Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Dowd, Gustafson and Tonkiss.

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 Ordinary Council Meeting held on 12 April 2012

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 12 April 2012 be approved as a correct record.

Election of New Councillors

The Mayor congratulated all of the Councillors who were re-elected to office following the Local Government Elections held on 3 May 2012 and extended a warm welcome to the 12 new Councillors who had been elected to office, namely Councillors Veronica Bennett, Tony Dawson, Lynn Gatherer, Ted Hartill, John Joseph Kelly, Pat Keith, Stephen Kermode, Nina Killen, Paulette Lappin, Peter Maguire, Paula Murphy and Michael Roche.

The Mayor also expressed the gratitude of the Council to the six former Councillors who were not re-elected to office, for their dedicated service to the Borough of Sefton, namely:

·                    Alf Doran, who had served on Sefton Council for 16 years and was Mayor of Sefton in 2009/10;

·                    Robbie Fenton, who had served on Sefton Council for 15 years;

·                    Barry Griffiths, who had served on Sefton Council for 14 years;

·                    Clifford Mainey, who had served on Sefton Council for 18 years and was Mayor of Sefton in 2004/05;

·                    Paula Parry, who had served on Sefton Council for 25 years;

·                    David Pearson, who had served on Sefton Council for 21 years and was Mayor of Sefton in 2003/04.

Councillor Papworth paid tribute to the service given by Paula Parry and Barry Griffiths.  Sir Ron Watson paid tribute to the service given by David Pearson.  Councillor Robertson paid tribute to the service given by Robbie Fenton and Clifford Mainey and Councillor Cuthbertson paid tribute to the service given by Alf Doran.

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.

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

To receive and note the attached report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer on the results of the Council Elections held on 3 May 2012

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer on the results of the Council Elections held on 3 May 2012.

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

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To note that the Leader of the Council was appointed by the Council on 17 May 2011 for a four year term. The Council is asked to consider whether the Elections held on 3 May 2012 impact on this position.

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

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that Councillor P. Dowd was appointed as the Leader of the Council by the Council on 17 May 2011 for a period of four years or until such time as his term of office expires.

The Council is asked to receive the attached report of the Leader of the Council on the size, composition and portfolios of the Cabinet and the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council.

The Council considered the report of the Leader of the Council on the proposed membership of the Cabinet and their Portfolios, and the appointment of the Deputy Leader of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and

RESOLVED:   That    

(1)       it be noted that Councillor Maher had been appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Council for a four year term of office or until such time as his term of office expires;

(2)       it be noted that the Cabinet, comprising the Members indicated below, had been appointed for a four year term of office or until such time as their term of office expires, they are removed by the Leader or for any of the reasons set out in (a) to (c) of section 7.03 of Part 2 of the Constitution:-

CABINET (7)

(3)       the Portfolios set out in Part 3 of the Constitution be amended and agreed with the Leader of the Council and be lodged with the Head of Corporate Legal Services as set out in section 7.09 of Part 2 of the Constitution;

(4)       the Cabinet Urgent Business Committee be disbanded, and the Leader or Deputy Leader (or their nominee) be authorised to take any urgent action and report to the next meeting of the Cabinet on any action taken;

(5)       it be noted that no Cabinet Member Spokespersons and Committee Spokespersons have been appointed; and

(6)       the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Commissioning, be authorised to make any consequential amendments to the Constitution arising from the matters set out above and all Members of the Council be notified of those changes in due course.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive on the allocation of Committee Places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules and a schedule of the proposed Membership of the Committees and Working Groups for 2012/13.

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

That:

(1)       the allocation of Committee Places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules be noted; and

(2)       the Members, Chairs and  Vice-Chairs for the Committees and Working Groups set out in the report be appointed for a period of twelve months until the Adjourned Annual Meeting to be held in May 2013.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Robertson that the motion be amended as follows:

(1)       that the Council distributes the Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees proportionally i.e.:

            2 Labour; 1 Liberal Democrat; 1 Conservative;

(2)       that the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board membership be distributed proportionately in line with other Committees and in line with best practice; and

(3)       the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee be held by an opposition Member in line with Sefton’s previous practice and in line with best practice.

On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 33 votes to 29.

On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the original motion was carried by 33 votes to 29 and it was

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the allocation of Committee places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules be noted; and

(2)       the Members, Chairs and Vice-Chairs for the Committees and Working Groups set out below be appointed for a period of twelve months until the Adjourned Annual Meeting to be held in May 2013.

(A)            OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (CHILDREN’S SERVICES) (10)

Plus 4 Education Added Members

(Lab 6 /Lib Dem 3 /Con 1)

Education Added Members:-            Canon R. Driver and Father D. Seddon

                                    (Church Diocesan Representatives);

                                    Mrs. S. Cain and 1 Vacancy.

                                    (Parent Governor Representatives)

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE) (10)

(Plus 1 Non-voting Co-opted Member)

(Lab 6 /Lib Dem 3 /Con 1)

Non-Voting Co-opted Member                    To be nominated from the

                                                                        Sefton Local Involvement Network

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (PERFORMANCE & CORPORATE SERVICES) (10)

(Lab 6 /Lib Dem 3 /Con 1)

Subject to the item above, the Council is requested to approve the terms of reference of the Committees and Working Groups as set out in Part 3 of the Council Constitution and amended by Minute 105 of the Council meeting held on 1 March 2012.

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and

RESOLVED:

That the terms of reference of the Committees and Working Groups as set out in Part 3 of the Council Constitution and amended by Minute 105 of the Council held on 1 March 2012 be approved.

To approve the Council’s representation on the following Joint Authorities for 2012/13:

(i)                 Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

(ii)               Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority

(iii)             Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

(iv)              Merseyside Police Authority (nominations only – appointments will be made by the Merseyside Police Authority Appointments Committee for the period up to 22 November 2012)

(Details of the proposed representation on the above bodies are attached)

The Council considered a schedule of the proposed representation on the Merseyside Joint Authorities for 2012/13.

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and

RESOLVED: That

(1)       approval be given to the nomination of Councillors Kerrigan and Shaw as the Council’s representatives on Merseyside Police Authority (nominations only - appointment will be made by the Merseyside Police Authority Appointments Committee for the period up to 22 November 2012);

(2)       consideration of the Council’s representation on the following Joint Authorities for 2012/13 be deferred:

            (i)         Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

            (ii)        Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority

            (iii)       Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority; and

(3)       the decision making in respect of the representation on the above-mentioned Joint Authorities be delegated to the Cabinet on 24 May 2012, following clarification of issues relating to proportionality.

Details of the proposed representation on the Partnership Bodies are attached

The Council considered a schedule of the proposed representation on the Thematic Partnerships/Groups and Area Partnerships of the Sefton Borough Partnership for 2012/13.

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and

RESOLVED:

That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Thematic Partnerships of the Sefton Borough Partnership and Area Partnerships in 2012/13:

To note that the Council meetings scheduled to be held during the Municipal Year 2012/13 are as follows:

·        5 July 2012

·        6 September 2012

·        22 November 2012

·        7 February 2013

·        28 February 2013 (Budget Meeting)

·        18 April 2013

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Moncur and

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that the Council meetings scheduled to be held during the Municipal Year 2012/13 are as follows:

• 5 July 2012
• 6 September 2012
• 22 November 2012
• 7 February 2013
• 28 February 2013 (Budget meeting)
• 18 April 2013