COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the minutes of the Council meetings held

on 25 January 2018 and 22 February 2018 be approved as a correct record.

(announcements may be made by the Mayor, Leader of the Council or the Chief Executive)

Bronze Young Carer Awards

The Mayor announced that Brighton Avenue Primary School has become the first Primary School in Gateshead to be awarded the Bronze Young Carers Award.  In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented pupils and staff from Brighton Avenue Primary School with the award.

Abigail Pogson, Managing Director of Sage Gateshead, attended the meeting and delivered a presentation on the work currently underway at Sage Gateshead.

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Councillor R Mullen submitted a petition on behalf of residents of Crossfield Park regarding closure of the footpath.

(to consider any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 7)

There were no questions submitted by members of the public.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to increase the size of the membership of the Corporate Parenting Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the increase in the membership

size of the Corporate Parenting Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That the revised membership of the

Corporate Parenting Sub-Committee, as circulated prior to the meeting, be approved.

Report of the Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a new strategic approach Making Gateshead a Place Where Everyone Thrives.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That ‘Making Gateshead a Place Where

Everyone Thrives’ be approved as the new strategic approach, superseding the Council Plan 2015-2020.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to adopt a Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge within procurement activity.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the Corporate Social Responsibility

Pledge and implementation of the processes outlined within the attached report be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That the Service Director, Corporate

Commissioning and Procurement be authorised, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Council’s Procurement Champion, to make minor amendment and/or additions to the Corporate Social Responsibility Pledge.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the proposed calendar of meetings for 2018/19.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the calendar of meetings 2018/19

be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That as far as possible, meetings should

not be held during school holidays.

                                                            (iii)       That the Strategic Director, Corporate

Services and Governance, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make any necessary amendments to the calendar of meetings.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a number of amendments to the Constitution.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the proposed changes to the Council’s

Constitution, as set out in Appendix 2, be approved.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a revised pay policy statement.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the draft policy be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That delegated authority be granted to

the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance, to agree changes to the policy statement arising from the relevant national pay awards for 2018-19, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources and the Leader of the Council.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of changes to the Council’s Flexitime Scheme.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the proposals outlined in the report be

approved.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Strategy for 2018/19 to 2022/23.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the Treasury Policy Statement and the

Treasury Strategy, as set out in appendices 2 and 3 of the report, be approved.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the proposed Counter Fraud and Corruption Strategy and the revised Council Counter Fraud and Corruption Policy.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the Counter Fraud and Corruption

Strategy and the Counter Fraud and Corruption Policy be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That the Fraud Response Plan be noted.

The Leader of the Council reported on a number of key issues currently affecting the Council.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the information be noted.

(to consider any notices of motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.1)

There were no motions submitted.

(to deal with any questions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.1)

The following question was received from Councillor J McClurey:

“How many trips abroad has the Leader and Deputy Leader conducted so far in 2018?

To which cities/regions did the trips take place, what were the purposes of the trips and what was the cost of each trip?”

Councillor M Gannon responded.