Agenda and minutes

Considerations were given to a report seeking approval of the following;

• The use of £3.646m from the 2025/26 Housing Revenue Budget as set out in Appendix 2.
• An increase in rents of 2.7% in line with the rent standard.
• As social rent properties become vacant, they continue to be re-let at the formulae rent for that property.
• Changes to the service charges for the HRA 2025/26 as presented in Appendix 4.
• A fundamental review of service charges will continue during 2025/26 and any proposed changes being subject to future reports.
• The proposed Housing Capital Programme over the next five years 2025/26 to 2029/30 provides investment of £260.948m. The Capital Programme will be kept under review by Cabinet.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.                 The Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 2 be agreed.

ii.                The 2.7% rent increases from 7 April 2025 as detailed in Appendix 3 be agreed.

iii.               The HRA service charges as detailed in Appendix 4 be agreed.

iv.              The Housing Capital Programme for the five years 2025/26 to 2029/30 as set out in Appendix 5 be agreed.

Considerations were given to a report to seek approval for the Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2029/30.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.                 That the Capital Programme for 2025/26 be agreed.

ii.                That the provisional programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 be agreed.                    

Considerations were given to a report to seek approval for the 2025/26 fees and charges across all Council services.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.                 That the fees and charges for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 2 be agreed.

ii.                That the fees and charges for Adult Social Care be subject to provider fee uplifts and Strategic Director, Resources and Digital has delegation to set revised charges in consultation with the Strategic Director, Integrated Adults and Social Care services and Adult Social Care portfolio holder be agreed.

iii.              That the authorisation for Strategic Director, Resources and Digital to make any necessary adjustments to correct any errors in the schedule of Fees and Charges be agreed.

Considerations were given to a report to seek approval for a balance budget in 2025/26 using reserves in a planned way. The proposed budget includes growth for expenditure in adult social care, children’s social care and homelessness.

Considerations were also given to the proposed budget that the Council would increase the Council Tax by 4.99%. The proposed budget set out in the report, results in a Council Tax increase of 2.99%, in relation to Gateshead Council expenditure, and an additional Council Tax increase of 2%, in relation to the Governments charge for adult social care expenditure.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              To approve the recommendations as set out in section 20 of the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 20.4, a recorded vote was taken as follows:

Councillors for the recommendation: - J Adams, V Anderson, R Beadle, M Brain, L Brand, C Buckley, D Burnett, P Burns, L Caffrey, B Clelland, P Craig, S Craig, B Dick, P Diston, K Dodds, C Donovan, A Douglas, J Eagle, S Gallager, M Gannon, A Geddes, F Geddes, J Gibson, M Goldsworthy, T Graham, J Green, S Green, G Haley, M Hall, K Henderson, G Kasfikis, H Kelly, L Kirton, P Maughan, K McCartney, J McCoid, J McElroy, M McNestry, J Mohammad, L Moir, R Hart, B Oliphant, A Ord, C Ord, M Ord, J Park, I Patterson, S Potts, D Robson, S Ronchetti, J Simpson, J Sowerby, B Turnbull, J Turnbull, J Turner, K Walker, J Wallace, D Weatherly, D Welsh, A Wintcher and K Wood.

The recommendation was duly carried and therefore the following recommendations from Cabinet were approved;

1.            Increase Gateshead’s Band D Council Tax for 2025/26 by 4.99% (including a 2% adult social care precept charge) to £2,282.22.

2.            Approve the revenue estimates of £328,768,118 for 2025/26.

3.            Approve the budgeted use of £10.918 million Earmarked Reserves in 2025/26 (comprising of £0.563 million Financial Risk and Resilience, £1.855 million Thrive, and £8.500 million Budget Sustainability).

4.            Agree the proposed budgets and the indicative schools funding presented in Appendix 2.

5.            To note the outcome of budget consultation outlined in Appendix 4.

6.            To note the conclusions of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital in respect of the robustness of budget estimates and adequacy of reserves outlined in Appendix 5.

7.            Agree the prudential and treasury indicators set out in Appendix 7 to this report.

8.            Approve the method of calculating the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 8.

9.            To note the responses to the Government’s consultation on Local Authority funding reform: objectives and principles in Appendix 9 which were submitted to Government on 12 February 2025.

10.          To note that at the meeting on 21 January 2025, Cabinet agreed the following amounts for the year 2025/26 in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B (3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:-

a.    54,429.2 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL175

Considerations were given to a report to seek approval to form the Woman & Girls Committee.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.                 That the establishment of a new formal advisory committee to be called the Woman & Girls Committee, which will advise the Council and Cabinet on any matter relating to the discharge of their respective functions be agreed.

ii.                That the Committee membership will compromise of 14 Councillors

iii.               That the draft terms of reference set out in Appendix 2 to this report be agreed.

(i)               Labour Group Nominations

Councillor Donovan, duly seconded by Councillor Simpson moved that the members listed in the report be appointed to the Woman & Girls committee.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.                 That the nominations of the Labour Group listed in the report to these minutes be agreed.

(ii)             Liberal Democrat Group Nominations

Councillor Beadle, duly seconded by Councillor Ord moved that the members listed in the report be appointed to the Woman & Girls committee.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

ii.                That the nominations of the Labour Group listed in the report to these minutes be agreed.

Considerations were given to a report to seek approval for an application for Councillor R Waugh for a dispensation under the six-month rule in section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 so as to excuse his attendance at Council meetings.

A named vote was called by Councillor Ron Beadle.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 20.2 a recorded vote was requested

Councillors for the recommendation: - J Adams, M Brain, C Buckley, D Burnett, P Burns, L Caffrey, B Clelland, B Dick, K Dodds, C Donovan, A Douglas, J Eagle, S Gallager, M Gannon, A Geddes, F Geddes, J Gibson, M Goldsworthy, T Graham, J Green, S Green, G Haley, M Hall, K Henderson, G Kasfikis, H Kelly, L Kirton, K McCartney, J McCoid, J McElroy, M McNestry, L Moir, R Hart, B Oliphant, J Park, S Potts, D Robson, S Ronchetti, J Simpson, B Turnbull, J Turnbull, J Turner, K Walker, D Weatherly and K Wood.

Councillors against the recommendation: - V Anderson, R Beadle, L Brand, P Craig, S Craig, P Diston, P Maughan, J Mohammad, A Ord, C Ord, M Ord, I Patterson, J Sowerby, J Wallace, D Welsh and A Wintcher.

The recommendation was duly carried.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              That the dispensation for Councillor Waugh from attending meeting of the Council until 7 May 2026, provided that should within that time Councillor Waugh commence attendance at such meetings, the dispensation would cease to have effect be agreed.