Minutes for Cabinet meeting, May 14 2009, 10.00AM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Maher.

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 Brodie-Brown

18 - Farnborough Road Junior and Infants Schools

Personal -

He is the Chair of Governors at the School

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

 

Councillor Fairclough

4 - Royal Mail Services

Personal -

He is a Member of the Communication Workers Union

 

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

Councillor Fairclough

10 - Additional Controls for Counter Party Selection

Personal -

His employer is referred to in the report

 

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

Councillor

Fairclough

20 - Asset Management Report 2009

Personal -

He is a Member of South Sefton Development Trust and his wife is the Chair of Trustees of the Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, which are affected by the issues in the report.

 

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

Councillor Robertson

31 - Southport Indoor Market - Procurement Issues

Personal -

He is an employee of HM Revenues and Customs, which was referred to during the discussion on the report

 

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon

Councillor Shaw

18 - Farnborough Road Junior and Infants Schools

Personal -

His wife is employed at the school

Left the room during the consideration of the item

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 April 2009

RESOLVED:  

 

That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 16 April 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Cabinet is requested to consider the attached Motion submitted by Councillor Fairclough

In accordance with Paragraph 2.5(ii) of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, the Cabinet considered the following Motion submitted by Councillor Fairclough:

 

"The importance of a universal postal service is beyond question.  Six day delivery is vital and the role of local post offices is key to community cohesion throughout the area.

 

These will only be possible by having a wholly publicly owned, fully integrated mail service."

 

So as to support the above, the Cabinet resolves to:

 

(1)      Call upon Her Majesty's Government to stick to its promises and keep the Royal Mail in 100% public ownership and:

 

          (i)       end unfair competition and stem the loss of revenue to Royal Mail's competitors

 

          (ii)      reject any move to separate Post Office Ltd from the rest of Royal Mail, which will threaten the future of the network and undermine Royal Mail's ability to meet its Universal Service Obligation (USO); and

 

          (iii)      ensure that Royal Mail exploits new technologies and adapts to market changes with better products and services for customers and more support for U.K. businesses;

 

2.       Call upon the Local Government Association to support this Motion;

 

3.       Circulate this motion to all other Local Authorities asking for their support;

 

4.       Write to local M.P.s asking them to oppose the part privatisation of the Royal Mail; and

 

5.       Write to the Prime Minister asking him to abandon his plans to part privatise Royal Mail.

 

Councillor Brodie-Browne moved an amendment that all the words in the motion be deleted and substituted by the following wording:-

 

“Cabinet notes the vital importance of the Post Office network to the diverse communities of Sefton; believes that the Post Office network is well placed to deliver a range of financial services and products which would assist in combating financial exclusion; further believes that the Post Office network offers an opportunity to act as an advisory interface between the state and the citizen in matters such as benefit and tax credit; and further believes that in light of the Hooper Review, the Post Office network must be ring-fenced as a discrete, publicly owned network, and that the Government should invest in the network to create a postbank and advisory service.

 

We further call on the Government to develop a business model for the Royal Mail and the Post Office network that encompasses a significant part of the business (at least one quarter) being turned into an employee-owned trust on the John Lewis model.”

 

The amendment was put to the vote and on a show of hands was carried by 4 votes to 2.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and on a show of hands was lost by 5 votes to 4.

 

It was then RESOLVED:

 

That no action be taken on this issue.

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet considered the joint report of the Chief Executive and Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which provided details of the progress on the development of the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement, including feedback from the recent visit of the Local Government Minister John Healey M.P. and the proposed timetable for the approval of the remaining platforms comprising the Multi Area Agreement.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

1.         the progress being made towards further submissions in respect of Economy, Housing and Transport in support of the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement, be noted;

 

2.            Members be briefed more fully as soon as the revised platform papers are available following feedback from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Government Office - North West; and

 

3.         the Cabinet at its next meeting on 11 June 2009 receive a report seeking Sefton's commitment to the submission of the three remaining platform papers of the Multi Area Agreement.

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services) Foster Service Working Group

Further to Minute No. 169 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 5 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the final report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children's Services) Fostering Services Working Group on a review of the Fostering Service provided to children and young people in Sefton.

 

Councillor Hands, Lead Member of the Working Group, outlined the content of the report and responded to questions from the Cabinet Members.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)      the report be welcomed and noted at this stage;

 

(2)      the Cabinet Member - Children’s Services be requested to consider the recommendations and costings set out in the report and prepare the proposed detailed response for consideration by the Cabinet in due course; and

 

(3)      the Cabinet Member - Children’s Services submit a progress report on the implementation of recommendations in the report which do not have any financial implications to the Cabinet meeting to be held on 3 September 2009.

Report of the Legal Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Legal Director seeking the appointment of representatives to serve on the General Assembly of the Local Government Association (LGA) for 2009/2010 and to attend the Annual Meeting to be held on 30 June 2009 in Harrogate; and agreement on the distribution of the voting power between the representatives appointed.

 

The Authority had been invited to nominate up to four representatives to attend and exercise the Council's votes at the meetings of the LGA General Assembly.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)            Councillors Brodie-Browne and P. Dowd be appointed named representatives to attend meetings of the General Assembly of the LGA in 2009/2010 and the Annual Meeting on 30 June 2009; and

 

(2)       the distribution of the voting power between the representatives appointed be as follows:

 

            Councillor Brodie-Browne          -            3 votes

 

            Councillor P. Dowd              -            2 votes.

Report of the Legal Director

The Cabinet considered a report by the Legal Director which sought the appointment of Council representatives to serve on Outside Bodies set out in the report for 2009/10 or for periods longer than one year.  Details of the existing representation on Outside Bodies was set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the following Members be appointed to serve on the undermentioned Outside Bodies for 2009/10:

 

Organisation

Representatives(s)

 

ACME Board (pan-Merseyside Arts)

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism

(Cllr. Lord Fearn) and the Leisure Director

 

 

Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cabinet Member - Health and Social Care (Cllr. Porter)

 

 

British Resorts and Destination Association

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism

(Cllr. Lord Fearn) and the Head of Tourism

 

 

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals

Councillors Cummins and Glover (Affiliated Members)

Head of Library and Information Services (Institutional Member)

 

 

Community Foundation for Merseyside

Councillors Cuthbertson, Kerrigan and B. Rimmer

 

 

Environment Agency - Merseyside Liaison Group

Cabinet Member - Environmental  (Cllr. Tattersall)

 

 

Environmental Protection UK

Councillors P. Hardy and D. Jones and the Environmental Protection Director (or their nominees)

 

 

Formby Pool Trust - Board

Councillor Storey and Mr. R. Paul (Leisure Services Department)

 

 

Frank Hornby Trust

Councillor Robertson and Mr. M. Kundi (Economic Regeneration Manager) and Mr. J. Keogh (Altside Business Village Partnership Manager)

 

 

Industrial Air Pollution Standing Conference

Cabinet Member - Environmental (Cllr. Tattersall) and the Environmental Protection Director (or their nominees)

 

 

John Goore's Charity, Lydiate

Councillor Fenton

 

 

Liverpool Bay Forum

Councillors Glover, P. Hardy and Tattersall

 

 

Liverpool John Lennon Airport Board

Leader of the Council (Cllr. Robertson)

 

Liverpool John Lennon Airport Consultative Committee

Councillor Brady (or his nominee)

 

 

Local Government Association:

 

- Coastal Issues Special Interest

  Group

 

- General Assembly

 

- Urban Commission

 

 

Councillor Brady (or his nominee)

 

 

Councillors Brodie-Browne and P. Dowd

 

Councillor Moncur (2 votes) and Councillor B. Rimmer (3 votes)

 

 

Local Solutions

Councillor Tweed

 

 

Mersey Basin Campaign

Cabinet Member - Environmental (Cllr. Tattersall) (or his nominee)

 

 

Mersey Estuary Forum

Councillors Glover, P. Hardy and Tattersall

 

 

Mersey Forest Steering Group

Councillor Griffiths (substitute representative -

Councillor P. Hardy)

 

 

Mersey Port Health Committee

Member                         Substitute

 

 

Cr. Colbert                    Cr. Hands

 

Cr. Gustafson               Cr. Cluskey

 

Cr. Glover                      Cr. T. Jones

 

Cr. Kerrigan                  Cr. Mahon

 

Cr. Sumner                   Cr. B. Rimmer

 

Cr. Tweed                     Cr. Larkin

 

 

Mersey Waterfront Regional Park Board

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism  (Cllr. Lord Fearn)

 

Merseyside Co-ordinating Committee

Leaders of the 3 Political Groups - Councillors P. Dowd, Parry and Robertson (or their nominees)

 

 

Merseyside Drugs Council - Southport Management Committee

Councillor D. Rimmer

 

 

Merseyside Pension Fund

Pensions Committee

Councillor Ibbs (substitute Councillor Platt)

 

 

Merseyside Playing Fields Association

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism (Cllr. Lord Fearn) (substitute representatives - Councillors Cummins and Glover)

 

 

Merseyside Police Authority Appointments Committee

Leaders of the 3 Political Groups - Councillors P. Dowd, Parry, and Robertson (or their nominees)

 

 

Merseyside Strategic Transportation and Planning Committee

Councillors Dodd and Fairclough

 

 

Merseyside Third Sector Technology Centre (3TC)

Cabinet Member - Regeneration (Cllr. Maher)

 

 

Merseytravel Advisory Panel (Sefton Division)

Councillors Roberts, Sumner and Veidman (or their nominees)

 

 

Museums Association

Councillor Cummins (substitute representative - Councillor Glover) (Institutional Members)

The Head of Arts and Culture and the Keeper of Museums and Art Galleries (Private Members)

 

 

NewHeartlands Board

Cabinet Member - Regeneration (Cllr. Maher) (substitute - Councillor Fairclough)

 

 

North West Home Safety Council

Councillors P. Hardy, T. Jones and Preston and the Environmental Protection Director (or their nominees)

 

 

North West Local Government Association

Councillors Brodie-Browne, Moncur and Parry

 

 

North West Regional Association of Education Authorities

Cabinet Member - Children's Services (Cllr. P. Dowd)

 

 

North Western Local Authorities’ Employers’ Organisation

Cabinet Member - Corporate Services (Cllr. Parry)  (or nominee)

 

 

One Vision Housing Board

Councillors Connell and D. Hardy

 

 

PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee

Councillor Fairclough (substitutes -Councillors Parry and Robertson)

 

(NB - Nominated Member and substitutes must be Cabinet Members.)

 

 

Raven Meols Community Centre,

Formby - Management Committee

Councillors Griffiths and Ibbs

 

Sefton Borough Partnership

 

●       Board - 3 Party Group Leaders -

          Councillors P. Dowd, Parry and Robertson (or their nominees)

          and any Cabinet Member who is a Chair of a Thematic Partnership.

 

●  Executive - 3 Party Group Leaders -

          Councillors P. Dowd, Parry and Robertson (or their nominees)

          and any Cabinet Member who is a Chair of a Thematic Partnership

 

 

Member

Substitutes

●  Thematic

    Partnerships:

 

 

 

Children and Young People

Cabinet Member - Children’s Services (Cllr. P. Dowd)

Councillor Cummins

 

 

 

Economic Development and

Sustainability

Cabinet Member - Environmental (Cllr. Tattersall)

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism (Cllr. Lord Fearn)

Cabinet Member - Regeneration (Cllr. Maher)

Cabinet Member - Technical Services (Cllr. Fairclough)

Councillor Weavers

 

Councillor Brodie-Browne

 

Councillor Cluskey

 

Councillor Veidman

 

 

 

Healthier Communities and Older People

Cabinet Member - Health and Social Care (Cllr. Porter)

Councillor D. Rimmer

 

 

 

Safer and Stronger Communities

Cabinet Member - Communities

(Cllr. Griffiths)

Councillor Porter

 

 

 

Neighbourhood Regeneration Thematic Group

Cabinet Member -Communities

(Cllr. Griffiths)

Cabinet Member - Regeneration

(Cllr. Maher)

Cabinet Member - Technical

Services (Cllr. Fairclough)

Councillor Mahon

Councillor Moncur

Councillor Preston

Councillor Porter

 

Councillor Cluskey

 

Councillor Veidman

 

Councillor Brennan

Councillor D. Hardy

Councillor Colbert

 

 

 

Sefton Compact Implementation Working Group

Cabinet Member - Communities

(Cllr. Griffiths)

Councillor Preston

Councillor Porter

 

 

Councillor Robertson

 

 

Organisation

Representative

 

 

 

 

Sefton Business Village Partnership

Leader of the Council (Cllr. Robertson)

 

 

 

 

Sefton Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Councillors Cluskey, Lord Fearn and Porter

 

 

 

 

Sefton Coast Partnership Board

Councillors Cummins, Griffiths and McGuire (or their nominees)

 

 

 

 

Sefton Council for Voluntary Service

Councillors Hill, Porter and Veidman

 

 

 

 

Sefton Cultural Forum

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism (Cllr. Lord Fearn) and Leisure Director

 

 

 

 

Sefton Cycling Forum

Councillors Cluskey, Ibbs and Weavers

 

 

 

 

Sefton Education Business Partnership

 

Cabinet Member - Children’s Services (Cllr. P. Dowd) and 2 Spokespersons (Cllrs. M. Fearn and Platt)

 

 

Sefton Equalities Partnership

Cabinet Member - Communities (Cllr. Griffiths)

 

 

 

 

 

Sefton F.A.S.T. (Families and Schools Together) Steering Group

Cabinet Member - Children’s Services (Cllr. P. Dowd) and 2 Spokespersons (Cllrs. M. Fearn and Platt)

 

 

 

 

Sefton New Directions Limited Board

Councillors Brennan, Parry and D. Rimmer (Non-Executive Directors)

 

 

 

 

Sefton Sports Council

Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism  (Cllr. Lord Fearn and 2 spokespersons (Cllrs. Cummins and Glover)

 

 

 

 

Southport Business Enterprise - Board of Management

Councillors Byrom, Lord Fearn and Porter

 

 

 

 

Southport Partnership

Councillors Byrom, Porter and Tattersall (3 Cabinet Members) and Councillor M. Fearn (Chair of Southport Area Committee)

 

 

 

 

Southport Pier - Board of Trustees

Councillors Byrom, Lord Fearn and Glover (or their nominees)

 

 

 

 

Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE)

Cabinet Member - Children’s Services (Cllr. P. Dowd) and 2 Spokespersons (Cllrs. M. Fearn and  Platt) with their Deputies as substitutes

 

 

 

 

The Mersey Partnership Board

Cabinet Member - Regeneration Councillor Maher (substitute representative - Councillor Fairclough)

 

 

 

 

Trans Pennine Trail Members Steering Group

Cabinet Member - Technical Services (Cllr. Fairclough) and Chair of the Planning Committee (Cllr. Moncur) (or their nominees)

 

 

 

 

TREND (Trust for Regeneration and Enterprise Development Limited)

Councillor Tweed

 

 

 

 

University of Liverpool - Court

Councillors Connell, P. Dowd and Platt in addition to the Mayor, the Chief Executive and the Director of Children’s Services, who are ex-officio Members

 

 

 

 

 

(2)       in relation to those appointments for a longer period than one year, the following persons be appointed to serve on the Outside Bodies indicated:

 

 

Organisation

 

 

Representative(s)

Term of Office Expires

 

North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

 

Councillor Byrom

15.5.2011

(3 year appointment)

 

North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee

Councillor Glover

Councillor Maher

30.6.2012

30.6.2012

(3 year appointments)

Charities

 

 

 

Ashton Memorial Fund, Formby

Councillor Griffiths

Rev. A. Woodhouse

Mr. L.A. Street

31.5.2011

(4 year appointments)

 

Consolidated Charities of Thomas Brown and Marsh Dole

Councillor Storey

Councillor Platt

26.6.2010

26.6.2012

(4 year appointments)

 

Halsall Educational Foundation

Councillor Parry

21.5.2011

(2 year appointments)

 

Mayor of Crosby's War Relief Fund

Councillor Cummins

Councillor Webster

 

Mr. N. Goldrein

Vacancy to be filled by  the Crosby Area Committee

 

Mr. T.V. Beswarick

Councillor Papworth

 

Mr. J.R.M. Heppell

Councillor Hill

 

30.9.2012

30.9.2012

 

30.9.2010

30.9.2010

 

 

 

30.9.2011

30.9.2011

 

30.9.2012

30.9.2012

(4 year appointments)

 

Sefton Educational Trust

CM-Children’s Services (Councillor P. Dowd)

Councillor M. Fearn

Councillor Platt

Mrs. P. Leyland

 

31.8.2011

 

31.8.2011

31.8.2011

31.8.2011

(3 year appointments)

Governing Bodies

 

 

 

Hugh Baird College, Bootle

Councillor Hill

3.2.2010

(4 year appointment)

 

KGV College, Southport

Councillor Dodd

May 2010

(4 year appointment)

 

Peterhouse School, Southport

Councillor Glover

July 2010

(3 year appointment)

 

St. Mary's College, Crosby

Councillors Hill and Papworth

May 2010

(3 year appointments)

 

 

Merseyside Valuation Tribunal

 

Mr. D. Blanchflower

Mr. A.E. Brookfield

Mrs. E. Beech

Mrs. M. Caldwell

 

31.03.2010

31.03.2010

31.03.2013

31.03.2013

(6 year appointments)

 

 

 

 

Report of the Strategic Asset Management Group

Further to Minute No. 276 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 26 February 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Asset Management Group on the review of the existing capital programme, the resources available for new schemes and the proposed New Starts Capital Programme for 2009/10.

 

The proposal was a Key Decision but, unfortunately, had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.  Consequently, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Performance and Corporate Services) (had been consulted under Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because a decision is needed on the allocations to enable spending plans to progress for the new Financial year.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)      approval be given to the deletion of the following schemes from the ongoing Capital Programme, subject to the three buildings concerned being kept watertight:-

 

          (i)       Chaffers Playing Field Pavilion                £146,000

          (ii)      Potters Barn Local Heritage Museum      £  88,000

          (iii)      Skate Parks                                          £300,000

          (iv)      Botanic Gardens Museum Roof and Lift  £  50,000

          (v)      Mayoral Artefacts                                  £  40,000

 

(2)      that Officers submit reports to the Cabinet on the feasibility of locating suitable sites for skate parks in Formby, Maghull and Netherton and upon the current status on the lease and funding arrangements for the Potters Barn Local Heritage Museum;

 

(3)      the £50,000 provision in the ongoing Capital Programme for Hesketh Park Office/Visitor Centre be deferred from 2009/10 to 2010/11;

 

(4)      the provision in the ongoing Capital Programme be reduced for Southport Commerce Park - 3rd Phase Development by £116,000 and Crosby Coastal Park by £300,000;

 

(5)      the schemes listed in Annex B of the report be approved subject to the deletion of the ANPR Cameras Scheme (£330,000) as the New Starts Capital Programme for 2009/10 totalling £3.062m; and

 

(6)      the balance of capital resources available for 2009/10 be reserved to a later date to meet any emerging issues.

 

 

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on the additional controls to be implemented in the Council’s internal procedures/controls for selection of counterparty institutions following the release of revised guidance on investment controls/management of risk by the Audit Commission and the Council’s Treasure Management Advisors, Sector.

 

RESOLVED:            That

 

(1)       the introduction of additional controls and the impact on the Council’s investment decisions be noted; and

 

(2)       the Finance and Information Services Director, in conjunction with the Chief Executive, be given delegated authority to take urgent decisions to temporarily vary the strategy pending formal consideration by the Cabinet Urgent Business Committee.

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care)

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care on the current position relating to the development of a Merseyside sub-regional choice based lettings scheme.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the report be noted;

 

(2)            approval in principle be given to Sefton Council becoming part of the sub-regional choice based lettings scheme;

 

(3)       further reports be submitted to the Cabinet as details are agreed with sub-regional partners with a view to possible future formal endorsement of the schemes; and

 

(4)       a briefing session on the scheme be arranged for Members of the Council.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 172 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 5 May 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

Further to Minute No. 173 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 5 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services which provided an update on the implementation of the Integrated Children's System.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the progress of the Integrated Children's System be noted; and

 

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

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 170 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 5 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services seeking approval to the implementation of a pilot scheme to promote low energy use at Freshfield Primary School, to be funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the inclusion of the pilot scheme, in the DCSF Programme be noted; and

 

(2)       the expenditure for the scheme to be funded from specific resources from the DCSF be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Further to Minute No. 171 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Children's Services held on 5 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services which provided an update on the modifications to the Primary Capital Strategy.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the changes made to the Primary Capital Strategy be endorsed; and

 

(2)       the funding detailed within the report be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10, subject to the receipt of final approval from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children's Services which indicated that the premises at Beach Road Primary School and Bootle High School were surplus to the operational requirements of the Children's Services Directorate and sought approval to the demolition of Bootle High School.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the report be noted;

 

(2)       the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Legal Director be authorised, with effect from 1 August 2009, to negotiate the transfer of the site and buildings of Beach Road Primary School and Bootle High School back into the Corporate Portfolio under the control and management of the Property Management Group;

 

(3)       the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be authorised to dispose of the premises known as the caretaker's house at Bootle High School on the open market; and

 

(4)       the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services be authorised to progress the demolition of the buildings at Bootle High School.

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 14-19 Diploma Targeted Capital Funding Allocation for 2009/10.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

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

 

(2)       the funding detailed in the report be included in the Children's Services Capital Programme for 2009/10 and 2010/11.

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 tenders received for the provision of a kitchen/dining extension and children's centre at Farnborough Road Junior and Infants School.

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            approval be given to the funding allocation for the scheme of £2,077,668 provided from the Modernisation Fund (£1,628,970), the Sure Start Phase 3 Programme (£272,915), Devolved Formula Capital (£145,783), and the Extended Schools Programme (£30,000);

 

(2)       the lowest tender submitted by Lockwood Construction Ltd. of Bootle in the sum of £1,627,556 be accepted; and

 

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

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 tenders received for the installation of a multi games area at Forefield Junior School, Crosby.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the adjusted lowest tender submitted by G. Thornton Ltd. of Altham in the sum of £234,336 be accepted; and

 

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

 

(Councillor Robertson briefly left the meeting during the consideration of this item and Councillor P. Dowd took the Chair during his absence).

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services which incorporated a copy of the Council's Asset Management Plan for 2009.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the Asset Management Plan be noted; and

 

(2)       the proposals to review the Asset Management process in Sefton be endorsed and a report on the findings of the review be submitted to the Cabinet in due course.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services which provided details of the progress on the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract procurement process for the Thornton to Switch Island Link Road project, and sought approval to award an ECI contract.  The report also detailed a proposed route realignment in the vicinity of Back Lane, Thornton.

 

A copy of the response from Thornton Parish Council expressing support for the proposed route realignment was circulated to the Cabinet.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       as a result of the assessment of the tender submissions, the Thornton to Switch Island Link Road Early Contractor Involvement Contract be awarded to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd. of Northwich, and the Legal Director be requested to prepare a formal contract with the successful tenderer;

 

(2)       the financial implications of the contract award be noted and that the requirement for a Performance Bond for the design stage of the Contract be waived and reviewed prior to the construction stage;

 

(3)       the proposed amendment to the proposed route alignment in the vicinity of Holgate and Back Lane (Option 2) as detailed in the report be approved; and

 

(4)       the appropriate Officers be thanked for their efforts in determining the route alignment.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which provided an update on the current financial status of the Opportunities Shop, a local labour market intermediary; and sought approval to the funding previously supplied as a grant being converted to a performance related contract, to allow the Opportunities Shop to stabilise its finances, develop a business plan, and update its offer to jobseekers and employers.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(i)       approval be given a Service Level Agreement (SLA) being entered into with the Opportunities Shop for £95,000 in 2009/10, in return for acceptable performance towards targets and standards as stated in the SLA;

 

(ii)      approval be given to the additional provision of £25,000 for the Service Level Agreement in 2009/10, to be financed from resources to be identified by the Finance and Information Services Director;

 

(iii)      a Development Agreement be entered into whereby the Council and the Opportunities Shop agree to evaluate the mission and services of the Opportunity Shop, and to prepare a credible business plan by the end of December 2010; and

 

(iv)      any funding for the Opportunities Shop beyond 2009/10 be subject to a review of performance, to be completed before the end of the financial year 2009/10.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 157 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 6 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director which sought approval to increase the fees and charges within the Planning Portfolio for 2009/10.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the report be noted;

 

(2)       the increase in fees and charges for 21009/10 be approved as set out in the report; and

 

(3)       the revised financial contributions to be set out in Supplementary Planning Guidance be approved.

Report of the Housing Market Renewal Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Housing Market Renewal Director which sought approval to the submission of the draft Sefton Integrated Investment Strategy to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as a funding proposal for the period commencing April 2011.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the draft Sefton Integrated Investment Strategy proposal be approved;

 

(2)            Officers be instructed to submit the proposal to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as an initial 'bid for resources' for the next funding period, commencing April 2011; and

 

(3)       further reports be submitted in future to advise the Cabinet of the resources secured from the HCA as a result of the Sefton Integrated Investment Strategy and associated funding implications for the Council.

The Cabinet received reports from the Cabinet Members for Children's Services Communities, Corporate Services, Environmental, Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism, Performance and Governance, Regeneration and Technical services.

 

RESOLVED:  

 

That the Cabinet Member reports be noted.

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 3 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 it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 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.

Joint report of the Strategic Director of Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care) and the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 116 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Regeneration held on 6 May 2009, the Cabinet considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care and the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the need to commission an Informed Assessment of the Economic Viability of Affordable Housing in Sefton.

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the report be noted; and

 

(2)            provision of £25,000 be made in the 2009/2010 Housing Capital Programme to cover the cost of the study to be funded entirely from the Regional Housing Pot Capital Grant.

Report of the Housing Market Renewal Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Housing Market Renewal Director which provided details of the out-turn of the Housing Market Renewal Department Programme for 2008/09 and sought approval to the Council contribution to the proposed programme for the funding period 2009/11.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)      the expenditure and output targets achieved by the Housing Market Renewal Department during 2008/09 be noted;

 

(2)      the Housing Market Renewal Investment allocation for 2009/10 of £9.153 million and the indicative allocation for 2010/11 of £8.380 million be noted.

 

(3)      the Housing Market Renewal Programme allocation for 2009/10 be approved and the programme for 2010/11 be approved ‘in principle’, subject to confirmation of funding availability for that funding period from the Department for Communities and Local Government; and

 

(4)      a further report be submitted to the Cabinet for approval, in respect of the Housing Market Renewal Programme for 2010/11 when funding allocations for that period are confirmed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Housing Market Renewal Director which sought approval to a Select List of Contractors to be invited to submit tenders for the land remediation of the former Tannery and Penpoll Industrial Estate sites at Hawthorne Road, Bootle, subject to completion of financial checks.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:  

 

That the Select List of Contractors set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services which provided details of the latest position relating to the Corporate Accommodation Strategy and sought approval to specific proposals in relation to St. Peter's House.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the contents of the report be noted;

 

(2)            approval be given to the acquisition of St. Peter's House, Bootle in accordance with the detailed terms and conditions set out in the report;

 

(3)            approval be given to the replacement of the heating system within St. Peter's House and the associated financial implications detailed in the report;

 

(4)            approval be given to the addition of £0.75m to the capital costs of the project for the demolition of Balliol House in 2010/11;

 

(5)       the amended net revenue costs of the overall cost of the project be funded from the Modernisation Fund in 2009/10 and paid back in 2010/11; and

 

(6)       the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services and the Legal Director be authorised to agree any additional terms and conditions and to conclude the transactions and complete the necessary legal documentation.

Report of the Legal Director

Further to Minute No. 324 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 16 April 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Legal Director on the procurement issues in respect of the refurbishment of the Southport Indoor Market.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:   That

 

(1)       the report be noted;

 

(2)            approval be given to the appointment of Capital Symonds Ltd as professional services and project managers for this development; and

 

(3)       the need to undertake a formal procurement exercise be noted should Members wish to proceed with the appointment of either an operator to run the completed development or a developer partner.

Report of the Finance and Information Services Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director which sought approval to write-off irrecoverable debts.

 

RESOLVED:  

 

That approval be given to the 14 non-domestic rate debts amounting to £311,693.14 and 3 sundry debts amounting to £43,619.12 detailed in the report being written off.