Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

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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 interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022 be confirmed as a correct record.

Presentation by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee received a presentation from Stephanie Hopkin, Facilities Manager, on the Council’s new ways of working. Ms. Hopkin updated on Phase 1 – Asset maximisation, locality working and ICT transformation which enabled the start of agile working and which was completed in 2017-2019; Phase 2 - further development of Agile Working arrangements to support business need and health and wellbeing of staff, and which took account of changes arising from the pandemic and the further rationalisation of buildings which delivered further budget savings and that this project was nearing completion; and

Phase 3 – the longer-term review of Bootle estate linked to Bootle Town Hall, the Strand and lease on Magdalen House - 2022-2032.

Ms. Hopkin also provided additional information on Phase 2 relating to:

·       progress made on agile working as the new way of working and how Covid-19 accelerated this progress; significant further Investment in ICT infrastructure, kit, licensing and mobile phones; employees embracing the change in a challenging environment; and that COVID-19 related measures were monitored via building risk assessments

·       what Phase 2 looked like which included the reduction in the building footprint, which linked to the Asset Management and Climate Change Strategies; the achievement of carbon savings through reduced electricity and gas consumption in buildings and the reduction of commuter and business travel; proposals for St. Peter’s House and St. Anne’s House; lease issues on both 3th and 4th floors of Magdalen House relating to Children’s Services operational requirements which in turn allowed for a review of wider assets; and that the regearing of the Magdalen lease had resulted in lower revenue cost, a rent free period and options around the mothballing of wider assets as well as supporting a critical Children’s Services revised operating model.  

·       Moving forward and the full and continual engagement with trade unions; reviews undertaken in respect of HR policies, ICT solutions and guides for staff; the provision of home kit and individual health and safety risk assessments; office environments being set up to meet the agile needs of staff; the average time for workers attending the office being 1-2 days per week and that attendance in corporate buildings was in line with service requirements for such things as elected member governance meetings; car parking proposals; team and 1:1 staff meetings to discuss business need; and that Phase 3 proposals were now being developed

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

·       The working arrangements of staff who were wholly office based, wholly working from home or who worked as part of a hybrid model

·       The dialogue between managers and staff to ensure that the business needs of the authority could be maintained whilst also meeting the personal circumstances of staff whilst agile working

·       The benefits to staff who worked using the hybrid model

·       The wellbeing of staff should be ensured whilst working from home to combat isolation issues

·       Security issues associated with ICT equipment to ensure confidentiality was maintained when staff were dealing with very sensitive issues such children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Presentation by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Committee received a presentation from Stephan Van Arendsen, Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services, on the Asset Management Strategy/Disposal Policy. Mr. Van Arendsen updated 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; the Asset Disposal Policy; updates to provide strategic framework for decisions; alignment with Framework for Change and new capital strategy that was required; documents went through the council’s formal governance process including Cabinet and Council; documents and processes were recently audited; and that an annual review for the strategy and policy documents was conducted and that the next formal review would be in March 2023

·       elected Member engagement in the decision-making process and the legislation that provided the framework within which the council worked

·       Phase 1 asset disposals approved by Cabinet in January 2020; and that sites were being disposed of across a 3-year programme

·       Strategy supporting the Framework for Change which included asset maximisation; partnering opportunities; agile working; alignment with ICT / Digital Strategy; key enabler to Public Sector Reform projects and reform for service delivery; strategic investment; and the key enabler- direct contributor to growth programme

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

·       Consideration given by the Council prior to the disposal of an asset to ascertain whether an option of renting or leasing the asset would be more preferable

·       The maintenance of assets and grounds deemed surplus to operational requirements

·       The undertaking of self-insurance by the Council

·        The insurance management of the Council’s whole asset portfolio and the insurance of specialised assets

RESOLVED:

That Stephan Van Arendsen be thanked for his informative presentation. 

Report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services (Strategic Support)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services (Strategic Support) that provided an update on the implications of the Elections Act 2022 on the conduct of future elections in Sefton.

The report indicated that on 28 April 2022, the Elections Act 2022 received Royal Assent and that the Act sought to:

·       require voters to show photo ID at polling stations before a ballot paper is issued

·       require Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) based in local authorities to issue free electoral identification documents – which was now called a 'Voter Authority Certificate' to eligible electors who applied for one

·       require postal voters to reapply for a postal vote every three years, replacing current rules of refreshing their signature every five years

·       restrict the handling of postal votes, including limiting the number of postal votes an individual could hand in at a polling station or council office

·       further limit the number of people someone may act as proxy for

·       extend accessibility to elections including requiring EROs to take all reasonable steps to provide support for those with a disability in polling stations

·       simplify and clarify the offence of undue influence

·       change the voting and candidacy arrangements for EU voters

·       allow all British citizens living overseas to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, regardless of when they left the UK

and that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) was still developing the policy and secondary legislation, and at this time, it was expected that Secondary legislation would pass through Parliament around the 6 November 2022.

The report focussed on voter identification in polling stations and accessibility to elections requiring Returning Officers (RO) to provide support for those with a disability in polling stations as it was known that these issues would come into effect for May 2023 and with proposed funding to support such issues; but also provided information on:

·       New Burdens Funding

·       Communication about the new requirements

·       Polling day implications

·       Impacts for Elected Members

The report concluded that the Elections Act would present numerous challenges for the RO, ERO, Elections Team, the wider council, Elected Members, candidates and election agents; that challenges that may be faced in recruiting enough polling station staff especially, suitably qualified staff, would also need to be considered along with an appropriate rate of pay to recognize the increased responsibility; that it had long been the case that electoral services teams could continue to work in isolation due to the ever-growing scale and complexity of elections; and that the Elections Act further cemented the need to review our approach to elections to ensure all aspects of the Act were successfully implemented.

Appendix A attached to the report further detailed the New Burdens that would take effect after May 2023.

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

·       How the new voter ID proposal will be publicised in Sefton’s communities, including the funding request to government for the provision of a household notification letter; and the Electoral Commission materials  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 14 of 14 September 2021 the Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer setting out progress made against each of the recommendations formulated by the Digital Inclusion Working Group and approved by Cabinet.

A table attached to the report set out each recommendation and an accompanying update on the action taken to implement each recommendation.

RESOLVED:

That the report setting out progress made against each of the recommendations formulated by the Digital Inclusion Working Group and approved by Cabinet be noted.

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 2022/23; the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by a Working Group(s) appointed by the Committee; the identification of items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; and an update 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.

RESOLVED:That

(1)      the update report from the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services be noted; and

(2)      Councillor Lappin be thanked for her attendance at the meeting.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute No. 67 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 October 2022 the Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services that advised of:

(1)      the current position relating to the 2022/23 revenue budget;

(2)      the current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2022/23; and

(3)      the monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of August 2023 in respect of:

·       the forecast expenditure to year end;

·       variations against the approved budgets and an explanation of those variations for consideration by Members; and

·       updates to spending profiles and proposed amendments to capital budgets necessary to ensure the efficient delivery of capital projects are also presented for approval.

The Cabinet had resolved (Minute No. 67):

That in respect of the Revenue Budget:

(1)      the current position relating to the 2022/23 revenue budget be noted;

(2)      the actions being taken to offset the budget pressures being faced in 2022/23 be noted;

(3)      the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2022/23 revenue budget be recognised and it be acknowledged that the forecast outturn position will continue to be reviewed, and remedial actions put in place, to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved; and

(4)      the current position relating to the High Needs budget be noted and that officers are currently reviewing all options available to the Council to mitigate the additional pressure and to make the overall High Needs budget financially sustainable; and

(5)      approval be given to decisions on the use of the Household Support Fund being delegated to the Executive Director - People in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, and it be noted that any discretionary element that will not be passported to vulnerable families and individuals in line with the grant conditions will be approved in accordance with the Financial Procedure Rules.

That in respect of the Capital Programme

(1)      the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme be noted;

(2)      the latest capital expenditure position as of 31 August 2022 of £10.191m  and the latest full year forecast of £56.651m be noted;

(3)      the explanations of variances to project budgets be noted; and

(4)      it be noted that capital resources will be managed by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services to ensure the capital programme remains fully funded and that capital funding arrangements secure the maximum financial benefit to the Council.

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

·       the potential for the government to relax the cap by which local authorities could raise Council Tax to minimise reductions in budgets and services

·       it was noted that in general, due to the higher numbers of Band A properties in northern authorities, percentage Council Tax increases in northern authorities produced a lot less income than in southern authorities

·       the potential for the recruitment freeze, as described in paragraph 2.8 of the report, coupled with a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.