Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Blackburn, Crabtree, Fairclough, Keith and Robertson.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2013

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 6 March 2014 be approved as a correct record.

Councillors Not Seeking Re-Election

The Mayor reported this was the last Council meeting before the Council Elections on 22 May 2014 and that the following Councillors would not be seeking re-election:

·         Councillor Blackburn, who had 17 years service on the Council;

·         Councillor Linda Cluskey, who had 12 years service on the Council;

·         Councillor Rimmer, who had 10 years service on the Council;

·         Councillor Sumner, who had 16 years service on the Council; and

·         Councillor Sir Ron Watson, who had 40 years service on the Council, which is a remarkable achievement.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor thanked those Members for their dedicated service to the people of Sefton and extended best wishes to them for the future.

Councillors P. Dowd, Brodie - Browne and Jones paid tribute to service given by Councillors Blackburn, L. Cluskey, Rimmer, Sumner and Sir Ron Watson

Mayor Elect 2014/15

The Mayor reported that the Cabinet at its meeting held on 27 March 2014 had agreed that the Council be recommended to elect Councillor Kevin Cluskey as the Mayor for 2014/15 at the Annual Council meeting to be held on 29 May 2014.

Mayor of Sefton’s Charity Ball Update

The Mayor reported that the sum of £8,944 had been raised at the Mayoral Charity Ball held on 8 March 2014 and she expressed her thanks to all who contributed or supported in any way to the success of the Ball.

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 the Council Constitution.

The Mayor reported that no matters had been raised by Members of the Council.

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 the Council Constitution.

The Council considered a schedule setting out a written question submitted by Councillor Brodie – Browne to the Chair of the Planning Committee (Councillor Veidman) together with the response given. A supplementary question was asked and responded to by the Committee Chair.

Further to Minute No. 63 of the meeting held on 21 November 2013, the Council considered a further report of the Director of Built Enviroment on the proposal for the designation of two additional areas at Ormskirk Road between Park Lane and Copy Lane; and Park Lane from its junction with Ormskirk Road to the railway bridge, where street trading should be prohibited under the County of Merseyside Act 1980 in order to address the problems of ticket touts at the Grand National Meetings in Aintree.

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

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)       approval be given to the designation of those areas referred to in Annex 1 of the report under Section 36 of the County of Merseyside Act 1980 for where street trading is prohibited; and

(2)       the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to arrange for the publication of the Council’s resolution.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Council considered the report of the Director of Built Environment setting out proposals to revise the Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers dealing with Planning Applications as set out in the Constitution and to update the Constitution as appropriate

The following matters were proposed and were intended to provide further transparency, clarity and equity to the processes of the Planning Committee and its decision making:-

(i)            the ongoing monthly training programme for Members to be continued;

(ii)          mandatory training;

(iii)         annual appointments;

(iv)         attendance on the  Visiting Panel for Members or substitutes to be strongly advised;

(v)          attendance at the relevant Planning Committee and Visiting Panel meetings by the same Member/substitute wherever possible;

(vi)         Ward Members must contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer by 12 noon the day before a Committee meeting if they wish to address the Committee regarding an application and make their address after any petitioner, but before the respondent; or before the applicant/agent if there is no petition; and

(vii)        the late submission of materials/photographs by petitioners/applicants to the Committee, at the meeting, to be prohibited.

The Mayor reported that the Planning Committee had considered the report on 3 April 2014 and endorsed the recommendations and that the Audit and Governance Committee had also considered the report on 16 April 2014 and a copy of the resolution agreed by that Committee had been included in the supplementary agenda, circulated to all Members of the Council.

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

RESOLVED:

That the measures as set out in the report approved and that the Code of Conduct for Councillors and Officers Dealing with Planning Applications in the Constitution be updated to reflect the approved changes, subject to the following amended matter:

(vi)       that Ward Members must contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer by 12 noon the day before a Committee meeting if they wish to address the Committee regarding an application and make their address after any petitioner and the respondent; or before the applicant/agent if there is no petition.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No.110 of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 February 2014, the Council considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services which provided details of the proposed Programme of Meetings for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

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

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)       the Programme of Meetings for the Council, Member Briefing Sessions;  Regulatory Committees; Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Area Committees and Health and Wellbeing Board for 2014/15 as set out in Annexes B, C, D and E of the report be approved; and

(2)       the Programme of Meetings for the Cabinet, Public Engagement and Consultation Panel, Sefton Borough Partnership Operations Board and Sefton Safer Communities Partnership for 2014/15 as set out in Annexes A and E of the report be noted.

No changes were made to the Membership of Committees.