Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED    -           The minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2018 be

agreed as a correct record subject to the following additions and amendments;

Minute CPL53 ‘OSC Review – The Council and Partner’s Approach to Roads and Highways – Evidence Gathering’ – paragraph 13 to include the wording:

“A presentation was delivered by Sgt Matt Sykes in the absence of Supt George Marratty…”

Final sentence in paragraph 18 to be amended to read:

“It was further noted that on Shibdon Road where an issue was highlighted it is not possible to park a police van due to the road layout”

The following wording to be added to the final paragraph:

“Committee expressed concerns that Inspector Sykes was not provided with sufficient information to answer the Committee’s questions”.

Report of Strategic Director Communities & Environment.

The Committee received the interim report from the review into the Council and Northumbria Police’s approach to roads and highways.

The previous evidence gathering sessions looked at a number of issues including; the overall approach to funding, traffic congestion, safety and parking enforcement and speed strategy. It was noted that Supt Marratty had been unable to attend the last evidence gathering session, however he will be invited to attend a future meeting to answer Committee’s questions.

A number of actions came out of the review, including a Seminar which will be arranged to look at funding and the issues of potholes and repairs across the Borough. In addition, a schedule for Councillors on parking enforcementis also being consideredand  would be piloted in the Chopwell ward. Consideration is also being given to whether casualty information held by insurance companies could be useful as a road safety tool. It was noted however that insurance companies are reluctant to release information although the information received from police data seems to be consistent and shows where issues are. 

During the review Committee queried Council employees driving fleet vehicles and whether there is anything preventing phone related activities whilst driving. It was confirmed that every driver is issued with a handbook detailing their responsibilities in this regard. The Committee’s comments with regards to 20 mph zones will be referenced within a revised speed strategy. Similarly the introduction of vehicle activated speed management signs will be addressed in the revised Speed Management Strategy document.  In terms of the success of the camera enforcement strategy, information will be reported in the near future. 

Following a request from Committee a freedom of information request has been made to the Magistrates Court to establish the number of convictions for speeding offences in Gateshead. It was also confirmed that, as a result of Committee’s concerns, bus lane layouts would be reviewed prior to the introduction of an enforcement regime.  It was noted that work is ongoing to publicise offences and convictions of those people found to physically or verbally abuse Civil Enforcement Officers.

The point was made that the presentation by Northumbria Police at the last meeting did not go far enough to answer the questions raised by the Committee as a more strategic overview of policies was required. Officers will liaise with Supt Marratty about attending a future meeting. It was also confirmed that officers are looking at the possibility of police attending annual ward transport meetings as well as attending to meet Councillors before council meetings.

It was agreed that the recommendations be amended slightly for the final report, in order to reflect the Committee’s views. It was also agreed that the final paragraph in the report be amended to read;

“OSC expressed serious concerns that management of speeding traffic, particularly during the hours of darkness, was inadequate and needed to be improved and Committee felt that this remained an outstanding issue that needed to be explored further. It is suggested that this should await Cabinet approval of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL58

Report of Strategic Director Corporate Resources.

Committee received a progress report on the future direction of the management of Go Gateshead Sport and Leisure service.

It was noted that the vision for the service was agreed by Cabinet in 2015 and it was agreed that the Council continue to provide Leisure Services in order to deliver additional income. It was reported that the benefits of an in-house model would enable the Council to focus leisure on the achievement of broader priorities such as health, wellbeing and inequality.

It was noted that since 2015, facilities have been transferred in order to generate income. A number of key income areas have been developed to ensure self-sufficiency, for example; aquatics, ensuring increased income generation through swimming lessons, increasing memberships through family and junior memberships. A big key income area is ‘Clip n Climb’, this is unique to the area and generates £300,000 per year income, in addition investment has been made into a soft play centre in the same hall as the clip n climb facility.

It was acknowledged that workforce is the key to success, as well as ensuring the retention of customers they speak to customers on a daily basis, therefore ideas from the workforce are taken on board. There has been a focus on bringing in skills, for example through a marketing manager, a dedicated operations team, improved development and training and engagement.  A pay and reward scheme has been implemented to incentivise staff through an employee of the month award. A market supplement of 15% has been provided for swimming teachers because this will further improve income generation.

The Market Development Manager has worked on the branding of ‘Go Gateshead’ to make it recognisable and more prominent on digital platforms. The website has seen the biggest change, this is scheduled to go live on Wednesday at 10am. The new website will not look like the Council’s website and has been developed in line with how people access information. The key function of the website will allow an online booking facility for Clip n Climb which will increase bookings, this will in time expand across the whole service.

It was reported that each Centre has a business plan so that employees can understand the targets. This engages employees and shows how they fit in and what can be expected from staff. Staff are also spoken to on a monthly basis so that they understand how their centre has performed.

It was confirmed that through developing the workforce will help increase the number of people through the doors, building blocks for this are in place.

It was reported that FMG have been commissioned to review the management options for Gateshead Stadium, the initial report will be fed back to Councillors in the near future. It was confirmed that 26 organisations were consulted during the review as well as user groups of the facility.

Committee felt it was beneficial to have a stand alone website in terms of trading opportunities. It was questioned whether there are any staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL59

Report of Strategic Director Communities & Environment.

An annual report was presented on the implementation of the duties and responsibilities of Gateshead Council as lead local flood authority.

It was noted that so far there have been no problems in terms of flooding due to the bad weather, although there are risks due to the ground being saturated.

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That Committee noted the statutory responsibilities of

Gateshead Council for local FRM and the measures taken to comply with those duties.

                                    (ii)        That the Committee agreed to receive an annual

progress report in March 2019.

Joint report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance.

The Committee received a report on the provisional annual work programme and agreed that further reports will be brought to future meetings to highlight current issues / identify any changes / additions to the programme.

It was noted that an annual update on the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums Service and Beamish Museum has been added to the work programme for April 2018.

RESOLVED    -           (i)         Committee noted the provisional programme.

                                    (ii)        Committee noted that further reports on the work

programme will be brought to the Committee to identify any additional policy issues, which the Committee may be asked to consider.