Agenda and minutes

Venue: 0.02 Chamber - Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY. View directions

Contact: Yvonne Harrison  Email: democraticsupport@northtyneside.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

CAB106/23

Declarations of Interest and Notification of any Dispensations Granted

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.

 

Minutes:

Councillor K Clark declared a non-registerable personal interest in agenda Item 5: 2022-23  Financial Management Report to 31 January 2023 (CAB109/23), and agenda Item 7: Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 Performance Report (CAB111/23), as she was a Director and Employee at Justice Prince CIC (Working Roots), which had contracts with North Tyneside Council funded to deliver community-based programmes.

 

CAB107/23

Minutes pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2023.

Minutes:

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meetings held on 20 February 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

 

CAB108/23

Report of the Young Mayor

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

Minutes:

In his announcements, the new Young Mayor of North Tyneside, Cameron Quinn, referred to his pledge which was “To ensure that every young person in North Tyneside has the best possible start in life by creating a safe diverse and nurturing environment.” 

 

He also referred to the newly elected Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), Sharon Zeng, and her pledge was “To raise awareness about the importance of financial education in schools and informing students about their financial choices and career choices.”

 

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

 

·       Young Cabinet Members and Youth Councillors had been working together to achieve their plans and would be working on topics in the various committees.

·       The Young People would continue with the Ready for Life Committee focusing on creating financial lesson plans to support students learning, the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Committee would continue with their focus on reviewing and circulating useful resources to young people.

·       The  Environment Committee would continue with the monthly Swap Shops in North Shields Customer First Centre and develop projects around cooking on a budget with tips about reducing waste and saving resources. The Committee would also be supporting the Young Mayor to develop an allotment or small garden project in schools which would link well to the Eco School award.

·       A new Community Safety Committee had been created to focus on issues affecting young people.  The Equality and Diversity Committee would continue to focus on accessible places and activities which was the pledge of former Youth Councillor and MYP candidate Daniel Taylor.

·       The final amount collected from last year’s Youth Council fund raising from North Tyneside Together was £723.67p, which was presented to ‘Walking With’ at the last Youth Council meeting.  A new charity to fundraise in 2023-24 would be agreed at the next Youth Council meeting, which would be connected to Daniel Taylor’s legacy. 

·       Preparations were being made for this year’s Young People’s Conference on Thursday 30 March 2023. 120 participants were expected from 10 schools across the borough with workshops on what it meant to be Ready for Life, and to explore what the barriers were to young people accessing places and activities. There would be an opportunity for decision makers to attend an event planned for the 8 June at North Tyneside Council’s offices at Quadrant, to hear first-hand from young people what the issues were connected to these two topics. 

 

The Elected Mayor welcomed the new Young Mayor to his first Cabinet meeting and thanked him for the update; she along with her Cabinet and the Authority’s partner representatives looked forward to working with him and the young people on future projects. 

 

CAB109/23

2022/23 Financial Management Report to 31 January 2023 pdf icon PDF 166 KB

To receive the fifth budget monitoring report for the current financial year which reflects the first indication of the potential revenue and capital position of the Authority at 31 March 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the fifth monitoring report outlining the 2022/23 financial position.  It provided an indication of the expected revenue and capital financial position of the Authority as at 31 March 2023.

 

The report covered the forecast outturn of the Authority’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget including management mitigations where issues had been identified; the delivery of 2022/23 approved budget savings plans; and an update on the Capital Investment Plan, including details of variations and reprogramming, that was recommended for approval.

 

The Budget for 2022/23 was approved by full Council at its meeting on the 17 February 2022.  The net General Fund revenue budget was set at £163.512m, which included £7.257m of savings to be achieved in year.

The Authority’s finances were complex in any year given the range of services that were delivered; the picture this financial year was even more volatile given the national and global economic challenges.  At a Service level, before the application of planned contingencies and central funding, the gross pressure would be £22.872m.  However, the budget for the year included contingencies of £6.752m and other central funding of £1.006m.  As a result, the total forecast year-end pressure for the General Fund reduced to £15.114m.  Table 1 sets out the initial variation summary across the General Fund, with a detailed commentary of variances included in Annex 1.

Included within the position for Central Items is £6.752m of contingencies.  Whilst held in Central Items, its use was identified as: £3.116m to offset the pressures in Children’s Social Care; £1.301m was supporting the under achievement of savings targets; and £2.325m to support the inflationary pressures being faced by the Authority.  In September’s report, a £0.316m saving was included reflecting the part year reversal of the national insurance increase along with a £4.927m of Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) savings following the conclusion of External Audit work into the methodology change; these items remained in the forecasts. In 2021/22 these savings were set aside in a new MRP reserve, which remained on the balance sheet, but it was likely that the in-year saving would be required to support the bottom-line position in 2022/23, so was currently included in the forecast position.  Since the last report to Cabinet, the Authority had received a one-off contribution of £0.405m relating to the Levy Account surplus.  This gave a total underspend for Central Items of £13.407m.

Table 2 added further detail to the information in Table 1.  The top half of table 2 breaks down the forecast £15.114m pressure into the main factors of covid legacy, utility, other inflation, and other pressures. The covid pressures of £7.757m arose primarily from fees and charges income not yet returning to pre-pandemic levels and additional fixed term staff employed to cover increased demand or to enable front-line service provision to continue. 

The lower half of Table 2 included details of funding set aside to support known pressures.  As part of the 2022-2026 Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) agreed by full Council in February, £2.200m  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB109/23

CAB110/23

Procurement Plan 2023-2024 pdf icon PDF 95 KB

To receive a report seeking approval for the Authority’s Procurement Plan 2023/2024 to proceed with the relevant procurement exercises throughout the financial year and award contracts in accordance with UK public procurement legislation to the most advantageous tenders.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to the Authority’s Procurement Plan 2023-2024 to proceed with the relevant procurement exercises throughout the financial year and award contracts in accordance with UK public procurement legislation to the most advantageous tenders.

 

The Authority continued to spend a considerable sum on third party goods and services. The Authority’s constitution required that prior to any procurement commencing which exceeded £500,000 Cabinet approval must be obtained.

 

The Authority continued to spend a considerable sum on third party goods and services. The Authority’s Constitution required that prior to any procurement commencing which exceeded £500,000 Cabinet approval must be obtained. Once the Authority’s budget was approved by full Council on 16 February 2023 the third-party requirements of the Authority became known. The procurement exercised which would commence in the financial year 2023/2024 had been identified and are set out at Appendix 1 to the report. When procuring services, the Authority was obliged to consider how what was being procured might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the borough and how it might secure that improvement as part of the procurement process. This was what was meant by ‘Social Value’.

 

The Authority had sought Social Value within its procured contracts since the implementation of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. However, by its adoption of the Procurement and Commercial Strategy the Authority had strengthened how it works with its suppliers in the joint delivery of Social Value. Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) suppliers were already obliged to deliver Social Value so as to minimise the impact they had on the environment and maximise benefits to the local economy. Through its Procurement and Commercial Strategy, the Authority ensured that it aligned itself with the private sector and by doing so ensured the joint delivery of Social Value within the Borough.  Following the adoption of the Council Plan for 2021-2025, the Authority updated its Social Value priorities in March 2022 and these priorities were contained within the Authority’s Procurement and Commercial Strategy for 2022-2025. A pilot exercise was being undertaken to help develop a process utilising the contract management toolkit as part of the procurement and contract management activity. The Authority’s Social Value priorities and subsequent outcomes used to measure Social Value follow the priorities within the Our North Tyneside Plan: Thriving, Family Friendly, Secure, Caring and Greener.

 

Utilising the Social Value principles within the Procurement and Commercial Strategy, the Authority would continue to gain commitments from suppliers which align with the policy priorities of the Mayor and Cabinet. This would include a greener target embedded approach to support the Authority’s target to be carbon net-zero by 2030. The Authority’s tendering process would be streamlined, and better information would be provided to the market. Where appropriate, lower value tenders would be issued. The Authority was seeing an increase in the number of Small and Medium Enterprise’s (SME’s) and local suppliers that it procured with. The procurement exercises due to commence in 2023/24 would continue to give SME’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB110/23

CAB111/23

Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 Performance Report pdf icon PDF 225 KB

To receive an update report on progress with delivering the Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received an update report on progress in delivering the objectives of the refreshed Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 as set out in the ‘Our North Tyneside Performance Report’ at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

The Council Plan was refreshed in 2021 following the Mayoral Election on 6 May to reflect the policy priorities of the incoming administration.  Following consultation with residents and key stakeholders, Full Council agreed the refreshed Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 on 23 September 2021. The priorities and objectives in the refreshed Our North Tyneside Plan Performance built on the work carried over the last 9 years and addressed the key challenges to build a better North Tyneside. The report had been developed to monitor progress against the new priorities and objectives set out in the Council Plan. 

 

This report when read in conjunction with Appendix 1 provided an overview of performance since the start of the plan and identified the agreed activities that the Authority would pursue in the future. In addition, it provided comparator information, such as national or regional performance, as there were several issues where North Tyneside was facing similar challenges as other parts of the country. 

 

Some of the highlights of the Our North Tyneside Plan Performance Report were:-

 

·       Delivery of the Affordable Homes Programme was on track and a 10-year Delivery Plan was agreed by Cabinet in February 2022.  The number of long-term vacant dwellings was currently at its lowest level in seven years.

 

·       In August 2022, Cabinet approved the Carbon Net-Zero 2030 Action Plan including over 150 actions to decarbonise the Authority’s operations and the Borough as a whole. 

 

·       £8m funding had been secured from the Green Homes Grant Local Delivery Scheme to install low carbon heating, energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems in homes with low-household incomes. To date over 800 measures had been installed in 700 homes so far. 

 

·       Regeneration work was well underway in North Shields including public realm improvements, a new integrated transport hub, and new town square. Planning permission had been granted for new family homes at the former Unicorn House Site and works were due to commence later in 2023.  £1.7m in grant funding had been secured from the North of Tyne Combined (NTCA) to develop a Cultural and Creative Zone and work had commenced on the new Riverside Embankment Walkway to connect the town centre and Fish Quay.  Planning permission for a new Ferry Landing on Western Quay was granted in December 2022. However, the Levelling Up Fund bid by NEXUS for that project was unsuccessful and alternative funding solutions were now being pursued. £19.13m of grant funding had been secured from Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) to fund the capital works at the transport hub, embankment walkway and gateways an additional £1.85m had been secured from DLUHC to fund the new town square.

 

·       In Whitley Bay, improvement works to the Northern Promenade were completed and £4.5m funding from the Active Travel Fund had been secured to provide a continuous segregated walking  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB111/23

CAB112/23

Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy and Corporate Equality Objectives Review pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To receive a report seeking approval for the Authority’s refreshed Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy; and Corporate Equality Objectives for the period April 2023 to March 2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report seeking approval for the Authority’s refreshed Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy; and Corporate Equality Objectives for the period April 2023 to March 2025.

 

The Authority’s Equality and Diversity Policy sets out how North Tyneside Council seeks to ensure compliance with the 2010 Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty and achieve the Authority’s aim that North Tyneside was a place where people felt safe and no one experienced discrimination or avoidable advantage because of their protected characteristics, background or personal circumstances.

 

The Corporate Equality and Diversity Policy and Corporate Equality Objectives Review sets out its commitment to achieving the main aim of the Actwhich was to eliminate discrimination and other prohibited conduct and to demonstrate how the Authority, when discharging its functions, would have due regard to the public sector equality duty and the need to: Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;Advance equality of opportunity between those who share a relevant protected characteristic under the Act and those who do not share such a characteristic; andFoster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

 

A protected characteristic under the Act was any of the following: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

 

The Policy was originally agreed in 2017 and in line with good practice was reviewed every two years in consultation with internal and external groups and individuals. As a review of the Policy was due, the opportunity was also taken to review the Corporate Equality Objectives. These objectives enabled the Authority to identify and publish the priority issues (in terms of policy making, service delivery and employment) is seeking to address in order to achieve the aims of the Act.

 

This report sets out the findings from the public consultation on the draft policy and the review of the Authority’s Corporate Equality Objectives and actions. Consultation on the Policy ran from 5 January until 21 February 2023. Details of the  participating external groups were set out in section 1.5.2 of the report. Engagement within the Authority was undertaken with the Authority’s four staffequality networks, the Cabinet Member for Inclusion, Employment and Skills, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Corporate Equality Group (CEG), trades unions and employees who were all invited to share their views.

 

A variety of approaches were used to gather views in ways most appropriate to each stakeholder group. As a result of the Authority listening to the feedback from the consultation, which overall was very positive and constructive. As a result of listening to its Appendix 3 provided a summary of the responses received during the consultation and showed how they had informed changes to the wording of the policy as a result of the Authority listening to its residents.

 

In accordance with the requirements of the specific duties placed on the Authority under the Act  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB112/23

CAB113/23

Building a Better North Tyneside: The Housing Strategy 2023-2028 and Homelessness Prevention & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-2028 pdf icon PDF 135 KB

To receive a report seeking approval for the Authority’s Building a Better North Tyneside: Housing Strategy 2023-2028; and Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-2028.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received a report seeking approval for the Authority’s refreshed North Tyneside Housing Strategy 2023-2028, and North Tyneside Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023-2028.

 

The Housing Strategy builds on the success of the Authority’s previous Housing Strategy for 2017-2021 ‘A Great Place to Live’.  It was informed by current and emerging national and local policies; it considers the Authority’s Equally Well Strategy, and the emerging policy aims from the most recent Housing White Paper. It also references evidence of housing need and demand from the 2021 Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA).

The Authority’s vision to Build a Better North Tyneside’ and the 5 delivery themes were developed following extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and residents.  Within each theme, a set of actions were identified, and a detailed action plan would be developed and reviewed by Cabinet and the Housing Sub-Committee on an annual basis. Details of the five delivery themes were set out in the report:

 

·       Deliver more Affordable Homes and Support Regeneration Plans

·       Prevent Homelessness and Improve our Specialist Housing Offer

·       Improve the Private Rented Sector and Tackle Derelict Properties

·       Lead the Way – Greener Homes to Support Carbon Zero by 2030

·       Support our Tenants and Residents and Improve Our Communities

 

The North Tyneside Homelessness Act 2002 placed a statutory duty on all local housing authorities to carry out a homelessness review for their area. This should be done in consultation with local partners and stakeholders, with the published homelessness strategy based on the results of that review and carried out at least every five years. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced new legal duties for housing authorities focusing on the prevention and relief of homelessness, regardless of priority status. 

 

The Authority recognised that it had a moral duty to tackle homelessness as it can have a detrimental effect on health, well-being, and community cohesion, as well as potentially increasing service costs for the Authority. Evidence demonstrates that investment in local homeless prevention services reduces the cost of mainstream homelessness services, which can cut across housing, health, criminal justice, and community safety.

 

The Authority’s new strategic priorities had been identified following engagement and consultation with its Homelessness Forum and a wide range of stakeholders, Elected Members, officers, and third sector organisations who supported people when they experienced a ‘housing crisis’. Following a review of its achievements, outcomes and future challenges that had been identified throughout the lifespan of the previous strategy, the refreshed strategy had been produced to align with recent legislative changes. 

 

The Homelessness Prevention and Rough sleeping Strategy 2023-28 continued the vision to support the ambition to Build a Better North Tyneside’ through three key themes:?

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End Rough Sleeping: This priority focused on rough sleeping in North Tyneside, with the aim being no-one was bedded down outdoors.  The Authority would continue to improve its interventions to prevent rough sleeping in the first instance wherever possible.? The last rough sleeper count in November 2022 identified one rough sleeper in the Borough.  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB113/23

CAB114/23

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Monday 22 May 2023 at 6.00pm.

Minutes: