Agenda and minutes

The Mayor welcomed members, officers and members of the public to the meeting of the Council.

The Mayor reported that in consultation with Public Health, the Council had returned to face to face meetings and was doing so with caution.  The Mayor also reported that a risk assessment had been undertaken taken prior to the meeting and as such the following mitigations had been taken and advised:

·       that all Members and Officers were requested to take a lateral flow test prior to attendance and to only attend if negative;

·       that all doors between rooms were to remain open during the meeting to ensure a flow of ventilation from the main public entrance doors of the Town Hall;

·       that officers, members and members of the public were requested to use the hand sanitizers that were available and to wear a face covering when moving around the Council Chamber and the Town Hall,

·       to refrain from sharing refreshments;

·       to not gather in communal areas; and

·       to respect one another’s personal space. 

The Mayor reminded those in attendance of the request to take a lateral flow test prior to attendance at any of the Councils meetings and to only attend if their test was negative.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Burns, Cluskey, Dutton, Hansen, Jones, Thomas, Anne Thompson and Webster.

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 15 July 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 July 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Mayor of Sefton’s Charity Oktoberfest Night

The Mayor reported on her Charity Event “Oktoberfest” that will take place on 15^th October 2021 at the St William of York Social Club, Thornton and that tickets could be purchased via the Mayor’s office.

Mayor’s Lottery

The Mayor reminded members of the opportunity to sign up for the Mayors Lottery and reported that it was £2 per month with half the proceeds of the lottery going toward the Charity Fund.

Members’ Photographs

The Mayor reported that Communications Team were in the process of inviting Members of the Council to update their website portrait photographs and that invitations would be sent over the next week.

Death of Mrs Beryl Lamont

The Mayor reported with sadness on the passing of former Councillor and Mayor of Sefton, Mrs Beryl Lamont, who passed away on 11^th August 2021.  The Mayor reflected on Mrs Beryl Lamont’s work as a former Conservative Councillor representing Dukes Ward (Southport Town Centre) who had been in office for 8 years. During her time on the Council she had served on the Education and Highways Committees and was the Mayor of Sefton for the Municipal Year 1990/91.

    Councillor Sir Ron Watson paid tribute to Mrs Beryl Lamont.

    The Council observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respect in reflecting on the sad passing of Mrs Beryl Lamont

9/11

The Mayor reported that it had been 20 years since the horrific events of 9/11 and stated that those tragic events still haunted the world today. The lives lost, the families broken, and the heartbreak of a nation nay the world that essentially led to the invasion of Afghanistan.  Now 20 years on The Mayor reflected on the freedoms we had in our own lives, the music we listened to, the books we read, our education which many took for granted, and the peace we lived in and sent our thoughts to the beautiful people of Afghanistan, and hoped for a peaceful safe life for them, their children and their families.

 The Council observed a one-minute silence of reflection. 

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

The Mayor reported that no matters had been raised by 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:

together with the responses given. Supplementary questions to questions 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 were responded to by the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care, Locality Services and Regeneration and Skills.

Report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection.

The Council considered the report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection that sought Council’s approval of the revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy as detailed in annex 2 to the report.

It was moved by Councillor John Kelly, seconded by Councillor Waterfield and

RESOLVED:

That the revised Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy as detailed in annex 2 to the report be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in relation to the capital funding for a short-term assessment unit.

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

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that formally presented the Annual Report of the Audit and Governance Committee.  It was reported that page 72 of the Agenda papers featured a typographical error in that under the section “Internal Audit” the reference to 16 December 2021 should read 16 December 2020.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Report of the Audit and Governance Committee be approved.

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

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services, which provided a review of the Treasury Management activities undertaken during 2020/21 financial year and also provided an update to 31^st July 2021.

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

RESOLVED:  That

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

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services in relation to approval of additional supplementary estimates being included in the Council’s Capital Programme.

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

RESOLVED: That:

(1)           a revised Highway Maintenance block allocation of £3.100m, be approved;

(2)           a supplementary capital estimate of £1.875m for the development of Southport Town Deal projects, be approved; and

(3)           a supplementary capital estimate of £2.500m for the pre-development phase of the Marine Lake Events Centre, subject to a bid to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to fund works being successful, be approved. 

The Mayor reported that no changes to the memberships of Committees had been reported by political groups.

The Council considered the report of the Leader of the Council in relation to a matter that was dealt with in accordance with Rule 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 Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Sefton Constitution Amendment

It was moved by Councillor Watson, seconded by Councillor Brough that:

The current Sefton Constitution under Rule 82 enables Elected Members who are not Members of the Cabinet to submit an item to be placed on the Cabinet Agenda.

There are strict rules concerning the time frame, the relevance of the subject matter and the Councillor themselves have to submit a full written report detailing the issue.

The Councillor concerned is able to attend the Cabinet and speak and answer questions from other Members but is not allowed to vote.

Under the current conditions of the Constitution the Leader of the Council is consulted when the request is received and he/she has the delegated authority to veto the item so that it does not appear on the Agenda notwithstanding the fact that all the criteria have been met.

Council now believes that this is an undemocratic and unnecessary power and resolves to remove this section of the Constitution.

This will mean that all Members of the Council can be assured that they will have the ability to raise issues when appropriate with the main decision-making body of Sefton Council.

Following a debate and on a show of hands the Mayor declared the vote was lost by 40 votes to 16 with 0 abstentions.

The Mayor reported that the Council had agreed various amendments to the Constitution at it’s meeting held on 20 May 2021 and that one of those  amendments related specifically to Tree Preservation Orders.  The Motion submitted was requesting an amendment to such recently agreed amendments and so in accordance with Paragraph 90, Chapter 4 of the Councils Constitution, “to Rescind a Previous Decision” the Motion had been withdrawn from the Council Agenda.

Sefton Council to encourage the use of new lower-carbon emitting boilers on New Build Properties 

It was moved by Councillor Irving, seconded by Councillor Bennett that:                                                                                

At the last full Sefton Council meeting held on the 15^TH July 2021 the leader of the council, Cllr Ian Maher moved agenda item 8, ‘Climate Emergency Annual Report’ for approval by the full council.    This was unanimously agreed, however, I asked Councillor Maher a question on this agenda Item, Reference 2.8 Domestic Housing Retrofit.    I was informed that this was an ERDF funded project targeting 245 homes which are the most inefficient homes of the poorest residents.  Housing Associations would be retrofitting the selected homes in Sefton with innovative and traditional carbon reduction interventions, such as external wall insulation, floor insulation and electric heating.   The outputs from this work will help to reduce carbon emissions across the borough.   Sadly, though, as Cllr Maher pointed out, this grant will not be available next year as the Government will not contribute to it.       However, the Government has stated that from 2025 it will be banning all new build homes from fitting Gas and Oil-fired boilers.

In light of what is being planned by the Government with regards Gas and Oil Boilers in new build properties and taking into account what the United Nations Scientific Advisors have said in issuing a ‘Red Warning’ about climate change, especially about carbon emissions getting to a critical point in the earth’s climate.  I ask that this council who I know supports climate change initiative’s and are very concerned on how it will affect its residents to support.

Council Resolution:

That this Council takes seriously the ‘Red Alert’ warning from the United Nations about Climate Change and more specifically Carbon Emissions.  It acknowledges the Government’s Plan to introduce a ban on all Gas and Oil Boilers being fitted in new build house from 2025.   It also acknowledges that under the current Planning System and Building Regulations, there are no powers available to the Council that could be applied to prevent housebuilders from designing their schemes to include gas/oil fired boilers.  In view of this, this Council sees no sense in approving new house builds with oil and gas boilers being fitted currently to houses that will only be available from late 2023, if approved now.  It will also save new home owners, especially first-time affordable home owners, the cost of changing over to new boilers in years ahead.  This Council agrees that it will encourage all new houses and those with outline planning permission in Sefton Council’s area to be fitted with a new lower-carbon emitting boiler.  

Am amendment was moved by Councillor Ian Maher, seconded by Councillor Veidman that:

the following words be included after the words “15^th July 2021” of the first sentence “,I,”.

the following words of the 2^nd and 3^rd sentence be deleted “Cllr Ian Maher” “, however,

the word “was” be inserted after the word ”I” of the third sentence;

the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Adoption of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Definition of Islamophobia

It was moved by Councillor Hardy, seconded by Councillor Brennan that: 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims was established on 18 July 2017 to build on the work of the APPG on Islamophobia, but with a wider remit to examine a broad range of issues that British Muslims care about, and are affected by.

APPGs are composed of Members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They are informal, cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament, are not accorded any powers by Parliament or any of its Committees, and are independent of Government.

Following two years of consultation, on 27th November 2018, the APPG on British Muslims published a report titled “Islamophobia Defined: the inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia.”

This report contained the following definition:

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

Contemporary examples of Islamophobia in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in encounters between religions and non-religions in the public sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

·       Calling for, aiding, instigating or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a racist/ fascist ideology, or an extremist view of religion.

·       Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims as such, or of Muslims as a collective group, such as, especially but not exclusively, conspiracies about Muslim entryism in politics, government or other societal institutions; the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism, and claims of a demographic ‘threat’ posed by Muslims or of a ‘Muslim takeover’.

·       Accusing Muslims as a group of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Muslim person or group of Muslim individuals, or even for acts committed by non-Muslims.

·       Accusing Muslims as a group, or Muslim majority states, of inventing or exaggerating Islamophobia, ethnic cleansing or genocide perpetrated against Muslims.

·       Accusing Muslim citizens of being more loyal to the ‘Ummah’ (transnational Muslim community) or to their countries of origin, or to the alleged priorities of Muslims worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

·       Denying Muslim populations the right to self-determination e.g., by claiming that the existence of an independent Palestine or Kashmir is a terrorist endeavour.

·       Applying double standards by requiring of Muslims behaviours that are not expected or demanded of any other groups in society, e.g. loyalty tests.

·       Using the symbols and images associated with classic Islamophobia (e.g. Muhammed being a paedophile, claims of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword or subjugating minority groups under their rule) to characterize Muslims as being ‘sex groomers’, inherently violent or incapable of living harmoniously in plural societies.

·       Holding Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of any Muslim majority state, whether secular or constitutionally Islamic.

We all have a responsibility to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the Muslim community and working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Plastic free Communities in Sefton

It was moved by Councillor Roscoe, seconded by Councillor Howard that:

The Council passed a motion at its meeting held on 19 July 2018, to reduce the use of single use plastics (SUP) in order to protect our Borough, particularly our coastal environment.

Since then the Council have made significant progress:  

·       Requiring new concessions stalls (e.g. ice cream vans) to be plastic free – no longer using plastic straws, stirrers, cups, cutlery, bags etc and only selling bottles which are 100% recyclable. 

·       Providing guidance to support businesses and community groups to reduce SUP.

·       Considering SUP in tender evaluation (social value) on high value purchases.

·       Promoting the reduction in SUP (including balloon/lantern releases) with our communities, including taking part in the recent ‘plastic free July’ campaign.

·       Removing single use plastic, such as tea and coffee sachets, from our office spaces.

The onset of the global pandemic and the associated reliance this has brought on SUP (e.g. face masks, test kits, gloves) is a cause for concern. However, the desire to recover from the pandemic in a way which helps and protect the environment is real. For example, a Generation Sea survey found that the pandemic had increased people’s appreciation for the environment by 79% and 63% of respondents planned to decrease their personal consumptions of plastic going forward. 

Therefore, the Council resolves to strengthen the original SUP motion passed in 2018 and build on the good work which has been done to date. This motion supports the Councils aspiration to gain ‘Plastic Free Community’ status – particularly in Waterloo and Crosby. This is a community network across the UK working together to tackle SUP from beaches and green spaces. The Plastic Free Community status is governed by Surfers Against Sewerage who require three pledges. 

To become part of the Plastic Free Community the Council would be required to provide a representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group. This is a small group of local volunteers and businesses who meet at least twice a year to discuss SUP reduction progress locally and report back to Surfers Against Sewerage.

The Council believes that the reduction of SUP would benefit health in Sefton, reduce waste and ultimately help protect our coast. Becoming part of the Plastic Free Community would further enhance this.

The Council be recommended to:

1.    continue to lead by example and remove single-use plastic items from its premises and operations;

2.    continue to encourage plastic-free initiatives in the area; promoting the Plastic Free Community campaign and supporting events;  

3.    appoint Councillor Diane Roscoe as the Council’s representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group; and

4.    request the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services to report progress of recommendations (1) – (3) above to future Meetings of the Cabinet for approval.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Evans, seconded by Councillor Pugh that:

Following the words in 'This Council be recommended to', add in the following after  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Children’s Social Services

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

That this council:

(1)      Notes and fully accepts the contents of the independent Ofsted report of 10^th May 2021

(2)      Acknowledges the failings in management, supervision and leadership identified by Ofsted that have left some of the most vulnerable children in the borough at an unacceptable level of risk

(3)      Agrees to expedite the publication and enactment of an effective improvement plan to set out how operational and management changes will be brought about.

(4)      Resolves to take all required steps to ensure that the Children’s Social Services Department of Sefton Council, within 12 months, reaches a standard acceptable to the independent inspectorate

An amendment was moved by Councillor Doyle, seconded by Councillor Spencer that:

At point (2) the words “management, supervision and leadership” be replaced with “Children’s Social Care”;

At point (3) the words “expedite the publication and enactment of an effective improvement plan to set out how operational and management changes will be brought about” be replaced with the words “publish regular updates in accordance with the Ofsted recommendations and improvement notice”.

At point (4) the words “within 12 months” be deleted and after the word “reaches” the words “an acceptable” be included and after the word “standard” the words “that demonstrate appropriate and sustainable improvement” be include and the words “acceptable to the independent inspectorate” be deleted.

That a new point (5) be added “Recognises this council has commenced our improvement journey, underpinned by a significant financial increase to the Children’s Services budget”.

Following a debate, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the Amendment to be carried by 50 votes to 5.

Thereafter, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the Substantive Motion to be carried.