COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the minutes of the meeting held on 16

March 2017 be approved.

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

(A)       North East Disability Sports Awards

The Mayor announced that the Council had been successful at the recent North East Disability Sports Awards. The Council achieved success at the awards with the Adult Social Care Provider Service’s ‘Angling 4 All’ sporting club winning the ‘Outstanding Sports Club’ award. ‘Angling 4 All’ was praised by judges for the way in which the club had brought together over 40 anglers with disabilities, training them to develop skills and confidence, to then showcase their talents within regional competitions.

In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented representatives from ‘Angling 4 All’ with the award for ‘Outstanding Sports Club’.

The Mayor also announced that Special Olympics Gateshead Tyne and Wear athlete, Richard Young, won the ‘Participant of the Year’ award for his success in regional and national Special Olympics cycling and athletics competitions in 2016.  Richard will be part of the Special Olympics Northern Team representing the region at the National Games in Sheffield in August 2017.

In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented Richard with the award for ‘Participant of the Year’.

(B)       Great Britain Care Awards

The Mayor announced that at the recent Great Britain Care Awards, Guidepost won the ‘Putting People First Personalisation’ award. Guidepost is a user led enterprise operating drop in groups for people with learning disabilities, provides advice, information and activities. Guidepost enables people with learning disabilities to be present and influential in their local community.

In recognition of this achievement the Mayor presented representatives from Guidepost with the award for ‘Putting People First Personalisation’.

Emma Bowman, Neighbourhood Police Officer, attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the work undertaken to secure defibrillators into primary and secondary schools in Gateshead.

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

There were no petitions submitted.

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

There were no questions submitted by members of the public

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of interim arrangements to cover the role of Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning pending a permanent appointment to this role.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the Chief Executive be appointed on a

short-term basis to the post of Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning, pending a permanent appointment being made.

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Intervention Plan for the Food Control and Health and Safety Services for 2017-2018.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the Intervention Plan for 2017 – 2018 be

approved.

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

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           That the information be noted.

Councillor P Foy moved the following motion:

“Gateshead Council supports Workers’ Memorial Day, on 28 April, as an internationally recognised day when workers and trade unionists remember those who have died as a result of their work and at the same time campaign to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.

The theme for the day in 2017 is Good health and safety for all workers whoever they are and focuses on inequalities in occupational health and the role unions play in narrowing the inequalities gap.

The Council will:

·         Promote Workers’ Memorial Day through Council media channels

·         Fly official flags at half-mast

·         Organise a minutes silence in Council workplaces

·         Continue to support the annual Workers’ Memorial Day event in Saltwell Park”

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

Councillor L Caffrey moved the following motion:

“Due to a change to rules for obtaining Legal Aid, Domestic abuse victims applying for legal aid to have their case heard in court must first prove that they are victims of such abuse. One of the accepted forms of evidence is a letter from a GP, a letter that some GPs charge up to £75 to provide.

Many victims flee abuse with very little and often only have the clothes that they are wearing and very few personal items; many have limited access to funds. Without legal aid some victims simply cannot afford court proceedings against their perpetrator.

Last year Baroness Thornton tabled an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill, which would force the Government to stop GPs charging for a legal aid letter when domestic violence is taking place in a family which includes children, but this was defeated.

Gateshead Local Medical Committee (LMC) have asked their GP members not to charge victims of domestic abuse when providing evidence to support a Legal Aid application, but in other areas this may not be enough to stop charges being made.

A campaign to ‘Scrap the fee’ has been initiated by Manchester Councillors and some MPs including Tom Watson and the LMC have offered their backing for this campaign alongside Gateshead Council.

Council agrees to:

Support the Scrap the Fee campaign

Write to the Government urging them to scrap this fee and emphasising the support from Gateshead LMC for such a measure.”

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

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

There were no questions submitted.