Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brodie-Browne, Corcoran, Halsall, Harrison Kelly, Myers, O’Brien and Robinson.

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 16 January 2025

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 16 January 2025 be approved as a correct record.

Mayor 2025/26

The Mayor reported that, for the Municipal Year 2025/26, she would be continuing in the role as Mayor of Sefton and thanked her fellow Members and the Leader of the Council for giving her this opportunity again. The Mayor congratulated Councillor Jen Corcoran on her new role as Deputy Chair of the Council for 2025/26, and she looked forward to working with her over the next 12 months. Following the Annual Council Meeting on Thursday, 15 May 2025, as the Mayor was continuing in the role of Mayor, she would be hosting a drinks and nibbles reception after the meeting to celebrate being 5-time Mayor of Sefton and the first to carry out the role three times consecutively. Further details of the reception would be provided from the Mayor’s Office regarding this.

Charity Burns Night

The Mayor thanked her fellow Members who attended the Charity Burns Night on Saturday, 25 January 2025. A total of £560.00 was raised on the night which was a great success and the Mayor hoped everyone enjoyed it.

Gala Charity Ball

The Mayor reported that tickets were now on sale for her Gala Charity Ball which would take place on Saturday, 26 April 2025 at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa. The ticket price was £50.00 per person, which included a three-course meal with welcome drink, live entertainment from ‘Searchin’ and a Raffle, Tombola and Auction. The Mayor indicated that it would be very much appreciated if there could be a strong Member attendance this year to support the Charity Fund.

Kings Award for Voluntary Service

The Mayor reported that 16 Organisations across Merseyside would receive the Kings Award for Voluntary Service, four of them in Sefton, namely the 4^th Crosby & District Scouts, Ainsdale Civic Society, Birkdale Community Hub and The Sunshine Group. The Mayor reported that the award was the equivalent to an MBE for these organisations, and that they were all great ambassadors for Sefton. So far, the Mayor had visited the 4^th Crosby Scouts on 7 February 2025, Birkdale Community Hub on 12 February 2025, and the Sunshine Group on 19 February 2025. A visit to the Ainsdale Civic Society would take place on 19 March 2025. The Mayor also reported that a visit to the Samaritans would take place on Saturday, 1 March 2025.

Former Councillor Paul McVey

The Mayor reported with great sadness on the loss of former Councillor Paul McVey who passed away on 6 February 2025. Mr McVey was elected as a Councillor for Victoria Ward in May 1986 and served on the Council until May 2004. He was Mayor of Sefton in 1998/99. A Civic Funeral would take place on Friday 28 February 2025, at St Edmund of Canterbury RC Church in Waterloo at 1.15 p.m. The Mayor requested that if any Members planned to attend, would they please arrive at the church for 1.00 p.m.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor acknowledged Paul McVey’s dedicated service to Sefton and extended her  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

Report of the Executive Director – Regeneration, Economy and Assets

Further to Minute No. 105 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Regeneration, Economy and Assets advising that the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision; that aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property and therefore it was vital that this resource was managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derived maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities; that the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Council’s asset base; and that this was a statutory document that the Council was required to have in place and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 - Asset Management Strategy

·       Appendix 2 - Asset Disposal Policy

It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the Asset Management Strategy; and

(2)      the Asset Disposal Policy.

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 106 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial indicating that the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities was introduced following the Local Government Act 2003. It detailed a number of measures / limits / parameters (Prudential Indicators) that were required to be set each financial year. 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.

The following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Summary of Prudential Indicators.

It was moved by Councillor Howard, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED:

(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 relevant Prudential Indicators will be revised as required and that any changes will be submitted to the Cabinet and then to the 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 – Corporate Services and Commercial, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member – Corporate Services, to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt, as detailed in section 6 of the report.

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 107 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial that set out proposed policy and strategy documents for the Treasury Management Policy; the Treasury Management Strategy; and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Treasury Management Policy 2025/26

·       Appendix B – Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26

·       Appendix C – Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2025/26

It was moved by Councillor Howard, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2025/26;

(2)      the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2025/26; and

(3)      the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2025/26.

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 108 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial indicating that the Capital Strategy set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure, borrowing and investment decisions were made and considered the impact of these decisions on the Council’s priorities, the Corporate Plan and the promises made in the 2030 Vision for Sefton. At the heart of the Capital Strategy was the Council’s core objective to continue to deliver financial sustainability. As such a flexible capital investment programme was 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.

The following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Capital Strategy 2025/26

It was moved by Councillor Howard, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED:

That the Capital Strategy, as set out at Appendix A to the report, be approved.

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 109 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial indicating 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. The report was based on the proposals presented.

It was moved by Councillor Howard, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED: That

(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 2025/26.

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 110 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial that set out:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2025/26 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2026/27 to 2027/28.

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2025/26.

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

·       The proposed Budget for 2025/26; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

The report also set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating. The Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Individual School Budgets 2025/26

·       Budget Saving Proposals / Mitigations 2025/26 – 2027/28

·       Draft Council Budget Summary 2025/26

·       Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2027/28

The Council also considered supplementary notes on the final charges set by levying bodies and the final demands set by all precepting authorities (including parishes); an updated Draft Council Budget Summary 2025/26; and a copy of the draft Council Tax resolution for 2025/26, which had been published prior to the Council meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Moncur:

That:

Budget 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2026/27 to 2027/28

(1)      the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2025/26 to 2027/28 be noted;

(2)      the Revenue Budget for 2025/26 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)      the commencement of all appropriate activity required to implement the budget savings proposals as detailed in the report, be approved, 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 - Corporate Services, as required;

(5)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets, as set out at section 12 of the report, be noted;

(6)      the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report, as set out at section 13, be approved;

(7)      subject to the recommendations above, the overall Council Tax resolution for 2025/26 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts, be approved;

Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2027/28

(8)      the full list of projects in Appendix D to the report be approved for inclusion within the Capital Programme;

(9)      a supplementary capital estimate of £1.500m for the demolition of Vine House funded by prudential borrowing, as set out at section 17 of the report, be approved;

(10)    a supplementary capital estimate of £0.500m for Food Waste Management funded by prudential borrowing, as set out at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

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

No changes to the memberships of Committees were made.

The Mayor reported that this would be the final Council meeting for both David McCullough, Chief Legal and Democratic Officer, and Stephan Van Arendsen, Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial, as they would both be leaving the Council. She thanked them both for their dedicated service to Sefton and wished them both well for the future.