Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Maher.

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 9 June 2010 were confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director

Further to Minute No.9 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Environmental held on 30 June 2010, 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.

Joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy

Further to Minute No.11 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Environmental held on 30 June 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy seeking the approval of policy decisions on the operation of the Carbon Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) which became legislation on 1 April 2010; in particular seeking approval of constitutional changes that were required to enable the Council to operate the Scheme within the law and to discuss briefly, the treatment of potential 'Penalties' or 'Rewards' arising from it; and to update Members on developments regarding the Scheme.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the report on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme be noted;

(2)      Cabinet be requested to recommend the Council to change the Council's Constitution, delegating authority to the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT Strategy or, if a different person, the Officer acting in a Section 151 capacity, to act as the CRC responsible person, to enable trading of Carbon Allowances using General Fund resources and to sign off all future Carbon declarations and claims made through the Scheme to the Department for Energy and Climate Change; and

(3)      Cabinet be recommended to:-

(i)       agree for the first year of Carbon trading (2011/12), to adopt the approach of funding corporately, any penalty or reward arising from the CRC scheme, with a view to allowing Officers time to consider future options for the distribution of penalties and rewards.  These would be the subject of a further report to Members at the appropriate time; and

(ii)      allow Officers scope to explore the skills and support required to enable future market trading of Carbon Allowances.

Joint Report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No.10 of the meeting of Cabinet Member – Environmental held on 30 June 2010, 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 Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that sought the approval of proposed priorities for bids to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) Grants for affordable housing projects within Sefton. 

RESOLVED:

That the priority order and  bids for National Affordable Housing Programme to be made to the Homes and Communities Agency by Registered Social Landlords for affordable housing schemes within Sefton, as detailed within the report, be approved.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Neighbourhoods and Investment Programmes Director that consider a proposal put forward by One Vision Housing (OVH) to utilise a long term empty property to give on-site construction training/experience in partnership with the North West Training Council.  OVH further propose to dispose of the property, post refurbishment, and offset the cost of the training programme against the capital receipt.

RESOLVED: That

(1)    the training initiative proposal suggested by OVH and detailed within the report, be approved; and

(2)    the conditions within paragraph 3.2 of the report be applied.