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 held on 16 June 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

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.

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 submission of an Expression of Interest by The Merseyside Transport Partnership for the sub-regional Plugged in Places project be approved and further consideration be given to the capital and revenue implications should a full bid be progressed.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval in principle for the Council to project manage the final stages of the Access to Port of Liverpool Study.  To date Stage 1 of the study had been approved by the Department for Transport as part of their DaSTS programme of studies and financial contributions to the work had been provided by Department for Transport, Sefton Council, North West Development Agency, Highways Agency and Liverpool City Council; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as the Project was currently project managed by 4NW on behalf of the Department for Transport and other Partners with St. Helens Council as the accountable body.  As 4NW would cease to be able to provide support after June 2010, one of the other funding partners needed to take over project management responsibilities to bring the study to an appropriate conclusion.

Mr. S. Waldron, Assistant Director, Transport and Spatial Planning advised that paragraph 1.3 of the report should be amended by the amount of funding provided by Liverpool City Council being £5,000 and not £3,000 as stated.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)            progress of the Access to Port of Liverpool Study in Sefton and North Liverpool to complete the Stage 2 as outlined in the report be approved;

(2)            approval in principle be given to the Planning and Economic Development Director to assume the project management responsibility of the project from 4NW; and

(3)       a further report be presented on a revised scope, scale and timescale to bring the study to an appropriate conclusion within available funding and on the revised contract arrangements.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval for the Interim Head of Corporate Legal Services, in conjunction with the Planning and Economic Development Director, to enter into agreements under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 with various organisations to facilitate highway improvements associated with the implementation of various schemes as referred to below; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as the highway improvements were the subject of conditions attached to planning approvals.

RESOLVED:

That the Interim Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised, in conjunction with the Planning and Economic Development Director to enter into agreements with the applicants referred to above, under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980 for the implementation of schemes of highway improvements associated with the developments, as detailed within the report and shown upon plans numbered DC0639, DC0640, DC0643, DC0642, DC0644, DC0645, DC0646, DC0641 and DC0647.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director advising on the proposals for the renewal of the Service Contract No. 6 for Minor Highway Works and the Contract for the Routine Maintenance of Bridges and Structures; and seeking approval to extend the existing service contracts with Wrenco (Contractors) Ltd., Westshield Limited (Service Contract 6) and Wrenco (Contractors) Ltd. (Bridges and Structures) until new contractual arrangements were in place, for a period not exceeding 12 months; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as both the existing Service Contract No. 6 and the Contract for the Routine Maintenance of Bridges and Structures were due to end on 31 July 2010.  A renewal of all minor works/service contracts and procurement methods was in progress, with the aim of being in place on 1 April 2011.  To enable the continued implementation of urgent bridge and structure maintenance, LTP highways schemes, other Sefton funded schemes and works for third party clients within required time scales, it was proposed that the existing contracts were extended for the interim period, this period not to exceed a maximum of 12 months to allow for any delay in awarding the new contracts.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)       notes the proposals for the renewal of the stated contracts which may include minor amendments;

(2)            approve the extension of the existing Service Contract No. 6 and the Contract for the Routine Maintenance of Bridges and Structures for a period not exceeding 12 months in order to provide continuity for works implementation until the new contractual arrangements are in place; and

(3)       waive Contract Procedure Rules relating to Invitation to Tenders to allow the extension of the contracts.