Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashton, Booth, Hartill and S. McGuire.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2015

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 22 January 2015  be approved as a correct record.

Mayoral Charity Cabaret Dinner – 14 March 2015

The Mayor reminded Members that the Mayoral Charity Cabaret Dinner would be held on Saturday 14 March 2015 at the Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa and the proceeds from the event would be distributed to Mayoral Charities. Tickets and further details of the event were available from the Mayoral and Civic Services Officer in Bootle Town Hall.

Retirement of Peter Morgan, Deputy Chief Executive

The Mayor reported that that this would be the last Council meeting that Peter Morgan, Deputy Chief Executive, would attend before he retired from Local Government Service in April 2015.

Peter had had a long and distinguished local government career spanning nearly 40 years, starting in Liverpool City Council in 1976, moving to Blackburn with Darwen Council in 1998 before joining Sefton in 2009.

For most of this period, Peter had worked in the field of improving outcomes for children, young people and families although his contribution to wider regeneration and community development had been extensive. He had even had a stint as a bin man in Bootle before going to University. A very diverse career!

In September 2009, Peter came to Sefton as Strategic Director (and Statutory Director of Children’s Services) and for the last 3 years he had been the Deputy Chief Executive.

Peter had an incredible local and national reputation for creativity and innovation and a strong sense of purpose to improve the quality of life for local people. He had also been a lifelong Bootle and Crosby resident, bringing with him a unique insight into local heritage and culture. He had become one of the most respected Officers of the Council, who was held in high regard and respected by staff, colleagues and Councillors alike.

On behalf of the Council, The Mayor extended best wishes to Peter for a happy and healthy retirement and thanked him for the fantastic contribution he had made to Sefton and local government.

Councillors P. Dowd, Brodie – Browne and Dutton on behalf of their political groups expressed their support for the best wishes and thanks expressed by the Mayor to Peter Morgan.

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 no items had been raised by Members of the Public.

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 S. McGuire to the Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd)

·         Councillor Dawson to the Cabinet Member – Older People and Health (Councillor Cummins)

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

together with the responses given. A supplementary question from Councillor Dawson was responded to by the Cabinet Member – Older People.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 61 of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 February 2015, the Council considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services which provided details of the proposed Programme of Meetings for the 2015/16 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 and Area Committees for 2015/16 as set out in Annexes B, C and D of the report be approved; and

(2)       the Programme of Meetings for the Cabinet; Public Engagement and Consultation Panel; Sefton Safer Communities Partnership; and the Health and Wellbeing Board for 2015/16 as set out in Annexes A and E of the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 59 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 February 2015, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Personnel on the proposed Pay Policy which had been produced in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the statutory guidance produced by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

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

RESOLVED:

That the proposed Pay Policy set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Further to Minute No. 67 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 February 2015, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided details of the proposed procedures and strategy to be adopted in respect of the Council’s Treasury Management Function in 2015/16.

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

RESOLVED: That approval be given to:

(1)       the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2015/16 as set out in  Annex A of the report;

(2)       the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2015/16 as set out in  Annex B of the report;

(3)       the amendment to the banking arrangements contained within the Financial Procedure Rules of the Constitution as referred to in paragraph 3 and Annex A of the report; and

(4)       the option set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report being used as the basis for the calculation of the Minimum Revenue Provision for Debt Repayment in 2015/16.

Further to Minute No. 68 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 February 2015, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT on proposals to establish the Prudential Indicators required under the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  This would enable the Council to effectively manage its Capital Finance Activities and comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

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

RESOLVED: That:

(1)       the Prudential Indicators as detailed in the report, and summarised in Annex A, be approved as the basis for compliance with The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities;

(2)       approval be given to the amendment of relevant Prudential Indicators in the event that any unsupported borrowing is approved, as part of the 2015/16 Revenue Budget;

(3)       it be noted that estimates of capital expenditure referred to in paragraph 2.2 of the report may change as grant allocations are received; and

(4)       the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT be granted delegated authority to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Further to Minute No. 69 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 February 2015, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided an update on the Capital Investment Plan 2014/15; and details of the Government Capital Allocations for 2015/16 that had been received to date and their use in the development of a new starts programme for 2015/16. The report also outlined £16.1m of new investments which were aimed to improve the facilities and services to residents throughout Sefton. 

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the inclusion within the Capital Investment Plan, of the Capital schemes to be funded from the 2015/2016 Single Capital Pot as outlined in Appendix A and the Prudential Borrowing Scheme in Appendix B of the report.

The Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided an assessment of the robustness of the estimates and the tax setting calculations, the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves and the production of longer term revenue and capital plans, based on the proposals set out in the report on the Revenue Budgets 2015/16 and 2016/17 (Minute No. 86 below refers).

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

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT

(A copy of the draft Council Tax Resolution will be circulated at the Council Meeting)

Further to Minute No. 69 of the meeting held on 22 January 2015, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided the following details:

·         the decisions on budget savings taken by the Council on 22 January 2015

·         the recommendations from Cabinet regarding the two year financial plan and the 2015/16 Council Tax options

·         summary of the draft budget recommended by the Cabinet

·         summary of the budget changes included in the draft budget

·         recommendations on the allocation of specific grants

·         an update on the funding of schools agreed by the Schools’ Forum

The report requested the Council to consider those items before determining the: Budget for 2015/16 and the two year financial plan for 2015/16 and 2016/17, setting the Council Tax increase for Sefton Council and approving the overall Council Tax resolution.

This report presented a two year budget plan, which would enable a budget for 2015/16 to be approved and identified those policy changes required to deliver a sustainable and robust two year budget plan. Due to the mixture of efficiencies and significant policy changes, some of the options would not be realised within a 12 month period and would contribute to the 2016/17 budget as illustrated in the report. This would require the implementation of major change programmes and appropriate capacity would need to be dedicated to ensure deliverability. Given the scale of the budget reductions, any slippage or underachievement would have implications for the financial management of the Council and as such, robust management and monitoring arrangements would continue to be operated.

The report included the following appendices:

·         Appendix 1: List of Budget Proposals

·         Appendix 2: Individual School Budgets

·         Appendix 3: Draft Council budgets 2015/16 and 2016/17.

The Council also considered an update note by the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT which provided final information on the level of resource required by levying bodies, plus agreed precepts from the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Fire and Rescue Authority and local Parish Councils, and set out the draft Council Tax resolution for 2015/16.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor P. Dowd) referred to the budget cuts of £114m which had previously been agreed for the last four years and the process that had been undertaken to identify further savings of £55m for the period 2015/16 to 2016/17 as fairly and as reasonably as possible and he then outlined the recommendations set out in the report.

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

“That:

(1)       approval be given to:

(i)         the use of Section 106 money as set out in Paragraph 3.2 (a) of the report;

(ii)        an increase in cremation and burial fees by 5% over inflation as set out in Paragraph 3.2 (b) of the report;

(iii)       a further reduction in the CHAMPS budget as set out in Paragraph 3.2 (c) of the report;

(iv)       the capitalisation of Highways, ICT and systems development currently funded by the revenue budget, as set out in Paragraph 3.2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

No changes to the Membership of Committees were made.