Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brennan, Byrom, Colbert, Fenton, McGinnity, Mahon, Papworth, Pearson, Platt, Preston and Sir Ron Watson.

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 received.

Minutes of the Extraordinary and Ordinary Meetings of Council held on 17 December 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Extraordinary and Ordinary Meetings of the Council held on 17 December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

New Year Wishes

The Mayor extended belated best wishes to Members of the Council and Council Officers for a happy and successful New Year.

Sefton Council’s Response to Extreme Weather Conditions

The Mayor expressed thanks on behalf of the Council for the manner in which Sefton Council staff had responded to the recent severe weather conditions.  Weather of such severity will always cause disruption and it is to the credit of the staff that this disruption to Council services was kept to a minimum.

Mayor's Charity Event 2010

The Mayor reminded Members of the Council that the Mayor of Sefton's Annual Charity Night would be held on 12 February 2010 at the Floral Hall, Southport and he requested Members to contact the Head of Civic and Mayoral Services as soon as possible to reserve a table as tickets were already selling steadily.

Mr Ian Hamilton Fazey, Chairman of the Waterloo Residents’ Association has submitted a petition signed by residents of the Borough, requesting the Licensing and Regulatory Committee to accept a number of recommendations in the Guidelines to the Licensing Act 2003 and he will be permitted to make a statement as to the content of the petition which will not exceed five minutes. A copy of the issues highlighted in the petition is attached for information.

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

The Mayor reported that Mr. Ian Hamilton Fazey, Chairman of the Waterloo Residents' Association had submitted a petition signed by 1,015 residents of the Borough, requesting the Licensing and Regulatory Committee to accept a number of recommendations in the Guidelines to the Licensing Act 2003, as set out in the agenda and in accordance with Rule 11.2 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, Mr. Fazey gave a brief statement on the content of the petition.

RESOLVED:

That the petition be referred without debate to the next meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee to be held on 22 February 2010.

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 Council considered a written question from Councillor Shaw to the Cabinet Member - Communities together with a written response from the Cabinet Member.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 251 of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 December 2009, the Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which sought approval to the implementation of Strategic Budget Review Options to achieve budgeting savings.

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

"That approval be given to the implementation of the savings items detailed at Annex A of the report and Officers be authorised to implement them with immediate effect."

An amendment was then moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher that the motion be amended by the deletion of all the words of the motion and the substitution of the following text:

"That subject to the deletion of Options 36 (Leisure GP Referral Scheme) and 55 (Health and Social Care Meal Charges), approval be given to the implementation of the savings items detailed at Annex A of the report and Officers be authorised to implement them with immediate effect."

The requisite number of Members having signified their wish that the voting on the amendment should be recorded in accordance with Rule 18.4 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the voting was duly recorded and the Members of the Council present at the time, voted as follows:-

FOR THE MOTION:

Councillors Bradshaw, Brady, Cluskey, Cummins, M. Dowd, P. Dowd, Fairclough, Friel, Gustafson, D. Hardy, P. Hardy, Kerrigan, Maher, Moncur, Tweed, Veidman, and Webster.

AGAINST THE MOTION

Councillors Barber, Bigley, Blackburn, Booth, Brodie-Browne, Byrne, Connell, Cutherbertson, Dodd, M. Fearn, Lord Fearn, Gibson, Glover, Griffiths, Hands, Hill, Hough, Howe, Ibbs, D. Jones, T. Jones, Larkin, McGuire, C. Mainey, S. Mainey, Parry, Porter, B. Rimmer, D. Rimmer, Roberts, Robertson, Shaw, Storey, Sumner, Tattersall, Tonkiss and Weavers.

ABSTENTION:

Councillor Doran.

The amendment was lost by 37 votes to 17 with one abstention.

Following further debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried by 37 votes to 17 with one abstention and it was

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the implementation of the savings items detailed at Annex A of the report and Officers be authorised to implement them with immediate effect.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Mayor reported that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda as the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) have not had the opportunity to consider the report following the cancellation of its meeting on 5 January 2010 due to the extreme weather conditions.

The item would be brought back to a future Council meeting following consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Planning Committee and the Cabinet.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 263 of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 January 2010, the Council considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which sought approval to make an Article 4(2) Direction within Moor Park Conservation Area so that planning permission will be required for a greater range of alterations to properties, helping to ensure that the character of the Conservation Area is maintained.

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

RESOLVED:

That authority be given to the making of a Direction under Article 4(2) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) in respect of the Moor Park Conservation Area.

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

Councillor Griffiths proposed the following changes in respect of the Membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services):

• Councillor Papworth to be re-appointed as a Member in place of Councillor Bigley and re-appointed as the Chair of the Committee and that Councillor Sir Ron Watson be his Substitute

• Councillor Pearson to be re-appointed as the Vice-Chair and Councillor Roberts to be his Substitute

• Councillor Barber to be appointed on to the Committee in place of Councillor Roberts and Councillor Cuthbertson to be his Substitute.

Councillor Blackburn proposed the following change in respect of the Standards Committee:

• Councillor Sumner to be appointed as the Substitute Member for Councillor M. Fearn in place of Councillor Booth.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed changes detailed above be approved.

Report of the Legal Director.

The Council received 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).

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor McGuire:

“This Council notes that:

1.       Climate change predictions show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, flooding and famine affecting all of us, and poorest countries in particular. Some of these countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change. This is an issue of social justice as well as a call to take environmental action.

2.       Under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, the UK is due to cut its emissions by 34% by 2020, but according to climate change scientists, a cut of 10% in 2010 is in line with what is now needed to avert runaway climate change.

3.       Increasing numbers of councils are signing up to the "10:10 Campaign" which seeks to persuade individuals, businesses, organisations and the UK government to reduce their CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010.

This Council supports the aims and ambitions of the 10:10 Campaign and therefore resolves to sign up to the campaign as part of Sefton's commitment to tackling climate change.”

It was moved by Councillor McGuire and seconded by Councillor Tattersall:

"This Council notes that:

1.       Climate change predictions show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, flooding and famine affecting all of us, and poorest countries in particular.  Some of these countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change. This is an issue of social justice as well as a call to take environmental action.

2.       Under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, the UK is due to cut its emissions by 34% by 2020, but according to climate change scientists, a cut of 10% in 2010 is in line with what is now needed to avert runaway climate change.

3.       Increasing numbers of Councils are signing up to the "10:10 Campaign" which seeks to persuade individuals, businesses, organisations and the UK government to reduce their CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010.

This Council supports the aims and ambitions of the 10:10 Campaign and therefore resolves to sign up to the campaign as part of Sefton's commitment to tackling climate change."

It was then moved by Councillor Maher and seconded by Councillor P. Dowd that the motion be amended by the deletion of the text in the final paragraph and the substitution of the following text:

"This Council is of a mind to support the aims and ambitions of the 10:10 Campaign and requests the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) to examine the feasibility of the Council signing up to the Campaign as part of Sefton's commitment to tackling climate change."

Councillor McGuire accepted the amendment and requested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider this issue at the earliest opportunity.

The Mayor advised the Council that in accordance with Rule 15.14 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the motion would be referred to the Cabinet following consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for formal consideration of the financial implications, in advance of any budgetary commitment and prior to any action being taken to implement the decision.

Following further debate, the substantive motion was put to the vote and on a show of hands, it was

RESOLVED:

This Council notes that:

(1)      Climate change predictions show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will be hit by drought, flooding and famine affecting all of us, and poorest countries in particular.  Some of these countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change.  This is an issue of social justice as well as a call to take environmental action.

(2)      Under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, the UK is due to cut its emissions by 34% by 2020, but according to climate change scientists, a cut of 10% in 2010 is in line with what is now needed to avert runaway climate change.

(3)      Increasing numbers of Councils are signing up to the "10:10 Campaign" which seeks to persuade individuals, businesses, organisations and the UK government to reduce their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.