Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors L Green and L Twist

The minutes of the last meeting held on 8 November 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to providing matched funding of £277,345 over five years from the Economic Growth Reserve Fund to support the operation of the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) and to help with the administration of a partner led Local Action Group (LAG) established to oversee the initiative and also for the Council to act as the Accountable Body for the LAG.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council acting as the Accountable Body for the LAG be approved.  

(ii)

That match funding of up to £277,345 to support administration costs via the Economic Growth Reserve Fund be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

The programme will attract significant funds to support economic growth in the borough over the next five years.

(B)

The funding will help residents overcome barriers to employment/enterprise.

(C)

It will pilot a new way of working, supporting a greater involvement of the wider community, including public, private and third sector partners.

(D)

It will support Council objectives in relation to exploring new approaches to service delivery, such as through social enterprise activity.

(E)

There is no other organisation able to fulfil the Accountable Body role on behalf of the LAG.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the Centrally Employed Teachers’ Pay Policy 2016.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the Centrally Employed Teachers’ Pay Policy 2016 as set out in appendix 2 to the report.

The above decision has been made to comply with the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2016.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve a revised early retirement/redundancy payments policy for employees who are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS).

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the revised early retirement/redundancy payments policy for employees who are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) as set out in appendix 2 to the report.

The above decision has been made to reduce the deficit on the compensation budgets therefore contributing towards the Council’s effective financial planning and medium term financial sustainability.

The following item of business was added to the agenda as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration has been given to the response to the Boundary Commission’s consultation on the Boundary Review 2016.

RESOLVED -

That the response to the consultation on the Boundary Review 2016 be endorsed.

The above decision has been made to enable the Council to contribute a response to the consultation.

Consideration has been given to a revised proposal for the current Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM) Joint Agreement for the 2016/17 municipal year. The proposal includes the establishment of a Strategic Board to replace the Joint Committee from 1 June 2017, along with new terms of reference and a new governance structure.

The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, included continuing with the current Agreement and structures.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the adoption of a renewed TWAM Joint Agreement for the 2016/7 municipal year as set out in the report be approved.

(ii)

That the dissolution of the TWAM Joint Committee on 31 May 2017 be approved.

(iii)

That the formation of a Strategic Board to replace the Joint Committee from 1 June 2017 be approved.

(iv)

That the terms of reference for the Strategic Board as set out in appendix 1, paragraph 17 of the report and constituent local authorities be approved.

(v)

That the principle of the appointment of an independent Chair and members to the Strategic Board and a Vice Chair who is an elected member of the constituent local authorities be approved.

(vi)

That the establishment of a wholly-owned Trading Company be approved.

(vii)

That the delegation of authority to the Director of TWAM and the Service Director, Legal, Democratic and Property Services to prepare and negotiate the required legal agreements for the proposals set out above and to agree any appropriate changes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure and the Cabinet Member for  Communities and Volunteering be approved.

(viii)

That it be noted the delegation of authority outlined above is approved on the basis that a report will come back to Cabinet on the detail as and when this process has been concluded, and before the Council enters into any binding legal agreements relating to the new TWAM governance arrangements.

(ix)

That a review of the effectiveness of the arrangements at the end of the first year to ensure that the governance structures are fit for purpose be approved.

(x)

That consideration be given to appropriate scrutiny of the new arrangements and operation of TWAM.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

The new arrangements will facilitate increased self-reliance.

(B)

The new arrangements will enable businesses to become active stakeholders and support enhanced entrepreneurialism.

(C)

The new arrangements will position the organisation to secure substantial investment from Arts Council England in 2018 -22.

(D)

The new arrangements will improve the long-term sustainability of the service.

Item withdrawn.

Consideration has been given to the Childcare Sufficiency Report 2016, which details the availability and sufficiency of childcare in Gateshead in order to fulfil the Council’s duties as required by the Childcare Act 2006 (amended by The Children and Families Act 2014).

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Childcare Sufficiency Report 2016 be endorsed and officers be authorised to address gaps in provision where identified.

(ii)

That it be noted that provision and access to places for children with disabilities will be covered as part of the review of the Council’s Inclusion Strategy, which is a whole system approach to inclusion, and which will be the subject of a future report to Cabinet.

The above decisions have been made to fulfil statutory duties and ensure sufficiency of childcare places within Gateshead.

Consideration has been given to updates to the approved Gateshead Highways Asset Management Plan.

RESOLVED -

That the addendum to the Highways Asset Management Plan for Gateshead as set out in appendix 2 to the report be approved.

The above decision has been made to provide the basis for improved management and maintenance of Gateshead’s highway network and ensure the effective use of resources.

Consideration has been given to the transfer of outstanding balances from Non-Domestic Rates accounts, where all possible recovery action has been taken and the balances are now considered to be uncollectable.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the transfer of the balances on 326 uncollectable accounts totalling £3,002,743.94 be approved.

(ii)

That the transfer of accounts totalling £21,827.44 by the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources, acting under delegated powers be noted.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the effective management of the Council’s resources.

(B)

To ensure that the Council Accounts accurately reflect the correct financial             position.

Consideration as been given to the nomination of local authority governors to schools where there are currently vacancies.

RESOLVED -

That the following nominations be approved for a period of four years from the date indicated, in accordance with the Schools’ Instruments of Government

·         Dunston Hill Primary – Mr D Bunce from 19 October 2016

·         Highfield Primary – Cllr D Bradford from 29 November 2016

·         Rowlands Gill Primary – Cllr L Caffrey from 29 October 2016.

The above decisions have been made to ensure the Governing Bodies have full membership.

RESOLVED -

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item in accordance with paragraph 3 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration has been given to the signing of an Enterprise Zone Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Gateshead Council, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, committing to the set up and operation of an Enterprise Zone in Follingsby.

RESOLVED -

That the signing of the MoU to formally include sites at Follingsby Park and Follingsby South in a North East Enterprise Zone be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To accelerate economic growth, inward investment and job creation.

(B)

To secure a funding mechanism to support the cost of enabling infrastructure.