Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Connell, Hands and Larkin.

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.

No declarations of interest were made.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 January 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Death of Mrs Christina Kirwan

The Mayor reported on the sad death of Mrs Christina Kirwan whose Civic Funeral took place on the 2 February 2009.

Mrs Kirwan was first elected to Southport County Borough Council in 1965, and then served as a Sefton Councillor from 1973 to 1994.

Mrs Kirwan also served as Mayor of Sefton from 1982 to 1983.

Councillors Sir Ron Watson, D. Rimmer and Mahon paid tribute to Mrs Kirwan and the Council then stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect.

Mayoral Ball

The Mayor reported that the Mayor of Sefton's Charity Ball to be held in the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport on the 13 March 2009 is now fully booked.

To deal with matters raised by members of the public within the Borough, in accordance with the procedures relating to Petitions, Public Questions.and Motions set out in Rule 11 of the Council and procedure Rules.

(Details of any further Petitions notified or Questions submitted to the Legal Director by members of the public in accordance with Rule 11 will be circulated at the meeting).

The Mayor reported that members of the public had not submitted any petitions or questions.

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 in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules.

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Council considered a report by the Finance and Information Services Director on the proposed procedures and strategy to be adopted in respect of the Council's Treasury Management Function in 2009/10.

At its meeting held earlier that day, the Cabinet had considered the report and endorsed the recommendations set out in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)       the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2009/10;

(2)       the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2009/10;

(3)       the amendment to Banking arrangements contained within the Financial Procedures Rules of the Constitution;

(4)       the Money Laundering Policy Document; and

(5)       the basis to be used in the calculation of the Minimum Revenue Provision for Debt Repayment in 2009/10.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Council considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on proposals to establish the Prudential Indicators required under the Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  This would enable the Council to effectively manage its Capital Finance Activities, and comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

At its meeting held earlier that day, the Cabinet had considered the report and endorsed the recommendations set out in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillr Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)       the Prudential Indicators detailed in the report, and summarised in Annex A, as the basis for compliance with The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities;

(2)       the amendment of relevant Prudential Indicators in the event that any unsupported borrowing is approved as part of the 2009/10 Revenue Budget; and

(3)            delegated authority being granted to the Finance and Information Services Director to manage the authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Strategic Directors - Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care), Children’s Services and Regeneration and Environmental Services

The Council considered a joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Strategic Directors for Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care), Regeneration and Environmental Services and Children's Services in respect of 2008/09 and the development of the 2009/10 - 2011/12 Capital Programme in the light of recent resource notifications received from Central Government and the formulation of the Revenue Budget.  Appended to the report at Annex A was the Council's Capital Programme 2008/09 - 2011/12.

At its meeting held earlier that day the Cabinet had considered the meeting and a copy of the  Cabinet resolution was circulated.

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

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the 2009/10 - 2011/12 Captial Programme set out in Annex A of the report be approved subject to the inclusion of an allocation of £50,000 for the 'Pride of Sefton' Narrowboat Project;

(2)       it be noted that the Strategic Asset Management Group (SAMG) will review the programme, with particular attention to dormant schemes, with the possibility that resources may be made available for other schemes;

(3)       it be confirmed that Cabinet Members may continue to approve schemes from within their specific capital allocations included in Annex A of the report;

(4)            approval be given to the use of lease facilities in 2009/10 provided that any revenue consequences can be accommodated within appropriate budgets; and

(5)       the SAMG be requested to review the new Starts Programme in light of emerging issues.

To receive statements by the three Party Group Leaders on the Revenue Budget for 2009/10

It was moved by Councillor Blackburn, seconded by Councillor McGuire and

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Rule 24.1, the provision of Rule 15.4 (Content of Length of Speeches) of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules be suspended only to enable statements to be made on behalf of the three Political Groups on the 2009/10 Revenue Budget.

The Leaders of the three Political Groups then made statements and outlined the policies of their respective Groups in respect of the budget for 2009/10.

To consider the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on the Revenue Budget 2009/10 together with any recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet on 26 February 2009 (to be circulated at the Council meeting)

Further to Minute No. 276 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 February 2009, the Council considered a report by the Finance and Information Services Director which provided an update on current issues relating to the completion of the 2009/10 budgetary process.  The report included the details of the budget proposal submitted by the three political groups.

The Cabinet had considered the report at its meeting held earlier that day and a copy of the Cabinet resolution was circulated.

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:

That the budget proposal of the Liberal Democrat Group set out in Annex A1 of the report be approved.

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 37 votes to 25.

It was then moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher:

That the budget proposal of the Labour Group set out in Annex A2 of the report be approved.

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 42 votes to 21.

It was moved by Councillor Parry, seconded by Councillor Porter:

That the budget proposal of the Conservative Group set out in Annex A3 of the report be approved.

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 45 votes to 17

At this point the Mayor adjourned the meeting for a short period of time, to enable the three Group Leaders to discuss the possibility of a compromise budget proposal being submitted to the Council.

Upon their return to the Council Chamber the meeting resumed.

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor P. Dowd and unanimously

RESOLVED:

That the following compromise budget proposal of the three political groups be approved

viz:

To determine the level of Council Tax to apply for Sefton Council for the financial year 2009/10 and the level of consolidated tax (including precepts) to apply in Sefton for 2009/10

A copy of the draft Budget Resolution will be circulated at the Council meeting

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and unanimously

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       It was noted that at its meeting on the 8 January 2009, the Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2009/2010 in accordance with regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(2)       That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2009/2010 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

To consider any changes to the Membership of any committees etc.

There were no changes made to the membership of Committees.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

The Council received a report of the Leader of the Council setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 16 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (Special Urgency).

Report of the Legal Director.

The Council considered a report of the Legal Director setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 17 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Call-In and Urgency).