Agenda and minutes

COUNCIL RESOLVED -       That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 17 December 2015 be approved

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

New Year’s Honours 2016

The Mayor announced that within the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2016, people that live and work within the borough were recognised:

Stephen Miller, an Honorary Freeman of the Borough, was awarded an MBE for services to sport

Ian Dormer, Managing Director of ROSH Engineering based in Birtley, was awarded a CBE for services to business, particularly in the North East

Sarah Stewart, the Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative was awarded an OBE for services to the economy in the North East

Godfrey Worsdale, former director at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, was awarded an MBE for services to visual arts in the North East

Janice Pallas, a resident from Ryton, was awarded an OBE for charitable services to children and families.

(to receive petitions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 10)

Council are in receipt of a qualifying petition requiring a debate

(A)

The Council received a qualifying petition, requiring a debate, opposing the proposed closure of Grove House.

Melanie Cornwell, lead petitioner presented the reasons for the petition.

Councillor A Douglas, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People outlined the

Council’s position in relation to this matter and recommended that the petition be

given full consideration as part of the consultation process during the preparation of

the Council’s budget.

COUNCIL RESOLVED –       That the petition be given full consideration during the preparation of the Council’s budget

(B)

Councillor P Foy submitted a petition on behalf of service users to stop the proposed closure of the Adult Disabled Services Marquis Way and Blaydon Lodge Respite.

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

Mr Paul Watson submitted the following question:

“Given that the Councils vision is ‘for families with disabled children to have the support they need to live ordinary lives as a matter of course’ please could the Council tell me why they define ‘ordinary lives’ as requiring treatment for exhaustion from meeting the high care needs of their disabled children.”

Councillor A Douglas, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People responded to the question.

Mr Watson asked a supplementary question and he was informed that a written response would be provided.

Carole Wood, Director of Public Health, gave a presentation outlining the Annual Report for 2014/15.

Consideration was given to a report that informed of the latest position on the 2015/16 capital programme and Prudential Indicators at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2015.  The report also informed of reasons for variances from the approved programme and detailed the proposed financing of the capital programme.

COUNCIL RESOLVED –       i) That all variations to the 2015/16 Capital Programme, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be agreed as the revised programme

                                                ii) That the financing of the revised programme be approved

                                                iii) That the capital expenditure and capital financing requirement indicators be confirmed as being revised in line with the revised budget and that none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2015/16 have been breached.

Consideration was given to a report that informed of the latest monitoring position on the 2015/16 revenue budget at the end of the third quarter to 31 December 2015.  The report also included details of a revised net revenue budget that incorporates additional Public Health grant income, following the transfer of responsibility to the Council for the funding of public health services for children aged 0-5 years old.

COUNCIL RESOLVED -       i) That the Council’s revenue expenditure position at 31 December 2015 as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report be noted

                                                ii) That the revised net revenue budget for 2015/16 from £205.400m to £207.387m be approved to reflect the additional Public Health grant income following the transfer of responsibilities to the Council for the provision of public health service for children aged 0-5 years old.

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

COUNCIL RESOLVED – That the information be noted

Councillor P Mole moved the following motion:

“Council notes the upcoming referendum on our membership of the European Union, which will occur before 2017 but which could be as early as June 2016.

Council welcomes the benefits that Gateshead residents receive from UK membership of the European Union, in particular:

·         Job creation

·         Investment in the North East

·         Protecting consumer and workers’ rights

·         Supporting peace and security in Europe

·         Improvements to the environment

Council notes, with concern, the risks involved in leaving the European Union and the impact that leaving would have on jobs and investment, as well as social and consumer rights.

Council requests that the Chief Executive explores ways in which the Council, working with partners, can further promote European investment in local projects, organisations and businesses.”

Councillor R Beadle moved the following motion:

“Council requests the Chief Executive to investigate and report on the financial, operational and governance implications for the authority of:

(1) the replacement of three member wards by two member wards

(2) the replacement of election by thirds to all up elections every four years.”

The following amendment was submitted:

Delete all after ‘for the authority of’ and insert:

"a review of election arrangements. Such a review should be comprehensive and consider all options to reduce costs, including the number of councillors and the frequency of elections.”

The amendment was accepted by the mover of the original motion and therefore put as the substantive motion and duly carried.

COUNCIL RESOLVED –

“Council requests the Chief Executive to investigate and report on the financial, operational and governance implications for the authority of a review of election arrangements.  Such a review should be comprehensive and consider all options to reduce costs, including the number of councillors and the frequency of elections.”

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

There were no questions submitted.