Free school meals, budget pressures and footballing legends were all on the agenda for a meeting of Sefton’s full council last night, November 17.
As councillors gathered from across the borough at Southport Town Hall, and amid the council business of approving reports and settling debates, anecdotes were also heard on subjects ranging from Jurgen Klopp’s surprising height to the time a former deputy prime minister came “bounding” into a room.
Here are five things we learnt from last night’s full meeting of Sefton Council.
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Two Sefton leisure centres need a lot of repair work
One of the reports presented to council last night related to the state of disrepair at Bootle Leisure Centre and Netherton Activity Centre, with £350k of work needed between the two sites to deal with serious issues.
At Bootle, flooding through aged solar panels means £202k is needed for a replacement. A “failing” lift also needs an overhaul at a cost of £38k.
Over at Netherton Athletics Centre the report states that the astro pitches have “crumbled and split” with £103k needed to replace the pitches.
The funds were previously approved by cabinet and were also agreed by full council last night.
Jurgen Klopp is “not as tall as you’d think”
These remarks came from Sefton’s mayor, Cllr Clare Carragher as she reeled of a list of engagements, including Remembrance Sunday and various charity engagements including at the Albion Pub in Bootle.
Cllr Carragher said that while not a football fan, she was “pleased” to be able to attend the Freedom of the Borough celebrations for Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool Council earlier this month.
Commenting on meeting Klopp in person, she said; “He’s not as tall as you’d think.”
Sefton Council have £166m in debts
A report into the council’s treasury management position also revealed that Sefton Council currently have £92m invested across various funds.
Interest rate rises have led to a larger than expected return on the council’s investments, with the situation in September bringing an addition quarter of a million into the council’s coffers.
However, the report notes there has also been a negative impact on the borough’s debts, in particular following the September mini budget which saw sharp sudden rises in interest rates.
With a £17m loan from the Public Works Loan Board due to mature in March, the council said in the light of recent volatility it took advice on the best way forward and has decided to continue its previously agreed strategy – which involves reducing cash balances to replace maturing loans.
Alex Greenwood is the ‘first woman’ to be given Freedom of the Borough in Sefton
A report recommending Freedom of the Borough for the Lioness, whose England team won the UEFA Women’s European Championship earlier this year spoke of how inspiring the Sefton star is for other young people in the borough.
The report noted: “Alex is a fantastic role model for young people (especially women and girls) in Sefton and has long been a major influence in the advancement of women and girls’ football within Sefton, ensuring she takes time out of her busy footballing career to motivate and inspire future generations of sporting stars throughout the borough.”
Speaking at the meeting, council leader Cllr Ian Maher said: “It’s really great that one of those Lionesses is a local girl” while mayor, Cllr Carragher said: “It proves, if you want a job doing, get the girls to do it.”
Liberal democrat Cllr Ian Brodie-Browne said that while he welcome the first woman to receive Freedom of the Borough, he hoped more people not involved with sports could be included in future accolades.
Nearly all Sefton councillors want free school meals extended
A motion put forward by cabinet member Cllr Mhairi Doyle calling on the extension of free school meals was the only motion on the agenda of this full council meeting.
Following a debate where councillors spoke about their own experiences as children in receipt of school meals, some of the challenges families in the borough are facing, a Liberal democrat amendment called for any extension to come from “new money” rather than a reallocation of existing budgets.
Liberal democrat leader Cllr Pugh said he remember the day then deputy prime minister Nick Clegg “bounded” in to announce he’d persuaded David Cameron to expand free school meals.
The leader of Sefton conservatives, Cllr Mike Prendergast spoke out against the motions, saying that it: “assumes nothing is being done but that isn’t the case and I want to put on record quite a lot has already been done.”
Labour Cllr Paula Spencer said: “If the conservative government is doing so good then why are children going to bed hungry?” adding that: “Every working class person is suffering.”
Independent councillor John Sayers accused the conservative leader of “bragging” about how many children are on free school meals.
Cllr Diane Roscoe said; “No child in Sefton should go hungry”
Both the Liberal Democrat amendment and the original Labour motion were then voted on and passed, with nearly everyone in the chamber voting in favour of the motions. Only four conservative councillors did not, opting to abstain from the vote.
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