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 30 June 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director detailing the strategic coastal defence policies for Sefton for the next 100 years as presented in the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan review (SMP2); and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as Sefton Council would need to formally adopt the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan review. 

The report indicated that SMP’s were part of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management planning framework; that SMP2 had been undertaken in stages in accordance with DEFRA 2006 guidance; that all comments received as part of the consultation process were reviewed by the project team to assess whether changes needed to be made to the draft plan; and that the changes had been made and were included in a consultation report that was attached to the agenda as Appendix 2.

This was a Key Decision and was included on the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be requested to adopt the policies set out in the North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan for the Sefton coastline.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that provided environmental information on the current position of the State of the Environment and the overall direction of travel of environmental management in Sefton and the Liverpool City Region; sought endorsement of the content of the State of the Environment 2009-10 report’s status as key information on which the direction, pace and impact of related strategies and activities would be measured and informed; and indicated that a decision on this matter was required as endorsement of the reports findings would act as an approved Sefton Council reference document in the revision and focus of related strategies and activities.

The report detailed the aims of the 2009-10 report; the key messages from it; and those areas covered in the report.

The report concluded by detailing the suggested areas for consideration as part of the consultation process for the next edition of the report.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)      the State of the Environment Report, as a key reference source for consideration by Sefton and its partners in developing and delivering strategies and activities that directly and indirectly influence the environmental condition of Sefton and the Liverpool City Region, be approved; and

(2)      the existence of the State of the Environment Report be brought to the attention of the other Cabinet Members.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director, the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 209 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 November 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director, the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director that updated on progress made since November 2009 in developing a policy for tackling climate change and the development of a Low Carbon Economy (LCE); and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to reinforce the momentum for a co-ordinated approach to the Low Carbon and Climate Change agendas.

The report detailed the results of a serious and sustained work programme to adapt the people and places of Sefton to unavoidable climate change; and to maximise investment and employment opportunities as fossil fuels were progressively replaced by renewable energy and a sustainable way of life.

The report concluded that it was fully expected that the new LCE would reflect and enhance the distinctive geography of Sefton, with strong co-operation and mutual learning between local businesses, schools, social landlords, civic and community centres and visitor destinations as they build low carbon communities for the future.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet be requested to:

(1)          approve the Interim Framework for Action as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

(2)          approve the commissioning of a Community Mapping Awareness Study as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

(3)      the engagement of community and voluntary sectors as detailed in paragraphs 4.6 and 4.7 of the report be approved;

(4)          approve the sponsorship of a programme of Low Carbon Economy seminars for appropriate public sector agencies in Sefton as detailed in paragraph 4.9 of the report;

(5)          approve the establishment of a Climate Change Forum as detailed in paragraph 5.3 of the report;

(6)      note lead officer responsibilities and the supervisory role of the Strategic Director for Communities as detailed in paragraph 5.7 of the report;

(7)          approve the creation of a Climate Change Network as detailed in paragraph 5.8 of the report; and

(8)          approve the support of a Sefton Climate Change Conference, and request appropriate officers to prepare and present a self-funding proposal.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that updated on actions taken towards the Local Area Agreement target to achieve level 3 of National Indicator 188 (NI188) - Adaptation to Climate Change by March 2011, and to secure approval for the ongoing approach to adaptation to climate change; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required because the Authority had to account its progress against NI188 and the support of the Cabinet Member was essential in securing and maintaining the commitment of other Council Departments and LSP partners in further developing an adaptation strategy and action plan.

RESOLVED:

That the achievement of level 2 of NI188 Adaptation to Climate Change be noted and the proposals for future activities, as detailed in the report, be approved.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that advised of the potential opportunities available under the Feed in Tariff (FIT) initiative and seeking approval to explore these opportunities in more detail with interested and relevant partners and Energy Service Companies at both Sefton and sub-regional level; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required because approval was necessary to undertake exploratory discussions with interested partners and Energy Service Companies.

The report indicated that FITs became available in Great Britain from 1 April 2010 and that under the scheme, energy suppliers made regular payments to householders and communities (including local authorities) who generated their own electricity from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar electricity panels or wind turbines; and explained how the FIT worked.

The report also indicated that the main priority was the implementation of energy generating systems on public buildings, and to a degree on social housing.  However if successful it had the potential to kick start similar initiatives on private sector housing, and critically thereby create significant job and work opportunities for local small to medium enterprises.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the Feed-in Tariff (Clean Energy Cashback) scheme be noted.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director advising of the request received from Maghull Town Council for assistance in the preparation of a bid under the Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP); and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with standard reporting procedures.

The report indicated that the aim of CSEP, funded by the Big Lottery, was to help community based organisations in England to reduce their energy bills and environmental impact, as well as raising public awareness of climate change and how to tackle it; and Maghull Town Council was very keen to address CO²  emissions from its buildings; and that assistance was now sought from the Council in the preparation of a bid for funding to install solar photovoltaics on all four sides of Maghull Town Hall roof.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the Community Sustainable Energy Programme - Maghull Town Council bid be noted.

Joint report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director and the Operational Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director and the Operational Services Director advising of the achievement of EMAS registration for key functions of the Environmental and Technical Services and Operational Services Departments and seeking renewed commitment for the expansion of the system within the Council; and indicating that a decision on the matter was required because EMAS expansion would provide significant benefits for the Council as a whole and would aid the delivery of several corporate initiatives such as risk management, delivery of the Carbon Management Plan and compliance with the statutory Carbon Reduction Commitment.  Although there was already a commitment to implementing a Council wide environmental management system, a reiteration of the Cabinet Member’s commitment to the adoption of EMAS as a positive step for all Departments would be appropriate and timely.

The report indicated that although there were some costs to implementing EMAS across the Council, there were a wide range of benefits that would outweigh and offset these costs.  To achieve the maximum benefits associated with the EMAS Environmental Management System, expansion would be targeted at those activities that were identified as having the largest potential environmental impact being brought under the environmental management system first.

RESOLVED:

That the achievement of EMAS for key functions of the Environmental and Technical Services Department and Operational Services Department be noted and that the commitment to expand EMAS within the Council be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that advised of the findings of the Sefton Liveability Survey (the Survey) 2009; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as the Survey provided invaluable data on Liveability related issues within certain Wards and tracked changes in neighbourhood environmental conditions since earlier surveys in 2003, 2005 and 2007.  Consideration of such information was relevant to the ongoing design and commissioning of neighbourhood environmental services.

The report detailed the background to the Survey; the Survey methodologies and response rate; and summarised the main findings of the survey relating to:

• waste enforcement and neighbourhood cleanliness
• rats
• community development
• litter and dog fouling
• demographics

The report concluded that the 2009 survey had again proved to be extremely worthwhile; that re-using key questions from the 2007, 2005 and 2003 Surveys enabled the measurement of change over the six years the surveys had been run; and that the excellent response rate showed that these remained important issues for local people

RESOLVED:

That the findings of the Sefton Liveability Survey 2009 be noted and the contributions made by mainstream services and other WNF and Housing Market Renewal Initiative commissioned neighbourhood environmental interventions, to the changes in environmental conditions identified through the survey, be acknowledged.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director advising of the success of the Department in achieving runner up in the National Food Champion Award 2010 for the Appetite for Life Project; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to recognise the achievement of the Department and acknowledge the use of innovative projects to discharge elements of the Authority’s Statutory duty and improve public health.

The report indicated that this was an excellent example of how the Department sought to discharge its statutory duty in an inventive way and which gained the maximum impact on public health; and that this took on an even greater importance as resources become stretched, as it allowed the Authority to showcase its good work whilst still obtaining the maximum advantage/improvement for the effort used.

RESOLVED:

That the team involved in the Food Champion Awards project be congratulated on their achievement and the continued use of an innovative project approach, where appropriate, to help discharge the Department’s statutory duty whilst maximising the positive impact on public health, be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 19 of the meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee held on 5 July 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking endorsement of the continuation of the Best Bar None Scheme which was a strategic intervention to promote the four licensing objectives; prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm,

The report indicated that the Sefton Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership had been assigned the responsibility for the delivery of National Indicator 21 (NI21) - “Dealing with local concerns about ASB and Crime by the Local Council and Police”, that a key factor in satisfying NI21 was having baseline data which could inform intelligence led interventions and serve as a benchmark for assessing progress; and that Best Bar None - a national award scheme which recognised and rewarded well managed licensed premises, developed by the Manchester City Centre Safe as part of its remit to address alcohol related crime had been adopted by Sefton amongst other local authorities to help promote the four licensing objectives and achieve the aims set out in NI21.

RESOLVED:

That the continued promotion of the Best Bar None Scheme be approved.