Agenda and minutes

COUNCIL RESOLVED -        That the minutes of the last ordinary meeting of the Council held on 24 May 2018 be approved as a correct record.

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

The Mayor announced that Harvest and Help which is a gardening and grounds maintenance user led enterprise run by people with learning disabilities and autism had won the ‘Making A Difference’ award at the 2018 National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards in Birmingham in June.  The judges distinguished the enterprise from other finalists by stating it “is an innovative service within the community that makes a difference to the lives of many.  Passionate and unassuming, the service is led from the front with drive and enthusiasm.”

The Mayor presented the group with their award.

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Councillor P McNally submitted a petition from the residents of Victoria Avenue requesting traffic calming measures in their street.

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

There were no questions submitted by members of the public

Consideration was given to a report on the Council’s outturn position for the financial year 2017/18 prior to audit, and also appropriations to and from reserves

COUNCIL RESOLVED – (i)   That the 2017/18 revenue outturn position of the Council as an underspend of £1.268m, subject to audit, be noted.

                                           (ii)  That the appropriations to and from reserves outlined in the report be approved.

Consideration was given to a report on the 2017/18 capital programme and the impact of CIPFA’s Prudential Code on the programme as well as the monitoring of performance against the statutory Prudential Indicators.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -      (i)      That all variations to the 2017/18 capital programme be approved.

                                              (ii)     That the financing of the 2017/18 capital programme be approved.

                                              (iii)     That the capital expenditure and capital funding requirement indicators have been revised in line with the revised budget and that none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2017/18 have been breached.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Treasury Annual Report for 2017/18

COUNCIL RESOLVED -        That the Treasury Annual Report for 2017/18 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Children and Young People in Care and Care Leavers Strategy 2018-2023.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -        That the Children and Young People in Care and Care Leavers Strategy 2018-2023 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2023/24.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the Medium Term Financial

Strategy for 2019/20 to 2023/24 be approved.

                                                            (ii)        That the outcome of the review to both

general fund and strategic earmarked Council reserves be noted.

(iii)       That it be noted that the Strategic Director, Corporate

Resources, following consultation with the Chief Executive, will continue to produce and monitor on an annual basis, a rolling programme of five-year budget forecasts whilst taking into account the key issues facing the Council.

(iv)       That it be noted that the Strategic Director, Corporate

Resources, following consultation with the Chief Executive, will continue to keep under review and update the Medium Term Financial Strategy as appropriate to respond to Government policy and funding announcements.

Consideration was given to a report on the latest position on the 2018/19 capital programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the first quarter to 30 June 2018.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That all variations to the 2018/19 Capital

Programme be approved as the revised programme.

                                                            (ii)        That financing of the revised programme

be approved.

                                                            (iii)       That it be confirmed 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 2018/19 have been breached.

Consideration was given to a report on the latest position on the 2018/19 revenue budget at the end of the first quarter to 30 June 2018 and seeking  approval of a revision to the net revenue budget for 2018/19.

COUNCIL RESOLVED          -           (i)         That the revenue expenditure position at

30 June 2018 be noted.

                                                            (ii)        That the administrative virements

outlined in the report be approved.

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)

Notice of Motion – Voter Identification Pilot: Local Elections 2018

Councillor L Caffrey moved the following motion:

“Council notes that in the 2018 local elections the Government piloted a voter identification programme in five areas of England, requiring electors to supply a piece of photographic evidence to prove their identity to be allowed to vote at polling stations. The Electoral Reform Society estimated that up to 3,981 people could have been turned away across the five pilot areas.

If rolled out across the country, this requirement would be a disproportionate response to the small number of cases of electoral fraud in England. It would significantly inconvenience law abiding electors and prevent those unable to provide the relevant documentation from voting, further disenfranchising poorer voters who do not own photo ID. Such a system would reduce civic participation, burden Councils with additional bureaucracy and would present operational problems for polling clerks.

Council resolves to ask Her Majesty’s Government to stop this unnecessary attack on the fundamental rights of UK citizens. On behalf of all electors in Gateshead, this Council calls upon the Returning Officer to make these concerns known to the Electoral Commission and our local Members of Parliament.”

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

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

There were no questions submitted.