Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meetings held on 20 October and 3 November 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to the outcomes from wide ranging engagement of key housing stakeholders in Gateshead throughout the summer, including the formal consultation of tenants and leaseholders on the future management and maintenance of the Council’s housing stock and to the proposed:

a)     re-integration of housing management and maintenance services back into the Council;

b)     new vision and operating model for the delivery of its housing, maintenance and neighbourhood management services moving forward; and

c)     timetable, key next steps and plan for implementation of the new housing delivery model.

The alternative options to those recommended, but which were discounted, included retaining the current arm’s length management organisation model of delivery through The Gateshead Housing Company; entering into a partnership arrangement with another external organisation or transferring the housing stock to an external organisation; not implementing the vision or proposed operating model as set out in the report.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the outcomes from the formal consultation of tenants and leaseholders on the future management and maintenance of Council homes be noted.

(ii)

That the outcomes from the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders on a new vision for housing in Gateshead be noted.

(iii)

That several challenges (as well as opportunities) facing ‘housing’ over the next 3 years, including the need to have a viable 30-year HRA business plan, are acknowledged.

(iv)

That the potential for the review of housing functions, and the implementation of a new operating model to ensure delivery of a new vision for housing in Gateshead, to act as a catalyst for wider change across the Council is noted.

(v)

That the re-integration of the management and maintenance of its housing stock, back into the Council be approved.

(vi)

That a new vision for housing in Gateshead and the development and implementation of a new operating model for its housing, maintenance and neighbourhood management functions that will enable delivery of the vision as set out in the report be approved.

(vii)

That the proposed implementation timetable for the new delivery model together with the suggested milestones for the development and implementation of new housing governance and customer involvement arrangements be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the Council’s housing stock is managed and maintained in the interests of the Council, and its tenants and leaseholders, as effectively and efficiently as possible.

(B)

To deliver a new vision for all the Council’s housing functions and to meet the aspirations and ambitions of a range of stakeholders and partners.

(C)

To support the delivery of the Council’s overarching ambition of Making Gateshead a Place Where Everyone Thrives.

Consideration has been given to the proposals to accept a £7.27m grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and to procure suppliers to install the heat and power connections required.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the £7.27m grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to fund the following (Project 1) be accepted:

·        Connecting 4 Council buildings to the Gateshead District Energy Heat network;

·        Connecting 2 Council buildings to the private wire network of the same network;

·        Construction of a 2MW solar farm on Baltic Quarter, and a 1MW solar farm on vacant land adjacent to Gateshead Stadium; and

·       Installation of a 225kW carpark canopy solar PV system, in Gateshead Civic Centre car park.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance (or his delegate), be authorised to agree the compliant procurement route for the heat and power connections required.

(iii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance (or his delegate), be authorised to accept a potential £2.5m grant for works and heat connections to 5 schools (Project 2) under Round 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme as set out in the report.

(iv)

That further reports on other bids to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme be submitted as they develop.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To support the Council’s Thrive objectives.

(B)

To support the Council’s Climate Emergency, and targets of net zero emissions by 2030.

(C)

To continue to generate income and savings for the Council to support Council finances.

Consideration has been given to the procurement and award of the contracts.

RESOLVED -

That the Service Director, Corporate Commissioning and Procurement be authorised to invite or negotiate tenders or conduct other    procurement processes (or to complete the relevant processes where they have      already begun) in respect of the contracts listed in appendix 2 to the report and to award the relevant contracts to the tenderers submitting the most economically advantageous tenders (or otherwise proving successful in accordance with other procurement processes) in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

The above decision has been made to enable the procurement of goods, works and services required for the efficient and effective delivery of services.

Consideration has been given to the latest monitoring position on the 2020/21 revenue budget at the end of the second quarter, including impacts of the global pandemic and to recommending the Council to approve budget adjustments outlined within the report.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council’s revenue expenditure position at the end of the second quarter, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the report be noted.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to approve the virements to contingency actioned for operational purposes as outlined in appendix 1 of the report.

(iii)

That the Council be recommended to approve an amendment to the net revenue budget for 2020/21 from £238.071m to £240.961m as presented in appendix 2 to the report, to account for the additional COVID-19 emergency grant funding.

The above decisions have been made to contribute to sound financial management and the long-term financial sustainability of the Council.

Consideration has been given latest position on the 2020/21 capital programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the second quarter to 30 September 2020.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to:

(i)

Agree all variations to the 2020/21 Capital Programme as detailed in appendix 2 as the revised programme.

(ii)

Agree the financing of the revised programme.

(iii)

Note that Cabinet confirms that the capital expenditure and capital financing requirement indicators have been revised in line with the revised budget and that none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2020/21 have been breached.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the optimum use of the Council’s capital resources in 2020/21.

(B)

To accommodate changes to the Council’s in-year capital expenditure plans.

(C)

To ensure performance has been assessed against the approved Prudential Limits.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the Capital Strategy for 2021/22 to 2025/26, which supports the framework used to set and monitor the Capital Programme.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the Capital Strategy for 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in appendix 2 to the report.

The above decision has been made to ensure that the Council fully complies with the requirements of good financial practice in capital accounting.

Consideration has been given to the Audit and Standards Committee Annual Report for 2019/20.

RESOLVED -

That the Annual Report of the Audit and Standards Committee for 2019/20 be endorsed and referred to Council for consideration.

The above decision has been made to strengthen the Council’s arrangements for oversight by councillors of governance, audit, risk management, the internal control framework, value for money and efficiency.

Consideration has been given to the statutory requirement under the Licensing Act 2003 to review the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, which applies up to and including 6 January 2021 and to the proposed arrangements for dealing with the review process in the circumstances of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the proposed consultation with relevant stakeholders as set out in the report be endorsed and approved.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to approve the existing Statement of Licensing Policy be rolled forward as from the 7 January 2021 to the 6 January 2026, with a review of the Licensing Policy being undertaken as and when deemed appropriate to do so within the stated five year period.

The above decisions have been made to ensure that the Council continues to have a Licensing Policy in place from 7 January 2021.

Consideration has been given to the proposed response to a recent government consultation.

RESOLVED -

That the response to the Department for Transport Parking on Pavements consultation as set out in appendix 1 to the report 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 action taken by the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth in registering the Council as a Gateway for the government’s Kickstart youth employment scheme in order to submit applications on behalf of Gateshead based employers.

RESOLVED -

That the action taken by the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth in registering the Council as a Gateway for the government’s Kickstart youth employment scheme, in order to submit applications on behalf of Gateshead based employers, in accordance with Part 3, Schedule 5, Part 2 Executive Functions General Delegations to Managers, Paragraph 4 (e).of the Council’s Constitution is noted.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To meet the requirements of the Council’s Constitution.

(B)

To ensure openness and transparency with the decisions made by officers.

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

RESOLVED -

That the petitions received and action taken on them be noted.

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

Consideration has been given to the revised approach where Gateshead Energy Company constructs and owns district energy scheme assets and to the proposed award a construction loan, of the amount set out in the report, to Gateshead Energy Company, for the construction of extensions to Gateshead District Energy Scheme.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That Gateshead Energy Company (GEC) constructing and owning assets relating to the extensions of the District Energy Network be approved.

(ii)

That the construction loan of the amount set out in the report to GEC, for the purpose of constructing a minewater heat pump and extensions to the Gateshead District Energy Scheme be approved.

(iii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources and Digital be authorised to agree and approve the terms of the construction loan with GEC following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance (or his delegate) and further the Strategic Director, Corporate Services  and Governance (or his delegate) be authorised to enter into the construction loan agreement in accordance with the Constitution.

(iv)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources and Digital be authorised to review the interest rate to determine if the interest rate can be reduced in due course in accordance with state aid legislation.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To support the Council’s Thrive objectives.

(B)

To support the Council’s Climate Emergency, and targets of net zero emissions by 2030.

Consideration has been given to delegated decisions taken by officers in accordance with Cabinet minute C150 - 2019/20 and urgency procedures of the Council’s Constitution, Part 3, Schedule 5, Part 2 Executive Functions General Delegations to Managers, Paragraph 4 (e).

RESOLVED -

That the delegated decisions taken by officers as set out in appendix 1 to the report in relation to NGI Events Limited and Support for Business grants be noted.

The above decision has been made to ensure openness and transparency with the decisions made by officers.