Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Lloyd-Johnson, Christine Maher and Sir Ron Watson (and his substitute member Councillor Prendergast).

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 19 February 2024

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing) that updated on the work of the Housing Standards Team in response to issues of damp and mould in residential properties in the borough.

The report indicated that following the death of a two-year old child, Awaab Ishak, from a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale, and the subsequent Coroner’s inquest, the Chief Executive of the Regulator for Social Housing wrote to all registered providers of social housing requesting information on the provider’s response to managing damp and mould cases in their homes. 

The report advised that the Housing Standards Team (HST) was responsible for housing enforcement activity, including on vacant homes, and managing the Council’s mandatory, additional HMO and selective landlord licencing schemes and that this was primarily based on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and that the majority of the damp and mould caseload managed by the HST related to privately rented properties; and detailed how action could be taken to alleviate problems, including the use of the Council’s Landlord Licensing Scheme. In the Social Housing Sector, the legal duty and responsibility for resolving complaints was imposed by the Regulator of Social Housing direct onto social landlords (i.e. not with the Council in the first instance).

The report detailed that in response to the Awaab Ishak case, a number of actions were carried out relating to the Council’s management of damp and mould cases in the borough via:

·       Housing Enforcement Policy

·       Website updates

·       Communication campaign

·       Staff training and equipment

·       Data analysis

·       Staff guidance

·       Engagement with registered providers

The report concluded that the death of Awaab Ishak had raised awareness of the dangers of mould in residential properties and that the reaction within the housing sector, particularly the social housing sector, had been significant; and that although the approach to damp and mould issues in the Sefton had been subject to review, both by senior managers, and through internal audit, the HST continues to look for improvements and opportunities to supplement the current approach.

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

·       The inspection and enforcement regime employed by the Council, under the terms of the Housing Act 2004, to combat the Category 1 and Category 2 hazards associated with damp and mould in properties; and problems experienced due to differing expectations of landlords and tenants as to the satisfactory resolution of such hazards

·       Concern was expressed at the Category 2 damp and mould hazards being found in in 30% of privately rented homes in Sefton; and how this figure compared with other comparable local authorities

·       the legal duty and responsibility placed on the social housing sector for resolving complaints, as imposed by the Regulator of Social Housing direct onto social landlords, was acknowledged and data was sought on the satisfactory resolution of complaints

·       in respect of the Communication Campaign around the issue of damp and mould, using the Council’s communications channels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing)

Further to Minute No. 33 of 16 January 2024 the Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing) that updated on the refresh of the Sefton Economic Strategy (the Strategy); and the production of a Sefton Inward Investment prospectus.

The report indicated that the Strategy refresh would ensure that it remained fit    for purpose in terms of its objectives and alignment with the emerging Liverpool City Region Economic Opportunities framework that would serve as a sounding board to help drive, amongst other economic activities, new inward investment activities across the city region. The report also identified the base review and analysis, the first phase of which being the methodology and review of the strategic context, examining current and developing strategies and frameworks; an analysis of sector specialism in Sefton and skills analysis.

The report also identified that the production of a Sefton Inward Investment prospectus, to assist in promoting the borough as part of LCR Combined Authority national and international investment activities and events, would also assist the council in its own inward investment and regeneration led activities; and set out list of sites identified for the prospectus; and the alignment of sites with sector opportunities.

The report concluded that the completed work would enable the Council to have a full suite of key investment opportunities which could be easily updated and added to; and that the intention was for them to be used for both strategic events such as the International Market for Real Estate Professionals and the UK Real Estate and Investment and Infrastructure Forum amongst others, while officers would also have access to ‘off shelf’ material in response to business growth and new inward investment enquiries.

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

·       The comparison of figures for Sefton’s hospitality sector with other comparable areas of the country

·       The methodology used to estimate the increase in visitor numbers (both day and staying) to Southport

·       The strategic objective of “Employment and Opportunities for Work” contained in the action plan was referred to and in particular, the success of Sefton should be acknowledged regarding the Rate of NEET and Not Known in the borough across our 16 and 17 year olds being the best in the City Region for this period and being ranked 3rd in the country out of 150 LAs.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director (Place) on the Social Value Outcomes from the Growth and Strategic Investment Programme (the Programme) that comprised a range of projects across all parts of Sefton, of a wide range of types, sizes, funding sources and delivery models. The report indicated that the objectives of the Programme, and the projects therein, were consistently intended to balance economic, financial, social and environmental outcomes; that each project was developed with wider aims to support with delivery against strategies and policies in other areas of the Council beyond regeneration; that the aim of the report was to provide visibility of the work that had been undertaken, was being undertaken, and was planned, on projects across the Council’s Programme that demonstrated “social value”, which for the purposes of this report, was defined as the wider value created by capital projects beyond the economic and financial.

The report also provided information on the Caring Business Charter,  launched in 2022 and operated through Sefton@work, which recognised that many young people who had experience of being looked after may have additional barriers to address when they were looking to starting their lives as adults and enter the world of work; the establishment of the Child Friendly Sefton methodology to ensure that all programmes and projects had children and young people at the heart of their development and implementation; and future opportunities and action areas for 2024 and beyond to ensure continued incorporation of social value into the Growth and Strategic Investment programme, and the inclusion of particular emphasis on children and young people, ensuring they were at the heart of everything the Council did.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

The report concluded by seeking feedback on key issues and opportunities arising from the Programme, and on areas of potential interest for further review and focus in future years.

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

·       The active consideration of employment related opportunities for local care leavers and the emphasis placed on this by the Council’s Employment and Learning Team

·       The appearance of Tom Jones at the Salt and Tar Music Weekender in August 2024 was referred to and suggestions were shared about how best to showcase how Sefton was successful in securing such an international artist to appear at the festival; and how this would help not only with one of the Council’s leading priorities for the regeneration of Bootle, but to the wider Sefton area

·       The importance of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to (Minute No. 5. (2)) of the meeting held on 27 June 2023, the Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer seeking approval of recommendations arising from an informal meeting of the Committee, in respect of refuse and waste recycling.

The report indicated that the Committee had previously agreed that a review be undertaken on the topic of refuse and waste recycling and in respect of this matter, that a visit be arranged to the Gillmoss Recycling Discovery Centre);  that an informal meeting of the Committee be held following the visit; that the visit and informal meeting took place on 15 January 2024; and that the informal meeting made a number of recommendations.

The report concluded that the informal meeting of the Committee had no formal decision-making powers and, accordingly, for decisions of the informal meeting to be actioned, formal approval was required by this Committee.

A Member commented that any proposals for the introduction of communal bins should be given careful consideration as public opinion on this matter was mixed.

RESOLVED: That

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 2023/24; 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; and updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee (LCRCAO&S).

In respect of the membership of the LCRCAO&S the Committee was updated  that at its meeting held on 29 February 2024 the Council had appointed  Councillor Robinson to serve as Councillor Howard’s replacement and Councillor Hart had been appointed as the new Scrutiny Link.

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

·       The role of registered social landlords in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024 2029

·       Information was sought on the opportunity, through collaboration with colleagues in Children’s Social Care, for a focus on care leavers as part of the Council Housing Governance and Management Arrangements

·       Information was sought on the role of registered social landlords to help meet the capacity challenges associated with the procurement of temporary accommodation

·       Potential topics of care leavers and housing; and the formal and informal processes for engagement between officers at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCR CA) and at Sefton Council, relating to the review, approval, funding, development and implementation of strategies, policies and projects. This relates to both regionally-led (LCR CA-led) and locally-led (Sefton Council-led) proposalsto be the subject of reviews at informal meetings 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 reports from the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing; Health and Wellbeing (Green Sefton element); Locality Services; Planning and Building Control; and Regeneration and Skills.

Councillor Howard, Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills referred to Sefton@Work's relocation to new premises in Bootle Strand; that planning was underway to host a celebration event on 14 March 2024 to mark the official launch of the new premises and celebrate 20 years of delivery of employment programmes to Sefton residents; and invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to attend the event.

RESOLVED: That