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.

The following declaration of interest was received:-

Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November, 2009

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the inclusion of the following resolution to Minute No.69 Sefton Business Village Partnership Activities:-

(3)      the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to draft a report  on  the effectiveness of the permit scheme for late night Christmas shopping in  Southport.

the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Tourism

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Head of Tourism that sought feedback on the draft Visitor Economy Strategy for Southport.

A copy of the draft Visitor Economy Strategy for Southport was attached as an annexe to the report.

Members discussed the item at length and asked a variety of questions that were answered by the Head of Tourism. Members also commented on the proposed major investment at Pontin’s-Southport by its owners Ocean Parc and suggested that a future report should include reference to Pontin’s.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Draft Visitor Economy Strategy report be noted; and

(2)      the Head of Tourism be requested to note Members’ comments regarding Pontin’s-Southport.

Head of Regeneration and Technical Services

Further Minute No.102 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Technical Services held on 16 December 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services advising of the corporate and domestic energy efficiency, eco education, strategic progress and awareness activities undertaken in accordance with the Councils Corporate Carbon Reduction, Fuel Poverty, Sustainable Schools and Home Energy Conservation Act commitments during 2008/09.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the energy carbon and water progress report be noted; and

(2)      the various external cross sector partners be congratulated for their           delivery of the activities detailed in the report.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director that confirmed the extant planning framework provided by saved policies in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Supplementary Planning Guidance & Development Briefs was still relevant to the HMRI (Housing Market Renewal Initiative) programme; and assessed the impact of changes that had taken place since this was put in place, including:

• changes to the housing market as a result of HMRI intervention, and the impact of the credit crunch;
• the adoption of the UDP and approval of the North West of England Plan, Regional Strategy to 2021 (RS);
• the work done and studies commissioned to support the preparation of the core strategy; and
• the implications of human rights legislation.

The report went on to confirm that the planning framework was up to date and fully supported the Council’s resolution to make further Compulsory Purchase Orders (Minutes 83 and 84, Cabinet, 6 August 2009) in the Bedford and Queens Road, and the Klondyke and Hawthorne Road areas of Bootle.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be requested to confirm the existing planning framework was still appropriate and supportive of the Council’s strategy for the HMRI (Housing Market Renewal Initiative) area.

Joint Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and Leisure Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director that explained and provided an update on the current situation in respect of ‘SUSTAIN’ project for the Interreg IVC programme. The report commented that Sefton, working with the North West Coastal Forum, were cooperating with transnational partners as leaders in the field of coastal management. This would provide Sefton and its regional partners improved capability to look after the coastal asset and maintain Sefton’s role as a leading coastal authority.

RESOLVED:

The SUSTAIN - Interreg IVC programme report be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director that introduced the new statutory duty to undertake a Local Economic Assessment to members, and explained preparations for implementing Assessments in the North West, Merseyside and Sefton.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Local Economic Assessment report be noted;

(2)      the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director be requested to report back on plans for the preparation of the Sefton Local Economic Assessment, and any financial implications; and

(3)      the preparation of a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy be approved in principle.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and Deputy Chief Executive

Further to Minute No.94 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Technical Services held on 2 December 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on potential funding for energy and efficiency and renewable energies in social and low income housing; and seeking approval to make a request to Cabinet for the approval of Sefton Council to take on the financial and legal responsibility of being an accountable body for a sub-regional project.

The report indicated, that in addition to the £7 billion made available by Central Government, the European Commission had agreed to devote £29 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme resources to domestic energy and renewable actions; that in response to Department for Communities and Local Government guidance issued in August 2009 which stated that measures should be directed at existing social housing, defined in Articles 68-70 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, and a call from the Regional Development Agency for a sub-regional bid to directly stimulate the market for low carbon and environmental technologies and renewable energies via their application within existing social and low income housing, five officers from five local authorities, plus Halton, representatives of local universities, RSLs and Utilities had submitted a proposal, to address five themes as follows:

(a)            Physical housing improvement works to reduce CO2 emissions;

(b)            Developing small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the local supply chain;

(c)            Growing the market for a low carbon economy through renewables and energy efficiency;

(d)            Evaluation and local learning; and

(e)            Engagement with private landlord sector to complement the work on a sub regional accreditations scheme.

The report also indicated that monies from the ERDF could be used for the administration of the bid; and that whilst taking on the accountable status would impose financial and legal responsibilities on the Local Authority, it would allow existing expertise and experience to be developed in this area.

The Assistant Director of Asset Management updated the committee and indicated that the bid had been successful in moving to the next stage; and that positive feedback on the bid had been given following a meeting with the North West Development Agency (NWDA).

A copy of the expression of interest was attached as an Annex to the report.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the Potential Funding Opportunity 1 – Energy Efficiency and Renewable energies in Social and Low Income Housing report be noted;

(2)            Cabinet be requested to note the Expression of Interest submitted to North West Regional Authority; and

(3)            Cabinet be requested to support the principle of Sefton Council to be the accountable body for this sub-regional bid, subject to sufficient external funding being made available for the management of the project, and Cabinet approval.

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and Deputy Chief Executive

Further to Minute No.94 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Technical Services held on 2 December 2009 the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the potential funding opportunity for low carbon communities challenge 2010-2012 indicating that Central Government had made (£500,000) worth of resources available under the Low Carbon Communities Challenge Programme; that the Government were seeking to work with 20 ‘test beds’ communities to spur the development of broader plans for cutting carbon emissions in their area; that following discussions with Formby Parish Council agreement had been reached for the Parish Council to submit a bid to the Low Carbon Communities Challenge Programme; that  Formby Parish Council had requested assistance in the development and delivery of a successful bid for which the Parish Council would be the accountable body; and that, if successful, the project would require significant officer time input, for which Cabinet approval would be necessary.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the report be noted;

(2)            Cabinet be requested to approve that assistance from Sefton officers be given to Formby Parish Council in the development of the bid, and then, if successful, with the bid’s delivery; and

(3)            Cabinet be requested to approve the submission of further update reports as necessary.

Report of the Housing Market Renewal Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Housing Market Renewal Director that advised on progress towards achieving the Department’s objectives and targets in 2009-10.

RESOLVED:

That the Housing Market Renewal Department, Service Delivery Plan ’09-10, Half Year Performance Progress report be noted.

Report of the Housing Market Renewal Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Housing Market Renewal Director that sought authority to grant a 250-year lease to the Keepmoat Property Ltd, part of the Keepmoat Group for the 50-64 Stanley Road site, and to jointly fund the construction of twelve apartments for social rent and the 5694 sq ft of retail space.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet be recommended to:-

(1)      approve the granting of a Development Licence to the Keepmoat Property Ltd. for the 50-64 Stanley Road site in order to carry out the development of twelve apartments for social rent, and 5694 sq ft of retail space;

(2)      approve the granting of a 250-year ‘ground lease’ for the 50-64 Stanley Road site to Keepmoat Property Ltd. upon the successful completion of the scheme; and

(3)      subject to (1) and (2) above, approve the use of £885,152 of HMR grant funding in order to jointly fund the construction of the scheme.