Minutes for Cabinet Member - Corporate Services meeting, Sep 16 2009, 11.00AM official page

No apologies for absence were received.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on *

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Leisure Director.

Further to a Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor T. Jones at the meeting of the Council held on 7 May 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Leisure Director on issues associated with the introduction of a ‘payment by instalment plan’ by which grave plots could be purchased by residents spread over a 2 year period. 

RESOLVED:

That consideration of this item be deferred to allow officers to respond to the Cabinet Member’s request for further information in relation to the possible production of leaflets advising of the ‘payment by instalment plan’ process to include useful contact details.

Joint report of the Chief Executive, Head of Technical Services, Finance and Information Services Director, Legal Director, and the Personnel Director.

Further to Minute No. 90 of the 4 March 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Chief Executive, the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services, the Finance and Information Services Director, the Legal Director and the Personnel Director, providing the latest forecast position, based on information as at the 24 July 2009 in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/2010 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme. 

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the progress made by the Service Directors in respect of their revenue budgets that are subject to risk-based monitoring be noted;

(2)       the position regarding the Corporate Services Portfolio efficiencies and savings required  for the revenue budget in the year be noted; and

(3)       the progress made by Service Directors in respect of their schemes within the Council’s Capital Programme be noted.

Joint Report of the Chief Executive, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, Finance and Information Services Director, Legal Director, Personnel Director, Head of Tourism and the Environmental Protection Director.

Further to Minute No. 34 of the 11 September 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Chief Executive, the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, the Finance and Information Services Director, the Legal Director, the Personnel Director, the Head of Tourism and the Environmental Protection Director which identified the final 2008/09 revenue outturn position for the Corporate Services portfolio.

The report concluded by requesting the Cabinet Member to give consideration to the submission of comments on the outturn to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services).

RESOLVED: That  

(1)       the Portfolio’s revenue expenditure outturn for 2008/09 be noted;

(2)       the Portfolio’s capital expenditure outturn for 2008/09 be noted; and

(3)       the Portfolio’s performance indicators and data for 2008/09 be noted

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director seeking approval for the proposed changes to the methods of access for Sefton Council customers.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report advising of the proposed changes to the methods of access for Sefton Council customers be noted;

(2)      a further detailed report be submitted to a future meeting in relation to the proposals referred to in paragraph 3.2 of the report; and

(3)      the implementation of the developments referred to in paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 4.1 of the report be approved.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director advising of the requirement to procure a replacement for the Pericles Revenues and Benefits system and the proposed procurement methodology to be used.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report advising of the requirement to procure a replacement for the Pericles Revenues and Benefits system and the proposed procurement methodology to be used be noted; and

(2)      a further detailed report be submitted to a future meeting following the completion of the competitive tender exercise.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director advising of the effect of delays in Council acquisition of domestic properties in the Klondyke redevelopment area on Council Tax liability.

RESOLVED:

That it be agreed that the Council should offer council tax payers affected by the Klondyke re-development proposals the opportunity to enter into an agreement with the Council to defer Council Tax payment on their vacant dwellings until such time as the compulsory purchase is complete, at which time any outstanding Council Tax can be deducted from the compulsory purchase monies due.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph …. of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:  

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test had been applied and favoured exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

(Paragraph 3)

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on whether or not to grant discretionary rate relief to one organisation under the provisions of Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s policy in respect of charitable organisations be adhered to and subsequently discretionary rate relief be not granted.

To receive a presentation from the  Assistant Chief Executive (Management)

The Cabinet Member received a presentation from Sam Tunney, Assistant Chief Executive (Management) regarding the Chief Executive and Regeneration and Environmental Services Directorates Business Support Unit.

RESOLVED:

That Ms Tunney be thanked for her informative presentation.