Agenda and minutes

A minute’s silence was observed in respect of the passing of Councillor Bill Caithness and Councillor Paul Richardson who had sadly passed away since the last meeting of council.

Five valid questions have been received from members of the public for this meeting.

1.                   Question to the Elected Mayor from Mr Latham of Whitley Bay

I am writing to hopefully receive an update on the Murton Gap project. I am a local Monkseaton resident renting and wanting to buy my first home in the area I call home near my children’s school. Murton Gap fits this bill. 

The Robinson Fields development is well underway however there has been no update in some time on the houses to be built by other developers and when we can expect to see some serious progress on building these homes? 

Councillor C Johnson replied on behalf of the Elected Mayor as follows:

Following the allocation of land at Murton for housing in the Local Plan (2017) I am very pleased that Story Homes are making good progress with the delivery of the first 300 new homes, including 78 affordable homes, at Robinson Fields. I do recognise the Local Plan makes provision for around 3000 new homes at Murton and I appreciate residents are keen to understand when the remaining homes may be delivered.

I can confirm that a planning application was submitted by Persimmon Homes for 2700 homes in February 2023 and this remains under consideration. You will appreciate the role of the Authority as Local Planning Authority is a statutory one over which we have no control as Elected Members. Planning officers are working hard to ensure the proposed development is compliant with the Master Plan adopted in 2017 and that the development responds to relevant planning issues raised by statutory and local consultees and residents to ensure that it is of the quality expected. There are a range of issues to balance in terms of design, environmental impact, highway and public transport impacts and development viability, among others. Once planners are ready to prepare a comprehensive report and recommendation, the application will be presented to the Authority’s Planning Committee for determination.

2.                 Question to the Elected Mayor from Ms Bowen of Whitley Bay

From a local resident concerned about Health and Climate Change.

Even if we stopped all fossil fuel usage today, the UK's food emissions alone would exceed the 1.5 degrees limit set by the Paris Agreement. Food accounts for ? of greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of which comes from meat and dairy. A 2023 Oxford University analysis found that plant-based diets resulted in 75% less greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and land use.

Our food systems are incredibly inefficient. 83% of farmland worldwide is used to farm animals but it only supplies 18% of global calories. Transitioning to plant-based diets would create an opportunity to return three quarters of agricultural land to nature. Tragically, Britain has lost more of its natural biodiversity than almost anywhere else in Western Europe. 

Furthermore, a study last year by the Office of Health Economics found that just removing meat from weekday lunches alone could prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of heart disease. And increasing plant-based options can help us all eat more fruit and vegetables. In  ...  view the full minutes text for item C19/24

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation from the requirement to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

Councillor A Newman declared a personal interest in Item 5 Motion 1 as his children attended a school in question and indicated that he would leave the meeting during consideration of this item.

It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2024 be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Five valid Motions on Notice, signed by at least three Members of the Council, have been received for consideration at this meeting.

(Councillor A Newman left the room.)

(During the discussion of this Motion, Councillor Bones moved a Motion without Notice, seconded by Councillor J Bartoli, for members to briefly adjourn so that an issue in the public gallery could be resolved.  The meeting was adjourned for 13 minutes.)

It was moved by Councillor L Bones, and seconded by Councillor D Lilly that:

Council notes with concern the news of structural issues unrelated to RAAC at four local schools, and specifically the significant financial impact this issue will have on the Council’s budget without central government support.

Council wishes to express its gratitude to Council officers who have reacted quickly and worked diligently to ensure disruption to teaching has been minimised.

Council asks the Mayor to write to the new Secretary of State for Education, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the issue and explore how funding from central government can be secured to address these structural problems.

Council asks the Mayor to ensure that the cabinet member provides an update report on the situation and financial implications at each meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordination & Finance Committee until these issues are fully resolved.

An amendment was moved by Councillor S Phillips and seconded by Councillor C Johnson as follows:

·         Alter the second paragraph insert:

‘Council thanks the Mayor and Cabinet for acting swiftly to ensure children returned to face-to-face education as swiftly as possible.  Council is disappointed to note that the previous Conservative led Government consistently refused to provide both temporary funding and commitments to the long-term solution.’

·         In the third paragraph, replace ‘Council asks the Mayor to write’ with ‘Council notes the mayor has already written’.

The amended Motion therefore read:

Council notes with concern the news of structural issues unrelated to RAAC at four local schools, and specifically the significant financial impact this issue will have on the Council’s budget without central government support. Council wishes to express its gratitude to Council officers who have reacted quickly and worked diligently to ensure disruption to teaching has been minimised.

Council thanks the Mayor and Cabinet for acting swiftly to ensure children returned to face-to-face education as swiftly as possible.

Council is disappointed to note that the previous Conservative led Government consistently refused to provide both temporary funding and commitments to the long-term solution.

Council notes the Mayor has already written to the new Secretary of State for Education, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the issue and explore how funding from central government can be secured to address these structural problems.

Council asks the Mayor to ensure that the cabinet member provides an update report on the situation and financial implications at each meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordination & Finance Committee until these issues are fully resolved.

Votes for the Amendment:

Councillors Linda Bell, Louise Bell, P Bunyan, B Burdis, B Clark, K Clark, S Cox, J Cruddas, E Darke, L Darke, J Day, D Drummond, P Earley, S Graham, C Gray, I Grayson, T Hallway, J Harrison, A Holdsworth,  ...  view the full minutes text for item C22/24

It was moved by Councillor L Bartoli, and seconded by Councillor I McAlpine that:

This Council notes with concern:

1. The recent evidence from London regarding the safety risks associated with floating bus stops, as reported by BBC News and the Evening Standard. Advocacy groups, including Age UK London and Disability Rights UK, have highlighted incidents where pedestrians, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, have been endangered by these designs. Safety concerns from other areas where floating bus stops have been implemented suggest a need for caution. It is imperative to ensure that such designs do not compromise the safety of our most vulnerable residents.

2. The installation of a floating bus stop in Tynemouth as part of the new cycle path initiative by the Labour-run North Tyneside Council. Given the concerns raised in other areas, it is crucial to assess the local impact thoroughly before proceeding with similar infrastructure.

3. There have also been several reports of near misses with cyclists at the newly designed junction at the top of the South Ramp to Longsands, video footage of which has been provided to officers. 

This Council requests:

1. That the Mayor asks officers to look at the possibility of one of the mobile CCTV cameras which the Council already owns being relocated to the site of the new floating bus stop in Tynemouth to monitor its impact on pedestrians, cyclists, and overall safety. 

2. That the Mayor asks officers to conduct a review of the junction at the top of the South Ramp to Longsands which has already seen several near misses with cyclists and cars. Once the review is complete Council asks the Cabinet member to provide a report to the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordination & Finance Committee.

3. That local groups, including those representing blind and visually impaired residents, be contacted for their comments and feedback on the new bus stop design. Feedback from affected local groups will provide valuable data to make informed decisions regarding future infrastructure projects.

4. That no further floating bus stops of this type be constructed until a comprehensive assessment of the current installation's impact is completed, with all findings presented to the Council for review. This ensures a cautious and well-informed approach to public transport infrastructure development, prioritising the safety and well-being of all residents.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor H Johnson and seconded by Councillor S Graham:

·         To remove everything from ‘with concern’ up to and including ‘vulnerable residents’ from the first paragraph.

·         To remove all of Point 2.

·         To insert ‘current installation's and all legacy floating bus stops in the area’ into the first sentence of Request 4 before the word ‘impact’, and to insert the word ‘Cabinet’ into that same sentence after ‘presented to…’.

The amended Motion therefore read:

Council notes:

1. Recent reports from advocacy groups including Age Uk and Disability Rights UK as well as a report from Transport for London, indicate careful attention needs to be paid while installing floating bus stops to ensure the safety of our most  ...  view the full minutes text for item C23/24

It was moved by Councillor L Bones, and seconded by Councillor I McAlpine that:

Council Notes:

·       During the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Tyneside Recycling Centre transitioned to an appointment-based system to reduce busy periods and mitigate the spread of the virus.
This system remains in place despite calls from some residents to revert to a first-come, first-serve basis.

Council Believes:

·      Restricting access to the recycling centre and making it less convenient for some residents may increase fly-tipping rates as residents struggle to secure appointments.

·      The appointment system has been beneficial for some residents, providing a more predictable and orderly process.

·      However, there is a significant portion of residents that find the appointment system restrictive and inconvenient.

Council Requests:

1.      The Mayor to work with officers to establish a hybrid system that incorporates appointments during peak hours (e.g., mornings) and a first-come, first-serve basis during off-peak hours (e.g., afternoons and weekends). This approach aims to improve accessibility for all residents and reduce fly-tipping across the borough.

2.   The Mayor to explore potential funding streams for additional mobile CCTV units to be deployed at fly-tipping hotspots throughout the borough.

3.   The Mayor looks at the feasibility of beginning negotiations with Newcastle City Council to give residents in the North West of North Tyneside access to Brunswick Household Waste site. Council believes this will be more convenient for residents and reduce carbon emissions by reducing the distance residents have to travel.  

4.   The Mayor to report back to the Council within six months on the implementation progress and effectiveness of the hybrid system and progress on securing funding for new CCTV units. 

Votes for the Motion:

Councillors J Bartoli, L Bartoli, L Bones, J Johnsson, D Lilly, I McAlpine, O Scargill, J Wallace.

Votes against the Motion:

Councillors Linda Bell, Louise Bell, P Bunyan, B Burdis, B Clark, K Clark, S Cox, J Cruddas, E Darke, L Darke, J Day, D Drummond, P Earley, S Graham, C Gray, I Grayson, T Hallway, J Harrison, A Holdsworth, C Johnson, H Johnson, F Lott, W Lott, L Marshall, A McMullen, J Montague, J Mudzingwa, T Mulvenna, M Murphy, T Neira, A Newman, K Nott, P Oliver, R O’Keefe, J O'Shea, S Phillips, B Pickard, N Redfearn, W Samuel, O Scargill, J Sharp, J Shaw, A Spowart, M Thirlaway, J Walker, J Webster.

The Motion was rejected by 46 votes to 8.

It was moved by Councillor Dr O Scargill, and seconded by Councillor J Bartoli McAlpine that:

Forsyth Street is an unadopted road in New York, North Tyneside. It is a small street, just 84 metres long, but is in a worse condition than perhaps any road in North Tyneside. The Council have also installed warning signs to indicate how dangerous this road is.  Instead of resurfacing roads in our estates, the Council chose to resurface the road in the Tyne Tunnel trading estate that cars cannot use. They’ve also refused to open this road up to cars to ease congestion.

Council asks the Mayor to look at possible ways to secure the full resurfacing of Forsyth Street by the end of 2024.

Council also asks the Mayor to work with the Highways team to look at opening High Flatworth to all motorists by the end of 2024 to alleviate congestion.

Votes for the Motion:

Councillors J Bartoli, L Bartoli, L Bones, J Johnsson, D Lilly, I McAlpine, O Scargill.

Votes against the Motion:

Councillors Linda Bell, Louise Bell, P Bunyan, B Burdis, B Clark, K Clark, S Cox, J Cruddas, E Darke, L Darke, J Day, D Drummond, P Earley, S Graham, C Gray, I Grayson, T Hallway, J Harrison, A Holdsworth, C Johnson, H Johnson, F Lott, W Lott, L Marshall, A McMullen, J Montague, J Mudzingwa, T Mulvenna, M Murphy, T Neira, A Newman, K Nott, P Oliver, R O’Keefe, J O'Shea, S Phillips, B Pickard, N Redfearn, W Samuel, O Scargill, J Sharp, J Shaw, A Spowart, M Thirlaway, J Walker, J Webster.

The Motion was rejected by 46 votes to 7, with 1 abstention.

It was moved by Councillor L Bartoli, and seconded by Councillor Dr O Scargill that:

This Council notes with concern the recent low ranking in the financial section of the Office for Local Government (Oflog) report, which placed North Tyneside at 302nd out of 317 councils in finance and 235th overall as reported in the Times on 30 April 2024. As representatives of our community, it is imperative that we ensure transparency and financial robustness to maintain the trust and confidence of our residents.

Ministers set up Oflog last summer to provide “authoritative and accessible” performance data to support improvement in local government. Oflog measures councils across 27 categories in five main areas: waste management, corporate and finance, adult social care, planning, and roads. 

Therefore, this Council resolves to request a report from the S.151 Officer addressing the following points:

• An analysis of the reasons behind North Tyneside’s low financial ranking in the recent Oflog report, including a comparison with similarly sized councils and identification of specific areas where our financial performance falls short. 
• An outline of the current measures in place to ensure the financial stability and sustainability of North Tyneside Council, as well as the steps being taken to improve financial management and efficiency within the council’s operations. 
• An assessment of potential financial risks and how they are being mitigated, alongside long-term financial strategies and plans to prevent future declines in financial performance.
• Information on any external support or audits the council is receiving or planning to ensure financial best practices, along with outcomes of recent audits and steps taken in response to audit recommendations, should be included.

The requested report should be presented at the next Council meeting for questions and discussion.

The low financial ranking has raised concerns among residents and councillors about the financial health of North Tyneside Council. This report will provide a clear understanding of the underlying issues, highlight the steps being taken to address them, and ensure that the Council is on a path to financial robustness and stability.

By approving this motion, North Tyneside Council demonstrates its commitment to transparency, financial responsibility, and the wellbeing of its residents. We must work collectively to address the challenges and reassure our community of our financial health and stability. 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor A McMullen and seconded by Councillor C Johnson:

To remove the phrase ‘with concern’ from the first paragraph.

To remove the second paragraph completely.

To add the following after the first paragraph

‘Council notes the conservative leader of Northumberland County council has recently said the OFLOG league table was fundamentally flawed and every political group at the Local Government Association recently criticised the methodology and the indicators used in the rankings.

Council notes the biggest factor in the financial sustainability of the council is the £470m we have had removed from our budget since 2013 by the previous Conservative Government.

Council notes the Mayor and Labour group have never hidden away from taking the difficult decisions to ensure the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C26/24

To receive any announcements by the Chair of Council.

The Chair made the following announcements:

The Chair discussed his previous invitation to Group leaders and Councillor Wallace, to meet and discuss behaviour in future Council meetings.  He was pleased to announce that the meeting had been a success and very productive, and future meetings would be taking place.  Both this and future Council agendas would be including Guidance Notes on Rules of procedure for reference.

Since the last meeting he had attended several events and presentations in the borough, including North Tyneside’s 2 Matters (a nursery training provision) and noted that he was inspired and pleased at the level of the training and interest in such programmes in North Tyneside.

To receive any announcements by the Elected Mayor.

The Mayor highlighted that the North Shields Transport Hub had recently won a Low Carbon Project of the Year award, and thanked officers for their input and support. The Hub has also been shortlisted for two more awards, which will be announced in September.

The Council was also recognised for Affordable Housing developments with the Residential Project of the Year Award for Falmouth Close in North Shields and an Innovation In Housing Award for Bellshill Close in Wallsend.

Three valid questions on notice have been received for a response at this meeting.

1.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor A Newman

Would the Elected Mayor give us an update on the progress made with the veterans walk way which is planned to be installed near Spanish City in Whitley Bay?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

The Authority has been working closely with the National Veteran Walk charity to secure the installation of a veteran’s walkway around the Cenotaph at the Links, in Whitley Bay.

We have assisted with the design of the walkway, and we are now working with the Charity to promote the walkway which will be a lasting tribute to proud service.

Orders are now being taken for the granite plaques, as a lasting tribute to proud service.

The names of those dedicated are also added to the National Veterans’ Walk Roll of Honour.  It will be a wonderful tribute, not only to those servicemen and women who have passed away, but to military personnel who continue to sacrifice so much for their country.

2.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor M Thirlaway

Would the Elected Mayor tell us how much funding North Tyneside Council has lost, since she was first elected in 2013, due to cuts to local government imposed on us by the Conservative Party while in power?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

Given changes in the way funding has been provided to local government over the past decade it is hard to give an exact figure, but hopefully I can give a flavour of the changes that have been experienced by the Council.

In 2013, the Authority had a revenue budget of £177m, compared to £196m in 2024. However, in 2024 prices, the 2013 budget would have been over £240m representing a reduction of £44m in the current financial year alone – and that is before the increased demands on council services.

Over that period, the sector has seen a shift towards funding coming from local sources, notably through council tax.  Since 2013, following Government assumptions, the amount of our overall funding that comes from council tax has increased from 40% to 64% in 2024.

The main source of funding from central Government is Revenue Support Grant (RSG), which has reduced from £63m in 2013 to £14m in 2024, a reduction of £49m or 78%.  Had the 2013 levels of RSG been maintained at the same level in cash terms, the Authority would have received an additional £470m of central Government funding over the period since 2013.

3.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor C Johnson

North Tyneside Council has a proud track record of supporting our armed forces and veterans. Some local authorities take into account military compensation payments when working out benefit entitlement.  Would the Elected Mayor confirm what the position is in North Tyneside?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

The Council is very proud of our track record in supporting our armed forces and veterans.  In regard to benefit entitlements the government makes provision for the first £10.00  ...  view the full minutes text for item C29/24