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 3 November 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute No. 90 of 20 October 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Chief Executive that sought reconsideration of the decision relating to the progression of the Southport Cycle Town - Proposed Cycle Track - Birkdale to Ainsdale to the planning application stage; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required due to the internal and external costs associated with the approval process, the prioritisation of management capacity to respond to the Council's challenging financial situation and the risk that the funding would not be committed in time and would have to be repaid.

The report indicated that the decision taken by the Cabinet Member on 20 October 2010 had now been "called-in" and that it would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) on 23 November 2010; and detailed the comments of the Chief Executive following her review of the scheme in relation to the review of all ongoing projects to ensure that financial risk was minimised and the maximisation of management capacity to deal with the financial challenges and organisational change the Council was facing.

The report concluded that, given the limited ability of the Council to commit to the funding within grant deadlines, it was recommended that the Cabinet Member rescind his previous decision to progress the scheme to the next stage.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the decision contained in Minute No. 90 of the meeting held on 20 October 2010 relating to the progression of the proposed Birkdale to Ainsdale cycle track scheme be rescinded; and

(2)       no further action be taken on the scheme for the reasons set out in the report.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking authority, in conjunction with the Interim Head of Corporate Legal Services, to adopt an area of highway pursuant to Section 228 of the Highways Act 1980, as detailed in the report and as shown on the plan numbered DC0686; and indicating that a decision on the matter was required to allow the Local Authority to maintain and adopt the area of highway, at public expense, but which did not form part of the adopted highway network at the present time.

RESOLVED:  

That the Interim Head of Corporate Legal Services, in conjunction with the Planning and Economic Development Director, be authorised to adopt the area of highway pursuant to Section 228 of the Highways Act 1980 as detailed within the report and as shown upon the plan numbered DC0686.

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 allocation of remaining capital contributions for transport schemes within the Local Transport Plan (LTP); and indicating that a decision on this matter was required as the Cabinet Member had delegated powers to approve such schemes within the LTP.

The report indicated that a review of the capital contributions was undertaken as part of the overall funding review and a total balance of remaining capital contributions of £387K had been identified.  The majority of this (£303K) comprised two substantial contributions and the remaining £84K consisted of the balances from fourteen smaller contributions.  These resources were not currently allocated to any specific schemes, so the options available for making best use of the remaining contributions had been investigated taking into consideration the Council's overall budget situation and the following two options were suggested:

(i)          allocate a portion of the available capital contributions to support the delivery of Local Transport Plan objectives, for use in 2010/11 and in future years; or

(ii)          allocate all the remaining contributions to support the Council's budget savings programme.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)      the resources available from capital contributions to transport schemes and the potential to allocate such resources to support the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme be noted; and

(2)          Cabinet be recommended to allocate a £100k of the uncommitted  capital contributions to contribute to addressing long standing highway parking issues within the Borough; and to determine the allocation of the remaining resources.

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 temporary closure of a footway on the south side of Ledsons Bridge, Spencers Lane, Melling to enable refurbishment works to be carried out on the canal bridge.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the temporary closure of the footway on the south side of Ledsons Canal Bridge, Spencers Lane, Melling as detailed in paragraph 2.1.1 of the report be approved; and

(2)       the Planning and Economic Development Director be authorised to execute the necessary legal procedures and to advertise the Council's intention to implement the temporary closure.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director seeking approval for parking promotions to support retail Christmas Promotions during December 2010.

The report indicated that it was recognised that parking initiatives during the festive season had:

·                 high promotional benefit for local retail promotions

·                 encouraged local loyalty;

that discussions had been ongoing with Town Centre Partnerships and Business Village Partnerships (BVP) regarding parking promotions for Christmas 2010; that only the Crosby BVP had sought approval to progress a scheme; and that £1,000 had been secured from both the Crosby Area Committee and a local business to fund a parking promotion scheme in Crosby Town Centre.

The report concluded that the funding would permit free parking in Crosby Town Centre on the three Saturdays in December in the lead up to Christmas; and that there would be no implications on the Parking Service budget.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the detailed proposals for adjustments to the Parking Service operation to support retail Christmas promotions in Crosby Town Centre, as detailed in the report, be approved; and

(2)      the Planning and Economic Development Director be requested to consult with the Crosby traders for the free parking to commence at 10.30 am on each Saturday to avoid all day parking by non-visitors to the Town Centre.