Minutes for Council meeting, Feb 26 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Connell, Hands and Larkin.

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 made.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2009

That the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 January 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Death of Mrs Christina Kirwan

 

The Mayor reported on the sad death of Mrs Christina Kirwan whose Civic Funeral took place on the 2 February 2009.

 

Mrs Kirwan was first elected to Southport County Borough Council in 1965, and then served as a Sefton Councillor from 1973 to 1994.

 

Mrs Kirwan also served as Mayor of Sefton from 1982 to 1983.

 

Councillors Sir Ron Watson, D. Rimmer and Mahon paid tribute to Mrs Kirwan and the Council then stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect.

 

Mayoral Ball

 

The Mayor reported that the Mayor of Sefton's Charity Ball to be held in the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport on the 13 March 2009 is now fully booked.

To deal with matters raised by members of the public within the Borough, in accordance with the procedures relating to Petitions, Public Questions.and Motions set out in Rule 11 of the Council and procedure Rules.

 

(Details of any further Petitions notified or Questions submitted to the Legal Director by members of the public in accordance with Rule 11 will be circulated at the meeting).

The Mayor reported that members of the public had not submitted any petitions or questions.

To receive and consider questions to Cabinet Members, Chairs of Committees or Spokespersons for any of the Joint Authorities upon any matter within their portfolio/area of responsibility, of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules.

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Council considered a report by the Finance and Information Services Director on the proposed procedures and strategy to be adopted in respect of the Council's Treasury Management Function in 2009/10.

 

At its meeting held earlier that day, the Cabinet had considered the report and endorsed the recommendations set out in the report.

 

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That approval be given to:

 

(1)       the Treasury Management Policy Document for 2009/10;

 

(2)       the Treasury Management Strategy Document for 2009/10;

 

(3)       the amendment to Banking arrangements contained within the Financial Procedures Rules of the Constitution;

 

(4)       the Money Laundering Policy Document; and

 

(5)       the basis to be used in the calculation of the Minimum Revenue Provision for Debt Repayment in 2009/10.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Council considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on proposals to establish the Prudential Indicators required under the Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.  This would enable the Council to effectively manage its Capital Finance Activities, and comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Prudential Code of Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

 

At its meeting held earlier that day, the Cabinet had considered the report and endorsed the recommendations set out in the report.

 

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillr Brodie-Browne and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That approval be given to:

 

(1)       the Prudential Indicators detailed in the report, and summarised in Annex A, as the basis for compliance with The Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities;

 

(2)       the amendment of relevant Prudential Indicators in the event that any unsupported borrowing is approved as part of the 2009/10 Revenue Budget; and

 

(3)            delegated authority being granted to the Finance and Information Services Director to manage the authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as detailed in Section 5 of the report.

Joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Strategic Directors - Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care), Children’s Services and Regeneration and Environmental Services

The Council considered a joint report of the Finance and Information Services Director and the Strategic Directors for Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care), Regeneration and Environmental Services and Children's Services in respect of 2008/09 and the development of the 2009/10 - 2011/12 Capital Programme in the light of recent resource notifications received from Central Government and the formulation of the Revenue Budget.  Appended to the report at Annex A was the Council's Capital Programme 2008/09 - 2011/12.

 

At its meeting held earlier that day the Cabinet had considered the meeting and a copy of the  Cabinet resolution was circulated.

 

This was a Key Decision and had been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

 

 

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the 2009/10 - 2011/12 Captial Programme set out in Annex A of the report be approved subject to the inclusion of an allocation of £50,000 for the 'Pride of Sefton' Narrowboat Project;

 

(2)       it be noted that the Strategic Asset Management Group (SAMG) will review the programme, with particular attention to dormant schemes, with the possibility that resources may be made available for other schemes;

 

(3)       it be confirmed that Cabinet Members may continue to approve schemes from within their specific capital allocations included in Annex A of the report;

 

(4)            approval be given to the use of lease facilities in 2009/10 provided that any revenue consequences can be accommodated within appropriate budgets; and

 

(5)       the SAMG be requested to review the new Starts Programme in light of emerging issues.

To receive statements by the three Party Group Leaders on the Revenue Budget for 2009/10

It was moved by Councillor Blackburn, seconded by Councillor McGuire and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That in accordance with Rule 24.1, the provision of Rule 15.4 (Content of Length of Speeches) of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules be suspended only to enable statements to be made on behalf of the three Political Groups on the 2009/10 Revenue Budget.

 

The Leaders of the three Political Groups then made statements and outlined the policies of their respective Groups in respect of the budget for 2009/10.

To consider the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on the Revenue Budget 2009/10 together with any recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet on 26 February 2009 (to be circulated at the Council meeting)

Further to Minute No. 276 of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 February 2009, the Council considered a report by the Finance and Information Services Director which provided an update on current issues relating to the completion of the 2009/10 budgetary process.  The report included the details of the budget proposal submitted by the three political groups.

 

The Cabinet had considered the report at its meeting held earlier that day and a copy of the Cabinet resolution was circulated.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne:

 

That the budget proposal of the Liberal Democrat Group set out in Annex A1 of the report be approved.

 

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 37 votes to 25.

 

It was then moved by Councillor P. Dowd, seconded by Councillor Maher:

 

That the budget proposal of the Labour Group set out in Annex A2 of the report be approved.

 

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 42 votes to 21.

 

It was moved by Councillor Parry, seconded by Councillor Porter:

 

That the budget proposal of the Conservative Group set out in Annex A3 of the report be approved.

 

The motion was put to the vote and, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the motion was not carried by 45 votes to 17

 

At this point the Mayor adjourned the meeting for a short period of time, to enable the three Group Leaders to discuss the possibility of a compromise budget proposal being submitted to the Council.

 

Upon their return to the Council Chamber the meeting resumed.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor P. Dowd and unanimously

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the following compromise budget proposal of the three political groups be approved

 

viz:

 

 

 

£m

 

£m

 

 

 

 

 

1

Base Budget as at 22 January 2009

 

 

235.880

 

 

 

 

 

2

Plus Delete Leisure Savings - Arts Development

 

 

0.030

3

Plus Delete Environmental Protection - Dog Warden

 

 

0.030

 

 

 

 

 

4

less Use of ABG for Key Priorities

 

 

-2.306

5

less Reduction in Pension Fund Provision

 

 

-0.200

6

less Reduction in Provision for Pay Award to 1.75%

 

 

-0.250

7

less Improved Efficiencies in Procurement

 

 

-0.200

8

less Reductions in Advertising/Marketing

 

 

-0.050

9

less Reductions in Use of Consultants

 

 

-0.050

10

less Staffing Review following downturn in Economy

 

 

-0.100

11

less Maghull Leisure Centre - Delayed Opening

 

 

-0.050

 

 

 

 

232.734

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus Priority Service Growth:

 

 

 

12

Health and Social Care

 1.750

 

 

13

Children’s Services - Looked After Children

 0.750

 

 

14

Specialist Transport Unit

 0.750

 

 

 

 

 3.250

 

 

15

less Existing MTFP Provision

-1.000

 

 

16

Additional Provision for Priority Services Growth

 

 

2.250

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus Other Service Growth

 

 

 

17

Provision for Capital Financing Costs

 0.100

 

 

18

Stray Dogs - Out of Hours Service

 0.015

 

 

19

Hillsborough Memorial Refurbishment

 0.002

 

 

20

Review of Electoral Staffing

 0.006

 

 

21

Double rating

 0.040

 

 

22

Shop Mobility

 0.025

 

 

23

Arboricultural Services - New Contract

 0.020

 

 

24

Land Drainage Emergency Pressures

 0.020

 

 

25

Street Name Plates

 0.022

 

 

 

Other Growth Previously Agreed:

 

 

 

26

   - Emergency Planning

 0.024

 

 

27

   - Sefton Water Centre

 0.035

 

 

28

   - Childcare and Social Services Legal Team

 0.052

 

 

 

 

 0.361

 

 

29

less Existing MTFP Provision

-0.500

 

 

30

Reduced Provision for Other Services Growth

 

 

  -0.139

 

 

 

 

 

31

Additional Contribution to Budget Pressures Reserve

 

 

   0.500

 

 

 

 

 

32

Increase in Levies

 

 

   1.393

 

 

 

 

 

33

Proposed Base Budget 2009/2010

 

 

236.738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

Sefton Services Council Tax Increase

1.99

 

 

plus

Levies Services Council Tax Increase

0.70

 

 

 

Overall Sefton Council Tax Increase

2.69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merseyside Police Authority

5.00

 

 

 

Merseyside Fire and Civil Defence Authority

3.85

 

 

 

Overall Council Tax Increase (*)

2.96

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

Parish Precepts are in addition to this total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To determine the level of Council Tax to apply for Sefton Council for the financial year 2009/10 and the level of consolidated tax (including precepts) to apply in Sefton for 2009/10

 

A copy of the draft Budget Resolution will be circulated at the Council meeting

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and unanimously

 

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       It was noted that at its meeting on the 8 January 2009, the Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2009/2010 in accordance with regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)

92,946.68

Band D equivalent properties, being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 as its council tax base for the year.

(b)

The amounts below, being the amounts calculated by the Council in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items (Parish Council Precepts) relate.

 

Parish

Council Tax Base

 

(Band D Equivalent Properties)

Aintree Village

2,286.30

 

Formby

9,476.70

 

Hightown

894.57

 

Ince Blundell

191.07

 

Little Altcar

287.52

 

Lydiate

2,248.83

 

Maghull

7,166.25

 

Melling

1,091.07

 

Sefton

234.07

 

Thornton

815.51

 

 

(2)       That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2009/2010 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

 

(a)

£607,602,486

Being the aggregate amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2)(a) to (e) of the Act.

(b)

£369,883,951

Being the aggregate amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3)(a) to (c) of the Act.

(c)

£237,718,535

Being the amount by which the aggregate at 2(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 2(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year.

(d)

£122,000,266

Being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its General Fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates, revenue support grant, and increased by the amount of any sum which the Council estimates will be transferred from its General Fund to its Collection Fund (in respect of a Council Tax Surplus) in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended by the Local Government Finance Act, 1992).

(e)

£1,245.00

Being the amount at 2(c) above less the amount at 2(d) above, all divided by the amount at 1(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year.

(f)

£980,240

Being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (Parish Council Precepts).

(g)

£1,234.45

Being the amount at 2(e) above, less the amount given by dividing the amount at 2(f) above by the amount at 1(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

(h)

The amounts below, being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 2(g) above the amounts of the special items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(3) of the Act as basic amounts of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate.

 

Parish

Aintree Village

Formby

Hightown

Ince Blundell

Little Altcar

Lydiate

Maghull

Melling

Sefton

Thornton

       £

 1,289.12

 1,238.14

 1,238.64

 1,242.04

 1,243.15

 1,301.09

 1,323.29

 1,250.95

 1,249.40

 1,239.97

(i)

The amounts below being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 2(g) and 2(h) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.

 

 

 

 

Property Valuation Band

 

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Proportion of

6/9

7/9

8/9

9/9

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

Band D

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

 

Parish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aintree Village

859.41

1,002.65

1,145.88

1,289.12

1,575.59

1,862.06

2,148.53

2,578.24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formby

825.43

963.00

1,100.57

1,238.14

1,513.28

1,788.42

2,063.57

2,476.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hightown

825.76

963.39

1,101.01

1,238.64

1,513.89

1,789.15

2,064.40

2,477.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ince Blundell

828.03

966.03

1,104.04

1,242.04

1,518.05

1,794.06

2,070.07

2,484.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Altcar

828.77

966.89

1,105.02

1,243.15

1,519.41

1,795.66

2,071.92

2,486.30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lydiate

867.39

1,011.96

1,156.52

1,301.09

1,590.22

1,879.35

2,168.48

2,602.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maghull

882.19

1,029.23

1,176.26

1,323.29

1,617.35

1,911.42

2,205.48

2,646.58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melling

833.97

972.96

1,111.96

1,250.95

1,528.94

1,806.93

2,084.92

2,501.90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sefton

832.93

971.76

1,110.58

1,249.40

1,527.04

1,804.69

2,082.33

2,498.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thornton

826.65

964.42

1,102.20

1,239.97

1,515.52

1,791.07

2,066.62

2,479.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other Parts
of the Council's Area

822.97

960.13

1,097.29

1,234.45

1,508.77

1,783.09

2,057.42

2,468.90

 

(3)       It be noted that for the year 2009/2010 the Police Authority and Fire and Civil Defence Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

 

 

 

Property Valuation Band

 

 

 

Proportion of

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Band D

6/9

7/9

8/9

9/9

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Precepting Authority

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merseyside Fire & Civil Defence Authority

41.58

48.51

55.44

62.37

76.23

90.09

103.95

124.74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merseyside Police Authority

93.74

109.36

124.99

140.61

171.86

203.10

234.35

281.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4)       Having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 2(i) and 3 above, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2009/2010 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

 

 

 

Property Valuation Band

 

 

 

Proportion of Band D

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

 

6/9

7/9

8/9

9/9

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

 

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Parish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aintree Village

994.73

1,160.52

1,326.31

1,492.10

1,823.68

2,155.25

2,486.83

2,984.20

Formby

960.75

1,120.87

1,281.00

1,441.12

1,761.37

2,081.61

2,401.87

2,882.24

Hightown

961.08

1,121.26

1,281.44

1,441.62

1,761.98

2,082.34

2,402.70

2,883.24

Ince Blundell

 

963.35

1,123.90

1,284.47

1,445.02

1,766.14

2,087.25

2,408.37

2,890.04

Little Altcar

964.09

1,124.76

1,285.45

1,446.13

1,767.50

2,088.85

2,410.22

2,892.26

Lydiate

1,002.71

1,169.83

1,336.95

1,504.07

1,838.31

2,172.54

2,506.78

3,008.14

Maghull

1,017.51

1,187.10

1,356.69

1,526.27

1,865.44

2,204.61

2,543.78

3,052.54

Melling

969.29

1,130.83

1,292.39

1,453.93

1,777.03

2,100.12

2,423.22

2,907.86

Sefton

968.25

1,129.63

1,291.01

1,452.38

1,775.13

2,097.88

2,420.63

2,904.76

Thornton

961.97

1,122.29

1,282.63

1,442.95

1,763.61

2,084.26

2,404.92

2,885.90

All Other Parts of the Council's Area

958.29

1,118.00

1,277.72

1,437.43

1,756.86

2,076.28

2,395.72

2,874.86

To consider any changes to the Membership of any committees etc.

There were no changes made to the membership of Committees.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

The Council received a report of the Leader of the Council setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 16 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (Special Urgency).

Report of the Legal Director.

The Council considered a report of the Legal Director setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 17 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Call-In and Urgency).