Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2010

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2010 be cofirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Legal Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Legal Director seeking approval for the implementation of a new discretionary service.

RESOLVED: That

(1)               the Nationality Checking Service be introduced on the basis set out within the report; and

(2)               the Cabinet be requested to approve the level of fees suggested for charging applicants, as detailed in paragraph 9.2 of the report. 

Report of the Legal Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Legal Director seeking approval to increase fees and charges for services provided by the Legal and Democratic Services Department.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)       implement the discretionary fees and charges for the Legal and Democratic Services Department on 1 April 2010, as set out in Annexe A to the report; and 

(2)       note that changes to Statutory Charges for the Department would be implemented as and when necessary.

Report of the Personnel Director

Further to Minute No. 63 of 11 November 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services providing information on sickness absence levels for all Council staff, including those based at schools, for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2009/10, together with proposals on improvements in sickness absence management and current initiatives.

RESOLVED:  

That the report, particularly in respect of current management action and initiatives in relation to sickness absence, be noted.

Joint report of the Leisure and Tourism Director and the Acting Finance and Information Services Director

Further to Minute No. 95 of the Cabinet Member – Leisure and Tourism meeting of  24 February 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Leisure and Tourism Director and Acting Finance and Information Services Director seeking approval for the awarding of Discretionary Rate Relief (DRR) to Sefton Sports Clubs for the next five Council municipal years 2010/11 – 2014/15.

A copy of the criteria which the clubs were invited to meet and full details of what each club had been recommended to receive by the assessment panel were attached as annexes to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the award of Discretionary Rate Relief to the borough’s sports clubs, as detailed in annexe B to the report, be approved.

Joint report of the Chief Executive, the Director of Corporate Services, the Head of Technical Services, the Acting Finance and Information Services Director and the Legal Director

Further to Minute No. 84 of 13 January 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Chief Executive, the Director of Corporate Services, the Head of Technical Services, the Acting Finance and Information Services Director and the Legal Director, providing the latest forecast position, based on information as at 31 December 2009 in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme. 

RESOLVED:That

(1)       the progress made by the Service Directors in respect of their revenue budgets that are subject to risk-based monitoring be noted;

(2)       the position regarding the Corporate Services Portfolio efficiencies and savings required  for the revenue budget in the year be noted; and

(3)       the progress made by Service Directors in respect of their schemes within the Council’s Capital Programme be noted.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

Further to Minute No. 33 of  22 July 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes informing of the results of the interim monitoring for 2009/10 successful applicants and Business Partnerships Organisations; assistance provided to unsuccessful applicants from the 2009/10 round; budget information; and progress on the 2010/11 funding round.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the funding allocated in 2009/10 for Crossens Community Centre, Ravenmeols Community Centre and Netherton Feelgood  Factory   be allowed to be carried forward in their accounts to the 2010/11 financial year;

(2)       the aforementioned organisations be informed that no applications would be accepted for 2010/11; due to 2009/10 underspend being carried forward to 2010/11; and 

(3)       the remaining budget as of 31 March 2010 be carried forward to the 2010/11 budget.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph …. of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following two items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test had been applied and favoured exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Legal Director

Further to Minute No. 88 of 13 January 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Legal Director setting out the detailed reasons why the claim and settlement in relation to the above company came about and the steps being taken to avoid any possible re-occurrence in the future.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Acting Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Acting Finance and Information Services Director seeking approval to award a contract for the procurement of a Passenger Transport Management System for utilisation by the Specialist Transport Unit (STU).

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the tender of Cleric Computer Services Ltd of Congleton for the procurement of a Passenger Transport Management System for utilisation by the STU, be accepted;

(2)       the Legal Director be authorised to enter into a contractual agreement with the successful tenderer; and

(3)       the Cabinet be request to include this scheme in the Council’s Capital Programme.

To receive a presentation from Mr. Neil Middlehurst, Head of Electoral Services.

The Cabinet Member received a presentation from Mr. N. Middlehurst, Head of Electoral Services, on a number of electoral issues.

RESOLVED:  

That Mr. Middlehurst be thanked for his informative presentation.