Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Huyton

Contact: Lynn Cairns  0151 443 3107

Items
No. Item

55.

Minute's Silence

Minutes:

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Mayor referred to the recent sad passing of Councillor Ms Veronica (Ronnie) McNeill. Councillor McNeill had served on the Council from 2007.

 

            The Council stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect following which Councillor McGlashan thanked all Members for their kind regards and sympathy.

 

(NB The Mayor referred to two amendments that had been tabled by the Liberal Democrat Group in relation to Agenda Item 2 (Corporate Plan 2017-2020) and Agenda Item 9 (2018/19 Revenue Budget). The Mayor adjourned the meeting to give all Members the opportunity to fully consider these amendments before they were debated and voted upon.

 

Meeting adjourned at 6.05pm.

 

Meeting reconvened at 6.30pm.)

56.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Assistant Executive Director (Governance) reported that:-

 

(a)        declarations of interest had been submitted by Members in respect of agenda items 3-10 (minute numbers 58-65) as follows:-

 

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

 

 

Councillor

Nature of Interest

Ms D Allen

Council representative on the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (a precepting/levying organisation), and she and her partner both receive a social care direct payment from the Council on behalf of a family member

 

 

D J Baum

Member of Knowsley Town Council for which an allowance is received

 

 

C Cashman

Member of Knowsley Town Council for which an allowance is received

 

 

E Connor

Council representative on Volair Board, which is a Council owned organisation contracted by the Council to provide services

 

 

J Donnelly

Member of Knowsley Town Council for which an allowance is received, and partner is employed by Knowsley Borough Council

 

 

Mrs E Finneran

Council representative on the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (a precepting/levying organisation)

 

 

Ms J Lilly

Council representative on Volair Board, which is a Council owned organisation contracted by the Council to provide services

 

 

Ms L Mooney

Partner is employed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (a precepting/levying organisation)

 

 

A Moorhead

Member of the Volair Board, which is a Council owned organisation contracted by the Council to provide services

 

 

Mrs K Moorhead

Partner is a member of the Volair Board, which is a Council owned organisation contracted by the Council to provide services

 

 

G J Morgan

Employed by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (a precepting/levying organisation), and partner works for TARMAC (an organisation that is in a contractual arrangement with the Council)

 

 

B M O’Hare

Member of the Huyton Co-operative for the Elderly Board (partner is also a member of this Board) and Chairman of the Northwest Housing Services Board – both of these Boards assist residents in receiving funding, benefits and services from the Council – and both he and his partner are involved in the management of the St John’s Community Association which has a tenancy agreement with the Council for the use of Council premises

 

 

I Smith

Receives a social care direct payment on behalf of a family member

 

 

M Wynn

Partner is employed by Volair, a Council owned organisation contracted by the Council to provide services

 

Personal and Prejudicial

 

 

Councillor

Nature of Interest

D J Baum

Nephew is employed by Knowsley MBC

 

 

T Byron

Member of Whiston Town Council

 

 

E Connor

In receipt of a pension from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

 

 

Mrs E Finneran

Member of Halewood Town Council

 

 

Ms G Flatley

Member of Prescot Town Council and Whiston Town Council

 

 

Mrs J Harris

Chairperson of Knowsley Carers Board who receive funding from the Council

 

 

Ms S O’Keeffe

Member of Prescot Town Council

 

 

I Smith

Member of Prescot Town Council

 

 

F Walsh

In receipt of a pension from the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

 

Personal

 

 

Councillor

Nature of Interest

T Byron

Serving on a levying organisation (North West Flood and Coastal Defence Committee)

 

(b)        Personal and Prejudicial interests had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

57.

Corporate Plan 2017-2020 pdf icon PDF 317 KB

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

Minutes:

            The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive which set out a summary of the Council’s priorities for 2018/19, information on a Delivery Programme in relation to each priority, and an outline of how performance management would be reported during 2018/19.

 

            Councillor A Moorhead MOVED and Councillor G See SECONDED the recommendations set out within the report.

 

Councillor I Smith MOVED and Councillor C Cashman SECONDED an

amendment to the Motion to read as follows:-

 

“Members of the Council are recommended to:-

 

(i)         endorse the Council’s priorities for the next year as outlined in the Corporate Plan 2017-2020 and detailed in section 4 of the report in order to provide a focus for Council services and for future monitoring reports to Elected Members, subject to amendments (a) to (e) below:-

 

(a)        Priority 1 – Maximise the Council’s Contribution to Education in Knowsley

 

Add the additional text set out in bold below to item (i) of “How the Council will contribute towards achieving the Outcomes” so that this item would read as follows:-

 

“(i)        Work with the Education Commission to develop and deliver an Education Improvement Programme for Knowsley that drills down root and branch across 11-16 school provision, management structure and organisation with the goal of improving attainment;”

 

(b)        Priority 4 – Accelerate Business Growth, New Jobs and New Housing

 

Amend the heading of Priority 4 by the addition of the text set out in bold so that it reads “Priority 4 – Accelerate Business Growth, New Jobs and New Housing on Brownfield Sites”;

 

(c)        Priority 4 – Accelerate Business Growth, New Jobs and New Housing on Brownfield Sites (i.e. as amended above)

 

Add and delete text in respect of item (i) of “How the Council will contribute towards achieving the Outcomes” so that this item would read as follows:-

 

“(i)        Continue to build an acceptable level of housing, including social housing, that respects and safeguards the green belt, green spaces, parkland and children’s playgrounds, seeking to develop Council-owned brownfield sites;”

 

(d)        Priority 4 – Accelerate Business Growth, New Jobs and New Housing on Brownfield Sites (i.e. as amended above)

 

Add the additional text set out in bold below to item (ii) of “How the Council will contribute towards achieving the Outcomes” so that this item would read as follows:-

 

“(ii)       Facilitate the implementation of masterplans for localities and town centres where there is clearly public support from local residents and, where appropriate, Town and Parish Councils;”

 

(e)        Priority 5 – Create a Sustainable Borough

 

Add the additional text set out in bold below to item (i) of “Outcomes” so that this item would read as follows:-

 

“(i)        Build better partnerships with residents, respecting their views, their communities, and also with partner agencies”; and,

 

(ii)        note recommendations (b) to (d) as set out in section 2 of the report previously circulated.”

 

            In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 16.4, Councillors C  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

58.

Robustness of Estimates and Adequacy of Financial Reserves pdf icon PDF 167 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

            The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources) which:-

 

(1)        in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003, detailed the statutory Chief Finance Officer’s report to the Council on:-

 

(a)     the robustness of the estimates made for setting the budget and Council Tax for the forthcoming financial year; and

 

(b)     the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves; and

 

(2)        set out the statement of the Executive Director (Resources) (i.e. the Chief Finance Officer) on the robustness of the financial information put forward for the Council’s consideration in the accompanying reports on the agenda.

 

            Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

 

            RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and, in particular, the statement of the Executive Director (Resources) set out in section 5, be noted.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

59.

Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 814 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

            The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources)  presenting the Council’s 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy, including the Treasury Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy. In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution, the Governance Committee had considered the Strategy on 29 January 2018 and recommended its approval.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the Code of Practice on Treasury Management in Local Authorities (2011) and the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy, as set out at Appendix A to the report submitted, be adopted.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

60.

2017/18 Revenue Budget Monitoring - Quarter 3 Update pdf icon PDF 371 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Financial Management.

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources) setting out the Council’s latest revenue budget monitoring position for 2017/18 and discussing the issues which were likely to affect the final year-end position.

 

The Council’s Constitution required the Cabinet to recommend its annual budget proposals to a full meeting of the Council. The report advised of the issues considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 21 February 2018 to inform the Council’s budget considerations.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the overall forecast position for the Council at the end of 2017/18 as summarised in section 7.1 of the report submitted by noted.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

61.

Medium-Term Financial Strategy pdf icon PDF 353 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources)   summarising the financial issues currently affecting the Council and setting out revised medium-term financial forecasts. The report provided the financial context within which the Council was required to set its 2018/19 budget and Council Tax and set out an approach for the Council to manage its resources over the coming years in line with the Council’s Corporate Plan.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That:-

 

(i)         the medium-term financial forecasts detailed in section 4 of the report submitted be noted when agreeing the 2018/19 revenue budget;

 

(ii)        the approach to reserves and general balances as set out in section 5 of the report submitted be endorsed;

 

(iii)       the approach to the Council’s medium-term financial strategy as discussed in section 6 of the report submitted be endorsed;

 

(iv)       the proposed Annual Pay Policy be approved as discussed in section 7, and set out in full at Appendix A, to the report submitted; and

 

(v)        the Cabinet’s decision on 21 February 2018 that a Living Wage of £8.75 per hour should be applied to Knowsley Council employees with effect from 1 April 2018 as set out in the proposed Annual Pay Policy be endorsed.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

62.

Capital Programme Monitoring Update pdf icon PDF 308 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources) which:-

 

(1)       advised on the Council’s Capital Programme and the current level of expenditure against the planned delivery profile for 2017/18; and

 

(2)       advised on the range of capital resources available to the Council for 2018/19.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

            RESOLVED – That:-

 

(i)         the addition to the Capital Programme of the Shakespeare North Playhouse as set out in paragraph 4.4(a) of the report submitted be noted;

 

(ii)        the addition to the Capital Programme of £10.825m of the investment in Improvements to School Playing Fields (commencing in 2017/18) as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report submitted be noted; and

 

(ii)        the revised three-year Capital Programme of £78.682m as outlined in paragraph 7.1 of the report submitted be noted.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

63.

2018/19 Fees and Charges pdf icon PDF 212 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources) which summarised the key issues which had been considered by the Cabinet on 21 February 2018 relating to the schedule of fees and charges for Council services. This information was to be taken into account as part of the Council’s budget considerations.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendations in the report (as amended on the Order Paper tabled).

 

RESOLVED – That:-

 

(i)         the Cabinet’s approval of the fees and charges for 2018/19 as set out in the Fees and Charges Report to the Cabinet on 21 February 2018 be noted;

 

(ii)        the Cabinet’s decision not to charge for burial, funeral and memorial charges for under-16s be noted and local funeral directors and stone masons be requested to offer similar support to families following the loss of a child; and

 

(iii)       it be noted that the Sustainable Borough Scrutiny Committee has been requested to examine any potential correlation between charges for the collection of bulky household waste and levels of fly tipping in the Borough.

 

(Note:  That in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)        Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)        Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)        Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item and remained in the meeting and voted thereon.)

 

64.

2018/19 Revenue Budget pdf icon PDF 388 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Minutes:

            The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Resources) setting out the information for the Council to use in determining its revenue budget as required under the Council’s Constitution. The proposals of the Cabinet in respect of the revenue budget for 2018/19, as agreed at its meeting of 21 February 2018, had been incorporated and the accompanying items on the agenda also provided additional information for the Council to consider in agreeing the 2018/19 budget.

 

            Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

Councillor C Cashman MOVED and Councillor I Smith SECONDED an

amendment to the Motion to read as follows:-

 

“Members of the Council are recommended to accept the Cabinet’s proposals for the 2018/19 revenue budget with the following amendments:-

 

(a)          Agree to the following additional permanent savings to be implemented in 2018/19:-

 

Saving

Value

£m

Scrap senior officers pay increase:  Do not implement any nationally agreed pay award for any officer at Principal Manager Grade or above (i.e. officers with current annual salaries of £43,997 and above) *

0.234

High earners pay cut:  A pay cut of 18% for all officers with annual salaries above £80,000 *

0.384

Scrap Members’ pay increase:  Cancel the forecast increase in Members’ Allowances (usually linked to the national pay award but subject to Independent Remuneration Panel)

0.014

Leader/Cabinet Members:  10% cut in Special Responsibility Allowances for the Leader and Cabinet Members

0.013

Bulky waste charges:  Increase from £17.50 to £20 per item, with a charge of £41 for more than five items

0.005

TOTAL

0.650

 

*           The items marked with an asterisk in the table above could not be implemented before 1 July 2018 due to contractual notice requirements.

 

(b)          Agree to use the savings from amendment (a) above to fund free town centre car parking with effect from 1 July 2018 at an annual cost of £0.650m;

 

(c)          Reject the proposals for the following one-off investments in 2018/19:-

 

2018/19 Potential One-Off Investments

TOTAL

£m

Huyton Village Centre – Public Realm and Gateway Improvements

1.750

Contribution to Liverpool City Region Joint Working

0.598

TOTAL

2.348

 

(d)        Agree to use the funding freed up by amendment (c) above to defer the implementation of the Parks Alternative Delivery Model until mid-July 2021 at a cost of £2.348m.

 

(e)          As a result of the above amendments, agree a 2018/19 budget based upon the figures at Appendix A to this amendment.

 

 

APPENDIX A TO THE AMENDMENT

 

PROPOSED 2018/19 REVENUE BUDGET

 

Service Budgets

£m

£m

Adult Social Care

47.643

Children's Social Care

20.523

Customers and Employees

4.658

Early Help

4.487

Economic Development

0.362

Education Improvement and Inclusion

4.528

Governance

2.210

Neighbourhoods

5.578

Council-wide Services

2.678

Policy and Partnerships

2.039

Public Health and Wellbeing

3.103

Regeneration and Housing

7.712

Finance and Exchequer Services

0.186

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

1.534

Total Service Budgets

107.240

107.240

Council-wide Non-Service Budgets

5.761

New Council-wide Savings

 

(0.384)

Treasury Management Budgets

4.676

Levies

Merseytravel

10.032

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

7.359

Other Levies

0.267

17.658  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

65.

Council Tax Levy 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 500 KB

To consider the report of the Executive Director (Resources).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the report of the Executive Director (Resources) which, following approval of the Cabinet’s budget proposals as set out in Minute No. 64 above, outlined how the level of Council Tax for 2018/19 would be determined. The Appendices to the report contained technical statements and information required by law to be considered and approved by the Council for the Council Tax to be properly set.

 

Councillor G See MOVED and Councillor A Moorhead SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That:-

 

(i)         a 2018/19 Council Tax Requirement be approved in accordance with the methodology set out at Appendix A to the report submitted;

 

(ii)        the precepts which have been issued by the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service as set out at Appendix A to the report submitted be noted;

 

(iii)       the Tax Base figures relating to those areas with Parish/Town Council precepts as approved by the Council on 24 January 2018 and as set out at part 3 of Appendix B to the report submitted be noted;

 

(iv)       the calculations required by Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) as set out at Appendix B to the report submitted be approved, and the resultant amounts be calculated in accordance with the methodology detailed at Appendix C to that report;

 

(v)       the Council Tax for 2018/19 be set in accordance with the methodology detailed at Appendix A to the report submitted;

 

(vi)       the resultant Council Tax including the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service precepts in accordance with the methodology detailed at Appendix A to the report submitted be noted;

 

(vii)      the Parish and Town Council Taxes as detailed at Appendix D to the report submitted be noted; and

 

(viii)     the Executive Director (Resources) be authorised to collect the Council Tax and to pay the appropriate precepts as detailed at Appendix E to the report submitted.

 

(Note:  That:-

 

(i)         in accordance with the provisions of Section 28(2) of the Localism Act 2011, and the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members:-

 

(a)     Councillors Ms D Allen, D J Baum, C Cashman, E Connor, J Donnelly, Mrs E Finneran, Ms J Lilly, Mrs L Mooney, A Moorhead, Mrs K Moorhead, G J Morgan, B O’Hare, I Smith and M Wynn declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the above item but, having received a dispensation from the Monitoring Officer, remained in the meeting and voted thereon;

 

(b)     Councillors D J Baum, T Byron, E Connor, Mrs E Finneran, Ms G Flatley, Ms J Harris, Ms S O’Keeffe, I Smith and F K Walsh declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the above item but, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6(f) of the Council’s Code of Conduct for Elected Members, remained in the meeting and voted thereon; and

 

(c)     Councillor T Byron declared a personal interest in the above item  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.