Agenda and minutes

Councillor Hart, Chair, referred to the horrific attack in Southport last July which had been brought into focus again due to the court trial taking place this week. Councillor Hart and the Committee wished it to be recorded that their thoughts continued to be with all the victims of this tragic incident and their families.

Committee Members and officers then spent a minute’s reflection. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cavanagh (and her substitute Member Councillor McNabb), Hinde, McGinnity and Morris (and his substitute Member Councillor 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 25 November 2024

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from Rosie Sleep, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Partnership Manager, on changes in waste legislation and what that will mean due to the statutory requirement for the collection of food waste in 2026.

The Committee received a presentation from Rosie Sleep, Liverpool City Region Waste and Resources Partnership Manager, on changes in waste legislation and what that would mean due to the statutory requirement for the collection of food waste in 2026.

Ms Sleep indicated that:

·       Liverpool City Region Waste and Resources Partnership (the Partnership) was a non-statutory forum that comprised of the 6 Merseyside Districts (collection) and the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) (disposal) plus the Partnership Manager that had strategic links with the Combined Authority and was the collective voice and action on reducing waste and increasing recycling rates in the LCR through the Zero Waste Strategy

·       In context the aim was to achieve simpler recycling which included extended producer responsibility, deposit return scheme, emissions trading scheme, and that food waste was a core pillar of the policy

·       The food waste requirements were that non-households must separate their food waste from 1st April 2025; households must separate their food waste from 1st April 2026; that Councils must provide separate weekly food waste collections for households; and that there was a wealth of good practice available and that big gains could be made to recycling rates

·       The Partnership approach to food waste roll-out included each partner local authority leading on a different workstream such as tonnages, caddies, food waste fleet, caddy liners, transfer (including planning permission) and treatment, workforce and communications

·       Communications work to highlight the new policy

·       local circular approach to food waste – regional processing capacity, local employment and use of gas produced by food waste to power vehicles/collection fleet

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

·       the possibility of encouraging residents to home compost

·       how food would separated at the plant prior to its anaerobic digestion

·       details were sought on the operation of the anaerobic digester and examples of such facilities currently in use 

·       it was noted that some local authorities already collect food waste which increased their recycling rates. When the new  scheme was introduced this too would help to improve Sefton’s recycling rates

·       it was noted that Sefton general domestic waste contained on average 31% food waste; and information was sought on what was currently being taken to reduce this figure 

RRSOLVED:

That Rosie Sleep be thanked for her informative presentation.

To receive a presentation from Andrea Watts, Executive Director – Operations and Partnerships

The Committee received a presentation from Andrea Watts, Executive Director - Operations and Partnerships that updated on the Liverpool City Region Digital Inclusion Strategy (the Strategy); and which sought views from the Committee regarding future updates. Ms. Watts provided information on:

·       The digital inclusion initiative, facilitated by the Combined Authority and whose programme partners included Lloyds Bank, Assurant, Vodafone, FRC Group, had achieved its goal by supporting over 4700 individuals across LCR by December 2024

·       Support to over 638 individuals in Sefton in relation to the provision of a free tablet, connectivity, in-person digital skills training; and that in Sefton, there were 26 delivery partner organisations 

·       The focus on supporting digitally excluded individuals across Cohort groups and demographics

·       UKSPF Digital Connectivity Grants, which aimed to improve the public-facing ICT facilities of the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector and that in total, £218,000 in grants were allocated to providers in Sefton

·       LCR Digital Inclusion Network which now had over 220 organisations committed to tackling the Digital Divide and that 55 of these organisations had a presence in Sefton

·       LCR Databank and that as part of the Good Things Foundation’s National Databank, providing free data-sims to those in need, the Combined Authority had supported over 57 individuals through the Households into Work Sefton and Housing First Sefton Team

·       Future plans, which included exploring possibilities with Lloyds Bank for 2025 to develop a proposal for wider support; and the intention to continue to work with the Combined Authority through Sefton Digital Inclusion Steering Group to develop future interventions and support for residents

A Member of the Committee asked a question about the challenges experienced as part of the Strategy and how they were being addressed.

RESOLVED:

That Andrea Watts be thanked for her informative presentation.

Report of the Assistant Director – Operational In-House Services

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director - Operational In-House Services that provided a synopsis of the operational activities that had been undertaken by Operational In-House Services during 2024, relating to:

·       Waste Management and Street Cleansing

·       Burial and Cremation Services

·       Catering and Building Cleaning Services

·       School Crossing Patrol Service

·       Specialist Transport Unit

·       Transport and Vehicle Maintenance

·       Sefton ARC and Sefton Careline

The report demonstrated the breadth of services and the wide range of activities that were delivered by Operational In-House Services; that they were delivered in a  high profile, front facing environment to residents, businesses and visitors to Sefton; and that there were in excess of 1000 staff within Operational In-House Services and the provision of services were a touch point for a huge range of residents, clients and service users who valued the quality of service they received.

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

·       The factors taken into account to determine what type of waste receptacle households received

·       Bespoke arrangement that had to be put into place regarding the deployment of smaller fleet vehicles to access hard to reach properties; how widespread the problem was; and whether the use of smaller fleet vehicles could be the default option in areas that regularly experienced problems

·       Positive benefits to the cleansing regime following the recent appointments of the Waste Minimisation Officer and the Cleansing Services Manager

RESOLVED:

That the report on the operational activities undertaken by Operational In-House Services during 2024 be noted.

Report of the Executive Director – Operations and Partnerships

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director – Operations and Partnerships that sought views on the Zero Tolerance Policy (the Policy) for submission to Cabinet and Council. 

The report indicated that the Policy had been created as a whole council message regarding any form of abusive or discriminatory behaviour and also as a guide for staff who might experience this whilst carrying out their duties; that the Policy acknowledged that certain staff were more at risk of such behaviour due to their protected characteristics and the Policy sought to clarify the support that employees should receive; that employee feedback through forums such as the staff networks had made it clear that this message was wanted and an important step towards equity and inclusion within the council workforce; that additional “Guidance for Managers” provided information around the provision of a supportive work environment and the steps to take in the event of abuse, discrimination or harassment; and that a key aim of this document was to provide best practice in developing relationships with employees, so that they felt confident and safe in raising concerns should they need to.

The report also indicated that the “Guidance for Racial Abuse and Discrimination” towards Staff was intended to provide specific information around the protected characteristic of ethnicity (race); that this document shared the types of discrimination staff could experience, examples and reasons why they might feel reluctant to report incidents; and also described how a work environment could be developed to ensure Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff felt supported and understood in their workplace.

The report concluded that the intention was for similar guidance to be developed around other protected characteristics such as disability, gender reassignment, religion and care experience, and that in time all marginalised groups would have a similar document that explained their lived experiences and how they could best feel supported.

The Zero Tolerance Policy, Zero Tolerance Guidance: Racial Abuse and Discrimination towards Staff, and    Manager Guidance were attached as appendices to the report.

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

• The provision of training for staff in respect of hate crime issues
• How the Policy would be cascaded to those staff that did not have access to Council ICT equipment as part of their everyday roles
• How online abuse would be combatted
• As part of a duty of care to staff, what action could be taken against members of the public who made derogatory comments to council officers
• How would allegations of victimisation/harassment be resolved between people with protected characteristics but with conflicting views
• The scope for inclusion within the Policy of discriminatory behaviour against staff on the grounds of socio-economic or geographic background
• The use of a whistleblowing policy if a complaint was to be made by an employee against their manager     

RESOLVED:

That the Zero Tolerance Policy and supporting documents be noted.

Report of the Assistant Director - Communities.

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director – Communities that updated on Sefton’s strategic approach to tackling domestic abuse; which provided an understanding of the work of the Domestic Abuse Board and how the council collaborated with partners to respond to the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Act locally; and provided assurance as well as information and insight to support overview and scrutiny of this issue.

The report indicated that the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 placed duties on local authorities across England to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children could access the right support in safe accommodation when they needed it; that the council received £631,105 in new burdens funding for 2024/25 for delivery of this duty; and that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had confirmed that the domestic abuse safe accommodation grant would continue in 2025-26. 

Attached as an appendix to the report was the Sefton Domestic Abuse Partnership Board Mid-year Report September 2024. Key highlights/objectives from the report related to:

·       To prioritise a strategic partnership approach to the reduction of domestic and sexual abuse in our communities

·       To improve the prevention, early identification and response to domestic and sexual abuse

·       To increase the reporting of domestic and sexual abuse through awareness raising and access to support services

·       To work with commissioners to ensure a wide range of services are in place to support and protect victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, including children

·       To hold perpetrators to account through appropriate criminal justice sanctions and effective interventions that promote long term behaviour change

·       To safeguard children and vulnerable adults from the impacts of living within a household experiencing domestic and sexual abuse

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

• The positive impacts were acknowledged of the introduction of the new Healthy Relationships offer for children and young people delivered in Sefton schools by Sefton Women and Children’s Aid (SWACA)
• The opening of Sefton’s new 24-hour refuge provision Eva House managed by SWACA for female victims of domestic abuse and their children and the opening of Athena House managed by Excel Housing Venus to support female victims of domestic abuse with other complex needs.
• It was important to acknowledge that in the interests of fairness refuge service provision should be available for all people whatever their self-identification
• Whether incidents of domestic abuse where much higher than shown in data due to under reporting

RESOLVED:

That the report on Sefton’s strategic approach to tackling domestic abuse be noted.

Presentation by Mel Ormesher, Assistant Director - Communities

The Committee received a presentation from Mel Ormesher, Assistant Director – Communities on the Council’s Serious Violence Duty (the Duty).

Ms. Ormesher indicated that:

·       the Duty, created by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, brought partners together to collaborate and plan to prevent and reduce serious violence; and that information sharing was also a core element of the Duty as it placed a requirement on services to work together to share data and knowledge, enabling them to better target their interventions to prevent serious violence

·       whilst Police and Crime commissioners (PCC) were not specified authorities, they played a key convening role and so the 5 Merseyside councils had agreed that the Merseyside PCCs office would coordinate the production of a Merseyside wide strategic needs assessment and a pan-Merseyside strategy

·       an evidence-based analysis to identify the kinds of serious violence that occurred in the area and its causes had been used to develop a local Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA) which in turn had helped shape the Duty

Ms. Ormesher also provided information on:

·       activity undertaken on the Duty during 2023/24

·       the priorities, vision and governance arrangements associated with the Serious Violence Duty strategy in Merseyside

·       a strengths-based asset mapping assessment which identified, described, and visualised strategic and operational assets that were available within the Merseyside region to support the partnership in preventing and reducing serious violence

·       examples of Sefton activity which included “Get Away and Get Safe”, “Stay Safe” and “park Nights”

·       communications associated with the Duty

·       next steps associated with the Duty which included a requirement to carry out an annual review of the strategy and local delivery plan; the inclusion of insight from the Merseyside-wide perceptions survey being carried out by LJMU; alignment with reviewing the Safer Stronger Together strategy; and consideration of a sub-group to embed activity and wider opportunities

A Member of the Committee commented on the importance of maintaining relationships and working with communities and agencies to ensure the success of the Duty.

RESOLVED:

That Mel Ormesher be thanked for her informative presentation.

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 items for pre-scrutiny from the Key Decision Forward Plan; sought approval for the deferral of a number of reports; and that updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

A Member of the Committee queried whether updates on the Marine Lake Events Centre could be included as an item on the work programme.

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 Cleansing and Street Scene; Communities and Partnership Engagement; Housing and Highways; Public Health and Wellbeing (Green Sefton element); and Regeneration, Economy and Skills.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues associated with the Cabinet Member – Cleansing and Street Scene report:

·       Cleansing staff were commended for work undertaken cleaning rear alleys

·       The sharing of information with ward Councillors regarding itineraries regarding when rear entries would be cleaned in their wards

·       Exerting pressure on registered social landlords to ensure that messages are relayed to their tenants asking them to refrain from fly-tipping in their rear entries

·       The tackling of weed growth problems in rear entries as part of the cleansing weed spraying contract

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues associated with the Cabinet Member - Communities and Partnership Engagement report:

·       The potential to arrange a Christmas market and events in Southport this year

·       A co-production community event held at Netherton library

·       Print acquisitions at the Atkinson

·       An ambition to host a Northern Art exhibition at the Atkinson in collaboration with the Lowry Art Gallery

·       Combined Borough of Culture 2026

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues associated with the Cabinet Member - Public Health and Wellbeing report:

·       Attendance at the Merseyside Flood and Coast Committee

·       The approval of grant funding for flood alleviation measures at Fouracres, Maghull

·       Heritage meeting at Botanic Gardens

·       Allotment strategy

Councillor Lappin, Cabinet Member – Regeneration, Economy and Skills paid tribute to Julie Swarbrick, Business Growth Adviser with the Council’s business support and advice service, InvestSefton, who recently sadly passed away.

RESOLVED: That