The Acting Director of Regeneration, Housing and Planning reported that the Council jointly funded the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS), which provided specialist advice on the Local Development Framework and planning applications. Sefton Council was the lead authority for procurement of the service and he indicated that technical expertise and funding was shared between the five Merseyside District Councils and Halton Borough Council, thus providing economies of scale and specialist shared services that could not be effectively provided at District level.

Resolved – That in accordance with paragraph 21.1.1 (ii) of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, Cabinet agrees to extend the MEAS contract on the terms outlined, for the financial years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, until 31 March 2013, at an annual cost for core services of £31,673 to be accommodated within existing budgets.