Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Carlin, Doyle, Keith, Murphy, Thompson, Tweed and Sir Ron Watson.

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 16 May 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 16 May 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Election of New Councillors

Following the recent by-elections held in St. Oswald and Linacre Wards, the Mayor extended a warm welcome to the 2 new Councillors elected to office, namely:

·       Councillor Helen Duerden

·       Councillor Jim Conalty

John Fairclough

The Mayor reported that John Fairclough had stood down as a Councillor on 28 May 2024.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor thanked John Fairclough for his dedicated service to the people of Sefton, which totalled over 30 years, and extended her best wishes to him for the future.

Launch of MS Queen Anne

On Monday, 3 June 2024, the Mayor was honoured to attend the official naming of MS Queen Anne in Liverpool. The Mayor considered that it was a wonderful afternoon, and she met the captain to present a Sefton Crest Shield for the Ship.

Sefton CVS Volunteers Awards

On Thursday, 6 June 2024 the Mayor was thrilled to attend the awards at Bootle Town Hall, as she considered that without the amazing volunteers, the support and help people needed would be non-existent. The Mayor congratulated everyone who had received awards.

Armed Forces Day

On Sunday, 30 June 2024 the Mayor attended the Armed Forces Day Event in Southport and was pleased to see the Leader and some of her fellow Members in attendance. The Mayor considered that it was a wonderful day for the Borough, and she was thankful that the rain held off until just as she was leaving.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service – New Training Facilities

The Mayor had attended the opening of the new Training and Development Academy for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at Long Lane, Aintree, and was very much impressed with the facilities. She hoped that other Members would take up any opportunities to visit the training facilities.

Marriage of the Mayor

The Mayor announced that she had recently married and was also known as Mrs. O’Brien.

Death of Anthony Hill

The Mayor reported with great sadness on the loss of former Councillor Anthony Hill who passed away on 10 June 2024. Anthony Hill was elected as a Councillor for Victoria Ward in May 1987 and served on the Council for 25 years. During his time on the Council he was the Cabinet Member for Environmental matters, he was Chair of the Health Scrutiny and Review Committee, and he was Mayor in 2001/02.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor acknowledged Anthony Hill’s dedicated service to Sefton and extended her sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time.

Councillors Pugh, Webster, Carragher, Byrom, Brodie-Browne, Harvey and Brough paid tribute to Anthony Hill

Death of Richard Hands

The Mayor reported with great sadness on the loss of former Councillor Richard Hands who passed away on 3 July 2024. Richard Hands was elected as a Councillor for Birkdale Ward in May 1986 and served on the Council for 35 years. During his time on the Council he was the Chair of the Southport Area Committee, the Chair of Audit and Governance Committee,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

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 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:

together with responses given. Supplementary questions to questions 2, 5 and 6 were responded to by the Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority; the Leader of the Council; and the Cabinet Member – Regeneration, Economy and Skills and Deputy Leader.

Report of the Executive Director (Place)

Further to Minute No. 15 of the meeting of the Cabinet of 20 June 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for publication of the Bootle Area Action Plan (Local Plan Document) for public comment and subsequent submission to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. A link to the Publication Draft of the Bootle Area Action Plan and Policy Map was provided within the report.

It was moved by Councillor Veidman, seconded by Councillor Hansen and

RESOLVED: That

(1)           the Publication Draft of the Bootle AAP and supporting assessments, for publication for public comment and submission to the Secretary of State for examination, be approved;

(2)      authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member – Housing and Highways and the Cabinet Member – Regeneration, Economy and Skills, to make non-strategic changes to the Publication Draft of the Bootle Area Action Plan or supporting assessments prior to publication and/or submission; and

(3)      authority be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Housing and Highways and the Cabinet Member – Regeneration, Economy and Skills, to make minor editorial and presentational changes to the Publication Draft of the Bootle Area Action Plan or supporting assessments prior to publication and/or submission.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 12 of the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee of 19 June 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which provided Members with a revised policy and procedure for dealing with unreasonably persistent and unacceptable behaviour by members of the public when complaining to the Council or making data access requests.

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

RESOLVED:

That the revised policy recommended by the Audit and Governance Committee be endorsed.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

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.

Sefton’s Youth Justice Annual Plan had been produced in accordance with the YJB requirements and had been shared with the Cabinet Member - Children, Schools and Families, the Assistant Director of Children’s Services Social Care and Education (Help and Protection), the Executive Director for Children’s Social Care and Education, the Assistant Director of People (Communities) and the Executive Director - People. The Chair of the Youth Justice Service Partnership, Paul Holden, Supt. Local Policing, Merseyside Police had signed the Plan on behalf of the partnership who were consulted during the plan production phase.

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

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Youth Justice Service – Annual Plan 2024/25 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, Schools and Families, to finalise the Youth Justice Service Annual Plan.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 16 of the meeting of the Cabinet of 20 June 2024, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicating that Sefton Council declared a climate emergency in July 2019. Following the declaration, work had progressed within the Council and a climate emergency strategy and associated action plan was 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. The Climate Emergency Annual Report 2023/24 was attached to the report.

Members discussed targets and funding for improvements.

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

RESOLVED:

That the progress made on the targets in the Sefton climate emergency strategy and action plan be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Council considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2023/24 and Councillors Thomas, Hardman, Byrom and Corcoran highlighted the key areas of work undertaken by the respective Committees and thanked Members and Officers for their support and assistance during 2023/24.

Councillor Thomas indicated that she would pursue a written response to the query on responses to questions put by Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Adult Social Care and Health) that were directed to NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2023/24 be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 17 of the meeting of the Cabinet of 20 June 2024, 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.

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

RESOLVED:That

(1)      a supplementary capital estimate of £3.500m for the Disabled Facilities Grants core programme in 2024/25, funded by the Better Care Fund be approved;

(2)      a supplementary capital estimate of £4.040m for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities funded by the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation from the Department for Education be approved;

(3)      a supplementary capital estimate of £0.450m for the ICT Equipment Refresh project funded by prudential borrowing be approved;

(4)      a supplementary revenue estimate of £1.237m for the UKSPF Ways to Work grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority be approved;

(5)      a supplementary capital estimate of £5.273m for the Southport Public Realm project funded by external grants and contributions and Council resources be approved;

(6)      a supplementary capital estimate of £5.799m for the A59 Northway Pedestrian/ Cycle Improvements project funded by external grants and contributions and Council resources be approved; and

(7)      a supplementary capital estimate of £3.300m for the Carriageway Resurfacing Programme funded by grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority be approved.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Council considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought the views of the Council on decisions of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the adoption of a Parental Leave Policy for elected Members; the payment of special responsibility allowances (SRA) to the Deputy Leaders of the Council; and seeking confirmation of the SRA for the Chair of the Planning Committee.

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

That:

(1)      (A)      the Parental leave Policy for elected members as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

          (B)      the Audit and Governance Committee be authorised to determine any decisions on the application and interpretation of the policy;

(2)      the special responsibility allowance made to the Deputy Leader positions be 10% of the special responsibility allowance made to the Leader;

(3)      the position of Chair of the Planning Committee attract a special responsibility allowance of 100% of the basic allowance; and

(4)      the backdating of the allowances to the Deputy Leader positions and Chair of the Planning Committee to 16 May 2024 be approved.

An Amendment was moved by Councillor Lloyd-Johnson, seconded by Councillor Shaw that the Motion be revised as follows:

That the report be sent back to the Independent Remuneration Panel for clarification on the point of the potential double payment of SRA.

Following a debate on the Amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Amendment was lost by 7 votes to 45 with 5 abstentions.

On being put, the Original Motion was carried by 45 votes to 0 with 12 abstentions and it was:

RESOLVED: That

(1)      (A)      the Parental leave Policy for elected members as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

          (B)      the Audit and Governance Committee be authorised to determine any decisions on the application and interpretation of the policy;

(2)      the special responsibility allowance made to the Deputy Leader positions be 10% of the special responsibility allowance made to the Leader;

(3)      the position of Chair of the Planning Committee attract a special responsibility allowance of 100% of the basic allowance; and

(4)      the backdating of the allowances to the Deputy Leader positions and Chair of the Planning Committee to 16 May 2024 be approved.

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

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

Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Conalty to be a member in place of Councillor Harrison Kelly

Licensing and Regulatory (Urgent Referrals) Committee

Councillor O’Brien to be the substitute member for Councillor John Kelly in place of Councillor Bradshaw

Member Development Steering Group

Councillor Howard to replace Councillor Lappin as the Chair of the Member Development Steering Group, Councillor Lappin to remain as a Member of the Steering Group.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Adult Social Care and Health

Councillor Duerden to be a member in place of Councillor Hart

RESOLVED:

That the changes as detailed above be approved.

Copy attached

The Notice of Motion was deferred.