Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors C Donovan and L Green.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 19 September 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to the findings of the review of the provision of all age carers services in Gateshead and to the proposal to procure a new all age carer service in Gateshead, which will be jointly commissioned between the Council and Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group, with the Council acting as the Lead on the procurement.

RESOLVED -

That the procurement of a new all age carer service in Gateshead, commissioned by the Council on behalf of the Council and Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group, as set out in the report, be approved.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To prevent duplication of funding and resources across health and social care.

(B)

To meet local need and demand and align services to strategic priorities across the local health and social care economy.

(C)

To promote a streamlined pathway and improved processes for carers accessing services, and enable early identification and assessment of carers’ needs to prevent, reduce and delay the onset of crisis situations.

(D)

To improve the quality of life for carers.

(E)

To enable an integrated commissioning approach across Health and Social Care.

Consideration has been given to the publication for consultation of the Making Spaces for Growing Places (MSGP) Draft Local Plan document and associated documents.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the publication for consultation of the MSGP Draft Local Plan document as set out in appendix 2 to the report be approved.

(ii)

That the publication for consultation of the Draft MSGP Policies Map as set out in appendix 3 to the report be approved.

(iii)

That the publication for consultation of the Plan’s draft supporting evidence base and in connection with the  Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and Employment Land Review (ELR), issuing a fresh “call for sites” for sites not previously submitted for consideration in 2015, be approved.

(iv)

That the publication of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) and Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) as set out in appendices 4 and 5 of the report, be approved.

(v)

That a delegation to the Strategic Director of Communities and Environment, following consultation with the Cabinet Members for Environment & Transport, Housing and Economy to make any changes or updates to the LDS and to the SCI as and when required be approved subject to (vi) below.

(vi)

That the Council be recommended to amend Schedule 5 of the Constitution ‘Non-Executive Functions Delegated to Managers’ to include the above additional delegation.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To progress the development of the Gateshead Local Plan as required by government policy and statutory obligations under Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Localism Act 2011 and Town and Country Planning (Local Plans) Regulations 2012 (as amended). The decision to publish MSGP for consultation is the first stage in progressing through to adoption Part 3 of Gateshead’s Local Plan.

(B)

To ensure that Council’s programme for producing the Local Plan, and the means by which it will engage the community, including on planning decisions, are published and kept up to date.

Consideration has been given to the response to Sunderland City Council’s consultation on its Draft Core Strategy and Development Plan.

RESOLVED -

That the response to the consultation be endorsed.

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

Consideration has been given to the Council as Local Highway Authority to consent to the making of Regulations by the Secretary of State to establish Transport for the North (TfN) as a Sub-National Transport Body under section 102J of the Local Transport Act 2008. The consent of each Highway Authority within the area of each Combined Authority which is a Constituent Authority of TfN is required to the making of Regulations by the Secretary of State because the Regulations contain provisions giving TfN highway powers to be exercised concurrently with the Local Highway Authorities.

RESOLVED -

That formal consent be given, under section 102J of the local Transport Act 2008, to the making by the Secretary of State of Regulations to establish Transport for the North as a Sub-National Transport Body and giving TfN concurrent highway powers.

The above decision has been made to ensure that Gateshead takes advantage of any future proposals to improve connectivity across the North.

Consideration has been given to a review and evaluation of the Central Gateshead, Phase 1 Selective Licensing Scheme, which expired on 17 May 2017.

RESOLVED -

That the findings of the evaluation report  of the Central Gateshead, Phase 1 Selective Licensing Scheme, which expired on 17 May 2017 be accepted.

The above decision has been made to demonstrate that full and open evaluation of the Scheme has been made.

Consideration has been given to the six month evaluation of the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for Gateshead.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the information be noted.

(ii)

That the retention of the current arrangements concerning charity collections, and not amending the current order to introduce any new arrangements to facilitate collections outside of the existing provisions for Street Collection Permits under the Police, Factories etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 be approved.

The above decisions have been made to ensure that the improvements made through the Public Space Protection Orders are maintained.

Consideration has been given to the submission of a bid for infrastructure funding which was made to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on the 28 September 2017 in relation to the Freight Depot site and in accordance with Schedule 5, Part 2 – General Delegations to Managers, paragraph 4 (e).

RESOLVED -

That the urgent action taken by the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment in submitting the infrastructure funding bid to DCLG and HCA in relation to the Freight Depot site, by the deadline of 28 September 2017, be endorsed.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To maximise potential housing delivery on a key strategic site.

(B)

To realise the Council’s policies and objectives in relation to housing growth.

Consideration has been given to an update on a collaborative procurement exercise with Newcastle City Council to secure an infrastructure support service for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and to the proposal to further extend the current Agreement between the Council and Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service (NCVS) to provide support, development, networking and representation to the VCS in Gateshead up to 31 March 2018.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council’s current Agreement with NCVS be extended until 31 March 2018 (in accordance with the Agreement’s extension clause).

(ii)

That in the event of the procurement process not being finalised, the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment be authorised to further extend the Agreement beyond 31 March 2018, for a period not exceeding three months, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Volunteering.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To facilitate the implementation of the collaborative procurement exercise with Newcastle City Council with a view to implementing a new service from 1^st April 2018, subject to further Cabinet approval and budget considerations.

(B)

To help build capacity and sustainability in voluntary and community organisations in Gateshead.

Consideration has been given to the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Procedure Annual Report for 2016/2017, which provides an analysis of the complaints and compliments recorded during this period.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Procedure Annual Report for 2016/17 be approved.

(ii)

That it be noted the report will be considered by the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The above decisions have been made to ensure an effective and timely complaints and compliments procedure.

Consideration has been given to the variation of the agreed lease terms in relation to the Former Materials Testing Laboratory, Windy Nook.

RESOLVED -

That the terms be varied so that the lease is granted to Warriors Community Project and the rent payable is reduced from £5,750 per annum to a peppercorn, to reflect the use of the property as a community centre, pursuant to the Council’s Community Asset Transfer policy.

The above decision has been made to manage resources and rationalise the Council’s assets in line with the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan.

Consideration has been given to accept a surrender of the current lease of land at Swan Street, Gateshead, from W D Ridley Executors Pension Scheme (“the Tenant”) and to the grant of a new 120 year lease to the Tenant.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the grant of a new 120 year lease to W D Ridley Executors Pension Scheme from a date to be agreed, at a rent of £4,200 per annum, with a 5 year rent review pattern be approved.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance be authorised to agree the detailed terms.

The above decisions have been made to manage resources in accordance with the provisions of the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan.

Consideration has been given to the surrender of the current lease of Site 2 Saltmeadows Road, East Gateshead Industrial Estate from JFS Business Services Limited (“the Tenant”) and the grant of a new 125 year lease to the Tenant.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the grant of a new 125 year lease to JFS Business Services Limited, from a date to be agreed, at a rent of £4,000 per annum, with a 5 year rent review pattern be approved.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance be authorised to agree the detailed terms.

The above decisions have been made to manage resources in accordance with the provisions of the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan.

Consideration has been given to the latest update on petitions submitted to the Council and the action taken on them.

RESOLVED -

That the petitions received and the action taken on them

be noted.

The above decision has been made to inform the Cabinet of the progress of action on petitions received.

RESOLVED -

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

Consideration has been given to the findings of the Drug and Alcohol Shared Care Clinical Audit and to seek proposed commissioning activity.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the findings of the Drug and Alcohol Shared Care Clinical Audit as detailed in appendix 2 to the report be noted and the recommendations and support action taken to minimise risk and strengthen governance be endorsed.

(ii)

That the extension of current GP Shared Care contracts to 31October 2018, in order to ensure alignment of all specialist substance misuse treatment contracts be approved.

(iii)

That the proposed next steps, as detailed in appendix 7 of the audit report be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To support the progress of service redesign through the Council structure.

(B)

To reduce the harms caused by alcohol and other drugs and make Gateshead a safer and healthier place, where:

·   recovery is visible bringing about enduring change to local communities

·   substances are no longer a driver of crime and disorder

·   the health inequalities between socio-economic groups are reduced

·   an integrated and comprehensive approach to building recovery is employed

·   possibilities of efficiencies are explored and realised.