Agenda and minutes

Council - Thursday, 27th January, 2022 2.30 pm

Venue: Sports Hall, Gateshead Leisure Centre

Contact: Roz Patterson 

Items
No. Item

A minute's silence was observed following the death of former Councillor David Howdon.

CL65

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held 18 November 2021 pdf icon PDF 327 KB

Minutes:

COUNCIL RESOLVED

-

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021 be approved as a correct record.

 

CL66

Official Announcements

(announcements may be made by the Mayor, Leader of the Council or the Chief Executive)

Minutes:

(A)       New Year’s Honours 2022

 

The Mayor announced that within the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2022 the following people were recognised who live and work within the Borough:

 

·        Emma Beauchamp, Chair of the North East Young Apprenticeship Ambassador Network was awarded a British Empire Medal for service to Apprenticeships and Skills.

 

·        Mrs Susan Winfield, Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, has been made a Commander of the Royal Victoria Order.

CL67

Director of Public Health Annual Report

Minutes:

Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, attended the meeting and presented her annual report, the focus of which is on how the pandemic exposed and worsened inequalities across Gateshead.

CL68

Petitions

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Minutes:

There were no petitions submitted.

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Questions from Members of the Public

(to consider any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 7)

Minutes:

Mr Stephen Carr submitted the following question:

 

“I wish to ask why the Council property, number 10 Saint Mary’s Green, Whickham, NE16 4DN, still remains unoccupied? The former council tenant passed away on 2 November 2020. Since then the property, a three bedroomed maisonette, has had extensive remedial work carried out to it, yet it still remains unoccupied to this day.”

 

Councillor M McNestry responded to the question.

 

Mr Carr submitted a supplementary question which was agreed to be responded to outside of the meeting.

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Appointment of Independent Members to the Audit and Standards Committee pdf icon PDF 31 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the appointment of three Independent Members to the Audit and Standards Committee and to extend the term of office of the Independent Person for standards of conduct issues affecting Council and Parish Council Members.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the re-appointment of Stuart Bell as an Independent Member of the Audit and Standards Committee for a further period of four years and the appointment of Laura Bowler and Ian Dormer to the other Independent Member positions for the same period be approved.

 

 

(ii)

That the extension of the term of office of the Independent Person for standards of conduct issues affecting Council and Parish Council Members to 24 March 2022 be approved.

 

CL71

Gambling Statement of Principles 2022–2025 pdf icon PDF 30 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a Gambling Statement of Principles for 2022-2025.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  - 

(i)

That the amended Gambling Statement of Principles be endorsed.

 

 

(ii)

That the delegated decision taken by the Service Director, Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport, as outlined in the report, be noted.

 

CL72

Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a Local Council Tax Support Scheme for the year 2022/23.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the proposed scheme as set out in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the report be approved.

 

 

(ii)

That the Strategic Director, Resources and Digital, be given delegated powers to provide regulation to give effect to the scheme.

 

CL73

Senior Management Staffing Structure pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a revised senior management staffing structure.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the amendments to the organisation structure as detailed in the report be approved with an implementation date of 1 April 2022.

 

 

(ii)

That the Chief Executive be authorised to approve the final salary grades of Service Director roles, within the Council’s current pay policy framework and grading structure, taking into consideration advice from the LGA, following application of the LGA job evaluation scheme.

 

 

(iii)

That the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance, be authorised to make such changes to the Council’s Constitution he deems necessary as a consequence of the changes so approved.

 

 

(iv)

That the Chief Executive be authorised to determine appropriate interim arrangements as necessary to cover any vacancies which might arise in respect of either of the new posts.

 

CL74

Homelessness Strategy and Strategic Review of Homelessness and Allocations pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED

-

That the Gateshead Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and Homelessness Charter be approved and that the strategy be included as part of the Councils policy framework.

 

CL75

Review of the Council's Constitution pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report recommending a number of amendments to the Constitution.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED

-

That the proposed changes to the Council Constitution, as set out in the report, be agreed.

 

CL76

Calendar of Meetings 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the calendar of meetings for 2022/23.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the calendar of meetings 2022/23 be approved.

 

 

(ii)

That as far as possible, meetings should not be held during school holidays.

 

 

(iii)

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

 

 

CL77

Housing Revenue Account Rent & Service Charges 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the proposed rent changes and the proposals for the 2022/23 HRA service charges.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the 4.1% rent increase from 4 April 2022 be approved.

 

 

(ii)

That the HRA service charges be approved.

 

CL78

Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators 2021/22 – Third Quarter Review pdf icon PDF 209 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report setting out the latest position on the 2021/22 Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the third quarter.

 

COUNCIL RESOLVED  -

(i)

That the revision to the capital programme be approved.

 

 

(ii)

That the financing of the revised programme be approved.

 

 

(iii)

That it be noted that Cabinet confirms that the capital expenditure and capital financing requirement indicators have been revised in line with the revised budget and that none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2021/22 have been breached.

 

CL79

Notice of Motion

(to consider any notices of motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.1)

Minutes:

There were no motions submitted.

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Questions

(to deal with any questions submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.1)

Minutes:

No questions were received.