Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor B Oliphant.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 22 February 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Consideration has been given to submitting a feasibility plan to progress to the next stage of the Department for Transport Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilot, in order to bid for up to £1.5 million.

RESOLVED -

That the submission of a feasibility plan to progress to the next stage of the Department for Transport Active Travel Social Prescribing Pilot and to bid for up to £1.5 million, be approved.

The above decision has been made because a successful funding bid will allow further work with key communities, who will most benefit from increased levels of physical activity, through cycling and walking social prescribing activities in Gateshead.

Consideration has been given to the Council submitting a final stage application for the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Determinates Research Collaboration (HDRC) initiative to bid for up to £5 million over five years.

RESOLVED -

That the Council and Newcastle University final stage bid for up to £5 million as set out in the report, to host the HDRC over five years be approved.

The above decision has been made because a successful bid will enable the Council to become a centre of excellence in research locally, regionally, and nationally, providing a long lasting culture of high quality evidence based decision making, cocreated with the communities and people that have the greatest need,  all for the purpose of tackling inequality and addressing the wider determinates of health, in order to significantly improve health outcomes for all our residents.

Consideration has been given to contributing to the North East Screen Industries Partnership region-wide development programme and implementation of the associated Memorandum of Understanding with the BBC.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That a financial contribution of £158,481 to be made via the North East Combined Authority (NECA) in respect of the development programme to be implemented during the 2022/23 financial year be approved.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director Economy Innovation & Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital, the Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy, be authorised to agree the associated Business Case and delivery arrangements in conjunction with NECA and its constituent local authorities, the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) and the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

(iii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy Innovation & Growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital, the Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy, be authorised to approve the terms of a Grant Funding Agreement with Northern Film and Media in respect of the 2022/2023 financial contribution, alongside the equivalent contributions of the constituent local authorities within NECA.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To support the Council’s Economic Development Strategy.

(B)

To increase opportunities for the development of media content businesses to grow or locate in Gateshead to provide more and better jobs for Gateshead residents.

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 (or to complete the relevant processes where they have already begun) 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 an update report continues to be submitted to Cabinet twice per year.

(iii)

That it be noted the procurement activity set out in appendices 2 and 3 to the report will form the basis of the Council’s Procurement pipeline and will be published on the internet.

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.

(C)

To comply with the National Procurement Policy Statement.

Consideration has been given to the 2023 Parliamentary Boundary Review and the implications for Gateshead.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to agree that the proposed changes to the Blaydon constituency and Gateshead constituency be supported and to authorise officers to respond to the formal Boundary Commission for England consultation, both at the public hearing and in a formal written response.

The above decision has been made to enable the Council’s position on the Review to be put forward to the Boundary Commission for England.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve a new Corporate Commissioning and Procurement Strategy 2021/22 – 26/27 and the implementation of a new approach to achieving Social Value in procurement activity.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve:

(i)

the Corporate Commissioning and Procurement Strategy as set out in appendix 2 to the report; and

(ii)

the implementation of the Gateshead Social Value Toolkit as summarised in appendix 3 to the report and to the evaluation weighting of 20% being applied to all procurements of £100k in value or more, unless the Service Director, Corporate Commissioning and Procurement authorises an exception.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure that the procurement of goods, works and services aligns to the Council’s priorities as set out in Thrive, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Economic Strategy and the Climate Emergency Strategy.

(B)

To maximise the social value achieved from the Council’s external expenditure.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to agree a revised pay policy statement for 2022/23.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the revised pay policy statement for 2022/23 as set out in appendix 2 to the report.

The above decision has been made to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve a new Resident Influence Strategy and Framework.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the Resident Influence Strategy and Framework as set out in appendices 2 and 3 to the report.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure that the Council delivers on resident expectations following the Housing Review. 

(B)

To ensure the Council is meeting all current and future statutory and regulatory requirements.

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Strategy for 2022/23 to 2026/27.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve the Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Strategy for 2022/23 to 2026/27 as set out in appendices 2 and 3 to the report.

The above decision has been made to ensure that the Council fully complies with the requirements of good financial practice in Treasury Management.

Consideration has been given to the six-month 2021/22 assessment of performance against the Council’s new Performance Management and Improvement Framework (PMIF) along with the recommendations made by Overview and Scrutiny Committees for improvement.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the 2021/22 six-month performance report as set out in appendix 2 to the report and the key themes from the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees be approved.

(ii)

That the areas identified by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out in appendix 3 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 the transfer out of the Council’s accounts individual debts in excess of £500 relating to former tenant rent arrears and sundry account debts orders where all possible recovery action has been taken and the balances are now considered uncollectable.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the transfer of balances on 122 former tenant accounts, amounting to £212,677 and 166 sundry account debts totalling £230,432 be approved.

(ii)

That the action taken under delegated powers to transfer out of Council’s accounts the amounts deemed uncollectable be noted.

The above decisions have been made to ensure effective management of the Council’s resources as any further pursuit of these arrears is unlikely to result in significant sums being recovered and would be more effectively used to recover new debt.

Consideration has been given to the transfer out of the Council’s Accounts outstanding balances in excess of £500 from miscellaneous income accounts and Housing Benefits overpayments where all possible recovery action has been taken and the balances are now considered to be uncollectable.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the transfer of balances on 167 sundry debtor accounts, amounting to £317,239.77 and 44 Housing Benefits overpayment invoices totalling £104,158.11 be approved.

(ii)

That the action taken under delegated powers to transfer out of the Council’s accounts the identified amounts that are deemed uncollectable be noted.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure the effective management of the Council’s resources.

(B)

To ensure that the Council Accounts accurately reflect the correct financial position.

Consideration has been given to a decision taken under delegated powers, to submit the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) funding bid on behalf of the Council, to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for period 2022-2025, on the grounds of urgency, due to bid submission timescales.

RESOLVED -

That the action taken by the Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital, in submitting the bid as described in the report, under an urgent delegated decision, in accordance with Schedule 5, Part 2 General Delegations to Managers, Paragraph (4)( e) of the Council’s Constitution be noted.

The above decision has been made to maximise the funding opportunities to support the delivery of the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

Consideration has been given to the scope of support to be provided through the Council’s COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) scheme to help businesses that have been adversely impacted by Covid-19.

The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, included awarding a fixed level of relief to qualifying applicants.

RESOLVED -

That the proposed Covid-19 Additional Rate Relief (CARF) scheme as detailed in the report and delegation of authority to the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation & growth, following consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital and the Cabinet Member for Economy, to administer the fund in line with government guidance, including agreeing the level of relief to be awarded, be approved.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To ensure allocated funds are maximised for the benefit of the Gateshead economy.

(B)

To enable local business impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic to receive support to continue to trade and survive.

(C)

To protect jobs and keep residents in work.

(D)

To ensure essential local services continue to be available to residents of Gateshead.

(E)

To administer the funds in compliance with government guidance.

Consideration has been given to an update on the funding received by the Council through the Government’s Capability Fund and to a proposed programme of activity and to utilise some of the funding to establish a scheme to provide small grants to businesses to encourage active travel.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the proposed programme utilising the Capability Fund as outlined in the report be approved and the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth be authorised to finalise programme spend following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth be authorised to establish the grant scheme to businesses, to encourage active travel as set out in the report.

The above decision has been made to enable the available funding to be put to best use in supporting active travel and climate change objectives in Gateshead. 

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 in accordance with the Schools’ Instrument of Government:

School

Nomination

Date from

Lingey House Primary

Ms Sharron Potts

7 July 2022

Washingwell Primary

Mr Andrew Moir

June 2022

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

RESOLVED -

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining business in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration has been given to entering into a Collaboration Agreement with Persimmon Homes Limited at Dunston Hill Neighbourhood Growth Area, shown edged black on the plan attached to the report.

RESOLVED -

That the entering into and completing the collaboration agreement with Persimmon Homes Limited in relation to the Dunston Hill Neighbourhood Growth Area, as set out in the report be approved.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To enable completion of the section 106 agreement by Persimmon Homes in relation to the Dunston Hill Neighbourhood Growth Area site.

(B)

To progress development of housing on the whole site, which will assist in meeting the requirements set out in the Gateshead Housing Strategy 2019-2030.

Consideration has been given to the freehold transfer of the land at Birtley Northside, known as “Cell C”, to Gateshead Regeneration LLP (GRP), as shown edged red on the plan at appendix 3 to the report, to enable the development of 73 homes.

The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, included marketing the site on the open market.

RESOLVED -

(i)

That the transfer of the freehold interest in the Cell C site for the amount set out in the report, in accordance with the Agreement for Sale to the GRP for the provision of new homes, be approved.

(ii)

That the current position with Homes England; the relationship to the Freight Depot site; the linkage of the Homes England Accelerated Construction Funding to outputs on the Freight Depot and the associated risks be noted.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To support the delivery of 73 homes at Birtley Northside, bringing the total GRP output at Birtley to 268 across three phases; and enable a further 270 homes on Freight Depot.

(B)

To enable income to accrue to the Council and training, employment and socio-economic benefits for the residents and businesses of Gateshead.

(C)

To bring forward a vacant Council owned site for redevelopment and remove holding costs to the Council.

(D)

To utilise the Council’s land and property portfolio to support the Council’s policy priorities in accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Corporate Asset Strategy and Management Plan and Housing Strategy 2019-30.

Consideration has been given to the cessation of the Print Point service following a trial 12-month suspension.

RESOLVED -

That the cessation of the Print Point Service with immediate effect and for the Council to continue to source print requirements through arrangements organised by Corporate Commissioning and Procurement be approved.

The above decision has been made for the following reasons:

(A)

To implement the approved Council Budget 2020/21.

(B)

To support the Council’s continuous drive towards greater service digitisation, reduction in the use of paper, and carbon reduction.