Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brennan, Hands, John Kelly, Pitt, Pullin, Spencer, Thomas, Tweed and Webster.

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.

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

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 25 April 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Election of New Councillors

The Mayor congratulated all the Councillors who were re-elected to office following the Local Government Elections held on 2 May 2019, and extended a warm welcome to the following 8 new Councillors elected to office:

Maria Bennett, Leo Evans, Sean Halsall, Christine Howard, David Irving, Greg Myers, Yaso Sathiy, and Carran Waterfield.

Councillors Not Re-Elected

The Mayor reported that she wished to place on record, the gratitude of the Council to the 3 former Councillors who were not re-elected to office, namely Harry Bliss and Simon Jamieson who both served for 4 years and Catie Page who served for 8 years, and on behalf of the Council, thanked them for their dedicated service to the people of Sefton.

Annual Council and Installation Dinner

The Mayor thanked all the Councillors who attended her Installation Ceremony and Dinner on 14 May 2019 and expressed the hope that they all enjoyed themselves.

Retirement of Margaret Carney, Chief Executive

The Mayor reported that this would be the last Council meeting that Margaret Carney, the Chief Executive would be attending before she retired on 31 May 2019 after 10 years’ service with Sefton Council and a career in Local Government spanning over 40 years.

The Mayor indicated that:

Margaret had started her career in 1979 working in various financial roles at Knowsley Council and Warrington Council, after passing the examinations to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy before she moved up to a Strategic Director post at Warrington Council in 2002. In March 2004, she moved to Rochdale Council to become an Executive Director and then in January 2009, she commenced her post as Chief Executive of Sefton Council.

Margaret’s achievements as Sefton’s Chief Executive are many and far too great to list. Her community focused leadership and approach to partnership working had further galvanised the commitment and enthusiasm of partners locally. This, for example, had brought about New Realities and a genuine sense of shared ownership of Sefton Vision 2030. Margaret was well respected by colleagues in the Liverpool City Region, especially for the key role she has played as lead officer for health, wellbeing and social care.

Margaret’s expertise in financial management had seen the Council successfully balance the books over the last ten years. During this difficult era, she had never once lost sight of the community, their needs and has been truly ambitious for Sefton people and the Council throughout this time. Many of these achievements have recently been recognised through the LGA Peer Review.

Through her leadership we had adopted a One Council, One Sefton approach and Margaret should quite rightly be proud of the hardworking, committed and passionate workforce, Councillors and partners over probably the most challenging period ever for Local Government and public services and she never misses an opportunity to share our many achievements. All of this was driven by her passion to truly put local people at the heart of everything we do.

Margaret will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To receive and note the report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer on the results of the Council Elections held on 2 May 2019.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer on the results of the Council Elections held on 2 May 2019.

It was moved by Councillor Grace, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

In accordance with the provisions in Paragraph 4 of Chapter 5 in the Council Constitution, the Council is requested to appoint a Leader of the Council for a period of four years until the Adjourned Annual Council Meeting in May 2023, or until such time as the term of office expires.

It was moved by Councillor Grace, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Maher be appointed as the Leader of the Council for a four-year term of office until the Adjourned Annual Council Meeting in May 2023 or until such time as his term of office expires.

Report of the Leader of the Council to be circulated prior to the meeting.

The report will provide details of the names of the Members of the Council, the Leader of the Council is appointing to the Cabinet, their portfolios and which of them is to be the Deputy Leader for a four-year term of office, or until such time as the term of office expires.

The Council considered the report of the Leader of the Council on the membership of the Cabinet.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      it be noted that Councillor Fairclough has been appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Council for a four-year term of office until the Adjourned Annual Council meeting in May 2023 or until such as his term of office expires; and

(2)      it be noted that the Cabinet comprising of the Members indicated below have been appointed for a four-year term of office until the Adjourned Annual Council meeting in May 2023 or until such time as their term of office expires, they are removed by the Leader or for any reasons set out in Paragraph 4 (a) to (c) of Chapter 5 in the Constitution.

Cabinet (9)

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources to be circulated prior to the meeting.

The Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources which provided details of the allocation of Committee Places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules and the proposed Membership of the Committees and Working Groups for 2019/20. The report also sought approval to the terms of reference for Committees and Sub-Committees set out in chapters 6 and 7 of the Council’s Constitution.

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

RESOLVED:

1)       the allocation of Committee Places be noted;

(2)      the Members, Chairs and Vice Chairs for the Committees and Sub-Committees set out below be appointed for a maximum period of twelve months until the Adjourned Annual Council Meeting to be held in May 2020, subject to any changes, political groups may make to the memberships of Committees at meetings of the Council; and

(3)      the Terms of Reference of Committee’s and Sub-Committees, as set out in Chapters 6 and 7 of the Councils Constitution be approved.

(A)      OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (ADULT SOCIAL CARE) (10)

(Plus 2 Associate Members)

(Lab 7 /Lib Dem 1 /Con 1 /Ind 1)

Associate Members:

(Non-voting Co-opted Members)         Mr. Brian Clark and Mr. Roger Hutchings (Nominated by Healthwatch, Sefton)

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

(Plus 4 Education Added Members and 3 Associate Members)

(Lab 6 /Lib Dem 2 /Con 1 /Ind 1)

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (REGENERATION AND SKILLS) (10)

(Lab 7 /Lib Dem 2 /Con 1 /Ind 0)

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (REGULATORY, COMPLIANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES) (10)

(Lab 6 /Lib Dem 2 /Con 1 /Ind 1)

Details of the proposed representation on the Merseyside Joint Authority bodies for 2019/20 will be circulated prior to the meeting.

The Council considered a schedule of the proposed representation on the Merseyside Joint Authority Bodies for 2019/20.

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

RESOLVED:

That the following Members be appointed to serve on the following Joint Authority Bodies in 2019/20:

To note that the Council meetings scheduled to be held during the Municipal Year 2019/20 are as follows:

·       18 July 2019

·       19 September 2019

·       21 November 2019

·       23 January 2020

·       27 February 2020 (Budget Meeting)

·       23 April 2020

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

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that the Council meetings scheduled to be held during the Municipal Year 2019/20 are as follows:

·       18 July 2019

·       19 September 2019

·       21 November 2019

·       23 January 2020

·       27 February 2020 (Budget Meeting)

·       23 April 2020

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources.

The Council considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources on a proposal that the statutory duties in relation to Electoral Administration and of the Returning Officer in relation to Parliamentary, Local, Parish, European Elections and Referenda be attached to the post of the Chief Executive, Dwayne Johnson with effect from 1 June 2019.

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the Electoral Registration Officer Functions for the registration of Parliamentary and Local Government Electors and Returning Officer Functions for Parliamentary, Local, Parish, European Elections and Referenda under all relevant legislation, being attached to the post of Chief Executive and that Dwayne Johnson be appointed to act as the Proper Officer for all related functions and relevant legislation with effect from 1 June 2019.