Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.  

Cabinet is asked to approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 February 2025.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 18 February 2025 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, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration has been given to consider the conclusions of the 2025 Local Plan Review and to approve publication of the 2025 Local Plan Review.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet noted the conclusions of the review of the Gateshead Local Plan (the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan and Making Spaces for Growing Places Plan) PAS Tool Kit Assessment and Policy Review (“the 2025 Review”).

(ii)              Cabinet approved the publication of the 2025 Review on the Council’s website and agreed to notify the Planning Inspectorate of the review.

(iii)            Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth to approve any minor changes to the 2025 Review prior to publication.

(iv)            Cabinet noted that the 2025 Review will be considered by Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet on 17th March 2025.

For the following reason:

(a)               To comply with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which requires local plans to be reviewed every five years following adoption.

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

Consideration has been given to approve the School Term Dates for 2026/27.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agreed the dates set out in the School Term Dates for 2026/27.

For the following reasons:

(a)               To allow future planning to take place.

(b)               To make effective and efficient use of resources.

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

Consideration has been given to the report providing updates on the Family Hub and Start for Life grant allocation for Gateshead Council in 2025/26.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet endorsed the MOU returned on 6 March 2025 and agreed to accept new grant conditions and payment.

(ii)              Cabinet noted that the updated Delivery Plan will be submitted to DfE by 8 April 2025.

(iii)            Cabinet noted that the updated updated Maturity Self-Assessment (MSA) will be submitted to DfE by 9 May 2025.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration has been given to endorse the acceptance of renewed funding for the Changing Futures Northumbria programme for a further year (April 2025 – March 2026). Further consideration was given to delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance to agree a partnership agreement with participating local authorities.

Cabinet also noted the progress of the successful Changing Futures Northumbria project to date and the governance arrangements to ensure that the delivery plan can be implemented.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet endorsed the acceptance of renewed funding from MHCLG and  TNLCF for the financial year 2025/26 and the governance arrangements to administer the fund in line with government guidance.

(ii)              Cabinet agreed that the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance be given delegated authority to agree a partnership agreement with participating local authorities.

For the following reasons:

(a)           To ensure delivery of the Sustainability Plan for Changing Futures Northumbria can be implemented.

(b)           To administer the funds in compliance with government guidance.

Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Consideration has been given to recommendation that Council approve the revised pay policy statement.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agreed the Pay Policy Statement 2025-26 and referred the matter to Council for approval at its meeting on 20 March 2025.

For the following reason:

(a)           To comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

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

Consideration has been given to recommendation that Council approve the move of the Design and Minor Projects team (Housing, Environment and Health Communities Group) into the renamed “Design and Energy Service” (Economy, Innovation and Growth).

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agreed the move of staff and budgets for the Design and Minor Projects team (Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities Group) into the Design and Energy Service (Economy Innovation and Growth group) and referred the matter to Council for approval.

For the following reason:

(a)               To create a single, more efficient, more compliant design service for built construction (excluding highways design).

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital

Consideration has been given to recommendation that Council approve the Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Strategy for 2025/26 to 2029/30.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet agreed the Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Strategy and recommend them for approval by Council.

Report of the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration has been given to accept the funding for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Transition Fund for 2025/26.

RESOLVED:

(i)               Cabinet accepted the UKSPF Transition Funding 2025/26 from NECA of £4.6m to continue to deliver the investment plan priorities.

(ii)              Cabinet approved the criteria for allocation of funding for 2025/26.

(iii)            Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Senior Responsible Officer (Strategic Director Economy Innovation and Growth) in consultation with the Strategic Director Resources & Digital, Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance and relevant Cabinet Members to approve the 2025/26 Programme in accordance with the investment plan priorities and in accordance with the approved Governance arrangements for UKSPF approved by Cabinet on 21 March 2023.

For the following reason:

(a)           To ensure that the Council has funding to deliver its UKSPF Investment Plan priorities for Communities and Place, Supporting Local Business, and People and Skills.

Report of the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration has been given to approve the energy tariffs for HEIGHTs project residents for 2025/26 as follows:

·         Heat tariffs for all HEIGHTs residents to continue to be held above the Ofgem Price Cap to ensure full cost recovery achieved.

·         Electricity tariffs for HEIGHTs residents at Barford and Stretford Court to be held in line with the Ofgem price cap.

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet gave approval to the heat and electricity tariffs proposed, to communicate these to HEIGHTs residents, and to apply these for the period 1st May 2025 – 31 March 2026, with reviews each quarter.

For the following reasons:

(a)        To comply with heat and electricity supply agreements in place with customers.

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

(c)         To ensure HEIGHTs customers continue to pay fair and market reflective prices for their heating and electricity, and as soon as possible, after changes to the energy price cap.

Report of the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration was given to recommend the demolition of the flyover as soon as possible. Further consideration was also given to the reported ongoing work with partners on a new transport and regeneration plan and funding options.

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet noted AECOM Gateshead Viaduct Principal Inspection – Issued 29 January 2025 Report (Appendix2).

(ii)           Cabinet note the timeline of key decisions and events to date (Appendix 3).

(iii)          Cabinet agreed that the only viable option for the flyover is demolition.

(iv)          Cabinet agreed that Officers should continue to undertake all tasks associated with pursuing the demolition of the flyover as soon as practicable with delegated authority to the Interim Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities, following consultation with the Strategic Director Resources and Digital and following consultation with the Portfolio holder for Environment and Transport to proceed once the final demolition plans and costs are available.

(v)           Cabinet noted the ongoing work on a suitable transport and regeneration scheme in conjunction with our partners.

(vi)          Cabinet considered and approved Corporate Procurement to award contracts for works and services required for the efficient and effective delivery of the flyover demolition in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

For the following reasons:

(a)        Demolishing the flyover is safer, more cost-effective, and supports future development better than repairing it.

(b)        Demolishing the flyover will support the Council's strategic priorities for a safer, more connected, and thriving Gateshead.

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

Consideration was given to approve a recommendation to 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)            Cabinet agreed to the transfer of balances on 557 former tenant accounts, amounting to £1,134,819 and 194 sundry account debts totalling £73,569.

(ii)              Cabinet noted the action taken under delegated powers to transfer out of Council’s accounts the amounts deemed uncollectable.

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital

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

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet agreed to the transfer of balances on 114 Sundry Debtor accounts, amounting to £252,963.21, 65 Housing Benefits overpayment invoices totalling £121,505.19 and 8 Council Tax accounts court costs totalling £4,812.50.

(ii)           Cabinet noted the action taken under delegated powers to transfer out of the Council’s accounts the identified amounts that are deemed uncollectable.

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.

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital

Consideraton was given to approve the transfer of outstanding balances from Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) accounts, where all possible recovery action has been taken and the balances are now considered to be uncollectable.

RESOLVED:

(i)            Cabinet agreed the transfer of 1,654 uncollectable accounts in respect of Council Tax balances totalling £2,399,927.89.

(ii)           Cabinet agreed the transfer of 100 uncollectable accounts of Non-Domestic Rates balances totalling £1,048,652.75.

(iii)          Cabinet noted the action taken under delegated powers to transfer Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates accounts with balances of £500 or less identified in paragraph 8 of this report.

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.

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

Items 18 - 19                          

Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

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

Report of the Strategic Director, Economy, Innovation and Growth

Consideration was given to approve the acceptance of a grant application from the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Green Heat Network Fund, to support a £11.1m heat network extension into Gateshead Town Centre.

Further consideration was given to approve the issue of a commercial loan to Gateshead Energy Company Ltd and to issue back-to-back grant agreement to Gateshead Energy Company Ltd.

Additional consideration was given to approve the allocation of capital programme budgets of from the general fund for loans and Council connection fees and from the Housing Revenue Account for connection fees.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The recommendations as reported were approved.

For the following reasons:

(a)        To allow Gateshead Energy Company to continue to grow and expand, to deliver the Council’s objectives.

(b)        To reduce cost of energy to homes and businesses, to support Thrive agenda.

(c)         To reduce carbon emissions of homes and community facilities, to support the Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.

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

Consideration was given to give approval to declare the former Southernwood Promoting Independence Centre surplus to requirements and to dispose of the site, subject to planning permission for conversion into 14 apartments.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The recommendations as reported were approved.

For the following reasons:

(a)          To dispose of an asset and realise a capital receipt.

(b)          To enable the development of supported housing.

(c)           To utilise a vacant building.