Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Brennan, Dodd, Lord Fearn, Jones, Parry, Pearson, Sumner and Veidman.

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.

The following declaration of interest was received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2010

RESOLVED:  

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 8 July 2010 be approved as a correct record.

Welcome to Head of Corporate Legal Services

The Mayor extended a warm welcome to Jill Coule, the Head of Corporate Legal Services who was attending her first Council Meeting.

Pafos Delegation Visit to Sefton

The Mayor reported that in mid July 2010, she had received a delegation of music students from Pafos in Bootle Town Hall at the start of their visit to Sefton and was able to give them a short tour of the Town Hall.

As part of the Mayoral Theme - "Music", the delegation performed together with children from Sefton Schools Music Service at the free public concert held in St. Faith's Church and Lydiate Primary School to full houses.

On the following day, the Pafos Delegation then played a free concert at the "Lord Street Celebrates Music" Festival in Southport.

Stan Mercer

The Mayor reported with great sadness on the death of Mr. Stan Mercer, the Mayoral Attendant on 24 August 2010, one day after celebrating his 68th birthday and following a brave fight against his illness.

The Mayor indicated that the funeral would take place on Friday, 3 September, at 10.45 a.m. in St. Luke's Church, 71 Liverpool Road, Great Crosby.

Sharon and the family had requested family flowers only.  However, donations may be made to 'St. Joseph's Hospice (Jospice)' and can be given in at the church on the day of the funeral or be directed to R.S. Capes Funeral Directors or Civic and Mayoral Services."

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 Committee 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 Council considered a written question from Councillor Shaw to the Cabinet Member - Health and Social Care relating to Southport Market Redevelopment Scheme together with a written response to the question.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 96 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 September 2010, the Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided an update on the development of a prioritisation and budget review process related to the Council's Medium Term Financial Plan and the 2011/12 budget.

The report indicated that as part of the process, six strategic/organisation design project work streams had been identified to close the overall savings gap required by the Council which would have a senior management lead officer and be overseen by an Elected Member Group comprising of a Lead Cabinet Member, a second Cabinet Member (or nominee) and a Scrutiny Chair/Labour spokesperson to ensure all party representation.

The report also set out a number of savings options for progression following an initial review of the outstanding Strategic Budget Review Options and other potential savings.

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

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

RESOLVED:  

That approval be given to the progression of the savings options identified in paragraph 8 of the report to achieve full year budget savings of £2.4m in 2011/12.

Report of the Strategic Director - Communities

Further to Minute No. 97 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 September 2010, the Council considered the report of the Strategic Director - Communities which provided further details of uncommitted capital schemes which do not have ring-fenced grant monies. A copy of the Cabinet resolution on this issue was circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

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

RESOLVED:   That approval be given to the following action been taken on the uncommitted capital schemes:

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 98 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 2 September 2010, the Council considered the report of the Chief Executive on the proposed appointment of officers to undertake the Monitoring Officer role and the registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

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

RESOLVED:  That:

(1)      the Assistant Director (Strategic Development and Management), Leisure Services be appointed as the Proper Officer for the registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 and Registration Services Act 1953 and the Regulations made thereunder; and

(2)      the Acting Head of Corporate Legal Services be appointed as the Monitoring Officer pursuant to Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 with effect from 3 September 2010 until such time as the Head of Corporate Legal Services returns to work following a period of maternity leave.

Joint report of the Director of Corporate Services and the Assistant Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 99 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 September 2010, the Cabinet considered the joint report of the Director of Corporate Services and Assistant Chief Executive on the email consultation which had been held with Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the recommendations made by the Leaders of the three Political Groups on proposed reductions to the Scheme of Members' Allowances.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the views of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the proposals be noted;

(2)      the following recommendations made by the Cabinet on 5 August 2010 be approved for implementation with effect from 2 September 2010:

·                 the current rate of Basic Allowance to remain unchanged for 2010/11

·                 the weightings for the Special Responsibility Allowances to remain unchanged for 2010/11

·                 the payment of the daily Special Responsibility Allowances to be ceased

·                 the rates of all Special Responsibility Allowances (including the Mayoral allowances) be reduced by 5%; and

(3)      approval be given to the continuation of any increases for 2011/12 being linked to any National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Government employees pay awards.

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

Councillor Ibbs proposed the following changes:

Planning Committee

·                    Councillor Jones to replace Councillor Glover as a Member of the Committee and Councillor McIvor to be the Substitute Member for Councillor Jones on the Committee

·                    Councillor Griffiths to replace Councillor Glover as the Spokesperson on the Committee

·                    Councillor Pearson to replace Councillor Dutton as the Substitute Member for Councillor Griffiths on the Committee

·                    Councillor Ibbs to replace Councillor Cuthbertson as a Member of the Committee and Councillor Doran to be the Substitute Member for Councillor Ibbs on the Committee

·                    Councillor Dutton to replace Councillor Ibbs as the Substitute Member for Councillor Dorgan on the Committee

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism

·                 Councillor Glover to replace Councillor Griffiths as the Conservative Spokesperson and Councillor Pearson to be the Substitute Spokesperson

RESOLVED:  

That the proposed changes stated above be approved.

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Webster:

"This Council calls upon the Government to recognise that Sefton Council has a significantly higher proportion of older people within its population compared to the national average. With this in mind, the Council requests the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase the Council's Central Government Grant to allow the Council to meet the needs of this ever increasing section of the community and to ensure that all Senior Citizens in Sefton are able to enjoy a reasonable quality of life. The Grant should more accurately and adequately reflect the additional cost incurred in caring for such a large elderly population."

(This is a Cross Party Motion supported by the Members of the Dementia Working Group, comprising of Councillors McGuire, Pearson and Webster)

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

RESOLVED:  

That this Council calls upon the Government to recognise that Sefton Council has a significantly higher proportion of older people within its population compared to the national average.  With this in mind, the Council requests the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase the Council's Central Government Grant to allow the Council to meet the needs of this ever increasing section of the community and to ensure that all Senior Citizens in Sefton are able to enjoy a reasonable quality of life.  The Grant should more accurately and adequately reflect the additional cost incurred in caring for such a large elderly population.

(This was a Cross Party Motion supported by the Members of the Dementia Working Group, comprising of Councillors McGuire, Pearson and Webster).