the Marine Lake Event Centre

(Minute No. 57 below refers).

Decision Made:

That the exempt information be considered as part of the report in relation to the Marine Lake Event Centre (Minute No. 57 below refers).

Reasons for the Decision:

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

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Report of the Executive Director of Corpoprate Resources and Customer Services

The Cabinet considered exempt information in relation to Pendle Drive Litherland (Minute No. 58 below refers).

Decision Made:

That the exempt information be considered as part of the report in relation to Pendle Drive Litherland (Minute No. 58 below refers).

Reasons for the Decision:

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

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

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

Decision Made:

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

Report of the Executive Director - Place

Further to Minute No. 41 of the meeting held on 28 July 2022 the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Place that provided an update on the progression of the operator procurement process, along with the ongoing contractor procurement process following previous approval of the procurement routes. In respect of the Marine Lake Event Centre. The report also included an update on current costs and funding position and therefore the required contribution from the Council of up to £19.7m; and indicated that the cost of this, to be funded via borrowing, had been included in this report together with the indicative annual income from the operator, to enable early visibility of potential Medium-Term Financial Plan implications for the Council.

Decision Made:

That:

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 advising that in January 2020 Cabinet approved the disposal of the first phase of surplus assets to generate capital receipts in support of the Growth and Strategic Investment and Framework for Change Programmes; that officers were provided with the authority to negotiate terms and conditions for each disposal in line with delegated authority set out in the Council’s Asset Disposal Policy; that Brooklea House, Pendle House, and Pendle Drive were three unoccupied buildings located on the site known as Pendle Drive, Litherland (“Pendle Drive”); that this site was in the first phase of the disposal programme; that in 2019, the Council was approached by a retail operator to acquire part of the site; that this represented an opportunistic disposal to provide a new food store, which was permissible under the processes approved within the Asset Disposal Policy; and that the remainder of the site would be redeveloped for housing, most likely via an informal tender exercise marketing it to interested Registered Providers and similar Companies.

The report also advised that the COVID19 pandemic led to discussions between the Council and retail operator stalling for a time; but however, following recent contact the basis of a deal had been resurrected and principal Heads of Terms agreed; and that the purchaser had agreed to demolish the three unoccupied buildings with the cost of demolition to be deducted from the gross land price as set out in Appendix 1.

The report concluded that the Council would market the balance of the site to Registered Providers, so that a small affordable housing residential development scheme could be brought forward; but that it was not expected to generate a significant capital receipt.  

Decision Made:

That:

Reasons  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.