Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D’Albuquerque, Halsall, Christine Maher, McGinnity, Morris 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.

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

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 18 January 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Mayor 2024/25

The Mayor advised that she had been nominated for the office of the Mayor of Sefton for a further year for 2024/25, and the appointment would take place at the Annual Council meeting to be held on 16 May 2024 at Bootle Town Hall. Given the circumstances, the Mayor had made a decision not to have an installation dinner, and this meant that there would be no requirement to adjourn the Annual Meeting.

Holocaust Memorial Service

The Mayor thanked her fellow councillors who attended the Holocaust Memorial Service on Sunday 28 January at Christ Church, Southport. As always, it was a humbling service and the large councillor turnout was very much appreciated.

Gala Charity Ball

Tickets were still available for the Mayor’s Gala Charity Ball on Saturday 6April 2024. The response had been fantastic and the Mayor thanked her fellow councillors who had purchased tickets already.

New Year Celebrations

The Mayor had attended some wonderful Chinese New Year Celebrations over the last few weeks, starting on 31 January 2024 with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool’s Chinese New Year Dinner. Following this, there was Chinatown’s New Year Celebrations on 11 February 2024 in Liverpool and the celebrations concluded on Monday 12 February 2024 with Southport Soroptimists New Year Celebrations in Southport.

North West Air Ambulance

On Tuesday 20 February 2024 the Mayor was invited to visit the North West Air Ambulance facility in Manchester. This was a great event and a real insight into what they do. The Mayor considered that it was sometimes forgotten that this was a charity organisation and needed help and support to continue running.

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

The Mayor would be visiting the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine where, amongst other things, venom was extracted from snakes for research.

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 question submitted by:

together with the response given.

The member of the public who had submitted the question was in attendance at the Council meeting and a supplementary question was responded to by the Cabinet Member - Communities and Housing.

RESOLVED:

That the question and response, as set out in the schedule, be noted.

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

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 128 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising that the Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy set out the vision and aspirations for the effective management of the Council’s corporate asset portfolio and outlining the role it played in supporting and shaping the Council’s agenda for the 2030 vision. Aside from its staff, the Council's next biggest resource was its land and property and 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. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy would provide a framework for the planning, prioritisation, management and funding of the Council’s asset base. The Asset Management Strategy and Asset Disposal Policy was a statutory document that the Council was required to have in place and would be reviewed on an annual basis.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1 - Asset Management Strategy

·       Appendix 2 - Asset Disposal Policy

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to:

(1)      the updated Asset Management Strategy; and

(2)      the updated Asset Disposal Policy.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 129 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicating that the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities was introduced following the Local Government Act 2003. It detailed a number of measures / limits / parameters (Prudential Indicators) that were required to be set each financial year. The approval of these limits would provide a benchmark to measure actual performance against, to help ensure that the Council complied with relevant legislation, was acting prudently and that its capital expenditure proposals were affordable.

The following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Summary of Prudential Indicators.

It was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Fairclough 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 will be revised as required and that any changes will be submitted 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)      authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services to manage the Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt, as detailed in section 6 of the report.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 130 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that set out proposed policy and strategy documents for the Treasury Management Policy; the Treasury Management Strategy; and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Treasury Management Policy 2024/25

·       Appendix B – Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25

·       Appendix C – Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2024/25

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

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the:

(1)      the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2024/25;

(2)      the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2024/25; and

(3)      the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2024/25.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 131 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicating that the Capital Strategy set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure, borrowing and investment decisions were made and considered the impact of these decisions on the priorities within the Council’s Core Purpose and the promises made in the 2030 Vision for Sefton. 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 following appendix was attached to the report:

·       Appendix A – Capital Strategy 2024/25

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

RESOLVED:

That the Capital Strategy as set out at Appendix A to the report be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 132 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicating that, to comply with statute, the Chief Financial Officer was required to report to Council prior to the approval of the budget and the setting of the Council Tax, to give assurance that the budget was robust and that there were adequate reserves and balances. The report was based on the proposals presented. The Local Government Act 2003, (section 25 as amended) required the Chief Financial Officer to report formally on the following issues:

a)     An opinion as to the robustness of the estimates made and the tax setting calculations; and

b)     The adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      it be noted that the Local Government Act 2003, (Section 25 as amended) requires the Chief Financial Officer to report formally the issues of an opinion as to the robustness of the estimates made and the tax setting calculations; and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves; and

(2)      the Council be recommended to have regard to the matters raised in the report during the final stages of determining the budget for 2024/25.

Report of the Chief Executive and Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 133 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that set out:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2024/25 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2025/26 to 2026/27.

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2024/25.

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

·       The proposed Budget for 2024/25; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2026/27.

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

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Individual School Budgets 2024/25

·       Budget Saving Proposals

·       Draft Council Budget Summary 2024/25

·       Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2026/27

The Council also considered supplementary notes on the final charges set by levying bodies and the final demands set by all precepting authorities (including parishes) and a copy of the draft Council Tax resolution for 2024/25, which had been published prior to the Council meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Fairclough:

That:

Budget 2024/25 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2025/26 to 2026/27

(1)      the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2024/25 to 2026/27 be noted;

(2)      the Revenue Budget for 2024/25 be approved, and officers be authorised to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report;

(3)      the release of the Environmental Warranty Earmarked Reserve and the transfer of the amount released to General Balances, as set out at Section 9 of the report, be approved;

(4)      the commencement of all appropriate activity required to implement the budget savings proposals as detailed in the report, including for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners and contractual changes as the programme develops, be approved;

(5)      it be noted that officers will comply with agreed HR policies and procedures including relevant consultation with Trade Unions and reports to the Cabinet Member (Regulatory, Compliance & Corporate Services) as required.

(6)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets, as set out at Section 12 of the report, be noted;

(7)      the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report, as set out at Section 13, be approved;

(8)      subject to the recommendations above, the overall Council Tax resolution for 2024/25 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts, be approved;

Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27

(9)      the full list of projects in Appendix D to the report be approved for inclusion within the Capital Programme;

(10)    a supplementary capital estimate for £7.387m for the Corporate Essential Maintenance Programme Phase 2 funded by capital receipts, as set out at Section 17 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

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

The Mayor confirmed that Councillor Howard had been appointed as the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills by the Leader.

The Mayor reported that the Labour Group wished to make changes to the membership of the following Committees:

Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Byrom to be a substitute member for Councillor John Joseph Kelly in place of Councillor Howard.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding)

Councillor Harvey to be a member of the Committee in place of Councillor Howard.

Councillor Grace to be a substitute member for Councillor Hardman in place of Councillor Harvey.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Skills)

Councillor Ian Maher to be a member in place of Councillor Howard.

Councillor Corcoran to be the Vice Chair in place of Councillor Howard.

Joint Consultative Committee for Teaching Staffs

Councillor Webster to be a member in place of Councillor Howard.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Robinson to be a representative in place of Councillor Howard.

Councillor Hart to be the Scrutiny Link in place of Councillor Howard.

RESOLVED:

That the changes as detailed above be approved.