Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brodie-Browne, Cluskey, Hardy, John Joseph Kelly, Killen, Moncur, Murphy, Catie Page, Chris Page, Anne Thompson, Waterfield and Wilson.

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.

In accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations of personal interest were made and the Members concerned remained in the room during the consideration of the item:

Minutes of the Annual meeting held on 16 May 2023 and the Adjourned Annual meeting held on 18 May 2023

RESOLVED:

That subject to the following amendments, the Minutes of the Council Meetings held on 16 and 18 May 2023 be approved as a correct record:

(1)      the addition of Councillor Spring’s name to the list of those present at the Council Meeting held on 16 May 2023; and

(2)      the deletion of Councillor Hart’s name from the Apologies for Absence for the Council Meeting held on 18 May 2023 (Minute No. 7).

Retirement of Chief Executive and Welcome to new Chief Executive

The Mayor paid tribute and thanked the outgoing Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson. Dwayne was appointed as Chief Executive in June 2019 and previously he had been Director of Social Care and Health in the Council. The Mayor thanked Dwayne for his dedication and commitment to Sefton, in particular successfully guiding Sefton through the very difficult Covid-19 Pandemic. The Mayor welcomed his successor, Mr Phil Porter, to Sefton Council. Phil joined Sefton from Brent Council and the Mayor wished him well in his new role.

Councillors Maher, Pugh and Prendergast also paid tribute to the outgoing Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson.

Charity Events

The Mayor was now in a position to release details for her Charity Events programme for her term of office, and asked Members to put dates in diaries as tickets would be released soon. Her first Charity Night would be a Divas Night which would be on Saturday 14 October 2023 at St William of York Social Club, £10.00 a ticket which included entertainment by Miss Sugar. The second event was a Charity 70’s night and this would be on Saturday 18 November 2023 at Waterloo Rugby Club, tickets would be £20.00 which included entertainment and food. Lastly, her Gala Charity Ball would be on Saturday 6 April 2024 and would be held at Formby Hall, tickets would be £50.00 which included a three-course meal, welcome drink and entertainment.

Battle of Atlantic Celebration

Over the last May Bank Holiday weekend, the Mayor indicated that she had a fantastic time at the Battle of the Atlantic Celebrations. On Friday 26 May 2023 she attended the 80^th Anniversary Church Service, which was attended by the Princess Royal and this was followed by a Commemorative Dinner at the Crowne Plaza in the evening, which began with a reception on board HMS Defender. The weekend was extremely well attended as all kinds of displays were put on for the public to visit. The event culminated in a special Drumhead service on Sunday, 28 May 2023 with a parade through the city centre, ending at the Pier Head.

Naval Officer Memorial

The Mayor displayed a statuette she had been presented with, that was a replica of the one sited at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, that was dedicated to remembering naval officer casualties.

Southport Armed Forces Day

On Sunday, 25 June 2023 the Mayor attended Southport Armed Forces Day which was another fantastic event that was very well attended, that included both the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Merseyside. The Mayor’s thanks went to Sefton’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Carragher, for her involvement in the event, and to all the Council officers involved in helping to ensure the event was a success.

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.

(Details of any further petitions notified or questions submitted by members of the public will be circulated at the meeting).

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

together with responses given.

The members of the public concerned were not in attendance at the Council meeting.

RESOLVED:That

(1)      the questions and responses, as set out in the schedule, be noted; and

(2)      a copy of the responses from the relevant Cabinet Members be forwarded to the members of the public concerned.

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:

together with responses given. Supplementary questions to questions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 and11 were responded to by the Deputy Leader of the Council; the Cabinet Members - Regeneration and Skills and Locality Services; and the Leader of the Council.

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education indicating that each year, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) required local Youth Justice Services to produce an Annual Plan to satisfy the grant allocation and to ensure that the YJB was kept abreast of local business and performance. This year, the YJB had recommended that each Youth Justice Service adhered to a template for consistency and that the plan was signed off by the Chair of the local Youth Justice Partnership (formerly the YOT Management Board).

Sefton’s Youth Justice Annual Plan had been produced in accordance with the YJB requirements and had been shared with the Cabinet Member - Children’s Social Care, Assistant Director of People (Communities), Assistant Director of Children’s Services (Cared for Children and Care Experienced), Executive Director - People and the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education. The Chair of the Youth Justice Service Partnership, Dawn McNally, Supt. Local Policing, Merseyside Police had signed the Plan.

The Youth Justice Partnership Annual Plan was attached to the report.

It was moved by Councillor Doyle, seconded by Councillor Lappin and

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Youth Justice Service – Annual Plan 2023/24 be approved; and

(2)      in the event of subsequent comments by the Youth Justice Board, delegated approval be granted to the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Children’s Social Care, to finalise the Youth Justice Service Annual Plan.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

Further to Minute No. 11 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 May 2023, the Council considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection) which indicated that the Department for Transport had provided £2m to the Council to complete investigatory works on the road bridge over the railway on the A5058, Millers Bridge. This was to ensure that the bridge was capable of carrying loads including abnormal loads to the Port of Liverpool. The report sought approval to the addition of the funding into the Council’s Transport Capital Programme.

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the inclusion of a supplementary capital estimate for £2m, for the Millers Bridge Scheme, into the Council’s Transport Capital Programme.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 29 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 22 June 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicating that the Council had declared a climate emergency in July 2019. Following that, declaration work had progressed within the Council and a climate emergency strategy and associated action plan had been created.

Annual reporting on progress made was required as part of the governance approach to the programme. Members were asked to note the progress made on achieving net zero carbon by 2030 and the programme of works supporting the Council’s transition to low carbon working.

A revised Appendix to the report had been circulated in a supplementary agenda.

It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Roscoe and

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the progress made on the targets in the Sefton climate emergency strategy and action plan be noted; and

(2)            it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions. Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) had been consulted under Rule 27 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because of the need to publish the report at the same time each year.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 30 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 22 June 2023, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that set out supplementary capital and revenue estimates for approval in the Council’s Capital Programme and revenue budget and an update on revised allocations of grant from central government and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The Leader of the Council indicated that he would provide a written response to the question on the A59 Northway Pedestrian / Cycle Improvements and developer’s contributions.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      a supplementary capital estimate of £3.000m for Disabled Facilities Grants core programme in 2023/24 funded by the Better Care Fund, be approved;

(2)      a supplementary capital estimate of £1.350m for the scheme at St Teresa’s funded by High Needs Capital Grant, be approved;

(3)      a supplementary capital estimate of £1.583m for inclusion in the capital programme for the sporting betterment of local schools funded by capital receipts, be approved;

(4)      a supplementary capital estimate of £0.240m for the enabling works at Crown Buildings funded by capital receipts, be approved;

(5)      a supplementary capital estimate of £2.941m for inclusion in the capital programme for the A59 Key Route Network grant from the City Region Combined Authority, be approved;

(6)      a supplementary capital estimate of £1.500m for inclusion in the capital programme for the Crosby Town Centre scheme funded by grant from the City Region Combined Authority, be approved;

(7)      a supplementary capital estimate of £3.42m for inclusion in the capital programme for the A59 Northway Pedestrian/ Cycle Improvements scheme funded by grant from the City Region Combined Authority, developer’s contributions, and Council resources, be approved; and

(8)      a supplementary capital estimate of £3.300m for inclusion in the capital programme for the Carriageway Resurfacing Programme funded by grant from the City Region Combined Authority, be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Council considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2022/23 and Councillors Thomas, Dowd, Bradshaw and Spencer highlighted the key areas of work undertaken by the respective Committees and thanked Members and Officers for their support and assistance during 2022/23.

It was moved by Councillor Dowd, seconded by Councillor Spencer and

RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23 be noted.

The Council considered the report of the Leader of the Council in relation to a matter that was dealt with in accordance with Rules 29 (special urgency) and 46 (waiving call-In) of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Council Constitution, whereby “call in” was waived.

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

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

The Mayor reported that Gemma Armer had been appointed as a Parent Governor Representative on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding).

No changes to the memberships of Committees were made.

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It was moved by Councillor Prendergast, seconded by Councillor Riley:

Southport Pier

Southport is fortunate to be blessed with many unique and historic buildings and structures. This benefits local businesses, residents and all those people who visit the Town.

This heritage and history enables Southport to market itself as a unique tourist destination and one of Southport’s most iconic structures is the Pier.

At over 160 years old and the second longest in the UK it is synonymous with Southport and its Victorian heritage. People travel from far and wide to visit the Pier and enjoy it.

It is therefore, deeply regrettable that the Pier has had to close. Whilst we all recognise that on occasion works need to be carried out, these should (where possible) be done in a manner that keeps the Pier open and accessible to all.

Therefore, this council resolves:

1.      To commit to re-open the Pier as soon as possible.

2.      To make every effort to carry out any required repair works in a manner that allows the Pier to remain open whilst works are being undertaken.

3.      On the basis of the above provide a firm date when works will commence, provide details of costs and a schedule of works to be undertaken in a report to the Audit & Governance meeting scheduled for 6th September 2023.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Byrom that the Motion be revised as follows:

Southport Pier

Southport is fortunate to be blessed with many unique and historic buildings and structures. This benefits local businesses, residents and all those people who visit the Town.

This heritage and history enables Southport to market itself as a unique tourist destination and one of Southport’s most iconic structures is the Pier.

At over 160 years old and the second longest in the UK it is synonymous with Southport and its Victorian heritage. People travel from far and wide to visit the Pier and enjoy it.

It is, therefore, deeply regrettable that the Pier has had to close and remains closed.  However, as safety is priority, it is recognised that the Council, based on independent experts, has made and continues to make the right decision that the Pier remains closed. Furthermore, the swift action of the Council in raising the profile of the Pier to secure its future is of paramount importance to the town and is welcomed. 

Therefore, this council resolves: 

1.       To commit to re-opening the Pier with the safety of our residents, visitors and businesses being a priority when making those decisions.

2.       To continue to make representations to Government departments, grant funders and all interested parties to work toward securing the additional funding that is needed.

Following a debate on the Amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Amendment was carried by 40 votes to 11.

A further amendment was moved by Councillor Pugh, seconded by Councillor Shaw that:

Further to the above the Council commits  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

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It was moved by Councillor Roscoe, seconded by Councillor Dowd and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Extension of Pupil Premium Plus for +16 to all Local Authorities

This Council notes:

Pupil premium plus is specifically for pupils who are care experienced or leaving local authority care up to year 11 (usually age 16). It is a funding initiative to target disadvantaged pupils, level up the playing field and enable them to reach their full potential at school. It can be used by schools and virtual schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

Evidence shows that pupil premium spending is most effective when used across 3 areas:

1.             high-quality teaching, such as staff professional development

2.             targeted academic support, such as tutoring

3.       wider strategies to address non-academic barriers to success in schools, such as attendance, behaviour, and social and emotional support

It is not available to post year 11 students.

That Government piloted the expansion of Pupil Premium Plus for +16 to 19 for 30 local authorities in 2021/22 and then confirmed that it would continue this scheme from September 2022 until July 2023.

An additional 28 local authorities were then added to the scheme making 58 in total.

The original post-16 pupil premium plus pilot ran from October 2021 until the end of March 2022 with an allocation of £900 per pupil which is less than half the £2,345 per pupil for those on the scheme aged up to 16.

Research carried out by the University of Oxford’s Rees Centre was published by the DfE in December 2022⁽¹⁾ and found that this pilot scheme strengthened relationships between virtual school heads, colleges and social workers, and resulted in tailored interventions such as work to boost attendance of youngsters and provide enrichment activities to motivate them.

The report recommended the DfE commission a longer-term evaluation of the potential impact of adopting extending the pilot to all local authorities, extending funding beyond the age of 18 for those still in or newly entering education and extending provision beyond further education colleges to include years 12 and 13 in schools and those on apprenticeships or employment programmes.

The House of Commons Education Committee published a report in June 2022⁽²⁾ “Educational poverty: how children in residential care have been let down and what to do about it” which noted:

“That there is a cliff-edge in Pupil Premium Plus funding when a looked-after pupil turns 16 and that the needs of looked-after pupils do not suddenly cease to exist when they turn 16.”

It recommended that the Department of Education extend Pupil Premium Plus funding beyond age 16 to ensure looked-after pupils are receiving the support they deserve to succeed throughout their education and that post-16 Pupil Premium Plus funding must be calculated using the same funding formula as for the pre-16 cohort.

This Council proposes

Writing to the Secretary of State for Education to request that he/she extend the Pupil Premium Plus post-16 pilot to all local authorities and furthermore calculate post-16 pupil  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

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It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Halsall:

Local Government Pay: A Fully Funded, Proper Pay Rise for Council and School Workers

This council notes:

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. New research by UNISON has shown that councils across England, Wales and Scotland are facing a collective funding shortfall of £3bn by the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £5bn by 2024/25.

Councils led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, provide quality housing, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people.

Since 2010, the local government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions’ 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

This council believes:

Our workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns and cities running.

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

Local government workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19 pandemic. The final offer of £1,925 is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

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With the agreement of the Council this Notice of Motion was withdrawn.

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With the agreement of the Council this Notice of Motion was withdrawn.

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It was moved by Councillor Lloyd-Johnson, seconded by Councillor Evans and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Andy’s Man Club

Andy's Man Club (AMC) was created in 2016 with the aim to create a talking group, a place for men to come together in a safe environment to talk about issues and problems they have faced or are currently facing. Formed in Halifax, the Club follows the motto, 'it's ok to talk.'

In their own words, AMC aim to, "eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and create a judgment-free, confidential space where men can be open about the storms in their lives. [They] aim to achieve this through weekly, free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups for men aged over 18."

On July 3rd, Andy's Man Club held the first meeting of their newly formed Southport branch.

This Council recognises;

The excellent work of Andy's Man Club to date and the particular role they play in improving mental health in our communities.

That according to the Department for Health, suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50 and around three-quarters of deaths from suicides each year are men.

This Council resolves to;

Welcome Andy's Man Club to Southport and ask the Council's Chief Executive to write to the organisation expressing these sentiments.

Explore ways that the Council can work with Andy's Man Club to support their work.