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.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member held on 7 April 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 43 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 June 2010, the Cabinet Member considered a report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which provided an update on the submission of a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Housing (REECH) programme bid to the North West Development Agency, together with details of the proposed structures and procedures for the delivery of the REECH programme.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the submission of the REECH Programme bid be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No. 41 of the  meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 June 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director which provided an update on the launch by the Northwest Urban Development Fund of the Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA) initiative, which is a new £100m fund to help support urban development projects in the North West.

The report also set out the proposed sub-regional working level arrangements to progress the development of an Urban Development Fund (UDF) for Merseyside and the potential projects in Sefton to be included in the programme.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Operational Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Operational Services Director advising of the arrangements with Virgin Media to tackle anti-social graffiti on Virgin Media cabinets/boxes.

The report indicated that the Council had agreed with Virgin Media, to paint over graffiti affecting Virgin Media cabinets, at its discretion, up to a maximum of 600 cabinet visits per annum; that this represented approximately 35% of the 1,590 Virgin Media cabinets in Sefton; and that Virgin Media would make a financial contribution of £5 per cabinet visit, up to a maximum of £3k during the period of the arrangement.

The report concluded that both the Council and Virgin Media had agreed to work together to tackle the root causes of graffiti by, for example, identifying and prosecuting graffiti vandals; and that the partnership arrangement with Virgin Media may, if successful, form the basis for future partnership arrangements with other organisations, utility companies and/or private businesses.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the graffiti removal partnership with Virgin Media be noted.

Report of the Operational Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Operational Services Director seeking approval to re-tender the current green waste contract until 31 March 2013 with an option to extend for a further year; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to provide a continuous service for the disposal of green waste for composting.

RESOLVED:

That tenders be invited during 2010 for a Green Waste Composting Contract to be awarded for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 with an option to extend for a further year.

Report of the Operational Services Director

Further to Minute No. 113 of 7 April 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Operational Services Director advising of the change of Specialist Cleansing Vehicle suppliers due to the originally nominated supplier losing their sales franchise and ceasing to trade; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with the Contract Procedure Rules of the Constitution.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the tender provided by Scarab Sweepers of £87,677 per vehicle excluding VAT for tender number T:317 Mechanical Road Sweepers, be approved; and

(2)      the tender provided by Ditchburn Trucks of £56,055 per vehicle excluding VAT for tender number T:308 Skip Loading vehicles, be approved.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director advising of the bid submitted by the Merseyside Transport Partnership (Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral Councils and Merseytravel), on behalf of Sub-Regional partners, which if successful could see the introduction of Electric Car Charging Points in Sefton.

The report indicated that Plugged-in-Places was a national programme to support the installation of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure; detailed the Sub-Regional bid and the potential cash involved; and concluded that the project would provide a unique opportunity to work with a range of Sub-Regional partners to commence the process of both providing the infrastructure required for the use of electric vehicles and at the same time influence behaviour change away from fossil fuel consumption.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the Plugged-in-Places programme be noted.

Joint Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director advising of the outcome of a bid submitted under the Climate Change Local Area Support Programme (CLASP) - Local Partnerships Small Projects Fund.

The report indicated that CLASP provided free support for all North West Local Authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships on climate change mitigation and adaptation; that included the reduction of CO2 emissions from their own estate and wider local areas, with particular emphasis on the implementation and progression of National Indicators 185 (Percentage CO2 reduction from LA operations), 186 (Per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area) and 188 (Planning to adapt to Climate Change); and that Sefton Council had submitted a project to CLASP entitled 'Building the Adaptive Capacity of Sefton's Businesses' that would engage with local businesses to introduce the importance of Climate Change adaptation and the opportunity that may arise from it.  In particular the project would highlight why adaptation was important to businesses, in terms of cost savings, improve productivity and identifying opportunities that would provide adaptation solutions locally.

The report concluded that the project provided an opportunity to assist businesses to adapt to or exploit any opportunities arising from a changing climate and at the same time strengthening the economic performance of businesses in Sefton.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the success of Sefton's CLASP bid be noted; and

(2)      further progress reports be submitted when appropriate.

Joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy seeking the approval of policy decisions on the operation of the Carbon Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) which became legislation on 1 April 2010; in particular seeking approval of constitutional changes that were required to enable the Council to operate the Scheme within the law and to discuss briefly, the treatment of potential 'Penalties' or 'Rewards' arising from it; and to update Members on developments regarding the Scheme.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the report on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme be noted;

(2)          Cabinet be requested to recommend the Council to change the Council's Constitution, delegating authority to the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy or, if a different person, the Officer acting in a Section 151 capacity, to act as the CRC responsible person, to enable trading of Carbon Allowances using General Fund resources and to sign off all future Carbon declarations and claims made through the Scheme to the Department for Energy and Climate Change; and

(3)          Cabinet be recommended to:-

(i)       agree for the first year of Carbon trading (2011/12), to adopt the approach of funding corporately, any penalty or reward arising from the CRC scheme, with a view to allowing Officers time to consider future options for the distribution of penalties and rewards.  These would be the subject of a further report to Members at the appropriate time; and

(ii)      allow Officers scope to explore the skills and support required to enable future market trading of Carbon Allowances.

Report of the Leisure and Tourism Director

Further to Minute No. 109 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism held on 21 April 2010 the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Leisure and Tourism Director seeking approval of a proposal to enhance the Council's ability to deal with issues relating to dog fouling and litter through a partnership approach between the Environmental and Technical Services and Leisure and Tourism Departments; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as Strategic Intelligence Assessments produced by the Sefton Safer Stronger Communities Partnership identified residents concerns about dog fouling and litter; that to enhance the Council's ability to deal with these issues additional personnel required authorisation and training; that the Council's Constitution would require amending to reflect the delegation of powers to the Leisure and Tourism Director on behalf of the Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism in respect of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the proposal to develop a coordinated approach to dealing with dog fouling and litter be approved; and

(2)          Cabinet be requested to approve the draft Leisure and Tourism Policy and to recommend the Council to amend the Responsibility For Functions of the Constitution by addition of the following:

          "Environmental

          Cabinet Member

          Delegations

          E. Leisure and Tourism Director

          'Power to appoint authorised Officers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005"'

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval of the Food Law Control Service Plan required by the Food Standards Agency; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as approval of the Service Plan, although tailored to Sefton's needs, would ensure service delivery in line with national standards and expectations.

The Food Law Service Plan for Sefton attached as Annex 1 to the report, set out the delivery arrangements for the service; and had been developed with detailed consideration of local needs, corporate objectives and reference to current legal requirements.

RESOLVED:

That the Food Law Control Service Plan for 2010/11 be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval of the Health and Safety Intervention Plan for 2010/11 that complied with statutory guidance; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as mandatory guidance to Section 18 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 required local authorities to produce a plan of interventions each year; and that to have this plan approved by elected Members demonstrated the organisation's commitment to the Health and Safety at Work service.

Attached as Annex 1 to the report was a copy of the proposed Health and Safety Intervention Plan for 2010/11.

RESOLVED:

That the Health and Safety Intervention Plan for 2010/11 be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval of the revised framework agreement between Sefton Council's Trading Standards Service and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for the delivery of animal health and welfare service provision; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to ensure effective disease control and encourage consistency of approach across local authorities; and that the National Performance Framework for Trading Standards required that such initiatives be considered and approved by the Council's elected representatives.

RESOLVED:

That the Animal Welfare Service Delivery Plan 2010/11 be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval of the Animal Feed Plan 2010/11 as required by the Food Standards Agency; indicating that a decision on this matter was required to ensure effective animal feed control and encourage consistency of approach across local authorities; and that the National Performance Framework for Trading Standards required that such initiatives be considered and approved by the Council's elected representatives.

A copy of the Plan was attached as Annex 1 to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Animal Feed Plan 2010/11 be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that updated on the progress of the Working Neighbourhood funded Environmental Services initiatives within the Environmental and Technical Services and Operational Services Departments; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as regular reporting to the Cabinet Member was an important part of the performance monitoring and communication strategies for the interventions and for addressing implications for mainstream service provision.

RESOLVED:

That the approach taken in delivery of the Working Neighbourhood funded Environmental Services initiatives with the Environmental and Technical Services and Operational Services Departments be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director advising of the introduction of a Residents Permit Scheme for use of Sefton's Household Waste Recycling Centres by non-domestic vehicles; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to advise of the new control regime being introduced by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority from 1 July 2010 requiring a van to have a permit before being allowed to take household waste to any of Sefton's four household waste recycling centres.

The report indicated that the purpose of the scheme was to prevent abuse of the facilities by commercial operators; and details of the scheme were provided in a briefing pack produced by the MWDA and attached as an Annex to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the Vehicle Permit Scheme be noted.