Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held 7 March 2016 are attached for approval

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the issues arising from landfill sites in the west of the Borough and in particular to highlight progress on the actions agreed at the Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee in March 2015 and the original feedback on these actions reported in September 2015.

The Committee has previously received feedback on actions points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12 and where necessary these points have been completed. The Committee received an update on action points 8, 10 and 11.

Action 8:

That a process for the Council’s cabinet, to invite comments from the relevant advisory group on applications for EA permits be explored.

Update:

An advisory group was set up to provide comments on the EA consultation on the Permit variation application for Blaydon Quarry. The response was endorsed by Cabinet at their meeting on 15 September 2015. The reviewed permit has been issued by the Environment Agency.

Action 10:

That the Council make representations to the current DEFRA consultation on waste crime and that the link to the consultation be published.

Update:

The Government has published its response to the consultation on the above and a link to this is provided below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment data/file/466879/waste-crime-consult-sum-resp.pdf

Action 11:

That there be a greater focus on enforcement to ensure EA permits are complied with and to look at the type of evidence required to pursue enforcement in relation to odour.

Update:

The Environment Agency continues to actively regulate both the Blaydon and Path Head landfill sites to ensure they comply with the permits they signed up to and the impacts on the local community are kept to a minimum.

In recent weeks the Environment Agency has served 3 Enforcement Notices to ensure the permits are complied with. Two of these enforcement notices were served on Suez in relation to odour problems at the Path Head site. The ongoing odour problems at Path Head remain subject to a formal investigation by the Environment Agency.

Blaydon Update

The revised planning permission was granted for this site in September 2015. This included a number of conditions that required further information to be submitted by particular dates or when particular works commenced on site.

a)         the submission of planning conditions 2, 7, 20, 24, 27 (and 11) which should have been discharged by 2 October 2015

b)         the submission of planning conditions 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 31         and 32 due by 2 March 2016

At the most recent meeting with the operator and their agent (29 Jan), the operator agreed to submit all of the required information by the end of February (both those that needed to be submitted by October and March). However, this information was not submitted and is still outstanding. As such the operation is in breach of these planning conditions, so, in light of this consideration is being given to next steps, including taking enforcement action.

The first meeting of the Community  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL35

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received the final report and findings of the recent review which examined the promotion of rural Gateshead as both a tourism and business location.

As a result of the evidence gathering sessions and site visit the following emerging issues were identified:

·         The untapped potential of many of the boroughs rural assets and a lack of visitor accommodation

·         The need to continue to work with local, regional, national and international partners to grow the number of day visitors and overnight stays

·         The need to work with the private sector to maximise the investment in the tourism businesses infrastructure.

·         The lack of suitable, affordable business space in rural areas

·         The need to improve business communications and collaboration and ensure access to business support.

·         Recognition of the need for enhanced partnership working to maximise the economic benefit for rural communities, and

·         Recognition of the impact of the rural area on health and wellbeing

The Committee were advised that the key findings from the OSC’s review of promoting rural Gateshead as a tourism and business location:

·         The Council should maximise the visitor potential of rural assets, thereby creating the best possible environment for tourism, new business development and job creation. Further research should be undertaken into the development of a 4 star hotel and to explore how the wider accommodation offer can be enhanced. The economic potential of key sites such as Gibside and the Angel of the North should be encouraged.

·         There is scope to ensure that Council spending in the rural area seeks to maximise benefits to local businesses, residents and visitors – to make best use of resources and impact multiple agendas.

·         There is scope to improve the tourism offer by increasing the choice and quality of the food offer, and also to identify gaps in the provision of rural services.

·         Highly skilled people are needed if the tourism potential of rural Gateshead is to be realised. Apprenticeship opportunities should be explored.

·         There is the need to better coordinate the promotion of events in the borough, including those of public private and voluntary sector bodies.  This would help promote the borough as a day visitor location and support the growth of jobs and businesses.

·         There is a need to continue to support the work of the Land of Oak and Iron Landscape Partnership and maximise the potential for economic and cultural benefits arising from the programme.

·         Discussions have highlighted a desire for NGI to have a more proactive role in marketing Gateshead as a whole including maximising the opportunities for promoting the rural areas of the borough.

·         Research has demonstrated a continued lack of high quality, affordable business space in rural communities, therefore support to develop new enterprise hubs should continue, including the opportunities for existing cultural venue to generate income to support their future sustainability.

·         The Council provides a borough wide business support offer, however opportunities to enhance this should be considered. External funding should be sought where possible to provide business support and help overcome isolation and  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL36

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment

The Committee received the monitoring report setting out progress made against the recommendations agreed by the OSC following the domestic energy management and fuel poverty review. The review made recommendations to help reduce fuel poverty and improve residents’ management of their energy bills.

Key achievements were noted since the last update report and the Committee were advised that the Council and partners will continue to progress initiatives that respond to the agreed recommendations and ultimately improve energy in domestic properties and reduce fuel poverty.

RESOLVED -            i)          that the OSC is satisfied with progress

against actions to date

ii)         that future update reports be included within annual reports for Carbon Emissions monitoring

Report of the Interim Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning

The Committee received details of the Final Report of the Community Safety Sub OSC following a series of evidence gathering sessions that were held throughout 2015/16 in relation to its review of the Prevent Agenda.

Following a series of evidence gathering sessions, the Sub-Committee identified no significant gaps in the current arrangements that are in place. However, in order to ensure we remain proactive in addressing future challenges and continue to have strong and robust processes in place to safeguard those at risk of being drawn into extremism, the Sub-Committee has identified a number of suggested actions.

The recommendations are designed to help build upon, and strengthen our existing approach and have been aligned with the three themes identified within the national Prevent Duty Guidance published by Government earlier in the year – and include:

Leadership, Working in Partnership and Capabilities.

RESOLVED -            i)          that the information be noted.

                                    ii)         that the report be referred to cabinet for approval

                                    iii)        that six monthly updates in relation to the progress                              made against delivering the draft

recommendations are submitted

Report from The Gateshead Housing Company

The Committee received a report providing an annual update of the TALISMAN (Tenant and Leaseholder Independent Scrutiny Management) Panel.

The Committee has, as part of previous update reports, received details of the findings from the following reviews that TALISMAN have carried out:-

·         Anti-social behaviour case management

·         Rent and Income

·         Void management

TALISMAN also carried out:-

Review of Customer Services

Review of Lettings – Hard to Let Properties

Recruitment and development of TALISMAN members

TALISMAN has completed its review of hard to let properties and is currently pulling together its final report which it will present to TGHC Customers and Communities Committee in May 2016.

TALISMAN has drawn up a shortlist of five potential areas for its next scrutiny review. It will agree which area it wants to focus on at its next meeting in April.

Members of TALISMAN will continue to receive a six monthly development review with the Independent Mentor. The reviews also provide an opportunity to identify any collective and individual training needs.

The Panel continues to develop and it is expected that this will evolve further during the next year.

RESOLVED -            i)          that the information be noted

ii)         that further annual progress reports be brought back to the OSC in order to scrutinise the effectiveness of co-regulation

Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received the proposals for the development of the work programme for OSCs and sets out the provisional work programme for the Communities and Place OSC for the municipal year 2016-17.

The Committee agreed that the review topic for 2016-17 should be ‘Review of impact of Gambling on the Borough’ and the case study should be ‘Street Cleanliness – Enforcement, Education and Community Involvement’ with partner feedback from the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED -            i)          that the review topic and areas to be progressed

As case studies for 2016-17 be agreed

                                    ii)         that the OSC’s provisional work programme for

2016-17 be endorsed and referred to Council on 26 May 2016 for agreement

iii)        that further reports be brought to committee to identify and additional issues which the Committee may be asked to consider