Agenda and draft minutes

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

The Mayor reminded Members and visitors in the public gallery that if they wished to film or record the proceedings, out of courtesy to those present, it would be appreciated if they would indicate.

The Mayor also reminded members of the public that although it was a public meeting and the Council welcomed members of the public attending the meeting to observe proceedings, they could not contribute to the meeting. The Mayor observed that elected Members of the Council and Council officers should be treated with respect, and that disturbances would not be tolerated, and that any disturbances might result in the meeting being adjourned and the public gallery being cleared.

The Mayor requested all elected Members and members of the public to mute their mobile phones, in order to avoid disturbances during the meeting.

The Mayor advised Members and visitors in the public gallery that livestreaming equipment was being tested, but the meeting would not be available for public viewing.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bradshaw, Carlin, Carragher, Desmond, Doolin, Dowd, Duerden, Johnson, John Kelly, Lloyd-Johnson, McKee, Morris, Myers, Richards, Robinson, Thomas, Thompson and Veidman.

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 declaration of personal interest was made and the Member concerned took the action indicated during the consideration of the item:

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2025

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 27 February 2025 be approved as a correct record.

Gala Charity Ball

The Mayor thanked Members and officers for buying tickets for the Gala Charity Ball, to be held on Saturday, 26 April 2025. The Mayor anticipated that it would be a great night of fundraising with over 200 people in attendance, and she looked forward to seeing attendees on the night.

Grand National

The Mayor had attended two visits to Aintree over the Grand National weekend. The first visit was on Thursday, 3 April 2025 when the Mayor welcomed Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal for the Racing Welfare lunch which the Mayor also attended. On Saturday, 5 April 2025 the Mayor was a guest of the Chairman of the Jockey Club. It was an enjoyable day, although the Mayor was unlucky with her horse selection.

Ramadan

The Mayor was honoured to attend her first Iftar dinner at Southport Mosque on Sunday, 16 March 2025, as part of Ramadan.

Kings Award for Voluntary Service

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Council to speak on this item.

Councillor Atkinson offered her sincere thanks and congratulations to Councillor Brough and the Ainsdale Civic Society on being granted the above prestigious award. Councillor Atkinson considered this to be a fantastic achievement and expressed her appreciation of the work undertaken by the Society.

Former Councillor Owen Brady

The Mayor reported with great sadness on the loss of former Councillor Owen Brady who passed away on 10 March 2025. Mr. Brady was elected as a Councillor for Ford Ward in May 1979 and served on the Council until May 2012. He also served for 5 years on Merseyside County Council. Prior to becoming a Sefton Councillor, he had served for 12 years on Litherland Urban District Council.

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

Councillors Moncur, Pugh, Sir Ron Watson, Byrom and Maher paid tribute to Owen Brady.

Pope Francis

The Mayor acknowledged the sad loss of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025.

One Minute Silence

The Council observed a one-minute silence as a mark of respect in reflecting on the sad passing of both Owen Brady and Pope Francis.

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 the responses given.

The members of the public who had submitted the questions were not in attendance at the Council meeting.

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, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 were responded to by the Leader of the Council; the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families; and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills.

Report of the Executive Director – Regeneration, Economy and Assets

Further to Minute No. 114 (4) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 March 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Regeneration, Economy and Assets indicating that as part of a competitive bidding process co-ordinated through the Combined Authority, Sefton Council had been awarded £5,526,387.23 (capital and revenue) grant funding to retrofit poorly insulated homes for low-income Sefton residents. The funding had come from the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) as part of the government’s Warm Homes programme and supporting the UK Net Zero Carbon by 2050 target. A request for approval to accept the funding was sought to ensure that Sefton could benefit from the 100% grant funding. Spending this funding was time critical to ensure residents received the benefits and that no proportion of the funding was returned due to slippage in delivery. The programme was due to be delivered between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2028 (split into 3 annual delivery programmes). Due to the level of the grant funding, authority to accept the funding was required from the Council.

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

RESOLVED:

That a supplementary capital estimate of £4,793,295.05, fully funded by grant funding, be approved.

Report of the Assistant Director – Highways and Public Protection

Further to Minute No. 128 (1) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 April 2025, the Council considered the report of the Assistant Director – Highways and Public Protection seeking approval to appoint Balfour Beatty under the Scape Framework to provide Early Contract Involvement in the development of the works information for the second Phase of the Maritime Corridor Scheme, with a view to a further appointment to deliver the works. The Maritime Corridor Scheme sought to deliver measures in the south of the Borough to improve access for all highway users to employment sites. The Scape Framework allowed a contractor to be appointed during the scheme design and development stage. For this commission, Balfour Beatty would revise the previously completed Feasibility Report at no cost, followed by an Early Contractor Involvement stage during which a Target Cost was established and other pre-construction activities undertaken leading to a Contract to deliver the works. Balfour Beatty had been appointed to deliver Phase 1 of the works under the same framework. Council approval was required for additional sums in the Capital Programme of over £1m in value. The second Phase of the Maritime Corridor Scheme was expected to cost approximately £12.15m and a Grant Funding Agreement had been received for this amount. The report also sought approval for the signing of the Grant Funding Agreement for Phase 2 and a recommendation that the funding was brought within the Council’s Transport Capital Programme.

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

RESOLVED:

That a supplementary capital estimate for £12.15m externally funded using the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) for the delivery of Maritime Corridor Phase 2, pending the signing of a grant funding agreement from the LCRCA, be approved.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 115 of the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 19 March 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Services and Commercial indicating that the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) was launched on 24 February 2025 after receiving Royal Assent in October 2023. The Act had introduced significant changes in the way in which the Public Sector could do business with suppliers. These changes had been incorporated into Sefton Council’s revised Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs) which were attached to the report at Appendix A. The revisions to the CPRs had been compiled by the Council’s Legal and Procurement Teams, with the support of the External Legal Advisor, DLA Piper.

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

RESOLVED:

That the amended Contract Procedure Rules as set out in the Appendix to the report be approved.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Council considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer which requested the Council to approve and authorise the absence of Councillor Greg Myers from attendance at Council and Committee Meetings pursuant to Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

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

RESOLVED:

That the current absence from all Council and Committee Meetings of Councillor Greg Myers due to caring responsibilities be authorised and approved for the period until the scheduled meeting of the Council to take place on 11 September 2025, pursuant to Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

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

The Mayor advised that regarding the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, Mr. Wayne Longshaw had been nominated as a representative for Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

The Mayor also reported that Ms. Ashley Toner had been nominated as a Parent Governor Representative on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) Committee.

No changes to the memberships of Committees were made by Political Groups.

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It was moved by Councillor Pugh, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:

Championing Southport’s Links with Manchester and Lancashire

This Council

(a) notes that:

(1)      Poor road and rail links to Manchester and the cities and towns of Lancashire have for too long acted as an obstacle to the further prosperity and development of Southport and the wider Lancashire economy.

(2)      This connectivity and access to Southport from the east remains poor despite representations from the public, elected representatives and business, and in some respects has deteriorated.

(b) welcomes

          (1) the consistent support shown by Sefton Council for road and rail improvements including the restoration of the Burscough Curves and electrification

          (2) the interest shown by the Mayor of the Manchester City Region and the proposal to include the Southport rail line in the Bee Network

BUT

(c) believes that substantial improvements including securing the necessary capital funding for network improvements like the Burscough Curves require an evidence case to be put and pursued consistently and effectively over time

AND therefore in seeking to champion and take a leading role in this process, this Council

(d) agrees, (subject to Cabinet approval and revision) to set up a working party and action group (Town Transport Group) for this purpose

The Town Transport Group should ideally

(a) report to Cabinet, working to an agreed timetable

(b) have powers of co-option

(c) have a diverse, representative and expert membership

(d) include local MPs (or their representatives) and representation from the Combined Authority

(e) be serviced by relevant officers of the Council.

Following debate and in accordance with rule 96 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution, the voting on the Motion was recorded and the Members present at the time, voted as follows:

FOR THE MOTION:

Councillors Brodie-Browne, Brough, Dodd, Evans, Halsall, Keith, Prendergast, Pugh, Sammon, Shaw, and Sir Ron Watson.

AGAINST THE MOTION:

Councillors Atkinson, Danny Burns, Byrom, Cavanagh, Conalty, Corcoran, Doyle, Garner, Grace, Hansen, Hardman, Harrison Kelly, Hart, Harvey, Hinde, Howard, Sonya Kelly, Killen, Lappin, Lunn-Bates, Maher, McGinnity, McNabb, Moncur, Murphy, Neary, O’Brien, Catie Page, Christopher Page, Parker, Porter, Roche, Roscoe, Spring, Webster and Williams.

ABSTENTIONS:

The Mayor.

The Mayor declared that the Motion was lost by 11 votes for to 36 against with 1 abstention.

The Mayor announced that given that there were three Notices of Motions that dealt with the same substantive issue, namely the implications of changes to the national benefits regime for residents of Sefton, she had decided to consider the following agenda items together and hold one open debate addressing all three agenda items, plus any amendments. At the close of the debate a vote would be taken on each substantive Motion, and any amendments on individual Notices of Motions would be voted upon once the substantive Motion was proposed:

·       Agenda Item No. 13:          Motion Submitted by Councillor Halsall - Protecting Disability Benefits and Defending the Rights of Disabled Residents (Minute No. 121 below refers).

·       Agenda Item No. 17:          Motion Submitted By Councillor Atkinson - Protecting Disabled Residents from Cuts to Benefits (Minute No. 122 below refers).

·       Agenda Item No. 19:          Motion Submitted By Councillor Brodie-Browne - Tackling Childhood Poverty (Minute No. 123 below refers).

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

Protecting Disability Benefits and Defending the Rights of Disabled Residents

Council notes:

• The Government is proposing severe cuts to disability benefits, which will have a detrimental impact on disabled residents in our community. These cuts include:
• Restricting access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP): This would make it harder for disabled people to receive essential financial support to cover the extra disability costs, such as therapies, treatments, and specialist equipment.
• Forcing disabled people into unsuitable work: Moving thousands of people currently too ill to work into the main Universal Credit category, meaning they will lose financial support and face sanctions if they turn down work that could worsen their health.
• Reducing and freezing benefit rates: Freezing PIP rates and cutting the Limited Capability for Work element of Universal Credit effectively reduces the income of disabled residents even if they meet tougher eligibility criteria.

Council believes:

• That these cuts violate the Government's manifesto pledge to fully co-produce disability benefits rules with disabled people and their organisations.
• These changes do not support disabled people into employment but instead remove financial lifelines from some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
• These measures will further entrench poverty, inequality, and social isolation among disabled residents, many of whom are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Council resolves to:

• Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing this Council's opposition to the proposed cuts and calling for meaningful co-production with disabled people in shaping disability benefits policy.
• Work with local disability organisations to assess and publicly report on the impact these changes will have on disabled residents in our community.
• Call on all local MPs to oppose these cuts and raise concerns in Parliament about their impact on disabled constituents.
• Explore ways to support disabled residents locally, including signposting them to advice, advocacy services, and hardship funds.
• Collaborate with other councils to pass similar motions and form a collective response against these punitive measures.

This Council stands in solidarity with disabled people and calls on the Government to reverse these damaging proposals immediately.

Following a debate on the Motion the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was lost by 8 votes for to 34 against.

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

Protecting Disabled Residents from Cuts to Benefits

Council notes:

1)         According to DWP 9.9 million people (23%) of working age people in the UK are in receipt of benefits.

2)         The recent announcement from the Government which plans to save £4.8 billion in welfare spending and reform the welfare system to get more people in to work, focussing on benefits such as:

a)         Support for individuals experiencing long-term sickness, including those relying on Universal Credit and the Employment and Support Allowance.

b)         Personal Independent Payments (PIP), a crucial financial lifeline for disabled people and those with chronic illnesses.

3)         That as of January 2025, 21,428 residents of Sefton were claiming Universal Credit and 25,047 residents of Sefton were claiming Personal Independent Payments (PIP).

4)         That the Government has said that this significant reform package is expected to save £4.8 billion in 2029 to 2030 making the system more efficient and effective.

5)         That the UK, under the Tories, was the only major economy whose employment rate hadn’t recovered since the COVID pandemic.

6)         The existing work that Sefton Council does to offer support to vulnerable residents and those out of work, which we will keep reviewing so we can continuously improve the offer for our residents. These include, but are not limited to:

a)         The Welfare Rights team have helped residents gain £2.04m in income since April 2024. Recently Sefton Council Labour Councillors voted to continue to invest in this service.

b)         The Ways to Work Programme, which supports people aged 16+, who are economically inactive or unemployed, into work and training.

c)          Sefton ELAS Support Scheme, which helps residents with urgent needs such as food, fuel and their home needs, including essential furniture and white goods has allocated 5,109 awards in the last year with a total spend of £600,000

d)         Contributions to foodbanks to ensure sufficient stock is available

e)         Affordable warmth team continue to support residents with boiler replacement and draft proofing

f)           CVS winter clothing project to provide winter coats and clothing to those most in need

g)         The warm hubs network.

h)         The Household Support Fund (HSF), which provides to economically vulnerable households support with fuel, food and other essentials has totalled £6.6million.

Council:

7)         Supports the new protections in the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, believes that work should pay and the benefit system should not be used to support low paying employers.

8)         Welcomes the Government’s scrapping of the work capability assessment and the introduction of a ‘right to try’ which will drive down barriers to work.  That the current operation of the welfare system should be reformed to enable those who can work, to do so. Furthermore, that the Government should help people who can, and have the potential to work, into jobs and ensure that sick and disabled people have the same opportunities to work as anyone else supported by ‘access to work’ grants available for practical support with your work,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

Copy attached.

It was moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Evans:

Tackling Childhood Poverty

This Council declared a Poverty Emergency in March 2021. The Cabinet Member asserted that “Tackling childhood poverty is key to us achieving all our priorities and should be squarely at the centre of everything we do.” This Council reasserts its recent policy of calling on the Government to remove the two-child benefit cap which would lift around 250,000 children out of poverty, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.

The Council notes:

The announcement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding changes to the arrangements for Personal Independence Payments and universal credit. Council believes that some of these changes will severely impact the lives of Sefton Residents, particularly:

•       Making it more difficult for people to qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP);

•       Freezing incapacity benefits under universal credit for existing claimants until 2029/30;

•       Reducing incapacity benefits under universal credit for new claimants from 2026/2027 to £50 a week;

•       Preventing those under 22 from claiming the incapacity benefit top-up to universal credit.

This Council is aware that these actions will cause 50,000 children to be classed as “in poverty” and increase the total number of people in poverty by 250,000 people.

This Council welcomes the intervention of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham who declared that these measures were “the wrong choice”.

Therefore, the Council resolves to:

•       Release a public statement welcoming Mayor Andy Burnham’s comment that these measures were “The wrong choice”.

•       Write to the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram calling upon him to join forces with Mayor Andy Burnham in opposing these Government policies.

•       Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging her to reconsider these changes and to create a fairer, more compassionate solution that provides security and dignity for all who rely on it.

Following a debate on the Motion the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was lost by 8 votes for to 39 against.

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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 Corcoran, seconded by Councillor McNabb and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Epidemic of Violence Against Women and Girls

Sefton Council supports Women’s Aid in welcoming the Labour Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade. Like Women’s Aid, the Council recognises that this bold ambition cannot be realised by national government alone, and action is needed from local councillors, leaders and Police and Crime Commissioners to turn the tide on violence against women and girls in our local communities.

This Council recognises the physical and emotional cost of violence against women and girls in survivors and their family, friends and communities, which is devastating. Domestic abuse can cause a range of health issues including depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and brain injuries.

Sefton Council also notes that there is evidence that attitudes towards healthy relationships in young people are showing concerning trends, with research indicating a direct correlation between exposure to misogynistic social media content and unhealthy views on relationships (Women’s Aid, 2023), and young people do not always know where to access support.

This Council therefore resolves to address the epidemic of violence against women and girls and pledges to:-

(i)             continue to work with survivors and local specialists and ‘by and for’ services to understand the impact of violence against women and girls in Sefton as reflected in priority 2 of Sefton’s Safer, Stronger, Together Strategy 2023-26;

(ii)           work with headteachers, governing bodies and academy trusts as appropriate with a view to ensuring that comprehensive education on healthy relationships and recognising and preventing the coercive control is available in all schools and colleges across Sefton.

(iii)          ensure that Sefton’s procurement practices for commissioning violence against women and girls’ services are cognisant of how these align with statutory guidance and the needs of all survivors, including the most marginalised survivors;

(iv)          continue to gather local data from local services and groups to ensure that responses are as effective as they should be;

(v)           continue to work together with all our partner agencies to educate and stand up against violence against women and girls of all ages and in all environments throughout Sefton

(vi)          acknowledge the report entitled ‘Femicide in Merseyside: 15 Years of Failing Women’ and act upon the findings and recommendations contained therein, and in line with the response from the Safter, Stronger Together Partnership, and

(vii)        report to Members within 12 months on the actions it has undertaken to fulfil the pledges of this motion.

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It was moved by Councillor Lappin, seconded by Councillor Parker: and unanimously

RESOLVED:

Housing – Access for All

This Council recognises:

The challenges that veterans, care leavers and victims of violence face, particularly when it comes to accessing housing.

This Council welcomes:

The essential work of agencies such as Veterans in Sefton who offer a range of services including Housing Support and Health and Wellbeing advice, to help reduce the challenges and inequalities faced by these individuals.

This council recognises the commitment from the Labour Prime Minister for the provision and access of housing for Veterans, Care Leavers and Victims of domestic violence. This supports the council’s existing commitment to these marginalised groups.

The work at local and national government level to secure the right services and opportunities for these individuals.

The ongoing commitment and support from Peter Dowd MP to veterans in Sefton who recently in the House of Commons asked the Prime Minister to confirmLabour’s commitment to providing our veterans with the holistic support they need and deserve.

The government’s commitment to providing homes that are so desperately needed for all our residents.

This council commits to:

Support the provision of accessible housing and support services.

Work with partner agencies across Sefton, regionally and nationally to ensure the housing needs of those who are vulnerable are met.

Ensure that safe and secure housing is accessible to all.

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

Save Southport’s Beach

Southport is a seaside resort, with a significant proportion of our local economy being reliant upon tourism. A large number of visitors to Southport, visit the town to spend time on our coast, including Southport beach.

Over many years, through deliberately adopted policies, large swathes of Southport beach have become overgrown and, to a large extent, unusable as a tourist beach.

As a classic seaside resort, it is vital that Southport has an area of useable beach for use by visitors to Southport and locals alike. The area between Weld Road roundabout and Southport Pier, often referred to as the ‘amenity/leisure beach’, would be an obvious area of Southport beach to seek to maintain, on a prominent section of the seafront near local attractions.

It is time we ask local people for their views on how they would like to see Southport beach managed.

Council notes:

1.    Concerns have been raised by members of this council, from different parties, members of the public and local businesses about the condition of Southport beach and its accessibility.

2.    Concerns have been raised by members of this council, from different parties, members of the public and local businesses about the current long-term strategy for the management of Southport beach and how this could be considered detrimental to a seaside town that relies heavily on tourism.

3.    As a key local asset, vital to our local economy, the views of local residents, businesses and visitors to our town on Southport beach should be taken into account when deciding on the long-term management strategy for Southport beach.

Therefore, Council resolves to:

1.    Launch a public consultation on the long-term management of Southport beach. This would take into account conservation, accessibility, tourism and public usage.

2.    Ensure that within the consultation we put forward options to the public that should include:

a.    A continuation of the current strategy that would involve allowing further areas of Southport beach to become overgrown, or;

b.    An amenity beach option that would recognise the importance of a well-maintained beach area and include the removal of vegetation from the beach between Weld Road roundabout and the Pier to re-establish an amenity/leisure beach area.

3.    A firm commitment to publish the results of the consultation and ensure they inform council policy in relation to the ongoing management of Southport beach.

Following a debate on the Motion the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was lost by 10 votes for to 35 against.