Agenda and minutes

Cabinet is asked to approve the minutes of the last meeting held on

The minutes of the last meeting held on 16 April 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Cabinet members to declare an interest in any particular agenda item.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital

Consideration has been given to approve the Council’s proposal for the distribution of the Household Support Fund round 5 (HSF) for the period 1st April 2024 to 30^th September 2024 and to commence a review of overall welfare support.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet supports the proposal to support residents at risk of going cold or hungry through the mechanisms above.

(ii)              Cabinet supports the proposal to undertake a review of Welfare Support.

For the following reason:

(a)               To targeting the groups identified and meet Thrive policy objectives.

Report of the Director of Public Health

Consideration has been given to the outcome of the public consultation undertaken on the Section 75 partnership agreement and the future service delivery model for the 0-19 public health nursing service (up to 25 for those with a special educational need or disability).

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet endorses the Section 75 agreement including the length of the agreement.

(ii)              Cabinet notes the 0-19 overarching service delivery model and the ongoing work to develop the outcomes and performance framework.

(iii)            Cabinet notes the governance arrangements via the Early Help and Prevention Board.

For the following reasons:

(a)               To ensure the improved delivery of the Council’s public health related functions.

(b)               To enable the further development of an integrated prevention and early help offer to improve outcomes for children, young people and families in line with Gateshead’s Early Help Strategy and the national Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

(c)               To further develop collaborative working recognising the strengths, opportunities and challenges faced by local government and the wider health system.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration was given to the report setting out the nominations of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups to advisory groups, other bodies of the Council, joint committees and outside bodies.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agrees the nominations of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups.

For the following reasons:

(a)               To ensure that the views of the political groups are taken into account when the appointments are made.

(b)               To ensure that the most appropriate councillors are appointed to each body.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration was given to an update on the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme. The update provided a summary of the progress that has been made in the 2023/24 financial year, as well as confirming proposed programmes for integrated transport and maintenance schemes scheduled for 2024/25.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet approves the proposed programme for 2024/25 as set out in Appendices D and E, noting that there may be a need to review these as the year progresses in line with available resources.

(ii)              Cabinet authorises the Service Director, Highways and Waste, to award the relevant works under the terms of the Highways, Drainage and Street Lighting Maintenance Contract.

(iii)            Cabinet authorises the Service Director, Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport to make changes to the approved programme following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, as and when the need arises.

(iv)            Cabinet notes that the Council has as an executive decision entered into a Grant Agreement with the North East Combined Authority (NECA) to accept Gateshead’s allocation of City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement development funding, in consultation with the Interim Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth, Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance, Service Director for Resources and Digital, the Leader of the Council, and the Portfolio Holder for Economy.

For the following reason:

(a)               To enable the design and implementation of transport schemes in support of the North East Transport Plan and the Council’s policy objectives.

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital 

Consideration was given to approve a revised Corporate Risk Management Policy.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet recommended that Council approves the revised Corporate Risk Management Policy.

For the following reason:

(a)               To ensure that the Policy continues to support the maintenance and development of a robust risk management framework within the Council.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director, Housing Environment and Healthy Communities and the Strategic Director, Childrens Social Care and Lifelong Learning

Consideration was given to approve that the Dryden Centre be declared surplus to Council requirements.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agreed to declare the Dryden Centre, as shown edged black on the plan provided surplus to Council’s requirements.

(ii)              Cabinet agrees for discussion to progress with an educational provider, with a further report to be received by Cabinet once draft terms are provisionally agreed between parties for a long leasehold.

For the following reasons:

(a)               To manage resources and rationalise the Council’s assets in line with the Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan.

(b)               To realise savings for the Council.

Report of the Strategic Director, Children’s Social Care and Lifelong Learning

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

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet approves the nomination for appointment/reappointment of a Local Authority Governor.

(ii)              Cabinet agrees the term of office as determined by the schools’ Instrument of Government.

For the following reason:

(a)               To ensure the School Governing Body has full membership.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

Consideration has been given to a proposed programme of Selective Landlord Licensing (SLL) and details of how this has been produced. Further consideration was given for approval to carry out the statutory consultation that is required with the public and with stakeholders, prior to any SLL designation being made.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet noted the robust evidence base and approved the further work required to work towards designation of the proposed programme of Selective Landlord Licensing

(ii)              Cabinet approved the carrying out of consultation with the public and stakeholders on the proposed programme.

For the following reasons:

(a)   There are high levels of private rented properties in some areas, and ineffective property and tenancy management by some landlords is having a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable private renters and contributing to the impact of deprivation.

(b)   Without SLL it is not possible for the Council to focus any proactive intervention to protect residents within these areas from the impact of poorly managed privately rented homes.

(c)   The development of a programme of SLL that phases implementation over time, is necessary to ensure that the activity is achievable within the resources available, and affordable to the Council.

(d)   A robust evidence base for any SLL is required, and the work demonstrates that the proposed programme meets the evidence base criteria required.

(e)   The Housing Act 2004 requires that consultation with the public and stakeholders is carried out to inform the development of any SLL scheme prior to its designation.

The Cabinet may wish to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) on the grounds indicated:

Item                                                     Paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local                                                                   Government Act 1972

13                                                        3, 4

RESOLVED:

(i)               That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining business in accordance with paragraph 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration has been given to support for a recommendation to Council to approve a revised Joint Local Agreement (JLA) with construction and highways services trade operatives.

RESOLVED:

(i)               That Cabinet recommend to Council the implementation of the proposed new 2024 Joint Local Agreement covering all ‘red book’ employees within construction, highways, environmental and fleet services.

For the following reasons:

(a)   To ensure greater consistency of terms and conditions, and ways of working, across all ‘red book’ employees.

(b)   To improve the Council’s ability to recruit and retain across these key trade operative roles.