Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor McKinley reported that the Vice-Chair, Councillor John Kelly had undergone an eight hour operation that day.

RESOLVED:            

That the Committee’s best wishes be extended to Councillor John Kelly for a speedy recovery. 

The Chair, Councillor McKinley reported that, with effect from 12 March 2015, Councillor P. Maguire had resigned as a Member of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee places on record the Committee’s appreciation of the work undertaken by Councillor Maguire during his time as a Borough Councillor and of his valuable contribution as a Member of this Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Atkinson, Harill, J. Kelly and Weavers.

In accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declaration of personal interest was made and the Member concerned remained in the room during the consideration of the item:

Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2015.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2015, be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment in relation to the progress made regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Port Master Plan Working Group.

It was reported that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had considered the Final Report of the Cross-Cutting Working Group on the Port Master Plan on 28 August 2012 and the report had subsequently been accepted by the Cabinet on 13 September 2012.

The report detailed the progress made, to date against each of the recommendations.

Members raised the following points of observation responses to which were made by officers:

RESOLVED:             That:

(1)       the progress report be noted;

(2)       the findings and conclusions from the joint working with the Council’s Public Health Department and Public Health England in relation to air pollution and the impact on health regarding the Port, be reported to this Committee;

(3)       the Director of Built Environment be requested to submit a report to this Committee in relation to the location of Air Quality Monitoring Units throughout the Borough to include the justification for their location: and

(4)       the report be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board for information. 

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which updated Members on all aspects of the Green Deal scheme and how it relates to Sefton.

The report explained that the Green Deal (GD) was a financing mechanism that allowed individuals to pay for energy-efficiency improvements through savings on their energy bills.  Repayments would be no more than what a typical household should save in energy costs.  Suppliers of GD works are able to recoup their investment through additional charges on energy bills.  This removes any upfront costs for investment but still allows the residents to attain energy savings.

The report also explained that before a resident could proceed with a GD, they are required to have a Green Deal Assessment, which has been available since October 2012.

The report also outlined that a Green Deal Assessment was an important tool in ensuring that savings would be greater than costs and hence meet the “golden rule” of GD.  A Green Deal Assessment uses the Standard Assessment Procedure method and this data will be collected by Sefton where it is lodged with Landmark (the Government contractor for managing and holding Energy Performance Certficates data), in order to monitor energy improvements over time.

The report detailed the following headlines in relation to the GD:

·         How the GD and Energy Company Obligation operated.

·         Progress Nationally.

·         Additional GD activity including GD Go Early Pilot.

In conclusion, the report referred to Sefton’s new Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) Plan (2013-2027) as providing the Council with a bold strategy to address the energy challenges and opportunities that the Borough would be required to address.  The report also identified that the purpose of Sefton’s new HECA Plan priorities was the reduction in fuel poverty which was regarded to be the most immediate threat and one that would be the Council’s priority for action and measurable improvements.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services that updated Members on the activities of the Cabinet Members for the February 2015 period for the following portfolios that fall within the remit of this Committee:-

·         Cabinet Member – Communities and Environment;

·         Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Tourism;

·         Cabinet Member – Transportation; and

·         Cabinet Member – Children, Schools, Families and Leisure.

RESOLVED:

That the activities undertaken by the various Cabinet Members, whose portfolio falls within the remit of this Committee, be noted.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services in relation to the Committee’s programme of work.  A number of Key Decisions within the latest Key Decision Forward Plan fell under the remit of this Committee and Members were reminded of their right to pre-scrutinise such items.

The report outlined progress in relation to the Shale Gas (Fracking) Working Group and referred to the key witnesses who had been interviewed to date.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer, Mrs. Ruth Harrison, referred Members to Appendix B to the report, which detailed the programme of work for the Committee for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

RESOLVED:             That

(1)       the Committee notes items for pre-scrutiny from the Key Decision Forward Plan;

(2)       the progress of the Shale Gas (Fracking) Working Group be noted and Councillor O’Brien be appointed to serve on the Group; and

(3)       the programme of work 2014/15, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be noted and agreed as completed.  

As this was the last meeting of the Committee in the current Municipal Year, the Chair, Councillor McKinley, recorded his thanks and appreciation to the Members and Officers of the Committee for their support during the year.