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No. Item

CPL32

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 87 KB

The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2019.

Minutes:

RESOLVED -              That the minutes of the last meeting held on 11 March be approved as a correct record.

 

CPL33

Annual Update on Tyne and Wear Archives & Museums and Beamish Museum pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources

Minutes:

The Committee received an update report on the work of Beamish Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM).

 

The report is brought to the Committee to provide an update on how the financial contributions that the Council make are used and the benefits to Gateshead.

 

The Council provides financial contributions towards Beamish Museum and TWAM on an annual basis.  Beamish is provided with a cash contribution of £5,000 whereas two separate amounts support the management of Shipley Art Gallery which is used as required.  In 2018/19 this budget was £25,972.  The Council also provides TWAM with annual contribution to operate the gallery which was £174,770 in 2018/19 and will be £159,770 in 2019/20.

 

Beamish has confirmed that the number of schools in 2018 visiting the museum was 58, compared to 50 in the previous year.  This equates to £86 per school based on the £5000 per year subscription.

 

TWAM provides both an archives and museums service to Gateshead Council, specified via an SLA.  The archives service is part of a joint service provided to the five Tyne and Wear authorities and allows Gateshead Council both to fulfil its mandatory obligations in terms of archives and to provide for the care, preservation and interpretation and access to the documentary heritage of the borough.  The centralised storage and management of archives resources is in line with current government policy.

 

The financial contribution that Gateshead Council makes towards management of the Shipley Art Gallery is significantly multiplied by national funding brought in by TWAM.  In particular this consists of Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation Funding.

 

The Committee heard from Iain Watson, Director of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. 

 

Iain advised that TWAM provides both an archives and museum service to Gateshead Council, specified via an SLA.   The archives service is part of a joint service provided to the five Tyne and Wear authorities and allows Gateshead Council to fulfil both its mandatory obligations in terms of archives and to provide for the care, preservation, interpretation and access to the documentary heritage of the borough.  The centralised storage and management of archives resources is in line with current government policy.

 

As recommended by TWAM’s Governance Review a new trading company, TWAM Enterprises Ltd was established and began trading on 1 May 2018.  Councillor Douglas is the Strategic Board nominee to TWAM Enterprises and is therefore a Director of TWAM Enterprises Ltd.

 

Iain advised the Committee that almost 50% of schools (17 out of 36) visiting are from the Gateshead area.  The Gallery is developing relationships with schools located within walking distance from the gallery with repeat visits from nearby schools. 

 

Funding from Historic England has supported the free delivery of an Art and Heritage project with Oakfield Primary School.  The aim of the project explored how teachers can use art in the classroom to explore local heritage. 

 

In 2017/18 as part of the centenary the gallery delivered assemblies in 13 local schools, as a result of these networks further relationships  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL33

CPL34

Review to Address Skills Shortages & Increase Employment Opportunities - Final Report pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Report of the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment and the Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing & Learning

Minutes:

The Committee received the final report which sets out the findings of the Committee in relation to work to address skills shortages and increase employment opportunities in Gateshead.

 

The scope of the review was to examine the existing approach to tackling skills

shortages and maximising the take-up of local employment opportunities with

appropriately skilled individuals from the resident workforce.

 

It was agreed that the above would be considered in terms of the context of:

 

·                  Educational attainment – improving the performance of young people in early years and at school (up to Key Stage 4).

·                  Post-16 education and training – the opportunities for post-16 learners  both in full-time education and work-based settings.

·                   Post-18 education and widening participation in HE; Workforce Development – training and progression for those in-work

·                  Skills support for the unemployed and those at risk of unemployment  addressing skills requirements for the unemployed and economically inactive.

·                  Increasing employment opportunities for local people – maximising the take-up of local jobs by unemployed and under-employed residents

 

The review comprised five evidence gathering sessions. Evidence was sought from the Economic Development Service, LearningSkills, Care, Wellbeing and Learning Service, Gateshead College, Emmanuel College, Northumbria University, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, Skills for Care, the Education Development Trust and a local resident. The sessions were designed to examine the current approach to skills, careers, getting in to and remaining in work and can be grouped into these five main activities:

 

·         Improving pre-16 careers guidance

·         Increasing participation and understanding of post-16 and post-18 opportunities and choices

·         Addressing skills gaps and improving career progression opportunities

·         Reducing unemployment and barriers to work

·         Addressing the skills needs of the future and maximising opportunities for  residents

 

The review identified the following issues/challenges:

 

·         Patchy careers education, information, advice and guidance

·         Lack of localised labour market information

·         Increased complexity in funding following the national apprenticeship reforms

·          Increased social support and mental health needs of individuals

·         Funding limitations within skills and employment provision

·         Incorrect perceptions of certain sectors and lack of commitment from within  the sector to tackle issues to overcome myths and attract talent

·         Complexities of the whole employment and skills system

·         Direction from nationally commissioned programmes, driven by unit cost rather than localised need

·         Over reliance on European funding and uncertainties around Brexit

·         The perception centrally, based on an increasing employment rate, that the

            unemployment problem is addressed

·         Restrictive eligibility criteria on the provision of support services

·         Fragmented provider market

·         Time limited nature of provision can lead to a lack of continuity

 

The following recommendations have resulted from the evidence delivered over the

term of the review:

 

Recommendation 1: Childminders provide the most flexible childcare provision,

allowing parents to return to work. There is a need to actively encourage more

residents to consider childminding as a self-employment option, including opportunities of start-up support, particularly around funding and training, through to completion of registration.

Recommendation 2: North East Ambition aims to ensure every young person in the

region can identify routes to a successful working life. We need to continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL34

CPL35

Gateshead Housing Company Customer Scrutiny Panel (GHCSP) - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Report of Interim Managing Director, The Gateshead Housing Company

Minutes:

The Committee received a report to provide an update on the progress of The Gateshead Housing Company Customer Scrutiny Panel (GHCSP).

 

The panel was established in October 2011 following a project which considered the opportunities for the development of an independent tenant organisation in Gateshead.

 

The panel has recently completed its eighth review which scrutinised customer service delivered from neighbourhood housing offices.  The findings of this review were presented by the Panel Chair to the TGHC’s Customers and Communities Committee in February 2019.

 

The panel used the following tools to collect evidence and to produce the report.

 

·         Desktop research

·         Focus groups with officers (Customer Service Officers and Neighbourhood

·         Service Advisors)

·         Focus groups with specialist teams (Leasehold Services, Rent and Income,

·         Sheltered Housing, Multi-Storey, HomeRepairs and Lettings)

·         Mystery shopping on telephony and email responses

·         Presentation of the service area by Head of Neighbourhood Services

 

 

The panel produced 25 recommendations which have been grouped into the following five areas.

 

·         Customer Service

·         Training for Employees

·         Updating Procedural Guides

·         Internal Communications and Working Relationships

·         External Communication with Customers

 

The panel felt that when implemented the recommendations will result in improved customer services and more effective relationships between different Neighbourhood Housing Teams.

 

The panel requested that the Head of Neighbourhood Services produce an action plan in response to the proposed recommendations.  A planning meeting has already taken place and the final plan including details of agreed recommendations will be presented to the Customers and Communities Committee in May 2019.

 

Currently there are seven members on the panel including one leaseholder.  Members continue to look at ways to promote the panel and recruit new members to ensure membership remains high.

 

Panel members have received 121 digital training from local organisation Digital Voice for Communities following the identification of digital needs of individual members to help with their scrutiny reviews.

 

The panel has also attended other training and conferences during 2018/19, including

 

·         Stockport Homes – Making Scrutiny Matter – February 2019

·         NHC 8th National Tenant Panel Conference – York – November 2019

·         NHC – Tenant Advisor – Tenant Unconference – Networking event for involved tenants and employees – April 2018

 

The panel are currently using their training to help select the next area of scrutiny which is yet to be identified.

 

The panel will have an “away-day” in May which members will use to focus on identifying their strengths and developing skills to help with future reviews.

 

The Chair of Customers and Communities has offered to attend this of offer continued support to the Panel.

 

RESOLVED      -         That the progress of the GHCSP be noted and further annual progress updates be brought back to the OSC to consider the effectiveness of co-regulation.

 

 

 

CPL36

Annual Work Programme Review and Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 139 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Annual Work Programme Review and Forward Plan was presented to the Committee for its comments, and approval.  The first part of the report highlighted the work of the Committee over the past municipal year.

 

During 2018/19, the Committee have seen if recommendations relating to the OSC’s Review of the Council and Partner’s Approach to Roads and Higways implemented.  The OSC has monitored progress on the implementation of these recommendations.  A members seminar was also arranged on the same topic for 10 October 2018.  A review of practice in relation to road repairs has also commenced to assess whether there was scope for further streamlining and efficiencies.

 

The OSC also noted that a range of options were under consideration for keeping councillors better informed of highway defects/repairs and other transport ward issues and an additional member of staff had been appointed to set up a system and work through outstanding matters.

 

The OSC will consider a further report in relation to progress against its

recommendations relating to the OSC’s Review of the Council and Partner’s

Approach to Roads and Highways at its meeting in September 2019.

 

During this period the OSC also carried out a Review of Work to address skill

shortages and increase employment opportunities and will consider a report setting

out its findings and recommendations at its meeting today. These recommendations

will then be presented to a future Cabinet meeting for approval and, subject to these

recommendations being agreed, the OSC will then monitor implementation of these

recommendations during its 2019-20 work programme.

 

The OSC has also considered the outcome of the public consultation on the draft

Gambling Statement of Principles for 2019-22 and its views were sought on how the

draft policy should be amended and subsequently proposed changes were

considered and approved by Cabinet on 20 November 2019 for incorporation into

the Statement of Gambling Principles for 2019-22.

 

The OSC has monitored Council performance generally, in those areas falling

within its remit, at its meetings on 18 June 2018 and 10 December 2018 and

Cabinet has had regard to the OSC’s views when considering Council performance

overall.

 

The Committee were consulted on the work programme for the 2019/20 Municipal Year which has taken into account the following:

 

·         Six monthly performance reporting

·         The Thrive agenda and the Council Plan and partnership work generally

·         Current issues referred to Committees

·         Details of potential review topics/case studies

·         Legislative provisions and guidance on the Councillor Call for Action

 

Cabinet may wish to refer further issues to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

 

The work programme does not take into account new policy issues which may be identified during the year which Cabinet may refer to Overview and Scrutiny and it does not include issues identified by members of committees on an ongoing basis during the year as a result of scrutiny of decisions, call-in and councillor call for action.

 

RESOLVED -    (i)       that the information contained within the annual review be noted.

                          (ii)      that the provisional work programme for 2019/20  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL36

 

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