Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Brough.

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 15 September 2020 and the Special Meeting held on 19 October 2020

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2020 and the Special Meeting of the Committee held on 19 October 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from Stephanie Jukes, Section Manager Energy and Environmental Management

Further to Minute No. 40 of 10 March 2020, the Committee received a presentation from Stephanie Jukes, the Section Manager Energy and Environmental Management, Corporate Resources; and Julia Thorpe, Project Officer – Climate and Environment, reporting on Climate Emergency progress by the Council. The presentation outlined the following:

·        Purpose of the presentation

·        Background – Climate Emergency

·        Carbon footprint for Sefton

·        Strategy and Implementation Plan

·        Implementation Plan - Phase 1

·        Covid-19 – how the lockdown has changed air pollution levels

·        Green recovery

·        How will progress be monitored?

·        Communications Plan

·        Climate Assembly UK

·        Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions

·        Summary and next steps

·        Contact details

RESOLVED:

That Ms. Jukes and Ms. Thorpe be thanked for their informative presentation.

Report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection that presented the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Annual Report (the Annual Report). The report indicated that the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 required that arrangements be made to review and scrutinise the exercise by the Council, as a Lead Local Flood Risk Authority, of its flood risk management functions and coastal erosion risk management functions; and that the Annual Report satisfied such requirement.

The report provided information on the following matters:

• Delivery of duties under the Flood and Water Management Act, 2010 in relation to:

• Flood and Coastal Erosion events
• Coastal Flooding and erosion
• Progress made in relation to:

• Priorities for the next year which included:

The report concluded by seeking comments for submission to the Cabinet Member - Locality Services.

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

·        Flooding issues, especially internal flooding, was a major concern for residents in parts of the borough. Concern was expressed that suitable schemes had been identified to combat such problems but because it was deemed by the Environment Agency that too few homes would be involved in such schemes, then funding would not be made available

·        The increase of internal flooding incidents during the summer months due to heavy rainfall

·        Changes to grant funding mechanisms to include multiple benefits such as people’s health and wellbeing as part of the criteria process

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection that provided an update on the progress of Green Sefton’s establishment and development, its current operational delivery over the last year, and setting out the strategic work programme, in line with the Service Vision 2030, and Service Plan for the next year.

The full Annual Review was attached as appendix 1 and included other background information including the current Service Plan updates; Key Performance Indicator updates; and examples of the Green Sefton Newsletter.

Tables within the report provided a summary of progress against the Service Plan actions, and the headlines actions/ priorities as agreed in 2019 with a summary of progress in 2020 and outlined actions planned for 2021. The headlines detailed in the tables had been populated in a ‘importance/ urgency’ matrix in order to inform the work programme of officers in the coming year.

The report concluded by seeking comments for submission to the Cabinet Members for Health and Wellbeing and Locality Services.

The Committee also received a presentation from Mark Shaw, Service Manager, Green Sefton. Mr Shaw highlighted aspects of the work undertaken by the Green Sefton service relating to the following categories:

·        Together a stronger community

·        A borough for everyone

·        Living, working and having fun

·        A clean, green, beautiful borough

·        Visit, explore and enjoy

·        On the move

·        Open for business

·        Ready for the future

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

·        The impact of Covid-19 and lockdown on the Green Sefton service Natural Alternatives, the long-running inclusion programme for adults and young people with additional needs

·        Funding opportunities available for apprenticeship schemes to increase team capacity within the Green Sefton service; and the potential for apprentices to take up full-time positions within the service

·        The potential to increase team capacity by the use of the Kickstart government programme into ‘green’ jobs

·        How the Green Sefton service was aiming to be cost-neutral

·        The potential to expand wild flower meadow schemes to include highways and other public spaces across the borough

·        The unfortunate cessation of Green Sefton services due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on local communities

·        The great work undertaken by Green Sefton staff during the Covid-19 lockdown and their resilience in taking on new roles

·        The ambitious Green Sefton programme for the future was welcomed 

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Moncur, paid tribute to the excellent work undertaken by the Green Sefton services team and highlighted the value placed on the service especially during the Covid -19 pandemic.   

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Highways and Public Protection seeking consideration of the revised Winter Maintenance Policy and Operational Plan policy document for approval for 2020/21.

The report indicated that the Council provided a Highway Winter Service to the Borough in accordance with the Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan; that officers monitored the weather conditions 24 hours a day throughout the winter season and enacted the plan when weather conditions dictated; that the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (section 111) had inserted an additional section 41(1A) to the Highways Act 1980 which placed a duty on the Highway Authorities in respect of winter conditions, and stated ‘In particular, a Highway Authority is under duty to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice’; and that in addition, the Traffic Management Act 2004 placed a Statutory Network Management Duty on all local traffic authorities in England requiring all authorities to do all that was reasonably practicable to manage the network effectively to keep traffic moving. In meeting this duty, authorities should establish contingency plans for dealing promptly and effectively with unplanned events, such as unforeseen weather conditions, as far as is reasonably practicable. The Council’s Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan, which has been approved by the Council, is reviewed each summer to ensure that it remained ‘fit for purpose’.

The report advised that as part of the annual review and reassessment consultation was undertaken and that a consultation letter was sent to every Elected Member seeking their views. A copy of the letter was attached as Annex A to the report.  No responses were received as a result of the consultation with Elected Members.

The report concluded by seeking comments for submission to the Cabinet Member - Locality Services.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Winter Maintenance Policy and Operational Plan policy document for 2020/21 be endorsed.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 6 (3) of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 8 September 2020 the Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that provided information contained in a document, produced by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS), entitled “10 questions to ask if you are scrutinising climate change”. A copy of the CfPS document was attached as an appendix to the report.

The report indicated that the CfPS document was part of the “10 questions” series, which set out key issues on which local scrutineers (councillors sitting on scrutiny committees and the officers who support them) could pose questions to those with decision-making responsibility; and the 10 questions in respect of scrutinising climate change were set out in the report.

This report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 8 September 2020 and it was resolved that:

The purpose of the report was to comply with (3) above.

RESOLVED:

That the Centre for Public Scrutiny document entitled “10 questions to ask if you are scrutinising climate change” be noted.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer.

Further to Minute No. 4 of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 8 September 2020 the Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer seeking consideration of a draft Executive/Scrutiny Protocol. This draft Protocol was attached as an appendix to the report.

The report indicated that Cabinet, at its meeting held on 30 July 2020, considered a report that sought consultation on both the guidance published by the CfPS and on Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings in Sefton, in general, with a view to providing feedback to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, in due course; together with a proposal that the Management Board develop an Executive / Scrutiny protocol for Sefton.  

Cabinet resolved that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board be requested to develop an Executive / Scrutiny protocol for use in Sefton.

The report concluded that any comments made by this Committee would be considered by the Management Board and subsequently Cabinet at their meetings to be held on 10 November and 3 December 2020 respectively.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 13 of 17 September 2019 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

Further to Minute No. 5 of 2 July 2019 the Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer setting out progress made against each of the recommendations formulated by the Housing Licence Performance Framework 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 Housing Licence Performance Framework 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 a review of the Work Programme for 2020/21; the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by a Working Group(s) appointed by the Committee; the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; that updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and updated on the progress of items that have previously been considered by 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 reports from the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing; Locality Services; Planning and Building Control; and Regeneration and Skills. 

RESOLVED: That