Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors C Donovan and G Haley.

The minutes of the meetings held on 23 and 30 May were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to an update of the work carried out to review Leisure Services and of the outcomes of the extended comprehensive consultation process that commenced on 8 February 2023 through to 8 May 2023.

The alternative options to those being recommended, but which were discounted included all leisure centres (excluding Gateshead International Stadium) being included in a managed partnership with a procured provider and the complete withdrawal of the provision of leisure centres in the borough.

Representations were received regarding the recommendations of the review.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council proceeds with the closure of Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swim Centre on 21 July 2023.

(ii)

That the Council continues to explore potential Community Asset Transfers with community organisations that have identified an interest in Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre for a further 6-month period to 31 December 2023, however this should not prevent or delay the closure of Gateshead Leisure Centre or Birtley Swimming Centre as agreed at (i) above.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To deliver the £0.600m unachieved savings and to assist in enabling the service to operate within its allocated budget, ceasing the current overspend and thereby helping the Council to sustain a leisure offer.

(B)

To reduce the cost of provision of Leisure Services to as close to zero as possible in the longer term, whilst at the same time understanding the impact this will have on Gateshead residents and other users of the service by balancing the contribution of leisure centre provision with the financial sustainability of the Council.

(C)

To resolve the issue of Leisure Service employees being at risk of redundancy for any period longer than necessary.

(D)

To enable the service to offer a comprehensive programme of activities throughout the school summer holidays

(E)

To enable the Council to procure a partner to operate and manage the remaining leisure centres at a reduced cost to the Council as close to zero as possible

(G)

To ensure that all viable alternatives have been fully explored to prevent the permanent closure of any leisure centres.

Consideration has been given to progressing the options appraisal for Gateshead International Stadium (GIS).

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the commencement of a 90 day consultation process, with effect from 1 July 2023, on the use of the site in the immediate future, in particular to repurpose GIS so that its primary use is for the purposes of education and sport be approved.

(ii)

That the Council collaborating with Gateshead College to negotiate and then deliver a new operating model for GIS be approved.

(iii)

That further market investigation into a longer-term solution to put GIS (excluding sports pitches) to the open market to complement and enhance the education and sport offer be approved.

(iv)

That a further report be submitted to Cabinet in November 2023 following the consultation process and open market exercise.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the development of a proposal which achieves the cost neutral objective to the Council.  

(B)

To ensure that any future recommendations for the use of the GIS are made after seeking appropriate information about their potential impact upon the facility users, community groups and those users who are protected under the Equality Act.

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

RESOLVED -

(i)

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.

(ii)

That Cabinet continues to receive an updated report twice per year.

(iii)

That it be noted the procurement activity set out in appendix 2 to the report will form the basis of the Council’s Procurement Pipeline and will be published on the internet.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the procurement of goods, works and services required for the efficient and effective delivery of services.

(B)

To enable Cabinet to be updated with progress and changes to the procurement forward plan.

(C)

To comply with the National Procurement Policy Statement.

Consideration has been given to the provisional outturn position on the 2022/23 revenue budget, which is subject to external audit.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council’s 2022/23 provisional revenue outturn position as set out in the report and appendices, which is subject to external audit be noted.

(ii)

That the outcome of a review of Council reserves as set out in this report and appendices be noted.

(iii)

That budget virements as set out in the report be approved.

(iv)

That the Council be recommended to approve the appropriations to and from reserves as outlined in the report.

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 to the 2022/23 capital programme outturn position and to recommending the Council to approve the financing of the programme.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council be recommended to note the capital programme outturn position for 2022/23.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to approve the financing of the capital programme.

(iii)

That it be confirmed to Council that none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2022/23 have been breached.

The above decisions have been made to ensure performance has been assessed against approved Prudential Limits. 

Consideration has been given to the formation of the South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and its boundary, to comply with the new Environment Act, 2021 duty for Local Authorities to prepare LNRS, and the appointment of Gateshead Council as the Responsible Authority for preparing the South of Tyne LNRS with South Tyneside and Sunderland City Councils and Natural England as Supporting Authorities.

RESOLVED -

That the formation of the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS Partnership and its boundary, and the appointment of Gateshead Council as the Responsible Authority for preparing the South of Tyne and Wear LNRS with South Tyneside and Sunderland City Councils and Natural England as Supporting Authorities be endorsed.

The above decision has been made to ensure compliance with the Environment Act 2021.

Consideration has been given to the Adult Social Care Service Annual Report on Service Complaints, Compliments and Representations for the period April 2022 to March 2023.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Annual Report as set out in appendix 2 to the report be endorsed.

(ii)

That the Annual Report be referred to the Care, Health & Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

It is a statutory requirement (Adults Social Care Statutory Complaints Procedure 2009) that the report is considered by a formal committee.

(B)

To ensure member involvement in the statutory complaints procedure.

Consideration has been given to the Children and Families Service Annual Report on Complaints, Compliments and Representations for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Annual Report as set out in appendix 2 to the report be endorsed.

(ii)

That the report be referred to the Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

It is a statutory requirement (Children’s Social Care Statutory Complaints Procedure 2006) that the report is considered by a formal committee.

(B)

To improve practice and the offer to children and families.

Consideration has been given to an update on the work of the North East Fostering Pathfinder project and to the proposal for the Council to sign up to the regional collaboration agreement.

RESOLVED -

That the Council signing up to the regional collaboration agreement be approved.

The above decision has been made to improve recruitment and retention of foster carers and improve outcomes for children in care across the region.

Consideration has been given to the nomination for re-appointment of a Local Authority Governor to Roman Road Primary School.

RESOLVED -

That Mr Gary Carr be nominated for re-appointment as a Local Authority Governor to Roman Road Primary School for a period of four years with effect from 13 November 2023, as stipulated by the School’s Instrument of Government.

The above decision has been made to ensure the School Governing Body has full membership.

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 a grant to Gateshead Energy Company Ltd, for the purpose of progressing designs for a heat network extension into Old Fold and Nest House Council estates.

The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, included providing a loan to Gateshead Energy Company Ltd.

RESOLVED -

That a grant to Gateshead Energy Company Ltd, of the amount set out in the report, for the proposed design and procurement of a heat network extension to Old Fold and Nest House Council estates be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To allow project feasibility to continue.

(B)

To support the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan and Zero Carbon Heat Strategy.

(C)

To grow jobs and skills in heat networks, to support the Economic Development Strategy.

(D)

To continue to reduce cost and carbon emissions of energy supply for Gateshead residents. 

Consideration has been given to proposed new governance arrangements to be implemented by SCAPE following a review.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the review recommendations as set out in paragraph 6, appendix 1 of the report be approved in principle.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance be authorised to agree, on behalf of the Council as shareholder, the detailed arrangements to implement the recommendations and enter into the necessary legal agreement(s) to reflect the changes in governance as appropriate.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To improve the effectiveness of the SCAPE Board.

(B)

To enable SCAPE to modernise and improve current governance arrangements.