Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors L Green, J McElroy and B Oliphant.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 20 April 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to the procurement and award of contracts.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Service Director, Corporate Commissioning and Procurement be authorised to invite or negotiate tenders or conduct other procurement processes in respect of the contracts listed in appendix 2 to the report and to award the relevant contracts to the tenderers submitting the most economically advantageous tenders (or otherwise proving successful in accordance with other procurement processes) in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

(ii)

That updated reports continue to be submitted to Cabinet twice per year.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the procurement of goods, works and services required for the efficient and effective delivery of services.

(B)

To enable Cabinet to be updated with progress and changes to the procurement forward plan.

Consideration has been given to the acceptance of a funding offer of £499,500 from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) and its associated grant terms and conditions, to support delivery of the Partnerships project “Locality Working in Gateshead: Towards Recovery and Growth”.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the NLCF funding offer be formally accepted by the Council, as lead partner for the project and that officers be authorised to agree to the terms and conditions of the grant offer.

(ii)

That officers be authorised to provide NLCF with written confirmation that:

·             the matched funding is in place and ready to use for project delivery;

·             the Council will inform NLCF in writing if there are any changes to the provision of the funding; and

·             the funding will be kept in a dedicated ring-fenced budget.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable the NCLF funding offer to be secured on behalf of the Council and its partners.

(B)

To enable the overall project “Locality Working in Gateshead: Towards Recovery and Growth” to be delivered in full.

(Councillors J Adams and M McNestry declared personal and non pecuniary interests in the above matter because they are members of partnership organisations involved in the bid and delivery of the Partnerships project “Locality Working in Gateshead: Towards Recovery and Growth”).

Consideration has been given to an update on national funding allocations for the COVID-19 response and in particular to set out the funding support provided to VCSE partners to enable and scale up essential activities.  

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the position in relation to the allocation of funding received from the Test and Trace Grant, the Contain Outbreak Management Fund, the Community Champion programme and the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) winter grants funding as set out in the report be noted.

(ii)

That the allocation of the Covid Local Support Grant as set out in the report be approved.

(iii)

That the proposed small grants to VCSE partners as set out in the report be noted and the Director of Public Health be authorised to allocate the remainder of the funding available for small grants.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable delivery of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Covid Champion programme.

(B)

To enable the DWP Local Support Grant to be distributed (previously known as the DWP Winter Grant programme) before the deadline of 20^th June, as failure to do so will result in the clawback of the funding.

Consideration has been given to the Council, as ‘lead authority’ inviting, appraising and submitting bids to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF).

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the Strategic Director, Economy Innovation & Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources & Digital and Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance and relevant portfolio holder(s) be authorised to review and approve the submission of a shortlist of bids to the value of no more than £3 million to MHCLG.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy Innovation & Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources & Digital and Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance be authorised to agree the terms of a resulting contract with MHCLG and ‘pass down’ contracts with successful bidders to the Community Renewal Fund and provide an update to Cabinet on the outcome.

(iii)

That Strategic Director, Housing, Environment & Healthy Communities following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources & Digital and Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance, and the Leader or relevant portfolio holder(s) be authorised to approve Council bids for inclusion in the shortlist of bids to MHCLG.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To pursue opportunities to access monies from the Community Renewal Fund to benefit local residents and businesses.

(B)

To pursue opportunities to influence the Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver Council priorities.

(C)

To ensure that the Council is able to meet the requirements of the timetable set out by Government.

Consideration has been given to an update on the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme, which provides a summary of the progress that has been made in the 2020/21 financial year, as well as confirming programmes for integrated transport and maintenance schemes scheduled for 2021/22.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the proposed programme for integrated transport and maintenance schemes for 2021/22 as set out in appendices D and E be approved and it be noted that there may be a need to review these as the year progresses in line with available resources.

(ii)

That the Service Director, Highways and Waste be authorised to award the relevant works under the terms of the Highways, Drainage and Street Lighting Maintenance Contract.

(iii)

That the Service Director, Planning Policy, Climate Change and Strategic Transport be authorised to make changes to the approved programme following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, as and when the need arises.

The above decisions have been made to enable the design and implementation of transport schemes in support of the North East Transport Plan and the Council’s policy objectives.       

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve changes to policy on Charging and Financial Assessment for Adult Care and Support Services and which have been the subject of consultation with stakeholders.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the proposed policy change for Charging and Financial Assessment for Adult Care and Support Services with effect from 1 June 2021 and on the basis set out in the report.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To meet the statutory requirements of the Care Act 2014 and the regulations made under it.

(B)

To provide a transparent, consistent and fair framework for the provision for charging and financial assessment for all adults receiving care and support services, which is in line with the Thrive agenda and ethos.

Consideration has been given to the proposal to redesign the current corporate parenting governance structure and introduce a Corporate Parenting Panel/Board with an internal and external partnership membership.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the proposal to redesign the current corporate parenting governance structure and introduce a Corporate Parenting Panel/Board with an internal and external partnership membership (details of membership of the Board to be agreed by Cabinet at a future meeting) be endorsed.

(ii)

That the Council be recommended to:

a)       Agree to dissolve the Corporate Parenting OSC Sub-Committee and for scrutiny of the Council’s Corporate Parenting role to be placed specifically within the remit of the Families OSC, with agenda items relating to the Corporate Parenting role prioritised within specific meetings in its work programme.

b)     Endorse the proposal to develop a robust relationship between the Board, Overview and Scrutiny and the Corporate Partnership group to pursue continual improvement in the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Parenting Strategy, including applying the learning from other local authorities

c)     Endorse the proposal that there should be regular mandatory training for all elected members in relation to the Council’s Corporate Parenting role.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure that the Council meets it statutory responsibilities.

(B)

To ensure that the Council has a robust and strong governance arrangement to scrutinise their corporate responsibilities for Looked After Children.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to agree the Care Leavers Covenant and to further develop the Council’s work with Spectra First, to benefit Gateshead’s Care Leavers by becoming a trailblazer organisation.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to:

(i)

Endorse the Care Leavers Covenant as set out in the report.

(ii)

Agree to sign up as a trailblazer organisation.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To strengthen the Council’s offer to Care Leavers.

(B)

To improve the local offer by promoting the Covenant.

Consideration has been given to the nominations of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups and the Independent Councillor to advisory groups, other bodies of the Council, joint committees and outside bodies.

RESOLVED -

That the nominations of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups and the Independent Councillor as set out in appendices 2 to 4 of the report be approved.

The above decisions have been made 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. 

RESOLVED -

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

Consideration has been given to an increase in the acquisition cost of the proposed new Intermediate Care Centre (known as River View), located at Split Crow Road, Felling and a corresponding increase in the capital programme allocation. 

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the cost increase for the planned development as set out in the report be approved.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation & Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Directors for Corporate Services & Governance, Resources & Digital and Children, Adults & Families, be authorised to agree the final terms of the acquisition.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable a cost effective and efficient model of Intermediate Care, based on clinical best practice.

(B)

To ensure the Borough’s Intermediate Care estate is fit for the future.

Consideration has been given to an urgent decision taken by the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance Resources, following consultation with the Insurance Manager and Corporate Finance Manager, Resources and Digital to make a payment in full and final settlement of a claim against the Council. 

RESOLVED -

That the decision taken by the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance, following consultation with the Insurance Manager and Corporate Finance Manager, Resources and Digital, in accordance with the urgency procedure as set out in Part 3, Schedule 5 - General Delegations to Managers of the Council’s Constitution, be noted.

The above decision has been made to ensure openness and transparency with the decisions made by officers.