Agenda and minutes

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

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

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

Councillor S Graham declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 12: North Tyneside Trading Company-Strategic Business Plan 2023-2027 (CAB11/23), as she was a Director of North Tyneside Trading Company Limited and its subsidiaries.

Councillor C Johnson declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 12: North Tyneside Trading Company-Strategic Business Plan 2023-2027 (CAB11/23), as he was a Director of North Tyneside Trading Company Limited and its subsidiaries.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 27 March 2023.

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 27 March 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive a verbal report on the latest activities of the Young Mayor and Young Cabinet.

The Young Mayor reported on the following activities in which he and Young Cabinet Members and/or Youth Councilors had been involved:

·        Many meetings covering a variety of subjects had taken place with Cabinet Members, North Tyneside Council’s officers and partners from VODA since the Young Mayor’s last update.

·        An allotment and small gardens event was being planned for the 27 June at The Quadrant with invitations to leads and caretakers from the secondary schools who were already registered with Eco Schools Award.  

·        The Young Mayor had attended Carbon Net Zero 2030 board meetings and had been impressed by how much was already being done in the borough.

·        The Young Mayor had been invited to the unveiling of the new plastic bottle bin which had been donated by The Green Seas Trust.

·        The Young Mayor had visited Shiremoor Adventure Playground, where he met with staff and young volunteers, and enjoyed a tour of the facilities, and he and the new Community Safety Committee planned to visit again.

·        In memory of Youth Councillor and SEND Youth Forum Member Daniel Taylor, the Youth Councillors had agreed that they would raise money for a local charity that was connected to Daniel’s pledge to have more accessible activities and places in North Tyneside.

·        Youth Councillors had chosen to fund raise for the Pathways 4 All charity over this year with funds raised being presented at the end of the Young Mayor and Member Youth Parliament term in March 2024, also working to discover from the young members at the project the sorts of barriers that prevented their participation.

·        Young People’s Conference had been a great success with over 120 participants from 10 schools across the borough, with games and workshops exploring what barriers young people had in accessing places and activities, feedback planned at The Quadrant on 8 Juned 2023.

The Elected Mayor thanked the Young Mayor for his update and all the young people for their involvement in the various projects.

To consider the proposed revised vehicle standards options of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy; and seek approval to commence a process of public consultation on the age standards for the licensed vehicles section.

Cabinet received a report on the proposals for the commencement of a public consultation exercise of part of the North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

This Policy sat as one of the policies under the North Tyneside Transport Strategy. It took into account the five principles of the Transport Strategy as well as the associated objectives in the Authority’s North Tyneside Local Plan and importantly all relevant statutory guidance.  

The current Policy was updated in May 2022, along with a set of objectives which included the promotion of environmental sustainability through the introduction of age standards for vehicles. To be introduced from 2024, the age standards establish an age requirement for new and renewal petrol and diesel vehicles.

In January 2023, Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council Clean Air Zone was introduced. This included charges for any vehicle that does not meet the national vehicle emission standards, including any vehicle licensed by this Authority. In addition, approaches had been made from members of the licensed trade requesting that the Authority revisit the age standards and replace them with a similar emission standard to that of the Clean Air Zone.  Due to this, it was considered prudent to test that this part of the Policy remained fit for purpose.

The North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

It was proposed that a period of engagement was undertaken on four options contained within paragraph 1.5.5 of the report. The 4-week consultation would include residents, local businesses, Elected Members, and members of the trade to seek their views on the four options which ranged from retaining current age standards to replacing them with emission standards of Euro 6 for petrol and diesel vehicles. At the conclusion of this engagement a further report would be provided to Cabinet for consideration. 

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to either to agree the recommendations as set out in section 1.2 of the report,or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations.

Resolved that (1) the Director of Public Health, be authorised to commence public consultation on the options for the standards of licensed vehicles that could be included within the North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy at Appendix 1 to this report; and

(2)a further report be received at the conclusion of the public consultation

process when Cabinet would be asked to consider and determine any amendments to the existing age standards of licensed vehicles section within the North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, or for the section to be replaced with different vehicle standards, having regard to the consultation responses.

(Reason for decision: To ensure that the Policy remains transparent, accountable, proportionate and consistent.)

To seek approval for the draft Better Care Fund Plan for 2023-25; and authorisation to enter into a partnership agreement under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006, following appropriate consultation.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the draft Better Care Fund Plan for 2023-2025; and authorisation to enter into a partnership agreement under Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 (“a section 75 Agreement”), following appropriate consultation.

The Authority was obliged by the “Better Care Fund planning requirements 2023-2025” published by NHS England as part of the Better Care Fund planning process to enter into a section 75 Agreement.  All such agreements nationally must be signed and in place by 31 October 2023.

The Authority must submit its Better Care Fund Plan (BCF Plan) to NHS England by the national deadline of 28 June 2023. The BCF Plan required spending on all funding elements of the Plan to be jointly agreed by the Authority and the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and for such funding to be a “pooled fund” and for the fund to be governed by a section 75 Agreement.

The deadlines published for the 2023-2025 planning round required this report to come to this Cabinet meeting, to allow for consideration by the Health and Wellbeing Board on 22 June, prior to submission of the planning documents on 28 June. The documents submitted to Cabinet remained draft at this stage and requests delegation for the Director of Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care, to agree further changes as discussions with the ICB continue.

The planning documentation and s75 agreement would cover a two-year period 2023-2025 however, not all of the financial allocations for 2024/25 had been confirmed. It was anticipated that a further return would be required confirming the schemes and financial values in that year.

The BCF funding that the Authority would receive was dependent on the Authority having submitted an acceptable plan and entered into a Section 75 Agreement.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: either to agree the recommendations as set out in section 1.2 of the report; or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations and propose an alternative approval mechanism to ensure that the BCF Plan can be submitted by 28 June 2023 and an Agreement under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 200 is entered into before 31 October 2023.

Resolved that (1) the draft Better Care Fund Plan 2023-2025 be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for further approval prior to submission to NHS England, be approved;

(2) the Director of Adults Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care, be authorised to agree further changes to the plans prior to submission to NHS England; and

(3) the Director of Adults Services, in consultation with the Director of Resources, Director of Commissioning and Asset Management, and Head of Law, be authorised to enter into an Agreement under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and to implement the financial and administrative arrangements for the Better Care Fund.

(Reason for decision: The continuation of the Better Care Fund presents an opportunity to take forward the principles  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB5/23

To seek approval to the commencement of a 4-week consultation exercise on the proposed extension of Public Spaces Protection Orders.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the commencement of a 4-week consultation exercise on the proposed extension of the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

North Tyneside Council was aware from its engagement work with residents, that they wanted the Authority to address environmental crime and deal with anti-social behaviour.

This was also a key priority for the Elected Mayor who had listened to residents and had supported the introduction of additional resources to tackle anti-social behaviour. This included an increase in the number of officers deployed to tackle anti-social behaviour issues, along with investment into the upgrade and expansion of the Authority’s CCTV capability, with over thirty cameras operating across the Borough.   This included three vehicles equipped with mobile camera units.

The Elected Mayor had also established an anti-social behaviour task force.  The task force met with partners including the police and fire service, to ensure there was a joined-up approach to tackling this important issue. 

In relation to Public Spaces Protection Orders, they were legal Orders that regulated the use of our public spaces across the Borough.  The Orders, referred to as PSPOs, were introduced in October 2017.  They controlled dogs and the consumption of alcohol.

When the PSPOs were made, they were to remain in force for a period of 3 years. The law prevented a longer period unless they were formally extended.  In September 2020, Cabinet approved the three-year extension of these Orders, which were now due to expire in October this year. 

It was therefore proposed that the Orders were extended by following the available legal process which included the need to undertake statutory consultation.  Following completion of the consultation exercise; the intention was to bring a report back to Cabinet so that an informed decision can be taken as to whether or not to extend the PSPOs.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: either to agree the recommendations as set out in section 1.2 of the report; or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations and instruct that an alternative approach was taken.

Resolved that (1)  the commencement of a 4-week consultation exercise on the proposed extension of the Public Space Protection Orders attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(2) the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, be authorised to take all appropriate steps to undertake the consultation exercise and any ancillary matters relating to it; and

(3) a further report be received by Cabinet following the conclusion of the consultation exercise to consider the consultation responses and to determine if there were reasonable grounds for the Public Spaces Protection Orders to be extended for a further period of 3 years.

(Reason for decision:  Section 1.5.4 of the report explains that the PSPOs in place within the Borough will expire on 19 October 2023.  If the PSPOs are not extended before their expiry they will cease to have effect resulting  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB6/23

To seek approval to the ‘Connecting Communities – A Strategy for Community Hubs and Libraries’ appended to the report.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the Authority’s new

‘Connecting Communities - A Strategy for Community Hubs and Libraries’

as appended to the report .

On 28 May 2019, Cabinet agreed to explore the Authority’s approach to Community Hubs as part of its Customer Service Programme. A further report was received on 22 February 2021, on the progress of the Customer Service Programme which had been significantly shaped by the Authority’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Authority’s Covid-19 Recovery Programme directly informed the Customer Service Programme priorities and approach.

At its meeting of 17 October 2022, Cabinet reviewed progress of the Customer Service Programme, including progress to develop a Community Hubs Strategy for the Borough.

Currently, there were four Customer First Centres located across the Borough, each featuring a library and customer service offer to residents. There were also two community centres situated in the northwest of the Borough (John Willie Sams and the Oxford Centre).  These two centres offered a range of services delivered by the Authority or by partners in the NHS and community and voluntary sector, to support residents to improve their health and wellbeing and access vital support to improve their lives.  A further eight branch libraries provided access to the library service in local areas across the whole of North Tyneside.  There was also a wealth of additional Authority, voluntary, healthcare and other partner providers already operating services in and around the localities served by Customer First Centres and Libraries.

The Authority appreciated that people and communities were using its buildings differently, impacted in part by the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing digital approaches to accessing services such as government welfare benefits. The Authority had seen a significant increase in people choosing to access information, advice and support online, however, it was not the experience of everyone; residents had told the Authority that buildings and face-to-face services were sometimes still needed and were important to them.

The Connecting Communities Strategy had been developed with the purpose of bringing a range of services together in one location. Essentially, a ‘one stop shop’ for finding out about or using a wide range of services.  These services would focus on promoting good health and wellbeing and strengthening community cohesion.

The Authority over the years, had been building and developing the social infrastructure required for the Connecting Communities Strategy. This included delivering town centre libraries as part of the four Customer First Centres, an extensive network of branch libraries, state of the art sport and leisure facilities, a vibrant cultural offer, investment in excellent parks and an ongoing commitment to the Borough’s public realm, which was part of the Ambition for North Tyneside agreed by Cabinet in 2018.

Strong partnerships such as those with the voluntary and community sector and NHS were mature and tested. In particular, working alongside the Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, to prioritise prevention and shift funding towards more preventative services, as well as delivering a proportionate universal offer for all residents.  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB7/23

To seek approval to create the A Cultural Plan for North Tyneside 2023-2030 as appended to the report.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to create a ‘A Cultural Plan for North Tyneside 2023-2030’ as appended to the report.

Following agreement with the Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure in September 2021, the process of initiating consultation on a cultural strategy for North Tyneside began in April 2022.  The agreed approach was that, while the Authority should take the initiative in providing a framework for the cultural offer, the active engagement of the wider public sector, private and voluntary sectors would also be vital.  The strategy would be one for the Borough, not just the Authority.

Iain Watson OBE (former Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums Director) and Catherine Hearne (formerly CEO Helix Arts and BBC Executive) were commissioned to undertake a process of consultation which would result in a boroughwide strategy and cultural partnership, consistent with the Arts Council England (ACE) guidance in their ten year plan Let’s Create (2020-2030), which emphasised the establishment of broad based cultural partnerships, in developing the cultural offer for the benefit of residents and the economy.

In the first phase of consultation a programme was mapped out to target all four quarters of North Tyneside and initially invite those working in, or closely with, the cultural sector to share their views on the way forward for culture in North Tyneside.  Four engagement sessions took place in April/May 2022 in North Shields, Longbenton, Wallsend and Whitley Bay and were limited to 20 participants per session.  In total 57 people participated in this phase of consultation.

Following the initial consultation, a number of gaps were identified in relation to ethnicity, age, disability and sexual identity, which were addressed through a series of bespoke sessions with representatives from those groups.  A bespoke session for library managers was arranged as well as a presentation to the Senior Management team in the Authority, through the Leadership Forum, and the wider Regeneration, Economic Development and Culture management team. 

Elected Members were engaged through the Culture and Leisure Sub Committee and briefings with the Elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor, as the relevant Cabinet Member.  Wider networks, including the Local Cultural Education Partnership and Culture Health and Wellbeing Network, had commented on emerging themes.  Individual conversations were also held with influential cultural leaders, who lived in the borough but were not necessarily active in its cultural networks, in order to generate both interest and engagement in cultural activity in North Tyneside.

Wider public consultation was key to the final phase of engagement around the strategy and a survey was widely disseminated to facilitated this.  In total 359 responses were received to the public survey, an analysis of which was provided as part of the report to Cabinet in November 2022.  Overall, responses identified a significant degree of engagement in cultural activity; a strong sense of the importance of culture in people’s lives; a significant sense that children and young people should have greater access to cultural activity; and a powerful sense that cultural activity makes North Tyneside a better place  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB8/23

To consider the progress made in delivering the Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan since November 2022; and to seek approval for the proposed amendments to the projects within the draft Masterplan attached to the report.

Cabinet received a progress report on delivering the Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan since November 2022 including consultation feedback to the draft plan, and seeking approval for the final Masterplan and progress of individual projects within it.

On 28 March 2022, the Cabinet received a report that set out a set of policy priorities for Wallsend Town Centre as set out in section 1.2 of the report. These priorities were developed with the Deputy Mayor following engagement with the councillors for Battle Hill, Howdon, Northumberland and Wallsend wards to inform a Masterplan for Wallsend which was identified as a priority in Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025.  Officers then prepared a draft Masterplan which reflected the Authority’s ambition for Wallsend, delivered on the three policy priorities and included a series of projects to deliver them. The draft Wallsend Masterplan was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

This draft Masterplan was approved by Cabinet on 28 November 2022 followed by engagement with residents, businesses and other stakeholders on the plan.

The draft Masterplan proposed fourteen interventions that would deliver the three policy priorities for Wallsend, as identified by Cabinet in section 1.5.3 of the report.

The scope of the Masterplan area was agreed by Cabinet in March 2022. It covered High Street East and West, the Forum shopping centre and Station Road, with their surrounding catchment area of housing.  It also included the Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum and Wallsend riverside as far as Davy Bank. To the north it included the Parks, Wallsend Hall, and the former Buddle School and arts centre.

In addition, since March 2022, the Authority had been working to better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities in Wallsend focussing in particular on the three policy priorities of housing, place and employment. This work included:

·         A review of recent reports such as the surveys of town centre businesses and customers in 2021 (the “Understanding the Heart of our Town” report.).

·         An assessment of the town centre’s buildings, roads, streets, footpaths and public spaces and development of ideas for improving them.

·         A review of the local property market to better understand the supply of and demand for homes, shops and offices.

·         Review of opportunities to support residents in securing employment and improving their skills e.g., adult education and a “Working Well” hub.

·         Creation of the Tyne Task Force with the NTCA, Port of Tyne, businesses and other local authorities marketing the offshore energy opportunities under the ‘Tyne Powered’ brand and providing a collective voice to talk to Government.

·         A review of traffic flows, transport usage and car parking.

·         Working with the Academic Health Science Network who ran an arts project examining how towns can nurture positive mental health and wellbeing.

The fourteen projects, summarised in Appendix 2 to the report, were mostly based on a place or building, those covering Business Support, Employment Support and Events & Animation apply throughout the masterplan area.

As a listening Authority, the views of residents, businesses and other interested parties on the draft masterplan had  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB9/23

This is to give further notice in accordance with paragraphs 5(4) and 5(5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to consider items 12 and 13 below in private.

Cabinet is requested to consider passing the following resolution:

Resolved that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test as defined in Part 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Reasons for taking the items 12 and 13 in private: the reports contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

Resolved that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test as defined in Part 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

To seek approval for the North Tyneside Trading Company - Strategic Business Plan 2023-2027.

(Councillors S Graham and C Johnson declared a registerable personal interest in the following item, left the meeting and took no part in discussions).

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the proposed North Tyneside Trading Company - Strategic Business Plan 2023-2027.

In December 2012, the Authority established the North Tyneside Trading Company Limited (the ‘Trading Company’), to act as the Authority’s vehicle for trading opportunities. The Authority was the sole shareholder of the Trading Company. Cabinet was the shareholder’s representative for the Trading Company and the Trading Company presentedto Cabineteach year,for approval,its StrategicBusiness Plan.

A revised shareholder agreement between the Authority and the Trading Company was presented, which sets out how the Company would conduct its affairs on a day-to-day basis and details how the Authority would oversee the performance of the Company, both financial and otherwise.  There were no major changes to the Shareholder Agreement, which had been refreshed to reflect the current operating arrangements in place.

This report also sought approval around the principles for new Loan Finance Agreements between the Authority and the two subsidiary companies of the Trading Company, (North Tyneside Trading (Development) Company Limited and Aurora Properties (Sale) Limited.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to accept the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report,or alternatively, to not approve the recommendations.

Resolved that (1)The North Tyneside Trading Company – Strategic Business Plan 2023-2027, be approved;

(2) the 2023-24 Shareholder Agreement between North Tyneside Council and the North Tyneside Trading Company, be approved;

(3) the Heads of Terms for a long-term Loan Finance Agreement between North Tyneside Council and the North Tyneside Trading (Development) Company Ltd be approved, and the Director of Resources be authorised to agree the final loan documents in accordance with these principles; and

(4) the Heads of Terms for a Loan Finance Agreement between North Tyneside Council and Aurora Properties (Sale) be approved; and the Director of Resources be authorised to agree the final loan documents in accordance with these principles.

(Reason for decision:It will support the delivery of the Elected Mayor and Cabinet’s commitments within the Our North Tyneside Plan to deliver more quality affordable homes, tackle derelict properties and support the ambition for North Tyneside to be carbon neutral by 2030.)

To consider the latest review of key corporate risks undertaken by the Senior Leadership Team.

Cabinet considered a report which detailed the corporate risks that had been identified for monitoring and management by the Authority’s Senior Leadership Team and relevant Cabinet members. The report also provided detailed information on each risk and how it was being managed.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to consider the information provided for each of the corporate risks and endorse the outcome of the latest review by the Authority’s Senior Leadership Team; and after consideration of the detailed information provided for the corporate risks, suggest changes to the corporate risks and their controls.

Resolved that the latest review of key corporate risks undertaken by the Senior Leadership Team, be endorsed.

(Reason for decision: Each of the corporate risks has undergone substantial review and challenge as part of the corporate risk management process. This is designed to provide assurance that corporate risks and opportunities are being identified and appropriately managed.)

Monday 26 June at 6.00pm.

Thursday 1 June 2023 at 6.00pm (Extraordinary Meeting)

Monday 26 June 2023 at 6.00pm (Ordinary Meeting)