Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashton, Bliss, Booth, Cluskey, Dawson, Fairclough, Gannon, Hands, Jones, Dan T. Lewis, McGinnity, Webster, Bill Welsh and Marianne Welsh.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2019

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24 January 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Death of Former Councillor David McIvor

The Mayor reported with much sadness, on the death of former Councillor David McIvor who died on 31 January 2019 aged 70 years. His funeral was held on 22 February 2019 at Southport Crematorium.

David McIvor had served the Manor Ward from 25 October 2007 to 4 May 2008 and the Ravenmeols Ward from 6 May 2010 to 26 May 2014.  During his time on the Council, David McIvor served as a Member on the Audit and Governance Committee, Pay and Grading Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services).

The Mayor concluded by indicating that the Family and Friends of David McIvor were in our thoughts at this sad time.

Councillor Jamieson paid tribute to David McIvor.

The Council stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect for David McIvor.

Mayoral Charity Ball – 27 April 2019

The Mayor reported that the Mayoral Charity Ball would be held on Saturday 27 April 2019 at the Floral Hall, Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and the proceeds from the event would be distributed to Mayoral Charities.

Tickets and further details of the event could be obtained from the Mayor’s Office in Bootle Town Hall before Friday 12 April 2019.

Mayor Elect 2019/20

The Mayor reported that Councillor June Burns had been nominated for the office of the Mayor of Sefton for 2019/20 and the appointment would take place at the Annual Council Meeting to be held on 14 May 2019 at Bootle Town Hall.

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 47 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules in Chapter 4 of the Council Constitution.

The Mayor reported that no matters 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 49 to 51 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:

1.       Question submitted by Councillor Sir Ron Watson to the Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing (Councillor Hardy);

2.       Question submitted by Councillor Sir Ron Watson to the Cabinet Member – Planning and Building Control (Councillor Veidman);

3.       Question submitted by Councillor Sir Ron Watson to the Leader of the Council (Councillor Maher);

4.       Question submitted by Councillor Shaw to the Leader of the Council (Councillor Maher);

together with the responses given. Supplementary questions to all of the questions were responded to by the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing, and Planning and Building Control and by the Leader of the Council .

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 95 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources on proposals to establish the Prudential Indicators required under the Prudential Code of 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 (CIPFA) Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

The report indicated that the Council was required to approve Prudential Indicators for the following items:

(i)             Capital Expenditure (Section 2);

(ii)            Financing Costs/Net Revenue Stream (Section 3);

(iii)          Capital Financing Requirement (Section 4);

(iv)          External Debt (Section 5-7); and

(v)           Treasury Management Indicators (Section 8).

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

RESOLVED:

That:

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

(2)      it be noted that relevant Prudential Indicators would be revised as required and that any changes would be brought to the Cabinet and then to the Council for approval;

(3)      it be noted that the estimates of capital expenditure may change as grant allocations are received; and

(4)      the Head of Corporate Resources be granted delegated authority in conjunction with the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 96 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources which set out the following proposed policy and strategy documents, namely, the Treasury Management Policy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement.

The report indicated that the Council had adopted the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) revised 2017 Code of Practice on Treasury Management in the Public Services which recommended the production of annual Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Documents; and that in addition, the Council had also adopted, and incorporated into both documents:

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2019/2020;

(2)      the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2019/2020; and

(3)      the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2018/2019 and 2019/20.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 97 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources on the Capital Strategy 2019/20. The report indicated that the Capital Strategy set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure and investment decisions were made and considered the impact of these decisions on the priorities within the Council’s Core Purpose and Framework for Change Programme and the promises made in the 2030 Vision for Sefton; and that at the heart of the Capital Strategy was the Council’s core objective to continue to deliver financial sustainability.  As such a flexible capital investment programme was more important than ever as a method to stimulate and enable economic growth and strategic investment, ensuring best use of existing assets and of generating future income streams to pay for and deliver day to day services.

The Capital Strategy was a new statutory document which the Council was required to have in place and be reviewed on an annual basis.

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

RESOLVED

That the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 98 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources that provided details of the Asset Management Strategy and the Asset Disposal Policy which set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision; that aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property therefore it was vital that this resource was managed and used effectively and efficiently to ensure that the Council derived maximum benefit from its assets in support of its strategic aims and priorities; and that the Asset Management Strategy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Councils asset base whilst the Asset Disposal Policy would provide a framework for the disposal of the Council’s assets as they were declared surplus and when deemed appropriate.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy as set out in the report be approved.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 99 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources 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 and Capital Budget Plan 2019/20 and Council Tax 2019/20 (Minute No. 88 refers).

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

RESOLVED:

That the matters raised in the report be noted and taken into account during the determination of the Budget for 2019/20.

Joint report of the Chief Executive and the Head of Corporate Resources

Further to Minute No. 100 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 February 2019, the Council considered the joint report of the Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Resources which provided:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2019/20 Budget Plan and preparation for the new three-year budget period 2020/21 to 2022/23;

·       Progress that had been made during the last year within the Council’s Framework for Change programme;

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2019/20;

·       The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium Term Financial Plan;

·       The proposed Budget for 2019/20; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2019/20.

The report set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it is operating and indicated that the Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The Council’s Framework for Change Programme is a comprehensive and ambitious programme that seeks to support the delivery of the Council’s core purpose. As would be expected with a programme of this size and complexity that spans a number of financial years, the detailed proposals have been and will continue to be the subject of change as they are developed and ultimately implemented.  Within this context, a detailed assessment of the previously approved plans for 2019/20 has been undertaken to confirm their deliverability.  In addition, a limited number of additional savings proposals have been identified to balance the budget and ensure long-term financial sustainability.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

A.    Service Options 2019/20

B.    Individual School Budgets 2019/20

C.   Draft Council Budget Summary 2019/20

D.   Fees and Charges 2019/20

E.    Capital Programme 2019/20 – 2020/21

The Council also considered a copy of an update note prepared by the Head of Corporate Resources which provided details of the Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts and the draft Council Tax resolution which had been circulated to Members of the Council and published in a supplementary agenda prior to the start of the meeting.

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

That:

Budget 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Plan from 2020/21 to 2022/23

(1)      the update of the Medium Term Financial Plan for the period 2019/20 to 2022/23 be noted;

(2)      approval be given to the Revenue Budget for 2019/20 and officers be authorised to undertake the necessary actions to implement the recommendations;

(3)      delegated authority for the use and allocation of the Budget Pressure Fund and any other reserves and balances currently within the 2019/20 budget be granted to the Chief Executive and the Head of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, in order to manage the overall financial outturn;

(4)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets be noted;

(5)      the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report (Section 10) be approved;

(6)      the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

No changes to the membership of Committees were made.