Agenda and minutes

Father Jeffrey Dodds, from St Philip Neri, Dunston to gave the opening address.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -    That the minutes of the meetings held 21 April and 20 May 2016 be approved as a correct record.

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

Cabinet Portfolio Appointments

The Leader confirmed the Cabinet Portfolio appointments, details of which had previously been circulated.

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Councillor Wood submitted a petition on behalf of private hire vehicle drivers about the effects of the proposed approach to civil bus lane enforcement in Gateshead.

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

There were no questions from members of the public.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees work programmes for 2016-17.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -    That the provisional work programmes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for 2016/2017 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the proposals to retain the in-house domiciliary care service while adopting more efficient working arrangements and transfer part of it into the enhanced enablement service.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -    That the Council continue to deliver domiciliary care services through enablement and longer term provision, and for consultations to continue with the trade unions and workforce on the application of more efficient working arrangements.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the introduction of bus lane traffic contraventions in Gateshead and to set the charge level for the contraventions and to nominate a Councillor to the Bus Lane Adjudication Joint Committee.

COUNCIL RESOLVED       i) That the Code of Practice relating to the use of CCTV for Civil Parking and Bus Lane Enforcement and connected purposes, as set out in Appendix 4 of the attached report be approved

ii) That the Constitution be amended to give delegated authority to the Service Director, Development, Public Protection and Transport Strategy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, to carry out the statutory procedure to introduce and operate civil bus lane enforcement and to make such technical amendments to the Council’s Code of Practice for CCTV Enforcement as may be required to comply with changes to national legislation or guidance, or decisions of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal

iii) That the level of Penalty Charge for bus lane contraventions at £60 be approved

iv) That the appointment of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to the Bus Lane Adjudication Joint Committee be noted.

The Leader of the Council reported on a number of key issues currently affecting the Council.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -    That the information be noted

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

Councillor Wallace moved the following motion:

“This Council calls on the Chief Executive to produce and bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, a briefing for members on the financial implications to Gateshead Council of the decision to be a Non-Consenting Authority and to withdraw from the North East devolution settlement.  This Council also calls on the Chief Executive to arrange a meeting of the Corporate Resources Advisory Group so that all members can discuss the contents of the briefing.”

Councillor M Gannon moved the following amendment:

Delete all after “This council” to “North East devolution settlement” and insert...

“notes that it agreed to the October 2015 “Devolution Agreement” on the understanding that government would provide a fair funding settlement to north east councils. The council therefore calls on the Chief Executive to produce and bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, a briefing for members on the fairness or otherwise of the 2016/17 settlement both for Gateshead and the 7 NECA authorities. The report should include analysis for the cumulative impact of any unfairness across the period 2010 to 2017”

On the amendment being put it was declared to be carried.

The amendment was put as the substantive motion and duly carried.

COUNCIL RESOLVED –

“This Council notes that it agreed to the October 2015 “Devolution Agreement” on the understanding that government would provide a fair funding settlement to north east councils. The council therefore calls on the Chief Executive to produce and bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, a briefing for members on the fairness or otherwise of the 2016/17 settlement both for Gateshead and the 7 NECA authorities. The report should include analysis for the cumulative impact of any unfairness across the period 2010 to 2017 North East devolution settlement.  This Council also calls on the Chief Executive to arrange a meeting of the Corporate Resources Advisory Group so that all members can discuss the contents of the briefing.”

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

There were no questions received.