Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Byrom (and his substitute Member Councillor Carragher), D’Albuquerque (and his substitute Member Councillor Shaw), McGinnity and Murphy (and her substitute Member Councillor Chris Maher).

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2023

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

Presentation by the Executive Director - People

The Committee received a presentation from Andrea Watts, Executive Director of People, that updated on the Liverpool City Region Digital Inclusion Strategy (the Strategy). Ms. Watts indicated that further to the presentation made to this Committee in January23, which set out the initial first steps in bringing to life the framework for LCRCA Digital Inclusion Strategy and which included an overview of Sefton’s Digital strategy linked to connected Council, empowered residents and business growth; this presentation would detail the progress of Digital Inclusion from a Combined Authority perspective. Ms. Watts highlighted the following matters:

·       A reminder of the key components of connectivity – barriers being availability and cost; equipment; and skills

·       The developed key workstreams of Digital Inclusion Alliance Network; Digital Champions Model; and Digital Support Intervention Pilots

·       In respect of the Digital Support Intervention Pilots the Digital inclusion Initiative was an industry led programme to tackle digital exclusion; and LCRCA were facilitating the roll-out of 4500 free android tablets, accompanied by 6 months of free Vodaphone mobile connectivity and free in person digital skills training. Wave 1.1 was launched in August 2023 and focused on the DWP Restart Scheme and Ways to Work; and that working with the Digital Inclusion Network members the aim was to continue to support residents between now and July 2024

·       Wave 1.2 would take place between November 2023 and January 2024 and would target the roll-out of 600+ devices and sims across the six LCRCA local authority areas and cohorts could include digitally excluded individuals across numerous groups

·       Wave 1.3 onwards was to distribute the remaining 3900 devices and feedback would be crucial to assess what was working well with the programme and what was not

·       In addition, informed by data and local authority colleagues, other areas of intervention would be explored that helped to target digital exclusion –e.g., social broadband tariffs, recycled digital kit or free mobile data for those most in need

·       Other Sefton initiatives to increase the number of public access computers and other devices available to residents and organisations   

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following matters:

·       The age range of participants in the Digital Inclusion Initiative

·       The availability of statistics on the number of Sefton residents who did not have internet access

·       Did, and how, was contact maintained with cohorts

·       The extent of take-up of social broadband tariffs

RESOLVED: That

Presentation by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee received a presentation from Paul Reilly, Service Manager - Finance, on the Asset Management Strategy/Disposal Policy. Mr. Reillyupdated on: 

• the Council’s Asset Base - a robust strategic approach was required to ensure assets were maximised and informed decisions could be made and that this was achieved via a centralised approach; and that there was a need to critically evaluate the use, value and benefit that could be derived from council assets.
• the relevant policies such as the Asset Management Strategy and the Asset Disposal Policy; and that an annual review for above documents would conducted with the next formal review being 6 January 2024; that the policies aligned with the Framework for Change and new capital strategy; and that the documents went through the Council’s formal governance process including Cabinet and Council.
• elected Member engagement in the decision-making process and the legislation that provided the framework within which the council operated within.
• Phase 1 asset disposals approved by Cabinet in January 2020; and that further phases were being considered and would progress as a continuous programme subject to necessary approvals.

A Member of the Committee acknowledged that assets were technically classed as such on the Council’s Balance Sheet and information was sought on how the Council distinguished between assets and liabilities since some assets required ongoing investment.

RESOLVED:

That Paul Reilly be thanked for his informative presentation. 

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 70 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 October 2023 the Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that advised of:

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       financial problems were self-evident and information was sought on when solutions would be identified to achieve a balanced budget

·       when schemes associated with the Southport Town Deal would be referenced in the capital programme

RESOLVED:

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought the views of the Committee on the Work Programme for 2023/24; the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by informal meetings; the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; and that updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that included the most recent report from the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       The high number of taxi licence appointments at the One-Stop Shops

·       Information was sought on the terms of the petition submitted by “The Voice of the Families” as referred to in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) update

RESOLVED: That