Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M McNestry.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 19 December 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve proposed revisions to the Council’s senior management structure which will reflect a more effective way of working across Council services to deliver the Corporate Plan 2023-28.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the

organisation structure and associated changes as set out in

appendix 1 for implementation from 25^th January 2024.

The above decision has been made to enable continued improvement in the co-ordination of Council functions, the organisation of its employees, and to enable Council services to focus on delivery of the Thrive agenda and the Council Plan in a more efficient and effective way.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the proposed calendar of meetings for 2024/25.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to:

(i)

Approve the calendar of meetings for 2024/25;

(ii)

Agree that, so far as possible, meetings should not be held during school holidays or on dates where the holding of religious festivals may preclude attendance and involvement at meetings; and

(iii)

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

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

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve

amendments to the Allocations Policy.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve:

(i)

The minor amendments to the Allocations Policy as set out in appendix 2 of the report; and

(ii)

The substantive amendments to the Allocations Policy as set out in paragraph 10 and appendix 1 of the report covering the following policy areas:

·         Armed forces

·          Joint Tenants

·          Financial Eligibility

·          Exclusion criteria

·          Unborn children

·          Local Connection

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the Council has a clear and robust Allocations Policy.

(B)

To ensure the Council has effective governance of the

Allocations Policy.

(C)

To ensure best use of the housing register.

Consideration has been given to the latest position on the 2023/24 Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the third quarter to 31

December 2023.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Council be recommended to approve all variations to the 2023/24 Capital Programme as detailed in appendix

2 to the report.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to approve the financing of the revised programme set out in this report.

(iii)

That it be confirmed to Council that capital expenditure and

financing requirements have been revised in line with the amended budget and none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2023/24 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 2023/24.

(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 2023/24 revenue budget at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2023.

RESOLVED -

That the Council’s revenue expenditure position at the end of the third quarter, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 of the report be noted.

The above decision has 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 2024/25 for the Parish of Lamesley and the whole of the Borough of Gateshead and also to the proposed Business Rate forecast for 2024/25.

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 2024/25 shall be 54,041.1.

(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 2024/25 shall be 1,227.7.

(iii)

That the business rates forecast for 2024/25 be approved as £41.284 million.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(i)

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

(ii)

To set a council tax base and a business rates forecast for 2024/25 in accordance with statutory requirements.

Consideration has been given to the six month 2023/24 assessment of performance against the Council’s Performance Management and Improvement Framework (PMIF) along with the comments made by Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the 2023/24 six month performance report at appendix 2 to the report be approved.

(ii)

That the key discussions from the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out at paragraph 8 of appendix 1

and in the minutes at appendix 3 to the report be noted.

(iii)

That the ongoing development work being undertaken as set out at paragraphs 9-11 of appendix 1 to the report be noted.

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 an analysis of the compliments and Chief Executive Review complaints recorded by the Council and complaints against the Council considered by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Housing Ombudsman in 2022/23.

RESOLVED -

That the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Procedure

Annual Report for 2022/23 be approved.

The above decision has been made to have an effective and timely complaints and

compliments procedure.          

Consideration has been given to:

·        proposed Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary Schools Admission Policies, 2025

·        proposed Co-ordinated admission schemes for Infant, Junior, Primary schools and Secondary Schools 2025

·        proposed Planned Admission Numbers (PAN’s) for Community schools for 2025/26.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary

Admissions Policies as set out in appendix 2 to the report be adopted for September 2025.

(ii)

That the approved admissions policies for September 2024 be used as a basis of consultation, if necessary, with schools and others for formulating the relevant admissions policies from September 2025/26 onwards.

(iii)

That the approved two co-ordinated admission schemes for

Secondary, Infant Junior and Primary schools as set out in appendix 3 to the report be adopted for September 2025.

(iv)

That the Planned Admissions Numbers (PAN’s) as set out in

appendix 3 to the report, for all community Primary schools to be adopted by the governing bodies of each school be noted subject to a correction to the PAN for Winlaton West

Primary, which should read 45 as opposed to 60 as shown in the report.

The above decisions have been made to enable the Council to comply with statutory legislation as it relates to school admissions policies, admission arrangements and co-ordinated admission arrangements.

Consideration has been given to the nomination of Local Authority Governors to schools seeking to retain their Local Authority governor in accordance with The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations. 

RESOLVED -

That the nominations set out below be approved for a period of four years from the date shown, in accordance with the Schools’ Instrument of Government:

School

Nomination

Date from

Brandling Primary

Cllr W Dick

9 June 2024

Barley Mow Primary

Cllr H Weatherley

16 June 2024

Colegate Primary

Mr B Turnbull

16 June 2024

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

Consideration has been given to the proposal to undertake a public consultation on proposed policy and conditions, relating to the licensing of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.

RESOLVED -

That the proposal for the draft policy and conditions, as set out in the report, to be consulted upon during spring 2024, including a Members Seminar and for a Policy Advisory Group to be asked to consider the results of that consultation and give their comments to Cabinet, so that a final version of the policy and conditions can be recommended to Council in summer 2024, be approved.

The above decision has been made so that the policy and conditions relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences can be updated to take into account changes to national, regional and local priorities and guidance and technological changes in vehicles and booking systems.