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The Cabinet welcomed Councillor
Thomas to the meeting of Cabinet to present the report of the Area
Committee Working Group in her capacity as Lead Member of the Area
Committee Working Group.
Councillor Thomas reported that
she had presented the report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committe
(Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Services). The Committee recommended that the Cabinet be
requested to consider the most appropriate course of action in
respect of the submissions by Councillors Jamieson, McGuire and
Thomas.
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Decision Made:
That the following recommendations be
approved:-
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(1)
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that the current Area Committee
system in Sefton cease;
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(2)
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that the current
responsibilities of Area Committees be transferred to the
Committees as detailed in
Appendix 1 attached to the
report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance considered by the
three Area Committees during the December 2015/January 2016
cycle;
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(3)
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that three Constituency Fora be
established covering the Bootle, Sefton Central and Southport
Constituencies with the following terms of reference:
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A.
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To engage with local residents,
community groups, partners, businesses, private sector
organisations, the voluntary, community and faith sector and Parish
Councils particularly in relation to the Sefton 2030 vision for the
borough;
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B.
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In areas covered by Parish
Councils, to work closely with such Parish Councils and the Sefton
Area Partnership of Local Councils by promoting and enhancing
the
Parish and Town Council Charter for
Sefton
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C.
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To consider complaints from
constituents if it can be demonstrated that none of their Ward
Councillor(s) has responded at all to a request for
action;
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D.
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To meet a minimum of twice per
year ; and
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E.
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To determine, with the consent
of the three Ward Councillors, the devolved allocation of Ward
funds on local priorities that would not otherwise be funded by
Council budgets; that this funding continue to be administered by
the Head of Communities; and any Ward budget over £10,000 not
allocated at the end of the Municipal Year be transferred to the
Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing for inclusion in the
Community Transition Fund;
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(4)
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that the Head of Communities to
support the operation of the Constituency Fora;
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(5)
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that the Head of Strategic
Support to provide support on public engagement and consultation
issues to the Constituency Fora;
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(6)
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that subject to operational
requirements the use of Council buildings be allowed to host the
Constituency Fora; and
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(7)
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that to assist the role of
Constituency Fora Operational Groups be established if deemed
necessary by local Ward Members (in those areas where currently
none exist) to work with partner agencies in their
localities.
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Reasons for the Decision:
The Working Group has
recommended that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory,
Compliance and Corporate Services) and the
Cabinetconsider the submissions detailed in
paragraph 6 and Appendix 3 of the Final Report and determine the
most appropriate course of action thereon.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
No alternative options were
considered. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory,
Compliance and Corporate Services) established the Working Group to
review the findings of the public
consultation exercise undertaken on the role of Area Committees,
and the other issues set out in the report submitted to the Cabinet
on 23 June 2016 and the Working Group has
performed this task