Agenda and minutes

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the deaths of former Councillor and Alderman David Lynn, and Alderwoman Christine Bradley.

David Lynn was a councillor in the Winlaton ward from 1998 – 2004, and then was elected to the Winlaton and High Spen ward in 2004, where he served until his retirement in 2008.

During this time, he was Mayor of Gateshead from 2003-2004 and 2007-2008 and was also Deputy Mayor from 2000 – 2001.

Following his retirement from the Council, David was made an Honorary Alderman in 2008.

Christine Bradley was elected to the Lamesley ward in 2007 and served for 12 years until her retirement in 2019.  She was made an Honorary Alderwoman in 2023.

The Council held one minute silence in their honour.

The Mayor announced that within the King’s New Years Honours List 2025 the following people were recognised who live and work within the Borough;

• Joanne Smith MBE (Chief Executive, Fighting All Cancers Together) – for services to people affected by cancer in the North East of England
• Caroline O’Neill OBE (Children’s Improvement Adviser, Local Government Association) – for services to Education
• Sarah Green OBE (Chief Executive, NewcastleGateshead Initiative) – for services to Tourism
• Ian Thomas MBE (Director, NewcastleGateshead Initiative) – for services to Tourism

Council received a presentation from Poppy Orton on Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic.

Council received a presentation from Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health, in relation to the Director of Public Health Report 2024.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval that sets out a Statement of Principles for 2025-2028 in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:         

i.              That the adoption and publication of the Statement of Principles in accordance with the requirements of the Gambling Act 2005 be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of the variations to the 2024/25 Capital Programme

.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              That all the variations to the 2024/25 Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed.

ii.             That the financing of the revised programme be agreed.

iii.            To note that the capital expenditure and financing requirements are revised have been amended in line with the budgeted and none of the approved Prudential Indicators set for 2024/25 have not been breached.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval that the number of polling districts, existing district boundaries and the location of the polling places to remain unchanged.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              The proposal that there are no changes to polling district boundaries and the situation of polling places be adopted be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval for the Calendar of Meetings 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

COUNCIL RESOLVED:

i.              That the calendar of meetings 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

ii.             The principle that meetings should, as far as possible, not be held during school holidays or on dates where the holding of religious festivals may preclude attendance and involvement in meetings be agreed.

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.

Councillor Gary Haley moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor John Adams:

This council notes:

• Care experienced people face significant barriers that impact them throughout their lives; and despite their resilience, society too often does not take their needs into account;
• Care experienced people often face discrimination and stigma across housing, health, education, relationships, employment and in the criminal justice system; and may encounter inconsistent support in different geographical areas;
• As corporate parents, councillors have a collective responsibility for providing the best possible care and safeguarding for the children who are looked after by us as an authority; and we should all commit to acting as mentors, hearing the voices of looked after children and young people and to consider their needs in every aspect of council work;
• Councillors should be champions of the children in our care and challenge the negative attitudes and prejudice that exists in all aspects of society; acting according to the Public Sector Equality Duty which requires public bodies, such as councils, to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation of people with protected characteristics.

This Council therefore resolves: 

• To recognise that care experienced people are a group who are likely to face discrimination; and that Councils have a duty to put the needs of disadvantaged people at the heart of decision-making through co-production and collaboration.
• That future decisions, services and policies made and adopted by the Council should be assessed through Equality Impact Assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.

• That in the delivery of the Public Sector Equality Duty the Council includes care experience in the publication and review of Equality Objectives and the annual publication of information relating to people who share a protected characteristic in services and employment.
• That this Council will treat care experience as if it were a Protected Characteristic; and to formally call upon all other bodies to treat care experience as a protected characteristic until such time as it may be introduced by legislation.
• For the council to continue proactively seeking out and listening to the voices of care experienced people when developing new policies based on their views.
• To instruct Cabinet to consider the issues and to make a recommendation to Council accordingly.

The motion, on being put to the meeting was unanimously carried.

Councillor Keith Wood moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Martin Gannon:

This council wishes to place on record its thanks to members of the public who have made alternative travel arrangements which has helped to minimise traffic disruption due to the closure of Gateshead Central Highway (‘the flyover’).

This council would also like to place on record its appreciation to council officers who have managed the recent situation with the flyover, resulting in the closure of this major infrastructure route through Gateshead.

It is noted that officers acted swiftly, once they were informed of the immediate danger the continued use of the flyover would pose to the general public. That decision has meant we are tasked with finding a solution to the closure rather than dealing with a potential catastrophic disaster.

It is also noted that officers have carefully considered various scenarios to ensure that traffic flow is maintained and congestion kept to a minimum. It is further noted that communication with Council Members and the general public has been particularly important ensuring we have been kept up to date. Explaining clearly why some options were not part of the immediate solution.

While none of us would like to see any disruption on our travel network, we understand that safety to the travelling public is of paramount importance. To this end, as a council, we will continue to support officers and other agencies working with various partners, to ensure that future travel options through central Gateshead are planned with safety, the environment and the interest of the residents of Gateshead at the centre of any future development.

The motion, on being put to the meeting was unanimously carried.

Councillor Sonya Dickie moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Bill Dick:

The intimidation and abuse of elected members, in person or online, undermines democracy, preventing elected members from representing the communities they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election, and undermining public life in democratic processes and that prevention, support and response to abuse and intimidation of local politicians must improve to ensure elected members feel safe and able to continue representing their residents.

Gateshead Council acknowledges the Local Government Associations latest survey 2024 as part of its debate not hate campaign.

• 73% of elected members reported experiencing abuse or intimidation in the past 12 months.
• 49% of elected members reported that abuse and intimidation had increased in the past 12 months.
• 57% of elected members reported that their authority’s arrangements for protecting councillors were very or fairly effective.
• 23% of elected members had reported an incident of abuse or intimidation to the Police.
• 22% of elected members had experienced a threat of violence due to their role. 10% had experienced a threat of damage to their property and 5% had experienced actual damage to property.
• 19% of elected members had experienced abuse or intimidation relating to a protective characteristic.

This Council understands abuse and intimidation can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of our elected members and their families.

This Council further commits to challenge the normalisation of abuse and intimidation against elected members and Officers delivering public services and uphold exemplary standards of public and political debate in all it does.  To raise public awareness of the role of elected members in local communities, encourage healthy and respectful political debate as it is never acceptable for debate or disagreement to descend into abuse, intimidation, threats and violence of any description, whether in person or online, and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.

It is therefore recommended that Council:

• Sign up to the LGA Debate not Hate campaign, which aims to raise public awareness of the role of elected members in local communities, encourage healthy debate, and improve the response to and support those in public life facing abuse and intimidation.
• Ensure the Council provides training and reminders to elected members and Officers of the reporting process they can use to monitor and record incidents of harassment and abuse and intimidation.
• Regularly review the training and support available to elected members in relation to abuse and intimidation, online abuse and intimidation, safety, and health and wellbeing.
• Work with the local Police to ensure there is a clear and joined up mechanism in reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of elected members, officers and their families.
• Take a zero-tolerance policy approach to abuse and intimidation of elected members and Officers
• Take a zero-tolerance policy approach to bullying.

The motion, on being put to the meeting was unanimously carried.

Councillor Ron Beadle moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Marilynn Ord:

Council notes:

• From April 2025 National Insurance employer’s contributions (NICs) will rise by 1.2%
• From April 2025 the secondary threshold will be lowered meaning that employers will start to pay NICs on employees’ earnings from £5000 instead of the current £9100
• The Chancellor has recognised “there will be consequences” as a result of the Budget announcements regarding employer NICs
• Analysis from the Nuffield Trust shows that changes to employer NICs will cost the adult social care sector more than £900m next year.
• The same report shows the total burden on the 18,000 independent organisations providing adult social care in England will be £2.8billion in the next financial year
• In response to the Nuffield Trust’s analysis, the Local Government Association have stated that asked for “immediate adequate investment is needed in order to address unmet and under-met need and ensure timely access to social care for all who need it”

This Council believes that:

• Subjecting social care providers to higher taxes is counterproductive and will worsen the health and care crisis
• Social care services are provided by a range of organisations including hospices and the voluntary sector, and all but the very smallest will be hit by the employers’ NICs increase
• GP surgeries and many health and care providers will not be shielded from the full force of this tax increase and will have no choice but to cut services and staff numbers
• Ultimately, people in care will suffer the consequences of these employers’ NICs rises

This Council resolves to:

• Call on the Government to exempt social care providers from the increase in employers’ NICs
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Borough's MPs forwarding a copy of this motion and asking them to make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Councillor John Adams moved the following amendment.

Under ‘Council notes:’ add the following bullet points

• In the 2025/26 local government settlement, the government announced a substantial cash increase in local authorities’ core funding of £3.8 billion, a 6.3% increase. Further, the government have recognised the increased needs of urban and metropolitan authorities, which in Gateshead will result in an increase of 8%, assuming that council tax is raised in line with government expectation.

• The government have announced an extra £3.7 billion for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an extra £880m in the social care grant. This includes £4.7m more in Social Care support for Gateshead Council, which it is estimated will match the increase in cost of employer National Insurance increases in our commissioned services – although there remain many pressures on our services.

• The Chancellor has agreed to provide additional funding to local government, and the wider public sector, to cover the costs of employer National Insurance contribution increases for our staff

• Partners in the North East in the VCSE sector have calculated that the impact of the employer National Insurance increases and the reduction in the threshold, will increase costs  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL171