Toggle menu

Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bridges Room - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Neil Porteous - Tel: 0191433 2149 - Email:  Neilporteous@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

CR37

Minutes pdf icon PDF 274 KB

The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2017.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2017 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

CR38

Strategic Resilience and Emergency Planning Framework pdf icon PDF 415 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

Minutes:

The Committee received a progress report on activity undertaken in relation to the Strategic Resilience and Emergency Planning Framework, within the last six months.

 

Updates were provided against each of the four themed areas along with details of the work carried out by the Emergency Response Team.

 

It was queried whether senior colleagues from Northumbria Police or the military could be invited to address the Council on how to respond to a terrorist incident. It was confirmed that the Council works with a range of partner agencies and a briefing for councillors has been arranged in  April.

 

It was requested that the emergency out of hours contact arrangements be clarified and that contact details for senior officers be reissued to councillors. 

 

 

RESOLVED:

i)

That the Committee was satisfied with the progress achieved within the last six months.

 

ii)

That the Committee agreed to receive a further progress report in September 2017.

 

iii)

That the Committee encourages all councillors to attend the special briefing meeting in April.

 

iv)

That the emergency out of hours contact arrangements be clarified and that contact details for senior officers be reissued to councillors.

 

 

CR39

Freedom of Information - Annual Report pdf icon PDF 375 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report detailing the number of requests for information received by the Council, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.

 

The report provided the background to the Act, highlighted the number of requests received and provided information resulting from analysis.

 

Over the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 the number of requests received was 1200, representing a 0.58% decrease in requests received in the previous year and a 450.95% increase since the implementation of the Act in 2005.

 

Of the requests received 94.25% were dealt with within the 20 day timescale. This represents a decrease of 0.1% in performance on the 2016 figure.

 

Four requests were subject to an internal review. The original decision maker’s decision was upheld in all four cases.

 

It was noted that two requesters exercised the right of appeal to the Information Commissioner. These have yet to be determined.

 

Comparative data was also included showing the number of requests received by Gateshead and its neighbouring authorities in 2015.

 

RESOLVED:               i)          That the information be noted.

ii)         That the Committee is satisfied with the operation of the Freedom of Information Act procedure.

 

 

 

 

CR40

Annual Work Programme pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report outlining the provisional work programme for the municipal year 2017-18. The Council has consulted partner organisations and it was reported that they have been supportive of the themes identified for consideration by the Committee.

 

It was requested that further consideration be given to the timing of the case study on welfare reform and that the issue be brought forward, if appropriate.

 

 

RESOLVED:

i)

That the Committee agreed the case studies for 2017-18.

 

ii)

That the provisional work programme be recommended to Council for approval at its meeting on 8 June 2017.

 

iii)

That further reports be brought to the Committee to identify any additional issues which the Committee may wish to consider.

 

 

 

Help us improve this site by giving feedback