Minutes for Cabinet meeting, Jun 11 2009, 10.00AM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lord Fearn and Tattersall.

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.

The following declarations of interest were received:

Member

Minute

Reason

Action

Councillor Fairclough

38 - Counterparty Investment Limits

Personal - His employer is referred to in the report

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

Councillor Maher

48 - Extended Schools Capital Funding 2009/10 Additional Schemes

Personal - He is the Chair of Governors of Springwell Primary School which is referred to in the report

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon.

Minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 14 May 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided details of her Departmental Service Plan and Annual Action Plans for 2009/10-2011/12 in so far as they relate to her own post.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the progress made on 2008/09 actions be noted; and

(2)       the intended action plans for 2009/10-2011/12 as they relate to the post of Chief Executive be noted.

Joint report of the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive on the process for a Strategic Budget Review which will undertake a systematic review of Council activity to ensure that priorities are being resourced and that medium term financial objectives are being met.  The report set out the context for the review, the proposed approach involving the dedication of senior officers for the initial phase of the project and the indicative timetable.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the approach outlined in the report including the indicative timetable be endorsed;

(2)       the requirement for effective communication and engagement throughout the process be noted; and

(3)       it be noted that regular reports will be presented to members including a detailed programme plan with detailed actions and timescales.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

Further to Minute No. 274 of the meeting held on 26 February 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on the decision taken under delegated powers to increase the limit on counterparty investments, in any one institution (or banks within the same Group) from £15m to £25m.

RESOLVED:

That the increase in the maximum investment in any one institution (or banks within the same Group) from £15m to £25m be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 5 of the meeting held on 14 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director seeking approval to the development of the second phase of the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement which involved the three Platform papers for Economy, Housing and Transport together with a revised background paper, the Story of Place.  The papers had been submitted to the Government on 9 June 2009 for agreement subject to a decision of this Cabinet.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)      the elements of the Multi Area Agreement (MAA) submitted to the Government on the 9 June 2009, namely the revised Story of Place and the Economy, Housing and Transport 'Asks' of Government be endorsed;

(2)      approval be given to the timetable and process for the submission of the MAA in June 2009 including the production of an Equality Impact Assessment for the MAA;

(3)      the progress made in implementing the Employment and Skills Platform of the MAA which was signed with the Government in January 2009 be noted;

(4)      Officers report back to the Cabinet on the outcomes for Sefton from the MAA;

(5)      collaborative arrangements be reinforced with West Lancashire District Council and Lancashire County Council;

(6)      the Government be called upon to devolve more powers and delegated finances to local authorities under the City Region process in order to fulfil the objectives and outcome of the MAA; and

(7)      it be noted that the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) had given its consent under Rule 16 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules for this key decision to be treated as urgent on the basis that the decision cannot be reasonably deferred because the MMA is being formally submitted by the Merseyside Local Authorities to the Government on 9 June 2009.  This is a deadline mandated by the Government and deferring the MAA to a later date would prevent the submission of a jointly agreed Merseyside document. 

(In accordance with Rule 18.5 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, the following Councillors requested that their vote against resolutions (1) to (3) above be recorded, viz:

Councillors Griffiths, Parry and Porter).

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which provided details of the activities being undertaken by Sefton Business Village Partnerships.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)       when appropriate, further reports on activities undertaken by Sefton Business Village Partnerships be submitted to the Cabinet; and

(3)       audit accounts be requested from the bodies which receive grant-aid from Sefton Council.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director

Further to Minute No. 6 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 27 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director on the allocation of a grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to enable a detailed inspection of the former Town Lane Landfill site to be undertaken in line with the statutory contaminated land requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the inclusion of the Town Lane Landfill Inspection project in the 2009/10 Capital Programme at a cost of £103,444 to be fully funded from DEFRA grant.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

Further to Minute Nos 14 and 6 of the meetings of the Cabinet Members - Technical Services and Regeneration held on 3 and 10 June 2009 respectively, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services which provided details of the current funding opportunities available under the North West Operational Programme and the Expressions of Interest submitted to the North West Development Agency. (NWDA).

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Asset Management Group be requested to consider the NWDA response to the Expressions of Interest and submit update reports to the Cabinet on the options available to the Council before any commitment to progress is made.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services on the results of the price renewal call with existing gas and electricity suppliers on the terms for the final two years of the contract to supply gas and electricity to named premises within the boundaries of Sefton.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the action taken by the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services in accepting the price offer for the period 1 September 2009 to 31 August 2011 in respect of gas and electricity supplies, as delegated by the Cabinet on 15 May 2008 be noted; and

(2)       the reduced financial implications of the report in the current and subsequent financial years be noted and a further report detailing the implications for departmental budgets be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environmental Services on the tenders received for the provision of a new world of work extension at Greenbank High School, Southport.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)            approval be given to the allocation of £315,809 in the Children's Services Capital Programme for this scheme, to be fully funded from the 14-19 Diploma Targeted Capital Funding Allocation for 2009/10;

(2)       the lowest tender submitted by D. Henderson and Sons of Southport in the sum of £224,926 be accepted; and

(3)       the Legal Director be requested to enter into a formal contract with the successful tenderer.

Joint report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services and the Leisure Director

Further to Minute Nos 11 and 7 of the meetings of the Cabinet Members - Leisure and Tourism; and Children's Services held on 20 May and 2 June 2009 respectively, the Cabinet considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and the Leisure Director which provided details of the changes to the Big Lottery Funded Play Portfolio and sought approval to the financial implications.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the schemes set out in the report be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10; and

(2)       the ongoing revenue repair and maintenance costs be included in the Medium Term Financial Plan from 2011/12 onwards.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 254 of the meeting held on 5 February 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services which sought approval to the appointment of the contractors to undertake the design and construction and ICT provision of the Litherland High School One School Pathfinder Project and the inclusion of the project in the Council's Capital Programme.

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

RESOLVED:  

That, subject to the approval of the Final Business Case for the Project, by Partnerships for Schools and the Department of Children, Schools and Families:

(1)      Kier Education be appointed as design and build contractors for the project;

(2)      Northgate be appointed as the ICT supplier for the project;

(3)      the Alternative Accommodation contract clause option be approved, to satisfy the requirements of the Council Constitution;

(4)      the Legal Director be authorised to complete the contract formalities in respect of the design and build contract and ICT supplier contract;

(5)      the scheme be included in the Children's Services capital programme at a total cost of £26,415,624 funded from DCSF grant (£23,687,767), Sustrans grant (£42,000), School Devolved Formula Capital Grant (£300,000) and £2,385,857 from the previously agreed Council contribution of up to £5,000,000; and

(6)      it be noted that the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) had given his consent under Rule 17 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules for call-in to be waived in respect of these decisions because completion of the contract formalities beyond the planned date of 16 June 2009 will adversely affect commencement and thereby provision of temporary classrooms required by the start of the Autumn Term on 2 September 2009.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 5 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 2 June 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services seeking approval to the implementation of schemes to be funded from the Basic Need Allocation for 2009/10.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the schemes detailed in the report be approved; and

(2)       the schemes be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 8 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 2 June 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services seeking approval to the implementation of schemes to be funded from the Extended Schools Capital Grant allocation for 2009/10.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the schemes detailed in the report be approved; and

(2)       the schemes be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services seeking approval to the implementation of schemes to be funded from the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant - Quality and Access Funding Allocation for 2009/10.

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

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the schemes detailed in the report be approved; and

(2)       the schemes be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10.