Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brodie-Browne, McNabb, Murphy and Sir Ron Watson.

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 22 October 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 92of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 January 2025 the Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial that provided details of the review of the local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) for the current year, 2024/25; recommending to Cabinet that following the review, it was proposed that there should be no change made to the scheme for 2025/26; and that provided an updated Council Tax Base for Sefton Council and each Parish area for 2025/26.

Annex A to the report detailed the Council Tax Base for 2025/26; and Annex B detailed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26, including consultation summary and equalities impact assessment.

The Committee was advised that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on 9 January 2025 resolved (Minute No. 92) that:

(1)      the content of the review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the current financial year, 2024/25 be noted;

(2)      the Council be recommended to approve the current scheme for 2025/26; and

(3)      the Council be recommended to approve the relevant Council Tax Base for Sefton Council and each Parish Area for 2025/26 as set out in Annex A of the report.

The report required approval by Council at its meeting to be held on 16 January 2025.

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

·       The Council was commended for ensuring that vulnerable people, especially those with disabilities, were safeguarded during the challenging economic period due to the cost-of-living crisis and increases in energy bills 

·       The principle was noted that the Council would continue to recognise the additional needs of families with children; and that Child Benefit and Child Maintenance payments were not considered as income when calculating entitlement to CTRS. Information was sought on potential anomalies in the CTRS due to absent parents who did not contribute financially to their child(ren) and the impact this had on entitlement to CTRS. The Customer Centric Services Manager indicated that she would provide an update to the Committee on this matter

·       The migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit and how this would affect CTRS claims

·       The work of One Stop Shop staff who provided assistance to customers seeking help with claims and entitlements for CTRS was commended    

RESOLVED:

That the report updating on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax Base 2025/26 be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial to follow

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial that sought comments for the submission to Cabinet on the Council’s Counter Fraud Strategy (the Strategy).

The report indicated that The Council had carried out a self-assessment against the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Code of Practice on Managing the Risk of Fraud and Corruption; that one of the proposed actions that the Council should undertake was the development of a Counter Fraud Strategy for approval; that the proposed Strategy was based on the CIFAS, a not for profit counter fraud organisation’s, five pillars and included roles and responsibilities as well as key priorities for the next three years; that an action plan had been developed based on the key priorities; and that the Council had made some progress on implementing actions to improve the Council’s counter fraud approach which would be enhanced with the actions from the proposed Strategy.

A copy of the Strategy and Action Plan 2024/25 to 2025/26 were attached as appendices to the report.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 94of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 January 2025 the Committee considered the report of the Executive Director - Corporate Services and Commercial that advised of:

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

·       did the Government appointed commissioner to oversee services for children, young people and families in Sefton recommend ways for the Council to address budget overspends?

·       A recent report by the Local Government Association which identified that the number of looked after children across the country continued to increase; and that the high figures underlined the urgent need for the Government to implement measures to address the funding pressures in children’s services

·       Competition amongst local authorities to attract experienced social work staff and resultant increases in costs

·       In respect of Education Excellence, the potential net overspend of £2.5m, which mainly related to Home to School Transport; and how this figure compared to the department’s overall budget 

·       Would Government allow local authorities to roll over overspends on the Dedicated Schools Grant in relation to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities?

·       Education Excellence schemes within 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 2024/25; the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by informal meetings of the Committee; the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and provided reasons for the deferral of a number of items at the previous meeting of the 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 – Corporate Services.

A Member of the Committee commented on the activity at the One Stop Shop facility provided at the Atkinson and the current position regarding improvements to make the facility more accessible.

RESOLVED: That