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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Gateshead Civic Centre

Contact: Mike Aynsley 

Items
No. Item

A minute’s silence was observed following the deaths of Councillor Neil Weatherley and Alderman Pat Wallace.

CL65

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held 21 November 2019 pdf icon PDF 293 KB

Minutes:

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

 

CL66

Official Announcements

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

Minutes:

(A)       Cabinet Appointment

 

The Leader announced that Councillor Bernadette Oliphant has been appointed onto the Cabinet in place of Councillor Mary Foy.

 

Councillor Jonathan Wallace announced that Councillor Chris Ord has stepped down from Corporate Resources OSC and is replaced by Councillor Ian Patterson.

 

 

(B)       New Year’s Honours 2020

 

The Mayor announced that within the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2020, people that live and work within the Borough were recognised:

 

·         Councillor Peter Craig was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the community in Whickham.

 

·         Jacqueline Thompson, the Council’s ICT Learning Officer, was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to public libraries.

 

·         Angela Elizabeth Forster, a Gateshead resident who works for Newcastle City Council, was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to public libraries.

 

 

(C)       Association of Public Service Excellence Performance Network

 

The Mayor announced that Gateshead School Catering has been awarded the UK’s Best Performer in Education Catering for the fourth consecutive year at the recent Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Network.

 

The Council was compared with 50 other UK school meal providers and was judged to be delivering the best quality, cost and productivity in the UK.

 

In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented members of the Catering Team from St Joseph’s RC Primary School with the award.

 

 

(D)       Housing Support Team

 

The Mayor announced that Gateshead Housing Company’s Housing Support Service has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence at the Nepacs Ruth Cranfield Awards. Nepacs is the North East After Care Society, a charity which supports prisoners and their families to create a more positive future for them.

 

The award ceremony highlighted examples of good practice in the rehabilitation service and recognises those who provide outstanding rehabilitation support to offenders. The Housing Support Service received the award for their work in resettling ex-offenders.

 

In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented representatives from the service with their certificate.

 

 

 

 

CL67

Petitions

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Minutes:

There were no petitions submitted.

CL68

Questions from Members of the Public

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

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted by members of the public

CL69

Air Quality Proposals: The Clean Air Plan for Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Report of the Chief Executive and Acting Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Design

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the proposed air quality measures.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

That the Business Case be approved in advance of formal submission to the Joint Air Quality Unit as the proposed option for delivering compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time, in adherence to the Council’s obligations under the Environment Act 1995 (Feasibility Study for Nitrogen Dioxide Compliance) Air Quality Direction 2017 and the Environment Act 1995 (Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council) Air Quality Direction 2019.

 

CL70

Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to set the permit fee levels for a permit scheme for road works and street works.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

That the permit fees be set at the levels shown in Appendix 3 of the report.

 

CL71

2019 Statutory Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval for a reduction to the number of polling districts and changes to the existing district boundaries and the location of polling places.

 

Councillor Gannon moved the following amendment to the report:-

 

Dunston Hill and Whickham East Ward

 

St Mary’s Primary School have requested to no longer be used as a polling place. Polling to be moved to 1st Whickham Scouts, Park Drive, Whickham.

 

High Fell Ward

 

Glynwood Primary School have requested to no longer be used as a polling place. Polling to be moved to St John’s Church, Gateshead Fell, Sheriff Hill.

 

The reference in the report to Beacon Lough Methodist Church to be changed to the Beacon Lough Baptist Church.

 

On the amendment being put it was carried.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -     

(i)

That the proposals for change to polling district boundaries be approved and the situation of polling places be adopted in full.

 

 

 

(ii)

That the changes come into force on 31 January 2020 to coincide with the publication of the 2020 revised register of electors for Gateshead.

 

CL72

Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators 2019/20 – Third Quarter Review pdf icon PDF 211 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report setting out the latest position on the 2019/20 Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2019.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -      

(i)

That all variations to the 2019/20 Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved as the revised programme.

 

 

(ii)

That the financing of the revised programme be approved.

 

 

(iii)

That it be noted 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 2019/20 have been breached.

 

CL73

Report from the Cabinet pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Minutes:

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

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED -

That the information be noted.

 

CL74

Notice of Motion - Climate Change pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Minutes:

Councillor J Wallace moved a notice of motion, which incorporated the agreed amendment submitted by Councillor M Gannon:

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -

 

This Council notes:

 

1)         The motion declaring a climate emergency which was passed on 23rd May

2019;

 

2)         That the biggest single contributor to climate change is the emission of

carbon from fossil fuels;

 

3)         That trees have the ability to soak up carbon emissions and therefore tree

planting can offset some of the carbon dioxide which is contributing to climate change.

 

Council recognises the work already undertaken to increase considerably the tree cover within the borough by identifying council owned land that could be used for tree planting.

 

The report to Cabinet at its 19 November meeting 2019, Gateshead Climate Change Emergency and Proposed Climate Change Strategy, identified in paragraph 10 “In recognition of the important role trees play in reducing the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Woodland Trust – appendix 2), whilst an ambitious target of 100,000 trees being planted by 2030 has been set, the council will look to continuously review this, in conjunction with our partners, to see whether this can either be accelerated and/or increased” and in Appendix 1 paragraph 8  “The Council has agreed to support the planting of 100,000 trees by 2030”.

 

The Council has a long and proven track record in restoring and creating high-quality natural greenspaces, including the establishment of extensive areas of tree planting (e.g. Derwent Walk Country Park, Watergate Forest Park and Wardley Manor Forest Park).  In addition to supporting woodland creation through initiatives including the Great North Forest; the Council has itself previously acquired and developed land specifically for the purpose of establishing new community woodlands, such as Station Wood and Banesley Lane Wood.

 

In 2018/19 the Woodland Trust, with financial support from the Council, planted 40,000 trees on former arable land adjoining their existing Hedley Hall Wood and Ridley Gill SSSI sites.  In 2019 the Council transferred 2.5ha of land at Path Head to the Woodland Trust to allow it to create a new community woodland.  Work is currently ongoing to engage local schools in the planting of a thousand native broadleaved trees at Windy Nook in Feb/March 2020.

 

The Council is actively working with its partners, including the Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust and Durham Wildlife Trust, to identify and map suitable sites, including Council owned land, that could be brought forward for woodland creation, particularly where this delivers multifunctional benefits, including carbon sequestration.  Further to this the Council is seeking to develop a more strategic partnership approach to better protect, restore, enhance and managing existing Council and privately-owned woodlands within the borough.

 

We also recognise the work to create community orchards to help improve the supply of fresh, local produce and boost the health of residents

 

Previously the Council has worked with several schools in establishing orchards within their grounds, as well as, providing fruit trees to local groups to create new or extend existing community orchards (e.g. Clara Vale - https://cvcg.org.uk/clara-vale-community-orchard/  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL74

CL75

Notice of Motion - Minimum Wage for People aged under 25 pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Minutes:

Councillor R Waugh moved the following motion:

 

“This Council believes that young people in our country deserve a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work.

 

If you are aged 21-24 you can legally be paid 51p less per hour than someone aged 25 or over. If you are aged 18-20 the figure is £2.06 and if you are aged 16 or 17 you are paid £3.86 less per hour. This means that some people working full-time earn over £600 per month less than a counterpart aged 25, purely because of age.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

·         lobby the government to legislate against age-based pay discrimination so that the aged of an employee does not dictate how much their labour is worth to their employer

 

·         amend the Council’s Corporate Social Responsibility pledge to encourage our supply chain to pay a fair day’s wage regardless of age

 

·         investigate the feasibility of a commitment to ensuring that any contracts awarded by this council will stipulate equal pay for under 25s, for contractors and sub-contractors.”

 

 

An amendment proposed by Councillor J McClurey was withdrawn and on the motion being put, it was declared to be carried.

CL76

Notice of Motion - RSPCA Campaign Fireworks pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Minutes:

Councillor A Douglas moved the following joint motion:

 

“Council acknowledges that the unpredictable, loud and high intensity noise made by fireworks can cause fear and distress in pets and farmstock.

 

Council believes there is a need to raise awareness about the impact of fireworks on animals to the wider public to encourage them to be considerate of those with pets, horses and livestock, as well as local wildlife.

 

This Council resolves:

 

·         to require all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people

 

·         to investigate a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks

 

·         to encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display

 

·         to write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays.”

 

 

On the motion being put it was declared to be carried.

CL77

Notice of Motion - RSPCA Campaign Fireworks pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Minutes:

The motion was withdrawn.

CL78

Questions

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

Minutes:

There were no questions submitted.

 

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