Agenda and minutes

Venue: This meeting will be held via video conferencing technology and streamed live on the Council's YouTube channel.

Contact: Yvonne Harrison 

Media

Items
No. Item

CAB171/20

Introduction

Minutes:

Mrs Norma Redfearn, Elected Mayor, welcomed everyone to this meeting of North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet which was the sixth virtual Cabinet meeting held by the Authority following the introduction of regulations by the Government enabling local authorities to conduct their meetings remotely in the light of the current Coronavirus pandemic.

CAB172/20

Declarations of Interest

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 indicate any declarations of interests and/or dispensations verbally at the meeting to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

 

Minutes:

Councillor M Hall declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 9: Procurement of Adult Social Care Services - Various Contracts (CAB179/20), as she was a Director of the Rising Sun Farm Trading Company. 

 

Councillors B Pickard and R Glindon each declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 14: Delivering the Ambition for North Tyneside – Tynemouth Library and 11/12 Northumberland Square (CAB184/20), as they were both Authority appointed Directors of North Tyneside Trading Company and its subsidiary companies. A dispensation had been granted to both Councillors Glindon and Pickard in relation to their Trading Company appointments. 

 

Councillor P Earley declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 5: Financial Management Report to 30 September 2020 (CAB175/20); and Item 6: 2021-2025 Financial Planning and Budget Process: Cabinet’s Initial Budget Proposals (CAB176/20), as he was a Trustee of the North Tyneside Carers Centre.   

CAB173/20

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2020 (previously circulated).

Minutes:

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

CAB174/20

Report of the Young Mayor

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

Minutes:

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

 

           The Young Mayor and Member of UK Youth Parliament Abi had continued to review how young people had their say in North Tyneside using a snap survey of schools to find out if school councils were running and how they could work more effectively with them.

 

           A review of the operation of the Youth Council had taken place and new committees had been established each covering themes important to young people and various projects to help fulfil their commitments and develop their pledges; also a Comms group for delivering important information to young residents and their families through social media providing a more joined up approach. Meetings with the elected Mayor, senior officers of the Authority and relevant partners had already achieved some success in relation to behavioural changes on the climate crisis.

 

           Abi and some youth councillors had completed a film to show how people could reduce, reuse and recycle unwanted clothing, which would be shared widely on social media as another way of encouraging residents to support their work around climate change.

 

           Youth councillors had been supported by the elected Mayor and the Chief Executive to achieve the young people’s goals by working more closely with decision makers in order to influence decisions in the borough and make effective change.

 

           Youth Parliament Member, Abi, would meet regularly with both North Tyneside MPs to be able to gather support at Government level for their campaigns.

 

           The Young Mayor had met with staff from the YMCA on a new project called Healthy Habits to be carried out in schools, with Ambassadors already in schools at John Spence, Northam and Churchill Community College, and also hoped to have this in her own school at St Thomas More.

 

           The Young Mayor provided an update on the work of Send Youth Forum - a group of young people aged 11-25 who either had special educational needs or disabilities or an interest in promoting youth voice for children and young people with SEND.

 

           Youth councillors had taken part in the virtual Remembrance Day services around the borough and had encouraged children and young people to draw pictures of poppies to put in their windows and create a poppy trail around the Borough. 

 

           Youth councillors had attended a State of the Area Event and looked forward to contributing at further planned workshops with various Council teams.

 

The Elected Mayor thanked the Young Mayor for the report, and along with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, praised her and the young people for their fantastic contributions in the work of the Authority which had gone from strength to strength.

 

CAB175/20

2020/21 Financial Management Report to 30 September 2020 pdf icon PDF 306 KB

To receive the third budget monitoring report for the current financial year which reflects the forecast financial position as at 30 September 2020.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the third monitoring report outlining the 2020/21 financial position. 

It provided an indication of the expected revenue and capital financial position of the Authority as at 31 March 2021.  The reported position was expected to change over the coming months as the response and recovery to Covid-19 continued.

 

The report covered the forecast outturn of the Authority’s General Fund and HRA revenue budget including management mitigations where issues had been identified; the delivery of 2020/21 approved budget savings plans; an indication of the impact of Covid-19 on Collection Rates; an indication of the impact of Covid-19 on the Collection Fund; the implications of Covid-19 of the Authority’s cash position; and an update on the Capital Investment Plan, including details of variations and reprogramming, that were recommended for approval.

 

In terms of the General Fund Revenue Account, the forecast overall pressure was estimated at £5.142m against the approved net budget.  This was made up of a forecasted pressure of £0.883m on normal activities and £4.259m relating to the impact of Covid-19.  This was after a forecasted transfer to reserves of a £12.719m surplus relating to Section 31 grants.  The surplus would be held in reserve and utilised to support the Collection Fund deficit that would be faced in 2021/22 due to these measures. 

 

The £0.883m pressure in the services was driven mainly by Health, Education, Care & Safeguarding (HECS) reflecting the continued pressures in Children’s Services of £5.286m and Adult Services of £0.788m. This was before inclusion of the contingency based budgets, which were held and reported with Central Items, that had been created by Cabinet as part of the 2018/19 budget setting process to reflect the on-going pressures in social care being felt locally and nationally.

 

Included in this projection was £4.480m of pressures in Corporate Parenting and Placements, £1.433m in Wellbeing and Assessment and £1.010m in Integrated Disability & Additional Needs. The drivers for these pressures continued from 2019/20 as outlined in the report.

 

It was anticipated that the outturn forecast for normal activities would improve over the course of the financial year as planned remedial actions began to impact on both expenditure and income.

 

With regards to the impact of Covid-19, the main drivers behind the £4.259m shortfall were also within HECS where £11.725m was for increased costs to the Authority of supporting the market (£5.403m), impact on savings targets (£2.713m), increased costs for children in care (£1.233m), lost income within School Improvement (£0.666m), Public Health (£0.597m), additional demand (£0.494m), and other miscellaneous costs such as staffing costs, PPE, and other income losses (£0.619m).

 

Significant Covid-19 related pressures existed in Environment, Housing and Leisure, (£7.871m) due to loss of income in areas such as Sport & Leisure and Highways & Transport and in Commissioning & Asset Management through income lost within Catering (£4.585m).

 

Current indications were that the Covid-19 funding received to date did not cover all anticipated costs/loss of income.  Discussions were on-going at both local and national level around the financing of the residual pressures expected as a result  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB175/20

CAB176/20

2021-2025 Financial Planning and Budget Process: Cabinet's Initial Budget Proposals pdf icon PDF 207 KB

To consider a report detailing Cabinet’s initial budget proposals and associated matters (Interim report).  A supplemental (main) report detailing Cabinet’s initial Budget proposals will be circulated to all members of Cabinet as soon as possible after the Budget announcement is made.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval for the Cabinet’s initial budget proposals for 2021/22 in the context of the 2021-2025 Financial Planning and Budget Process and which had been developed in a period of significant uncertainty for financial planning due to the impact of Covid-19.

 

On 20 February 2020, full Council had approved a Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25, providing a financial framework to support the delivery of the Authority’s priorities as set out in the 2020-2024 Our North Tyneside Plan.  The Budget that had been set was balanced, based on a robust set of assumptions in relation to the resources available, and prudent estimates of the expenditure that was necessary to deliver the Authority’s Services.

 

Whilst the Authority had been aware of COVID-19 at the time of Budget-setting, it would have been impossible to predict the significant escalation of the pandemic which had led to the first national lockdown being implemented by the Government on 23 March 2020, and the subsequent financial implications that would follow this. As Budget-planning activity progressed, there was a significant amount of uncertainty remaining.  Social care continued to be funded by short-term one-off grant allocations and, in the absence of a sustainable funding solution, the Government had continued to allow local authorities to apply an adult social care precept of up to 2%, which left the financial burden of supporting vulnerable adult residents with local taxpayers. 

 

The need for the Authority to take action and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic had undoubtedly adversely impacted the financial position of the Authority.  In a normal year it was challenging to deliver a balanced in-year position against the Budget.  The financial impact of COVID-19 had compounded this challenge and the current estimated pressure due to COVID-19 at the end of September was £4.259m for the General Fund and £2.484m for the Housing Revenue Account.

 

In addition, to deliver business as usual, the Authority had needed to mobilise its workforce to undertake new responsibilities and lead the local response to the pandemic.  The COVID-19 Support Hub had specifically been set up to support and protect the clinically extremely vulnerable residents in the Borough during the first national lockdown when they were required to shield in their homes to protect themselves from the virus.  Proactive work had continued to support the care sector to meet the additional operation costs due to COVID-19.  The Authority had also effectively administered over £34.8m of grants to eligible businesses to help support the local economy, whilst also ensuring that the public and staff were protected by introducing effective control measures to public buildings and open spaces.

 

Some services had to be suspended during the initial escalation of the pandemic and due to national lockdown measures.  This had led to a significant loss of sales, fees and charges income, with school improvement, leisure, cultural and catering services seeing the biggest income losses.  Financial support from by the Government had provided support for some of the income lost; however,  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB176/20

CAB177/20

Adult Skills Funding pdf icon PDF 350 KB

To seek approval to accept the annual funding and contracts offered by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) through new devolved arrangements, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the sub-contract offered by Barnardo’s for the provision and delivery by the Authority of post-16 education, training, apprenticeships and work experience.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to accept the annual funding and skills contracts offered by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and a sub-contract offered by Barnardo’s for the provision and delivery by the Authority of post-16 education, training, apprenticeships and work experience.

The contracts and funding from the NTCA, ESFA and the sub-contract with Barnardo’s would be annually renewed to all providers. In the North of Tyne area, the three Constituent Authorities received the main funding streams. This offer covered the period 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021.

NTCA had taken control of a devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB) of over £24 million from Government for learners residing in the North of Tyne area from 1st August 2020. The devolved AEB, which would enable a greater control of skills provision delivered across North of Tyne to respond to residents and business needs, had been allocated to 29 education providers across 10 Grant Agreements and 21 Contracts for Services. The ESFA had retained control of other funding streams covered by the report including apprenticeships, 16-19 Education, AEB for learners who resided outside of the NTCA area but who were educated by providers in the area and Advanced Learner Loans.

 

The initial funding offer was set by the NTCA and ESFA and therefore no further negotiation was required. However, through the devolved arrangements for AEB to the NTCA and as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, additional funds were being made available and this could result in a further increase in the funding allocation during the academic year. Additional funds for an awarded contract for services (Digital Outreach Project) and Covid-19 response funding (Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs)) were already included in this offer.

 

Annually, the Authority’s Adult Learning Service (ALS) delivered training and learning with over 2500 enrolments equating to around 600 learners. The vast majority of the learners were either unemployed or low skilled. Additionally, around 23% of learners lived in the most deprived areas of the borough or had a learning difficulty or disability. The proportion of learners with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) rose to 64% amongst 16-18-year-old learners.

 

The Authority via the ALS had been delivering these contracts for over 20 years. In recent years the funding had been offered with increasing focus on qualifications, formal skills development and performance. The Authority had responded well to these changes by improving the quality and range of formal qualifications offered to residents. This funding would enable the Authority to continue to provide a wide range of programmes to support residents to gain the skills and abilities to engage successfully in work, in their own self-development and learning, engage in their community through volunteering and work placements, and support their children’s attainment and aspirations.

 

The focus of the Authority’s programme was on low skilled, unemployed or disadvantaged young people and adults and a wide range of provision was offered as set out in the report.

 

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB177/20

CAB178/20

Adoption of updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal pdf icon PDF 252 KB

To consider a report detailing the feedback received to the public consultation on the draft updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal and the suggested amendments.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report on the outcome of consultation in relation to an updated Character

Appraisal for the Northumberland Square conservation area.

 

The existing character appraisal for the conservation area had been adopted by Cabinet in

January 2014.

 

The Authority had recently been awarded funding from Historic England, through their High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) programme, to support physical improvements to the historic and built environment within the conservation area, and to facilitate more varied and vibrant uses, including cultural, leisure and tourism uses. As part of the delivery of the HAZ programme, the Authority was required to adopt a Management Strategy for the conservation area that set out a clear vision and objectives for the future preservation and enhancement of the conservation area. A robust Conservation Area Management Strategy must be informed by up-to-date evidence about existing character and appearance. This evidence was provided through Character Appraisals.

 

For Northumberland Square, the adopted 2014 Character Appraisal was not sufficiently up to date to support an effective Management Strategy. There had been several physical changes in the area and in addition, national and local planning policy and guidance had been updated since 2014. To reflect this, a small number of changes were proposed to the Character Appraisal and its photographs had been updated. However, the majority of the document remained as adopted in 2014. 

 

A copy of the draft updated Character Appraisal was attached as an Appendix to the report.

 

Historic England guidance advised that it was good practice for conservation area reviews to be carried out around every five years, depending on available resources and development pressure within an area.

In response to the consultation, Historic England provided some comments on the draft Character Appraisal. These comments, with the Planning team’s response, were summarised in the report.

 

It was recommended that the updated Character Appraisal be adopted by Cabinet as planning guidance and as a tool to support an emerging Management Strategy for the conservation area. Not doing this would harm the Local Planning Authority’s ability to continue to preserve and enhance the conservation area in accordance with its statutory duties.

 

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

 

Resolved that (1) the feedback received to the public consultation on the draft updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal and the suggested amendments be noted; and

(2) the updated Northumberland Square Conservation Area Character Appraisal as planning guidance be adopted.

 

(Reason for decision: Having an up-to-date Character Appraisal in place supports the Authority in its statutory duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of its conservation areas. It is also in line with local and national planning policy and guidance.

 

Funding has recently been secured from Historic England through their HAZ programme to support enhancements in this conservation area. A condition of the funding is that a Management Strategy, informed by a Character Appraisal, will be prepared for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB178/20

CAB179/20

Procurement of Adult Social Care Services - Various Contracts pdf icon PDF 258 KB

To seek approval to undertake procurement exercises to put in place contractual arrangements for a range of adult social care services.

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report which sought approval to undertake procurement exercises for the award of various contracts for Adult Social Care Services.

 

The Authority currently commissioned a range of adult social care services from the independent sector to meet the needs of individuals deemed to be eligible in accordance with the Care Act 2014 following a Care Act assessment.

 

The Authority did not deliver these services internally and needed to have robust and proper arrangements in place for services to be procured and available.  There were arrangements in place at present for these services and these were coming to an end. There was, therefore, a need to put new arrangements in place and the report set out proposals and recommendations for new contracts to be put in place.  This was to ensure there was sufficiency and continuity of supply to ensure the needs of eligible individuals and the wider population can be met.

 

The report covered the following services / service areas:

 

           Extra care for older people; and

           Day services for all client groups (older people, learning disability, mental health and physical disability).

 

New contracts would put in place a range of services and providers to support individuals and ensure there was sustainability of supply and provision over the period the contract was in place.  The contracts would also need to ensure value for money was achieved and also that client outcomes were deliverable and a key focus of the service.

 

All contracts would be in line with the strategic objectives and the commercial context in which the services operated as set out in the Cabinet report on 29 June 2020.  For Adult Social Care, these stemmed from the Our North Tyneside Plan which set the Authority’s priorities for supporting vulnerable people to be healthy and well and also that they were cared for, protected and supported.  The services supported people to be and remain independent and that good quality affordable housing was integral to the extra care offer.

 

Details of current provision of Extra Care and Day Services in North Tyneside were set out in the report.

 

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

 

Resolved that the Head of Health, Education, Care and Safeguarding, in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Resources, be authorised to:

 

(1)       undertake a procurement exercise to put in place a framework agreement of providers who are able to deliver Extra Care and Day Services, as outlined in sections 1.5.2 and 1.5.3 respectively of the report; and

(2)       following those procurement exercises, proceed with the award of contracts to the preferred bidders.

 

(Reasons for decision: Current contracts and contracting arrangements are due to expire or have expired and are subject to annual carry forward and could be leaving the Authority subject to financial risk. New arrangements will need to be in place to ensure continuity of service for  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB179/20

CAB180/20

Children and Young People's Plan 2021 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 421 KB

To seek approval to the initial proposals for the refresh and development of the Children and Young People’s Plan 2021-2025.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report seeking approval to initial proposals for the development of a refreshed Children and Young People’s Plan for the Borough covering the period 2021-2025.

The Plan was being developed and was owned by the Children and Young People’s Partnership.  The partnership brought together public, voluntary and community sector organisations to improve the lives of the borough’s children and young people. 

 

The 2021-2025 Plan was the third Children and Young People’s Plan that the partnership had produced.  The previous Plan 2014-2018 had underpinned the delivery of key success and significant service developments and improvements, which included:

 

           Children’s services were judged Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2020, noting that “strategic partnerships were mature, well-developed and highly effective”.

 

           Continuing to successfully deliver the Troubled Families programme in North Tyneside, successfully ‘turning around’ 1,500 families, demonstrating improved outcomes across a range of indicators.

 

           Entering into a long-term, strategic partnership with Barnardos to develop new and innovative solutions supporting children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

 

           Establishment of schools-led, peer-to-peer, exclusion panels, as part of a borough-wide Keeping Children in School programme, which have contributed to improved exclusion and attendance rates.

 

           Multi-agency Keeping Families Connected service, funded by the Department for Education innovation funding, has effectively supported a reduction in entries to care, stabilisation of existing placements, and reunification where possible.

 

Despite the many significant achievements that the Authority had delivered in recent years, there remained many challenges that the Authority continued to be focused on.  Alongside the changing need and demand that the partnership expected as a result of the impact of Covid-19, the Authority’s understanding of its challenges and what was important to children and young people had informed the priorities and actions set out in the plan.

 

The priorities and deliverables set out in the draft plan were aligned to the strategic outcomes the Authority and partners wanted to see for children and young people, which were:

 

           Outcome 1: I am Safe; Priority 1.1: Ensure children and young people are living safely

           Outcome 2: I am Healthy; Priority 2.1: Supporting children to have a healthy early childhood

           Outcome 3: I have Opportunities; Priority 3.1: Narrow the gap in educational outcomes; Priority 3.2: Ensure the right support for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs

           Outcome 4: I have a Voice; Priority 4.1: Support children to be active citizens

           Outcome 5: I am Happy; Priority 5.1: Develop resilience, confidence and independence in children and young people

 

These priorities and actions had been developed through engagement with a range of stakeholders across the children and young people’s partnership, as well as drawing upon extensive engagement with children and young people which was a central component of the Authority’s approach.

The Young Mayor thanked the Authority for giving her and the young people of the borough the opportunity to help shape the children and young people’s plan, particularly in relation to the priorities on mental health.

 

The Elected  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB180/20

CAB181/20

Annual Review of Council Policy on Covert Surveillance pdf icon PDF 247 KB

To seek approval for an updated Covert Surveillance Policy in accordance with the Statutory Codes of Practice applying to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report seeking approval of an updated Covert Surveillance Policy. The draft Policy had been considered by the Regulation and Review Committee on 22 October 2020 and had been referred to Cabinet for further consideration and, if appropriate, approval. No substantive changes had been proposed as the previously adopted Policy remained fit for purpose.

 

The aims of the Authority’s Policy were to:

 

           Set out the Authority’s arrangements for complying with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA); the relevant Codes of Practice and guidance issued by the Home Office; and guidance from the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO);

           Give effect to the rights of citizens to respect for their private and family lives (pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998); and

           Protect the Authority from legal challenge when undertaking surveillance.

 

The report detailed the outcome of a virtual online inspection visit from the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) on 7 September 2020.  The purpose of the IPCO inspection was to examine the policies, procedures, operations and administration the Authority had in place in relation to the use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources.  The outcome of the inspection had been very supportive of the Authority’s actions to manage its responsibilities under RIPA and a small number of recommendations had been made as set out in the report.

 

The Codes of Practice applying to RIPA indicated that elected members of a local authority should review its use of RIPA and set the general surveillance policy at least annually. A local authority should also consider internal reports on the use of RIPA to ensure that it was being used consistently in compliance with the Authority's Policy and that the Policy remained fit for purpose.

 

To meet these requirements the Policy Statement provided that:

 

           Cabinet receives an annual report covering the Authority’s use of RIPA powers, and review of the Policy for the following year;

           Reports would be presented to the Regulation and Review Committee on the Authority’s use of RIPA powers. The Committee’s role would be to look at compliance, oversight and use of RIPA. The Committee would also consider whether the Policy remained fit for purpose and recommend changes to the Policy as appropriate for Cabinet’s consideration; and

           The Elected Mayor would receive regular updates from the Senior Responsible Officer regarding the use of the Authority’s powers.

 

Cabinet considered the following decision options: To approve the Authority’s Policy on Covert Surveillance, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, and review and note the use of surveillance by the Authority in the preceding year, or alternatively, to ask officers to revise the draft Policy and/or provide additional information regarding any matters contained in the report.

 

Resolved that (1) the Authority’s Policy on Covert Surveillance, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and

(2) the use of surveillance by the Authority in the preceding year, as set out in the report, be noted.

(Reason for decision:  Approving the Authority’s Policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB181/20

CAB182/20

Exclusion Resolution

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 13, 14 and 15 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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

 

Reasons for taking the item in private: The reports contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

 

Minutes:

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.

CAB183/20

Site 2B, Wallsend Town Centre

To seek approval to accept a revised capital receipt that is due to the Authority pursuant to an Option Agreement in respect of the proposal to develop Site 2B in Wallsend Town Centre with a new town centre medical centre.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to accept a revised capital receipt that was due to the Authority pursuant to an Option Agreement in respect of the proposal to develop Site 2B in Wallsend Town Centre with a new town centre medical centre.

 

Securing the redevelopment of the Site with a new medical centre would be a significant step in the regeneration of Wallsend Town Centre and would see the delivery of much improved and more accessible medical facilities for local residents.

 

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

 

Resolved that the Head of Commissioning and Asset Management be authorised to accept a revised capital receipt for Site 2B, Wallsend town centre, as detailed in the report, when it is considered appropriate to do so, pursuant to the Option Agreement with the current owners of the site, as detailed in Section 1.5 of the report.

(Reason for decision: It is considered to be the most advantageous way forward for the Authority in delivering its continued regeneration of Wallsend town centre and to assist in providing a new town centre medical centre.)

CAB184/20

Delivering the Ambition for North Tyneside - Tynemouth Library and 11/12 Northumberland Square

To seek approval for the Final Business Cases prepared by Aurora Properties (Sale) Limited to develop two further sites in North Tyneside that will support the ongoing regeneration aims of the Council.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the Final Business Cases prepared by Aurora Properties (Sale) Limited to develop two further sites in North Tyneside that would support the ongoing regeneration aims of the Authority.

 

The first scheme was the development of 5 homes at number 11/12 Northumberland Square in the centre of North Shields.

 

The second scheme related to the re-development of the Authority owned site of the former Tynemouth Library site to provide a new, modern library facility and six new apartments for sale on Tynemouth Front Street. The new Library would include a ‘Changing Places’ WC/changing room and subject to commercial negotiations, it was the intention that the new library would be co-located with a Building Society providing a financial services presence on Front Street and extending the current opening hours of the library.

 

Both schemes would directly contribute to towards the Authority’s priorities within the ‘Our North Tyneside’ Council Plan to create great places to live and provide more quality housing.

 

The Final Business Case for each scheme demonstrated that both schemes would be financially viable for Aurora Properties (Sale) Limited and would also together provide a potential financial benefit to the Authority.

 

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

 

Resolved that (1) the Tynemouth Library and 11/12 Northumberland Square sites be declared surplus to the Authority’s asset requirements, and Officers be authorised to procure the demolition of the existing buildings, clearance and remediation of the Tynemouth Library site and deal with all ancillary matters to ensure the Site is suitable for development;

(2)  the sale of the sites at 11/12 Northumberland Square and Tynemouth Library 

to Aurora Sales to reflect the Final Business Cases attached to the report as Appendices 3 and 4 be approved;

(3)  the Head of Commissioning and Asset Management, in consultation with the Elected

Mayor, the Head of Law and Governance and the Head of Resources, be authorised to agree minor modifications to the Final Business Cases provided they remain within the financial envelope as set out in the report;

(4)  the Authority shall provide all necessary support to Aurora Properties (Sale) Limited, by

way of finance, both debt and equity funding, in the most efficient manner, complying at all times with State Aid Regulations, all other relevant legal requirements and the Authority’s Constitution and Financial Regulations provided there are no additional financial implications for the Authority which cannot be contained within existing budgets, on such appropriate terms as approved by the Head of Resources, in consultation with the Head of Law and Governance;

(5)  the Head of Commissioning and Asset Management, in consultation with the Elected

Mayor, Head of Resources and Head of Law and Governance, be authorised to complete negotiations for the sale of the Sites to Aurora Sales and to agree the final terms of disposal of the Sites by private treaty,  in accordance with all relevant legal requirements,  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB184/20

CAB185/20

Corporate Risk Management Summary Report

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

 

Minutes:

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.

 

(Reasons 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.)

 

CAB186/20

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Monday, 25 January 2021 at 6.00pm.

Minutes:

6.00pm on Monday 25 January 2021.