Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bennett, Booth, Fairclough, Gustafson, Hubbard, Kerrigan, McKinley, Murphy, Papworth, Sumner and Tonkiss.

Members are requested to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the Members Code of Conduct, before leaving the meeting room during the discussion on that particular item.

Councillor Sir Ron Watson declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Minute No. 31, as he is the Chair of the Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and he left the room during the consideration of the item.

Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 9 May 2013 and the Adjourned Annual Council Meeting held on 14 May 2013

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 9 May 2013 and the Adjourned Annual Council Meeting held on 14 May 2013 be approved as a correct record.

Civic Sunday

The Mayor reported that her Civic Sunday Service would be held on Sunday 7 July at 10.30 a.m. at St Francis of Assisi Church, Southport and she requested Members and Officers to confirm their attendance by contacting the Mayor’s Office.

To deal with matters raised by members of the public resident within the Borough, of which notice has been given in accordance with the procedures relating to public questions, motions or petitions set out in Paragraph 36 to 46 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

The Mayor reported that in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, two petitions had been submitted for consideration at the Council meeting, as follows:

(a)      The first petition containing 2,920 signatures had been submitted by Ms. Juliet Edgar on behalf of ‘Stand Up in Bootle’ and residents of Sefton.

The Petition stated:

“We:

(1)       demand that Sefton Council passes a resolution to call on the Coalition Government to drop the ‘Bedroom Tax’;

(2)       demand that Sefton Council passes a resolution to refuse to implement the ‘Bedroom Tax’ within the Sefton Council Benefit Department; and

(3)       also demand that Sefton Council exerts pressure on the 23 housing associations within its area, to adopt a policy of ‘No Evictions’ for ‘Bedroom Tax’ arrears.”

The lead petitioner, Ms. Edgar, made a statement in support of the petition.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd) thanked Ms. Edgar for the submission of the petition and indicated that he supported the calls for the repeal of the ‘Bedroom Tax; that the Council, along with other local authorities had a statutory duty  to implement the legislation and the Council was holding discussions with local housing associations on procedures for assisting their tenants

A debate then took place on the content of the petition and a number of Members of the Council indicated their support for the repeal of the ‘Bedroom Tax’ and for more socially rented property to be made available in the Borough.

Following the debate, it was moved by Councillor Maher  and seconded by Councillor P. Dowd :

“That this Council calls on this or any future Government of whatsoever Party to repeal the ‘Bedroom Tax.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Brodie – Browne, seconded by Councillor Robertson that the Motion be amended by the addition of the following text:

“(2)      That the Government be requested to repeal the ‘Bedroom Tax’ for the private rented sector and expand the number of socially rented property available.”

Councillor Maher indicated that he accepted the amendment and on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Amended Motion was carried by 47 votes to 7, with 1 abstention and it was

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Council calls on this or any future Government of whatsoever Party to repeal the ‘Bedroom Tax; and

(2)       That the Government be requested to repeal the ‘Bedroom Tax’ for the private rented sector and expand the number of socially rented property available.

(b)      The Mayor reported that the second petition containing 3,581 signatures had been submitted by Mrs Maria Bennett on behalf of Formby Residents Action Group Opposition From Formby (FRAGOFF)

Petition Summary and Background:

“Sefton’s local plan, formulated over the last 5 years continues to show little regard for the green belt. Our Council will, in the upcoming months, embark on a Public Consultatation Process, using household population figures that they themselves concede are not an accurate reflection of current housing need. Most up to date Government figures show the Council’s projections  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

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 by Members of the Council in accordance with Paragraph 48 to 50 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, set out in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

The Council considered a schedule setting out the written questions submitted by:

·         Councillor Robertson, to the Cabinet Member – Corporate Services and Performance (Councillor Tweed)

·         Councillor Robertson, to the Council’s Spokesperson on the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (Councillor Byrom)

·         Councillor McKinley, to the Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd)

·         Councillor Gatherer, to the Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd)

·         Councillor Hands, to the Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd)

·         Councillor Page, to the Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd)

·         Councillor Dawson, to the Cabinet Member – Children, Schools, Families and Leisure (Councillor Moncur)

together with the responses given. One supplementary question was asked and responded to by the Cabinet Member – Children, Schools, Families and Leisure.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Council considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which presented the Preferred Option Document, a key stage in the preparation of Sefton’s Local Plan. The Document set out the issues and challenges facing Sefton, which included:

·         a vision for Sefton’s planning ahead to 2030;

·         a strategy for how Sefton’s housing, business and other  development needs can be met;

·         a ‘preferred’ option indicating where those needs might be met including detailed site allocations;

·         details of other options which have been considered and discounted;

·         development management policies to help guide development and provide a policy framework for making decisions on planning applications; and

·         details of the 12 week consultation arrangements.

This was a corporate strategy document which was being developed within the statutory planning framework. The Preferred Option Document was a key stage in the process of adopting a Local Plan, which would in due course replace the Unitary Development Plan.

The Council also considered an addendum note to the report produced by the Director of Built Environment which set out two minor updates to the Preferred Option document.

The Mayor reported that the Local Plan Preferred Option Document had been considered at the following meetings, prior to the Council meeting:

·         the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) on 28 May 2013;

·         the Planning Committee on 12 June 2013; and

·         the Cabinet on 20 June 2013

The Mayor advised Members that the report set out a preferred option for consultation, which was a key stage of the journey to work out what was the best way forward with respect to the important strategic document. No final decisions on the adoption of the Local Plan would be made until 2015.

The Mayor also advised Members that they could all participate in the debate so long as they retained an open mind and had not and did not say anything that would lead others to think that they had a closed mind.

It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd and seconded by Councillor Maher:

That:

(1)       the further evidence which supports the Preferred Option Document be approved for consultation, as outlined in Section 18 of the report;

(2)       the approach to consultation on the Preferred Option Document be approved, as outlined in Section 20 of the report;

(3)       the Preferred Option Document be approved for consultation, including a correction to the land proposed for development, south east of Hightown as set out in Section 19 and the plan attached to the report; and the amendments set out in the addendum note; and

(4)       the Head of Planning Services be granted delegated powers to make minor editorial changes to the Document before it is published, as referred to in Section 20.7 of the report.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd) made the following comments:

·         The Council was required by the Government to produce a robust and sound Local Plan in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework. The content of the Plan could be challenged by the public,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Report of Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 12 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 June 2013, the Council considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the proposed adoption of the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan, following a public consultation on the proposed modifications to the Waste Local Plan, which was undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013.

The report explained that all local authorities were required to prepare a Local Plan that provided a policy framework and land allocations for a new waste management infrastructure to meet the identified needs of each Council. The report was in addition to the Local Plan which is referred to in Minute No. 26 above.

It was moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher and

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)       the Head of Planning Services be granted delegated powers to make necessary minor typographical changes to the Waste Local Plan prior to its final publication; and

(2)       the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan be adopted as part of the statutory development plan and in so doing, it be noted that the adoption is contingent upon all other Merseyside Councils and Halton Council also adopting the plan as set out in Section 3 of the report.

(Should all Councils proceed to adopt the Waste Local Plan, this would take effect on 18 July 2013 and should all Councils for whatever reason not proceed to adopt the plan, then the Council would be advised accordingly.)

Report of the Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 9 of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 3 June 2013, the Council considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the proposed adoption of a new model byelaw governing acupuncture, tattooing, semi - permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis and the consequent revocation of the Council’s existing byelaws covering this activity.

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

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)       the new model byelaw be adopted, as set out in Appendix B to the report;

(2)       the provisions of Sections 14 to 17 of Part VIII of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, be applied within the Borough of Sefton; and

(3)       the steps to introduce the byelaw as set out in paragraph 2 of the report be noted.

Report attached

The Council considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2012/13 and Councillors McGinnity, Brennan, Page and John Kelly highlighted the key areas of work undertaken by the respective Committees and thanked Members and Officers for their support and assistance during 2012/13.

It was moved by Councillor McGinnity, seconded by Councillor Brennan and

RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2012/13 be noted.

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

It was proposed by Councillor Blackburn that the following changes be made to the membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services):

That Councillor S. McGuire be appointed as a Member of the Committee in place of Councillor Shaw; that Councillor Booth be appointed as the Substitute Member for Councillor S. McGuire and Councillor Shaw be appointed as the Substitute Member for Councillor Tonkiss.

RESOLVED:

That the changes to the Membership of the Committee be approved.

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Dawson:

“This Council notes the problems which have been increasingly encountered by local residents seeking urgent and emergency care, whether this is from General Practitioners, telephone advice systems, A&E departments or ambulances.

The Council:

(1)  urges the Government to take steps to ensure that quality standards for all urgent and emergency services are maintained and improved; and

(2)  commits itself, through its overview and scrutiny function, to monitoring the quality and availability of local urgent and emergency health care.”

It was moved by Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor P. Dowd and

RESOLVED:

This Council notes the problems which have been increasingly encountered by local residents seeking urgent and emergency care, whether this is from General Practitioners, telephone advice systems, A&E departments or ambulances.

The Council:

(1)       urges the Government to take steps to ensure that quality standards for all urgent and emergency services are maintained and improved; and

(2)       commits itself, through its Overview and Scrutiny function, to monitoring the quality and availability of local urgent and emergency health care.