The minutes of the last meeting held on 18 December 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to the tender received for the Framework for the Hire of Light Commercial Vehicles and Vehicle Tracking System.

RESOLVED -

That the tender from Northgate Vehicle Hire Limited be accepted for the Framework for the Hire of Light Commercial Vehicles and Vehicle Tracking System for a 36 month period commencing 1 February 2019, with the option to extend for a further 2 x 12 month periods.

The above decision has been made because a comprehensive evaluation of the tenders received has been undertaken. The accepted tender was the most economically advantageous tender submitted.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the calendar of meetings for 2019/20, which includes proposed changes to the Council’s overview and scrutiny and advisory group arrangements.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to

(i)

Approve the calendar of meetings for 2019/20.

(ii)

Agree that, as far as possible, meetings should not be held during school holidays.

(iii)

Authorise the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any necessary amendments to the calendar of meetings.

(iv)

Agree the proposed changes to the Council’s overview and scrutiny and advisory group arrangements set out in appendix 1 to the report and that the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

The above changes have been made to assist in the preparation of the Cabinet’s schedule of decisions and to allow councillors and officers to plan commitments in their diaries.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the Housing Revenue Account 2019/20; proposed rent changes from 1 April 2019, in line with the Government’s policy on rent setting; detailed proposals for fees and charges for 2019/20 and Housing Capital Programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to:

(i)

Approve the Housing Revenue Account 2019/20 as set out in appendix 2 to the report, including The Gateshead Housing Company management fee, the repairs and maintenance budget and savings as detailed in appendix 3 to the report;

(ii)

Approve the 1% rent reduction from 1 April 2019;

(iii)

Approve the fees and charges schedule for 2019/20 as detailed in appendix 4 to the report; and

(iv)

Approve the Housing Capital Programme for the five years 2019/20 to 2023/24 as set out in appendix 5 to the report.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To set a Housing Revenue Account for 2019/20 that is not in debit as required under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (Part VI).

(B)

To realise the Council’s policies and objectives in relation to Housing Strategy in order to maintain and enhance Council Housing provision in Gateshead.

Consideration has been given to the latest position on the 2018/19 capital programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2018.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to:

(i)

Approve all variations to the 2018/19 Capital Programme as detailed in appendix 2 to the report as the revised programme:

(ii)

Approve the financing of the revised programme; and

(iii)

Note 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 2018/19 have been breached.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the optimum use of the Council’s capital resources in 2018/19.

(B)

To accommodate changes to the Council’s in-year capital expenditure plans.

(C)

To ensure performance has been assessed against the approved Prudential Limits.

Consideration has been given to the latest monitoring position on the 2018/19 revenue budget at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2018 and to recommending to Council the use of up to £2.1m capital receipts to finance the 2018/19 revenue budget.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council’s revenue expenditure position at 31 December 2018, as set out in appendix 1 to the report be noted.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to approve the use of up to £2.1m capital receipts flexibility on the areas identified within paragraph 8 of the report to fund the revenue costs of transformational projects included within the 2018/19 budget.

The above decisions have been made to contribute to sound financial management and the long-term financial sustainability of the Council.

Consideration has been given to the council tax base for 2019/20 for the Parish of Lamesley and the whole of the Borough of Gateshead and to a Business Rate forecast for 2019/20.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended by Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment)(England) Regulations 2012 the amount calculated by Gateshead Council as its council tax base for the year 2019/20 shall be 52065.6.

(ii)

That pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended by Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment)(England) Regulations 2012 the amount calculated as being the Parish Council of Lamesley’s council tax base for the year 2019/20 shall be 1193.5.

(iii)

That the business rates forecast for 2019/20 be approved as £42.423 million.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To assist the Council in its financial planning and budget setting.

(B)

To set a council tax base and a business rates forecast for 2019/20 in accordance with statutory requirements.

Consideration has been given to the six-month assessment of performance and delivery report for 2018/19 in respect of the Council’s Thrive agenda.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the recommendations of all the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees in relation to the 2018/19 six-month performance reports as set out in appendix 3 to the report be approved.

(ii)

That the Council has met its performance objectives and is    addressing the outcomes in delivering the Council’s Thrive agenda.

(iii)

That the amendments to the corporate suite of Strategic Indicators identified in appendix 4 to the report be approved.

(iv)

That the further work required in ensuring the corporate performance management framework is appropriately aligned to support delivery of the Thrive agenda be noted and this to include consideration of a request to Higher Education Partners to undertake analysis of areas of statistical significance to provide focus and inform decision making for the Council and partners in delivering the Thrive agenda.

The above decisions have been made to ensure performance supports the delivery and achievements of Making Gateshead a Place Where Everyone Thrives.

Consideration has been given to responses to recent consultations.

RESOLVED -

That the responses to the following consultations be endorsed:

·         Provisional Local Government Funding Settlement - Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

·         Making Biodiversity Net Gain Necessary for Developments when Granting Planning Permission – Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The above decision has been made to enable the Council to contribute responses to the consultations.

Consideration has been given to the progress of the review and revised funding levels for Sixth Forms attached to Gateshead Special Schools and to the proposal to consult on a change to the designated age range for Hill Top and Dryden Schools. 

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the contents of the report be approved.

(ii)

That for the 2018 sixth form intake at Dryden and for those in the Autism Provision at Hill Top, it be noted pupils have been guaranteed 2 years funding.

(iii)

That for the sixth form intake at Cedars and those in the main school at Hill Top, the guarantee of one year of funding for pupils, to support those pupils who are not ready to access College at the end of Year 11 be approved.

(iv)

That a statutory consultation process to reflect the change in age range for Dryden and Hill Top Schools from 11 -19 to 11 -18 be approved.

(v)

That a further report be submitted to Cabinet following the consultation referred to at (iv) above.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To meet the Council’s statutory duty to promote high educational standards and to make effective use of resources.

(B)

To comply with School Organisation legislation.

Consideration has been given to a Memorandum of Understanding that has been developed for the Gateshead Health & Care Partnership.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Memorandum of Understanding for the Gateshead Health & Care Partnership as set out in appendix 2 to the report be endorsed.

(ii)

That the Council signing up to the MoU as a key local partner in taking forward a place-based approach to health and care integration be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the Council, working with local partners and local communities, to progress a place-based approach to the integration of health and care in Gateshead for the benefit of local people in line with the Council’s Thrive agenda.

(B)

To help ensure the local health and care system is sustainable, is fit for purpose for the future and is in a better position to influence emerging broader footprints linked to this agenda.

(C)

To ensure the Council and local partners are in the best position to respond to demographic and funding pressures across the system.

Consideration has been given to the annual report for Service and School Performance for 2017/18 which summarises the performance of Gateshead schools for the academic year 2017/18 and also the academic performance of Gateshead’s looked after children.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Annual Report be approved.

(ii)

That the Families OSC be requested to add to its work programme consideration of the conflicting local view of performance of Gateshead’s Secondary Schools’ with that of Ofsted.

The above decisions have been made because the Council’s school improvement services are effectively supporting maintained schools in providing our children and young people with a good education resulting in strong outcomes.

Consideration has been given to the nomination of Local Authority and appointment of Local Authority Academy Governors to schools seeking to retain their Local Authority governors in accordance with The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations and Article 51 (Articles of Association of Academies). 

RESOLVED -

That the following nominations Local Authority and appointment of Local Authority Academy Governors be approved for a period of four years, as stipulated in the Schools Instrument of Government and the Academy’s Articles of Association with effect from the dates indicated.

School

Nomination

Date from

Birtley East Primary School                       

Cllr M Foy

13.02.19

Caedmon Primary School     

Cllr J Adams

19.03.19

Falla Park Primary School  

Cllr P McNally

12.04.19

Kells Lane Primary School  

Mr M Hetherington

02.03.19

Lord Lawson Academy

Sheila Gallagher (new appointment)

31.01.19

Winlaton West Lane Primary School  

Cllr J Simpson

01.07.19

The above decision has been made to ensure the School Governing Bodies have full membership.

Consideration has been given to entering into a contract with Perfect Circle JV Limited under the Scape Framework to provide Phase 2 Site Investigations at Baltic Quarter.

The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, was not to agree to enter into a contract via the Scape framework and for the Council to procure the works through another means.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the obtaining of a tender using the Scape Framework from Perfect Circle JV Ltd to provide Phase 2 Site Investigations at Baltic Quarter be endorsed.

(ii)

That the Acting Strategic Director, Communities and Environment be authorised to accept the final contract price, at a cost not exceeding £150,000, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources and subject to agreeing the form of Contract for the Works with Perfect Circle JV Ltd by the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance (in accordance with the Constitution),

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure that supporting infrastructure for Gateshead Quays is brought forward in a timely manner.

(B)

To ensure supporting infrastructure and access requirements to facilitate the wider development of Baltic Quarter are provided.

Consideration has been given to the proposed electricity tariffs chargeable to residents of the Gateshead HEIGHTs project.

The alternative options to that being recommended, but which were discounted, included setting higher and lower tariffs.

RESOLVED -

That the power tariffs for 2019/20 of 14.86 p/kWh, with a standing charge of 18.61 p/day inclusive of VAT, for residents of the Gateshead HEIGHTs project be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure cost savings are delivered to residents of the HEIGHTs scheme.

(B)

To ensure the HEIGHTs scheme recovers its operating and construction costs over its lifetime.

Consideration has been given to the surrender of the existing lease and grant of a new lease of land and buildings at Cleveland Hall Community Club and to the termination of the Partnership Agreement.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the surrender of the existing lease and the grant of a new lease for a term of 35 years as set out in this report be approved.

(ii)

That termination of the Partnership Agreement with effect from 31 March 2019 be approved.

The above decisions have been made to manage resources and rationalise the Council’s assets in line with the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan

Councillor J McElroy declared a personal and non-pecuniary interest in the above matter because he is a member of the Association and withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was under consideration.

Consideration has been given to an update on petitions submitted to the Council and the action taken on them.

RESOLVED -

That the petitions received and the action taken on them be noted.

The above decision has been made to inform Cabinet of the progress of the petitions received.

RESOLVED -

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining business in accordance with paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration has been given to the conversion of a property on Black Lane, Blaydon to be used as six-bedded Council run residential children’s home for Looked After Children.

The alternative options to that being recommended, but which were discounted, included buying the property in order to rent it back to a provider, in a collaborative arrangement and working with providers to increase the independent provision within Gateshead.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the establishment of a children’s home at Longside House, subject to planning requirements, the appointment of a registered manager and registration with Ofsted be approved.

(ii)

That an allocation of up to £800,000 being included in the Council’s capital programme to finance the acquisition and refurbishment of the property and grounds be approved.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

Young people needing residential care will be placed within Gateshead rather than being placed at a distance.

(B)

There will be savings to be made by bringing young people back into the Council’s own resource.

Consideration has been given to entering in to Heads of Terms with SMG (UK) Limited for the operation and management of the Arena, Conference and Exhibition Centre at Gateshead Quays and the development of the detailed Agreement for Lease.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Heads of Terms for the operation and management of the proposed Arena, Conference and Exhibition Centre at Gateshead Quays with SMG (UK) Limited, as set out in the report be approved.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Service and Governance be authorised to agree the detailed terms.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To bring forward the regeneration of Gateshead Quays.

(B)

To ensure there is a long-term commitment from the proposed tenant to provide confidence in the delivery of the scheme and assist with securing development finance and additional operators.

(C)

To manage the assets of the Council’s non-operational portfolio in line with the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan 2015 -2020.