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 19 January 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that sought to establish the charging regime, to be made for taking certain enforcement actions, under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004.

Attached as an annexe to the report was the proposed scale of enforcement charges under the Housing Act 2004.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be requested to approve the scale of enforcement charges under the Housing Act 2004, as detailed within annexe A of the Private Sector Enforcement Fees and Charges report.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that advised of the outcome of the recent consultation exercise and sought approval to a new Choice Based Allocations Policy, to be adopted by the five Merseyside Local Authorities participating in the Sub–Regional Scheme; and note progress toward the introduction of the Scheme.

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

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Cabinet be requested to approve the revised Choice Based Allocations Policy, as detailed within the annexe to the Merseyside Sub-Regional Based Lettings Scheme – Allocations Policy report; and

(2)      the progress toward the introduction of the sub-regional Choice Based Lettings Scheme be noted.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that advised of the Sefton Business Village Partnerships (BVP) Review. The report sought to set out:

·       the background and context to the review, including resource constraints of the Council and the Localism policy agenda;

·       the overall outcomes of the BVP Review;

·       the potential succession options for BVPs post March 2011;

·       all of the above to allow Sefton BVP Members to come to an informed view about what are the preferred options for post March 2011; and

·       the next steps, if there are any resource or governance implications, for the Council

The Cabinet member and Party Spokespersons discussed, at length, the options for moving forward with the BVP structure as part of the wider area management arrangements.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Sefton Business Village Partnership Review report be noted;

(2)      with regard to the options for moving forward with the BVP structure the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director be advised that:-

(i)                                  Option 2, as detailed within the report, is the preferred option;

(ii)                                 Option 3, as detailed within the report, is rejected as an option;

(iii)                                Options 1 and 4, as detailed within the report, remain as possible alternatives to Option 1; and

(3)      the BVP’s stakeholders be commended for the commitment in delivering the review of BVPs.

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

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that advised of the submission of bids under Round 1 of Regional Growth Fund (RGF), and next steps.

RESOLVED:

That the report and the fact that further update reports will be submitted, as necessary, be noted.