Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee received a report which notified Committee of the constitution of the Committee and the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair as agreed by Council for the 2018/19 municipal year.

RESOLVED    -           That the information presented within the report be noted.  

Report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received a report which set out the Role, Remit and Terms of Reference for the Committee.  The Committee has specific responsibility for performing the overview and scrutiny role in relation to:

·         Economic development

·         Lifelong learning

·         Culture, including leisure

·         Community safety

·         Housing

·         Physical Development and Regeneration

·         Transport, planning and public transport

·         Local Environment

·         Protection of the Environment

RESOLVED -           That the information contained within the report be noted.

Verbal update from TWAM Director Iain Watson

The Committee heard from Iain Watson, Director of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (TWAM).  TWAM is a major regional museum, art gallery and archives service.  They are supported by the five local authorities and Newcastle University.  TWAM is also a National Portfolio Organisation funded by Arts Council England.

The mission of the organisation is to help people determine their place in the world and define their identities, so enhancing their self-respect and their respect for others.

TWAM has just completed a phase of organisational change following a review of governance arrangements in 2012.  A new structure has been set up with the Strategic Board, Baroness Joyce Quinn is the Chair.  A Trading Company  has been established TWAM Enterprises, Geoff Hodgson is the Chair, with Councillor Angela Douglas being the Strategic Board representative.  This has been set up in order to maximise commercial income.  The company following set up TUPE transferred on 12 May employees from the operating side of the organisation, ie shops and catering.

TWAM looks after 3 Art Galleries, Laing, Hatton and The Shipley and are able to attract national artists.  The Shipley hosts a collection of Dutch Flemish from the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  They also have a superb collection of craft and design and is one of the top 4 exhibitions of craft and design.  The Shipley also has the Rothschild collection and the Liz Rothschild Bursary and Annual Lecture in November.

The Shipley also runs a programme of community activities including a family programme, work with Equal Arts and has groups of weavers, knitters and lacemakers.  The gallery also works closely with the library and with the Jewish Community.   This year they recorded 29,500 visits which represented a 12% increase on the previous year.  6000 school children have visited and there have been 32,000 web visits and 14,000 social media.

53% of visitors come with their children, 49% of which are from lower socio-economic groups. 

It has been found that people are 60% more likely to present in good health following experiences within the cultural programme.  TWAM works closely with the Baltic and Sage Gateshead and are involved in 10 Year Programme – City of Dreams which is aimed at improving life chances of children and young people.  Iain was proud to announce that Ian Renwick, Chief Executive of Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust was also a Strategic Board member which would provide positive links to the promotion of health and wellbeing.

The Committee thanked Iain for his attendance and useful information provided.

RESOLVED -  That the information contained within the update be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director, Communities & Environment

The Committee received the Council Plan, Year End Assessment of Performance and Delivery 2017/18 report.

The Committee were advised that for 11 indicators data was unavailable and will be reported at the six-monthly interval in 2018/19.  1 indicator has been deleted as data is no longer collected by ONS and DWP.

Some of the key achievements were highlighted to the Committee and included the following:

·         £2.1m of European funding was secured for the “Gateshead Goes Local” Community-Led Economic Development programme which aims to support 1700 local residents in the urban area of Gateshead, moving them closer to the labour market and into work and/or self-employment.

·         Development of the “Go Gateshead” brand, most notably the launch of the new website which has provided a more accessible platform for customers to access information

·         The Council recently enhanced is reporting function and enforcement response to fly-tipping, previously reports came in mainly by telephone, now the reporting mechanism and response is much more efficient and effective with reports being traiaged.

·         Work has commenced on the Council’s first commercial housing site with the development of 22 apartments at Woodhouse Mews.  Planning permission has also been granted for the next commercial development of 36 houses for sale at Valley View (the former Lyndhurst Schoo).

·         Since the implementation of the Volunteers Plan in 2013, the number of registered volunteers has increased, there are now over 1500 volunteers and over 200 volunteer roles.

The following areas have been identified for improvement:

·         In 2018/19 the Council will scale-up its approached to targeted recruitment and training in order to maximised the take-up of job vacancies arising through inward investment and regeneration projects over the next five years.

·         A management options appraisal for the Gateshead International Stadium is underway and a Health Equality Audit for the Go Gateshead Sport and Leisure Service will be concluded in 2018/19, findings from both will be reported in late 2018.

·         In Development, Transport and Public Protection, processes are further being streamlined to quicken application and verification processes for parking and street works permits, with virtual permits being the long term aim,

·         The phased demolition of Clasper Village is now complete with the Council aim to deliver 184 homes that provide a positive social, environmental and economic return to Gateshead.

RESOLVED -              (i)         That the information contained within the report be   noted;

                                    (ii)        That the report be referred to Cabinet on 17 July for                                                 their consideration.

Report of the the Director of Development, Transport and Public Protection

The Committee received the final report on the outcome form the Review of the Role of Council and its Partners with regards to Roads and Highways.

The Aims of the Review was focussed on gathering evidence in four main areas:

·         Funding and repairs

·         Traffic congestion

·         Enforcement; and

·         Road Safety

Vision 2030 set out the 6 big ideas for Gateshead, transport related closely to the themes of “City of Gateshead”, “Sustainable Gateshead” and “Active and Healthy Gateshead”.  The Tyne and Wear Local Transport Plan which sets out the transport policy framework for Gateshead, identifies three main challenges for the transport network.

·         Supporting economic development and regeneration

·         Addressing climate change

·         Supporting safe and sustainable communities

Evidence sessions were undertaken in each of the four main areas identified as the aims of the review.  The following issues were identified:

Funding and Repairs – Available funding is not sufficient to maintain the highway, future actions include

·         A further annual OSC session to be arranged to review the position of annual spending on highway maintenance

·         Further work will be undertaken to improve the effectiveness of the Highway Asset Management Plan and attract higher levels of funding from government

·         Members briefing to be circulated providing details of how members can keep up to date about roadworks in the borough

·         Investigate improved ways of keeping ward members updated as to progress on transport and highway issues in the ward

Traffic Congestion – as with many urban areas traffic congestion is a significant problem, with various economic , social and environmental consequences.  Future actions include:

·         Encouraging the use of sustainable forms of transport in Gateshead

·         Ensure background studies are done to inform future bids for Government Funding

Enforcement – effective parking management and enforcement contributes to a number of wider objectives, including congestion, safety, air quality, accessibility and fairness.  Future actions include:

·         Progressing plans to introduce bus lane enforcement.  This will help target specific problem areas identified by residents and the Police.

·         Target areas suffering the worst parking problems and investigate schemes that will address the issues and enable enforcement to take place

·         Investigate the options available to the police and Council to enforce pavement parking

·         Investigate the options available to the Council and Police to take action against unsafe parking near schools.

Road Safety – Information on trends in road safety and the benefits of better safety was noted in relation to

·         Lives saved and injuries prevented

·         People living full and healthy lives

·         Preventing emotional and physical trauma

·         Saving public money

·         Supporting wider policies

·         Tackling health inequalities

·         Improving quality of life

A presentation was received from the Police in relation to their road safety activity.  This highlighted the difficulties and concerns around enforcing speed limits particularly at night.  Whilst the good work done by the police was recognised it was also identified that more could be done, further actions include:

·         Investigate opportunities to liaise with the police over deployment of resources for speed enforcement

·         Investigate opportunities to work with the police on road safety education

·         Consider the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CPL6

Joint report of the Strategic Director, Communities & Environment and the Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing & Learning

The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that the focus of its review for 2018/19 will be looking at how to address skills shortages and increase employment opportunities.

The review will explore Gateshead’s existing skills and employment profile and examine how skills shortages are being addressed, both now and in the future, as well as how employment opportunities are being maximised for local people.

The review aims to examine the existing approach to tackling skills shortages and maximising the take-up of local employment opportunities with appropriately skilled individuals from the resident workforce.

Meeting the skills and employment needs of disadvantaged residents and those under-represented in the labour market is an important thread through the whole review, eg action to improve outcomes for Looked After Children and those with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities.

Potential Areas of Focus include:

·         Educational Attainment – improving the performance of young people in early years and at school (up to Key Stage 4).

·         Post-16 Education and Training – the opportunities for post-16 learners both in full-time education and work-based settings

·         Workforce Development – training and progression for those in-work

·         Skills support for the Unemployed – addressing skills requirements for the unemployed and economically inactive

·         Increasing Employment Opportunities for Local People – maximising the take-up of local jobs by unemployed and under-employed residents

It is proposed that officers and representatives from partner organisations involved in education, skills and employment support provision and employers.  It is envisaged that this could include, subject to confirmation:

·         Gateshead Council – Early Help, Learning and Schools, Economic Development

·         Local College, eg Gateshead College and Newcastle College

·         Independent Training Providers – private and employer owned

·         Northumbria University

·         Gateshead Businesses and Employers

·         Jobcentre Plus

·         Independent Employment Support Providers

The following sessions are proposed for the Committee to undertake evidence gathering sessions.

·         17 September – Educational Attainment

·         29 October – Post – 16 Education and Training

·         10 December – Workforce Development

·         28 January – Skills support for the unemployed

·         11 March – increasing employment opportunities for local people

Officers will then prepare a report based on the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to bring back for Committee approval.

RESOLVED - That the scope, process and timescales as set out be agreed.

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