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 23 February 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought approval for the allocation of funding within the 2011/12 Technical Services Capital Programme to Local Transport Plan programmes. The report also sought approval for the schemes to be progressed within the Integrated Transport and Maintenance Programme Blocks, including street lighting, drainage, urban traffic control and highway structures.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the 2011/12 Integrated Transport and Maintenance Programme schemes, including street lighting and highway structures within the Local Transport Plan Technical Services Capital Programme, be approved; and

(2)      the allocation of the necessary funding within the Local Transport Plan capital programme for 2011/12, be approved.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that advised of the results of the reviews for Urban Safety Management and Local Safety Schemes (Route and Single Sites) and progress on the Pedestrian Crossing Review.

The report also sought approval for a programme of schemes for implementation and investigation in the financial year 2011/12 and future years.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the proposed Priority Programme of Urban Safety Management and Local Safety Schemes (routes and single sites), as detailed within the the report, be approved for implementation through the Local Transport Plan Capital Allocation;

(2)      the programme of sites outlined for investigation in 2011/12, as detailed within the report, be approved, and the results be reported to the Cabinet Member; and

(3)      the results of the Pedestrian Crossing Review be conveyed to the Cabinet Member.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought authority to make, advertise and submit for confirmation a Compulsory Purchase Order and accompanying Statement of Reasons to acquire land and rights for the proposed Thornton to Switch Island Highway Link.

At the meeting, Officers informed the Cabinet Member that, following Counsel’s advice and prior to the report being considered by the Cabinet, further detailed discussions would need to be held with various Government Departments.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report be noted and that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet seeking authority to make the Compulsory Purchase Order; and

(2)      in respect of Government-owned land, which is required for the Highway Scheme, the Director of Built Environment and the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to negotiate with the appropriate Government Departments and Agencies (including the Department for Transport, the Highways Agency, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Forestry Commission, and the Treasury Solicitor) and to enter into any legal agreements with those bodies which are necessary to enable the Highway Scheme to proceed.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought authority for the making of the Side Roads Order for the proposed Thornton to Switch Island Highway Link.

Further to Minute No.151 above Officers informed the Cabinet Member that, following Counsel’s advice and prior to the report being considered by the Cabinet, further detailed discussions would need to be held with various Government Departments.

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

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet seeking authority to make the Side Roads Order.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought approval for Officers to pursue bids for inclusion in the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) in partnership with the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (ITA), West Lancashire District Council and Lancashire County Council; submit of proposals to the Merseyside ITA for inclusion in a Merseyside LSTF Bid; and submit of a joint LSTF bid, with West Lancashire District Council, aimed at supporting the visitor economy in the area.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the approach being taken to submit a large bid (with a key component) through the Merseyside ITA and a to submit a separate small bid in partnership with West Lancashire District Council, as detailed within the report, be endorsed;

(2)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the proposals to be submitted to the Merseyside ITA for inclusion in a Merseyside Bid to the LSTF; and

(3)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the submission of a joint LSTF bid with West Lancashire District Council.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that sought approval for the Head of Corporate Legal Services, in conjunction with the Director of Built Environment, to make a stopping-up application, as detailed within the report, to the magistrates’ court under the provisions of section 116 of the Highways Act 1980, following a request under section 117 of that Act.

RESOLVED:

That the Director of Built Environment and the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to apply to the magistrates’ court to extinguish/stop-up the following area of highway under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980, as detailed within the report and shown upon the attached plan numbered DC0731, subject to the which made the request bearing all costs associated with the application:

• Part of the highway including carriageway and footway at Browning Street, Bootle – Plan number DC0731

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that sought approval for the Head of Corporate Legal Services, in conjunction with the Director of Built Environment, to make a stopping-up order application, as detailed within the report, to the magistrates’ court under the provisions of section 116 of the Highways Act 1980, following a request under section 117 of that Act.

RESOLVED:

That the Director of Built Environment and the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to apply to the magistrates’ court to extinguish/stop-up the following areas of highway under Section 116 of the Highways Act 1980, as detailed within the report and shown upon the attached plans numbered DC0737 and DC0738, subject to the company which made the request bearing all costs associated with the applications:

• Areas of highway including carriageways, footways, parking areas and landscaping adjoining Montgomery House and intervening Kings Park and Sandhurst Close-Plan number DC0737; and
• Areas of highway including carriageways, footways, parking areas and landscaping adjoining Churchill House and Alexander House and intervening Kings Park and Sandy Road, Seaforth. Plan number DC0738.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

The Cabinet Member considered report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that sought the authority for the Director of Built Environment, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Legal Services, to enter into an agreement under Sections 38 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980 with various developers/agents and to issue certificates of adoption for highways constructed in accordance with the agreements.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Director of Built Environment be authorised to enter into agreements under Sections 38 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980 with Keepmoat Homes and Southdale Limited for the dedication and eventual adoption of the roads and footways within the following developments:

·       Palmerston Avenue, Litherland – Southdale Limited– DV6100;

·       Pine Grove, Bootle– Keepmoat Homes – file number DV6110; and

(2)      subject to the works being undertaken to the satisfaction of the Traffic Services Manager, authorisation be given to the Director of Built Environment to issue Part 1, Part 2 and Final Certificates of adoption respectively, to the developers at the appropriate times.

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 locations which had been identified for inclusion in the Highway Maintenance Programme for 2011/12 and provided an update on the consultations with Area Committees. The report also sought retrospective approval to the delivery of a small micro asphalt resurfacing programme. The report also commented on additional funding, associated with winter repairs, which had been announced by Government and sought agreement to use the funds for the delivery of an expanded patching programme.

At the meeting, Officers circulated an addendum to the report, which contained the results of consultation with individual Area Committees.

RESOLVED: That

(1)    the Highway Maintenance Programme for 2011/12, as detailed within the report, with the addition of carriageway resurfacing schemes at Virginia Street, Southport and Freshfield Road, Formby, be approved;

(2)    approval be granted for the progression of those schemes, detailed within paragraph 7.2 of the report with the inclusion of in the carriageway resurfacing programme, to be funded through the LTP Highway Maintenance block allocation made available during the 2010/11 financial year; and

(3)    the additional winter maintenance funding made available by the Government be set aside for use in the delivery of an expanded patching programme across the 2011/12 financial year under the terms and conditions laid down for the acceptance of the funding.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that advised on the progress for the renewal of the existing highway and drainage maintenance contracts. The report sought approval to extend a number of existing service contracts, for a period not exceeding 6 months, in order to provide continuity for maintenance works until the new contractual arrangements were in place.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Renewal of Highway and Drainage Maintenance Contracts report be noted;

(2)      the Cabinet be requested to note the progress of the renewal of the highway and drainage maintenance contracts;

(3)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the extension of the contracts, referred to within the report, for a period not exceeding 6 months in order, to provide continuity for maintenance works until the new contractual arrangements are in place; and

(4)      the Cabinet be requested to waive Contracts Procedure Rule No. 3, relating to the invitation of tenders to allow the extension of the contracts.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that sought approval for amendments to the staffing establishment, in order to make adequate provision for undertaking new statutory duties relating to Flood Risk Management.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management report be noted;

(2)      the Cabinet be requested to consider the impact of the new duties, together with existing flood defence and coastal defence responsibilities;

(3)      the Cabinet be requested to note Sefton’s specific grant allocations within the Local Government Finance Settlement of £120,600 in 2011/12 and £157,900 in 2012/13; and

(4)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the allocation of £70,000 out of the above funding to the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management function, from April 2011 in order to facilitate adequate delivery of the new duties, through the creation of one full time equivalent new post, which would provide a redeployment opportunity for staff under risk of redundancy as a result of the Council’s budget savings in 2011/12.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director that sought approval for a revised process for dealing with verge parking and protection.

Attached as annexes to the report were a copy of a report that was submitted to Area Committees and a flow chart which advised of a revised process for dealing with verge parking and protection.

RESOLVED:

That the revised process for dealing with verge parking and protection, as detailed within the report and the revised flowchart at annexe B, be approved.