Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Murphy.

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 10 September 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 54 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 October 2024 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:

·       the delivery of Adult Social Care savings of £1.6m to the end of August 2024

·       14 additional children having to be placed in a residential setting at a cost of £0.090m per week

·       problems attracting social workers and the resultant use of high-cost social worker agency placements; the recruitment and retention of permanent council social worker staff; and the possibility of making savings on the use of agency staff by paying permanent council staff at a higher rate. Information was sought on the comparable grades of social worker posts in neighbouring authorities and whether this had a detrimental impact on the recruitment and retention of staff

·       the recruitment of international social workers and the retention of staff coming through the social work academy

·       many local authorities faced difficulties in the recruitment and retention of social workers and maybe a collegiate approach across authorities could help resolve issues

·       It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) had given lots of attention to the issue of social worker recruitment and retention; and in respect of this, a comment was made that this Committee was delving into operational matters that were not its responsibility 

·       budgetary risks associated with home to school transport 

·       The Dilnot Commission on how to deliver a fair, affordable and sustainable funding system for social care in England promised solutions but required major financial investment to do so

RESOLVED:

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought views 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 from the Key Decision Forward Plan; that updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; that advised of a change to responsibility for consideration of matters associated with asset management; and that advised of a date for a special meeting of the Committee to be held.

A member of the Committee enquired about the reasons why various presentations and reports, scheduled in the work programme to be considered at this meeting, were deferred to future meetings.   

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.

Councillor Howard, Cabinet Member – Corporate Services presented her report and referred to the success of the council tax sole occupier discount review which would result in £635,000 additional Council Tax income in a full year; and indicated that 87% of contacts in respect of the scheme were made online but stressed that  other channels were still available for those customers who preferred to not use digital services.  

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

·       a Member commented that he had received lots of representations from constituents who did not use online services; and a suggestion was made that the salutation message relayed at the start of each incoming call to the Council’s call-centre, encouraging customers to use online Council services should instead be made at the end of the message

·       In respect of the council tax sole occupier discount review, 1,299 households had cancelled their discount, and information was sought on the anticipated increase in Council Tax income arising from this

·       In respect of taxi licensing when and by whom was the £50.00 non-refundable application fee agreed; the anticipated income from the introduction of the £50.00 non-refundable application fee; and had the trade given any indication that they would wish to increase fare tariffs to recoup this fee; and if so, by how much

·       a comment was made that Sefton had an excellent working relationship with the licensed taxi trade  

·       As part of the delivery of the 2024/25 internal audit plan had the reviews highlighted to be undertaken been prioritised

·       reference was made to staff undertaking the Public Management and Leadership Level 7 Apprenticeship at the University of Birmingham; and information was sought on whether there were other education establishments situated nearer to Sefton that staff could attend

·       the insurance renewal for September 2024 

Motion by Councillor Sir Ron Watson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:

That Cabinet be recommended to oppose any proposals to remove the council tax sole occupier discount. 

Following a show of hands the Chair declared that the Motion was lost 2 votes to 4, with 3 abstentions.

RESOLVED: That