Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors D’Albuquerque, Irving, Jones, Page, Riley, Robinson, Sayers, Thomas, Anne Thompson and 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 Ordinary meeting held on 19 January 2023 and the Extra-ordinary meeting held on 26 January 2023

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 19 January 2023 and the Extra-ordinary meeting held on 26 January 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Tom Spring

The Mayor congratulated Councillor Tom Spring, on his election as a Councillor for the Netherton and Orrell Ward at the By-Election held on 16 February 2023 and extended a warm welcome to him at his first Council meeting.

Mayor Elect 2023/24

The Mayor reported that Councillor June Burns had been nominated for the office of the Mayor of Sefton for been 2023/24 and the appointment would take place at the Annual Council meeting to be held on 16 May 2023 at Bootle Town Hall.

Mandatory Training Courses

The Mayor reported that the Council had agreed on 21 April 2022 that all Members of the Council should complete the following mandatory on-line training sessions:

·       Information Compliance, Sharing and Guarding

·       Safeguarding Adults Awareness

·       Safeguarding Children and Young People

·       Equality and Diversity Awareness

The other mandatory course was the Corporate Parenting session which was held on Teams. This session was regularly repeated to maximise take-up and a further session would be held later this month and, the details would be circulated to all Councillors.

The Mayor advised that the Member Development Steering Group had recently received a report on the take-up results for each mandatory course and they were disappointed by the low take-up of the courses. The results for each political group had been given to the appropriate Group Whip / Leader to raise with the individual Members concerned.

The Mayor indicated that it was essential that all Councillors meet their corporate responsibilities and ensure that they complete all the mandatory training courses as soon as possible.

Mayoral Charity Events

The Mayor reported that £540.00 was raised at the Mayoral Charity 80s Night held on Saturday 18February 2023, and extended her thanks to the Members of the Council who attended the event. The Mayor also reported that tickets for the Mayoral Charity Gala Ball on Saturday 1 April 2023 would be available for purchase from the Civic and Mayoral Services Officer until Friday 17 March 2023.

Extra-ordinary Council Meeting – 13 April 2023

The Mayor reported that an Extra-ordinary Council Meeting would be held on Thursday 13 April 2023 at 6.30pm in Bootle Town Hall to confer the Freedom of the Borough on HMS Mersey and it would be followed by a Civic Reception. The Mayor requested Members to respond to the invitation which had previously been circulated by 24 March 2023.

Crosby Rainbows, Brownies and Guides

The Mayor reported that on Sunday 26 February 2023, she had spent the day with the Crosby Rainbows, Brownies and Guides for World Thinking Day, which is a day to celebrate the Girl Guide Movement, which was started by Lady Olive Baden-Powell after she became quite fed-up with the fact that her husband had all the adventures with the Boy Scouts, so she decided that girls could do it too and so the Girl Guide Movement was born followed on by the Brownies and then the Rainbows.

The Mayor advised that the Crosby Rainbows would be visiting the Bootle Town Hall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

To deal with matters raised by members of the public resident within the Borough, of which notice has been given in accordance with the procedures relating to public questions, motions or petitions set out in Paragraph 37 to 48 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

(Details of any further petitions notified or questions submitted by members of the public will be circulated at the meeting).

The Mayor reported that no matters had been raised by members of the public.

To receive and consider questions to Cabinet Members, Chairs of Committees or Spokespersons for any of the Joint Authorities upon any matter within their portfolio/area of responsibility, of which notice has been given by Members of the Council in accordance with Paragraphs 50 to 52 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, set out in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

The Council considered a schedule setting out the written questions submitted by:

(1)      Councillor Sir Ron Watson – nine questions to the Leader of the Council (Councillor Maher);

(2)      Councillor Pugh – four questions to the Leader of the Council (Councillor Maher) and one question to the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services (Councillor Lappin); and

(3)      Councillor Shaw – six questions to the Leader of the Council (Councillor Maher)

together with responses given. Supplementary questions from Councillors Sir Ron Watson, Pugh and Shaw were responded to by the Leader of the Council.

Report of the Assistant Director of People (Communities)

Further to Minute No. 114 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 February 2023, The Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director of People (Communities) on the draft five year Domestic Abuse Strategy which had been produced to meet the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which places a statutory duty on local authorities to:

· Form a Local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board

· Conduct a Local Needs Assessment

· Develop and Publish a Strategy

· Give effect to the Strategy

· Monitor Strategy effectiveness

· Report back to the Government via the Domestic Abuse Commissioners Office.

The Council has had a Domestic Abuse Strategy for several years, but following the statutory duty placed on all local authorities under the Act, the existing strategy had been refreshed to not only meet our statutory requirements but to reach much further in addressing such an important issue.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the adoption of the five year Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy.

Report of the Assistant Director of People (Communities)

Further to Minute No. 115 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 February 2023, The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director of People (Communities) on the draft three year Safer Sefton Together Strategy, which had been produced by the Safer Sefton Together Partnership to reflect the priorities of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the priority themes contained within the annual Sefton Strategic Needs Assessment as well as local knowledge gained from staff, elected members and community groups.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the adoption of the three year Safer Sefton Together Strategy.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 123 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which provided details of the updated Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy and set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and the role it plays in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision. Aside from its staff the Council's next biggest resource is its land and property and consequently it is vital that this resource is managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derives maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the updated Asset Management Strategy; and

(2)      the updated Asset Disposal Policy.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 124 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which explained that the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities was introduced following the Local Government Act 2003; and detailed measures / limits / parameters (Prudential Indicators) that were required to be set each financial year; and that the approval of these limits would provide a benchmark to measure actual performance against, to help ensure that the Council complied with relevant legislation, was acting prudently and that its capital expenditure proposals were affordable.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Prudential Indicators, as detailed in the report, be approved as the basis for compliance with The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities;

(2)      it be noted that the relevant Prudential Indicators will be revised as required and that any changes will be brought to Cabinet and then to Council for approval;

(3)      it be noted that the estimates of capital expenditure may change as grant allocations are received; and

(4)      authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Corporate Resources and Customer Services in conjunction with the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 125 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that set out the following proposed policy and strategy documents:

a)       Treasury Management Policy (Annex A);

b)       Treasury Management Strategy (Annex B); and

c)       Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (Annex C)

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the:

(1)      Treasury Management Policy Document for 2023/24;

(2)      Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2023/24; and

(3)      Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2023/24

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 126 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure, borrowing and investment decisions are made and considers the impact of these decisions on the priorities within the Council’s Core Purpose and the promises made in the 2030 Vision for Sefton.

At the heart of the Capital Strategy is the Council’s core objective to continue deliver financial sustainability. As such a flexible capital investment programme is more important than ever as a method to stimulate and enable economic growth and strategic investment, ensuring best use of existing assets and of generating future income streams to pay for and deliver day to day services.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 127 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which advised that to comply with statute, the Chief Financial Officer was required to report to Council prior to the approval of the budget and the setting of the Council Tax, to give assurance that the budget was robust and that there were adequate reserves and balances.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

(1)      it be noted that the Local Government Act 2003, (Section 25 as amended) requires the Chief Financial Officer to report formally the issues of an opinion as to the robustness of the estimates made and the tax setting calculations; and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves; and

(2)      the Council be recommended to have regard to the matters raised in the report during the final stages of determining the budget for 2023/24.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

A supplementary note on the final charges set by levying bodies and the final demands set by all precepting authorities (including parishes) in addition to a copy of the draft Council Tax resolution for 2023/24, will be published prior to the Council meeting.

Further to Minute No. 128 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that provided:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2023/24 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2024/25 to 2025/26;

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2023/24 and 2024/25;

·       The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan;

·       The proposed Budget for 2023/24; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2023/24.

The report also sets out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it is operating, and it indicated that the Council has a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The Council also considered supplementary note on the final charges set by levying bodies and the final demands set by all precepting authorities (including parishes) and a copy of the draft Council Tax resolution for 2023/24, which had been published prior to the Council meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough:

That:

Budget 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2024/25 to 2025/26

(1)      the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2023/24 to 2025/26 be noted;

(2)      the Revenue Budget for 2023/24 be approved and officers be authorised to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report;

(3)      approval be given to the commencement of all appropriate activity required to implement the budget savings proposals as detailed in the report, including for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners and contractual changes as the programme develops;

(4)      it be noted that officers will comply with agreed HR policies and procedures including relevant consultation with Trade Unions and reports to the Cabinet Member (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) as required;

(5)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets (Section 12 of the report) be noted;

(6)      the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report (Section 13) be approved;

(7)      Subject to the recommendations above, approval be given to the overall Council Tax resolution for 2023/24 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts;

Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2025/26

(8)      approval be given to the inclusion within the Capital Programme of the full list of projects detailed in Appendix D of the report;

Business Rates – Removing Schools Discretionary Top Up Relief

(9)      approval be given to the removal of the discretionary business rates relief awards currently given to voluntary aided / church schools with effect from 1 April 2023 (Section 18 of the report).

Councillors Pugh, Prendergast, McKinley and Ian Maher each gave a statement expressing the views of their political groups on the content of the report and the budget proposals.

Following debate on the report, an amendment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108.

To consider any changes to the membership of any Committees etc.

(1)      The Mayor reported that the Labour Group wished to make the following changes to the membership of Committees:

Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Spring to be a member of the Committee in place of Councillor Dowd.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding)

Councillor Spring to be a substitutemember for Councillor Hardman in place of Councillor Robinson.

(2)      Councillor Bennett proposed the following change:

Planning Committee

Councillor Bennett to a member of the Committee in place of Councillor Irving and there will be no substitute member for Councillor Bennett.

RESOLVED:

That the changes set out above be approved.