Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

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.

Councillor S Graham declared a registerable personal interest in agenda Item 9: Contributions Policy for Adult Social Care and Support Services (CAB9/21), as she has a family member in residential care and who was self-funded.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2021.

Resolved that the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 April 2021 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 she and Young Cabinet Members and/or Youth Councillors had been involved:

·         Youth Council Committees had continued to work well, drawing interest from other young people in the borough and recruiting new members.

·         The Enterprise Education Committee had won the Young Enterprise North East Company of the Year final and as a result the young people would progress to the next stage of the competition which was the regional North East Yorkshire and Humber final. The competition was a chance for young people to set up their own business from scratch and compete against other teams. Their product was a children’s book focused on educating young readers on serious topics such as the pandemic, mental health, and climate change.

·         The Increased Opportunities Committee had completed the Free Flow Project and boxes sent out to schools with a poster and covering letter. The project aimed to change the current practice by sending each high school, middle school, and special school a free box of sanitary products with a poster to display with the recommendation that the products were readily available in female toilets.

·         The Equalities Committee had analysed their findings from the survey to students and were working with school improvement officers to look at developing training and support for teachers about the effects of everyday sexism on their students.

·         The BAME Committee had completed their video with the Digital Voice Project, which was about young asylum seekers and refugees living in North Tyneside. The launch of the video and panel discussion was being planned and invitations sent out once the arrangements were confirmed.

·         The Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Committee had consulted with the Authority’s Director of Public Health and officer from Safeguarding and Children’s Services about North Tyneside’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Strategy for the next five years, which was focused on supporting children, young people and their families to manage whatever life brought.

·         Member of UK Youth Parliament Abi and the Young Mayor had joined a Head Teachers Briefing and gave a presentation about the six youth council committees, detailing what they had been working on and how they would like schools to help by supporting the various initiatives, which included passing on to students the outstanding I’m an NT Quaran-teen Survivor wristband and Z card as soon as possible; ensuring the Free Flow Products were in the girl’s bathrooms; for schools to purchase the children’s books, joining the Eco School Green Flag programme if not already done; sharing the BAME Committee’s film with students and ensuring teachers took part in Equalities and Diversity Training. Also, by working with the school improvement team, it was hoped that schools would continue to improve what was offered to pupils.

·         Youth Councillors had completed 3 sessions of the Reporters Academy Confidence Training. The workshops had covered Public Speaking, Research Techniques and Conducting Interviews, important in helping them to develop their personal and professional skills.

The Elected Mayor thanked the Young  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB4/21

To seek approval for the proposed approach to carry out an Local Government Association remote recovery and renewal challenge for North Tyneside, alongside the follow up remote visit from the Corporate Peer Review Challenge due to take place between 29 – 30 June 2021.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the proposed approach to carry out a Local Government Association (LGA) remote recovery and renewal challenge for North Tyneside, alongside the follow up remote visit from the Corporate Peer Review Challenge due to take place between 29-30 June 2021.

As part of the national sector-led improvement programme, the Authority had taken part in a LGA Corporate Peer Challenge from 18 – 21 June 2019 with experienced colleagues and had been led by a serving Chief Executive of a similar Authority and an Elected Mayor.

The Peer Team had presented feedback on 21 June 2019 to Cabinet Members and the Senior Leadership Team.  The Peer Team had made six helpful recommendations for the Authority’s future planning in a written report. The Peer Team written report, and resulting action plan from the Authority, had been reviewed and agreed by Cabinet at its meeting on 14 October 2019.

The Authority’s COVID-19 recovery framework had been agreed by Cabinet on 29 June 2020 and set out an 18-month programme of work to move the Authority and Borough, through three phases of recovery from June 2020 to July 2021.  An end of stage review, for phase 2 of the recovery programme, had been completed in March 2021. Eleven of the programme’s remaining workstreams had been successfully closed as part of this review.  The third and final phase of the Authority’s recovery programme had six remaining workstreams; these mainly related to the reopening of services, in line with Government’s COVID-19 Response, Spring 2021, Roadmap Out of Lockdown.

When COVID-19 national lockdown measures had begun in March 2020, the LGA had suspended the physical delivery of peer challenge work, including their peer challenge programmes. To continue to support councils during this period, the LGA had refocused their offer, adopting a new approach to the peer support offer, focusing on supporting the recovery and renewal of local government and communities.

All work had been undertaken remotely. Appendix 1 to the report showed the action plan and progress made, with the six peer review recommendations. All actions from each of the recommendations had been successfully completed, or, were in place, or, underway.

The follow up visit would help review and assess progress and development in response to the feedback and recommendations made by the peer team, in June 2019, specifically:

·         Had the Authority fully considered the recommendations made by the peer team and delivered against the agreed action plan,

·         identified any barriers or opportunities in progress, as result of the pandemic, and

·         considered any changes in political leadership, as a result of local and Mayoral elections.

The LGA Recovery and Renewal Panel would: consider the Authority’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; review the current priorities for the Borough, as a result of COVID-19, and consider the longer-term impact of the pandemic, on the ambitions of the Authority for the Borough.

In doing so, the review would assess the progress made by the Authority’s recovery programme in relation to Leadership of place, economy  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB5/21

To seek approval for the Authority’s new Vehicle Access Crossing Policy.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for a new North Tyneside Vehicle Access Crossing Policy.

North Tyneside Council was responsible for an extensive highway network and maintaining its roads and pavements was a key priority.  This was underpinned by the Highways Asset Management Plan 2017 – 2032 (the ‘HAMP’), previously approved by Cabinet.

The HAMP set out the Authority’s commitment to good asset management practices in the way it managed the highway.  One of the key objectives of the HAMP was to deliver the clear policy direction from the Elected Mayor and Cabinet to increase the commitment to seek the sustained improvement of footways across the borough. An important aspect of this was the effective management of vehicles crossing the footpath.

Throughout the year the Authority received requests from residents seeking access to their property for their vehicles by ‘dropping the kerb’ to enable access to their property from the highway.  The Highways Act 1980 made provision for residents and property owners to do this by making a request to the Authority in its role of local Highway Authority.  Decisions therefore needed to be made by the Authority on whether to permit the construction of a vehicle access over a footway or verge.  The decisions were made by assessing the applications against set highways criteria.

For a number of years, local highway authorities had managed applications for vehicle access crossings as part of daily business without recourse to a formalised policy.  In North Tyneside, the Head of Environment, Housing and Leisure had delegated authority to make decisions on whether to permit a request for construction of a vehicle access crossing.  However, local highway authorities were moving towards creating formal policies for the management of vehicle access crossing applications.  This was considered best practice as it provided greater clarity for the customer, provided transparency over the criteria applied, ensured a consistent management approach, and promoted consistent decision making.  As such, and in line with the aims and objectives of the HAMP, a vehicle access crossing policy had been developed which was attached to the report as Appendix 1.

The purpose of the new vehicle access crossing policy was to formalise the existing vehicle access crossing process and criteria for assessing applications in a policy document; ensure the right balance between on-road and off-road parking, and to preserve the character of the streetscape; andto improve the customer experience by providing clearer information on the application process and the assessment criteria.

The policy set out the legislative background, processes, assessment criteria and all other information key to the management of vehicle access crossings including:

·         Legislative background in relation to vehicle access crossings

·         Approvals required for a vehicle access crossing request

·         Criteria used to assess vehicle access crossing applications

·         Details of the application process

·         Details setting out construction options, fees and payment process.

The intention was to publish the policy on the Authority’s website and make it available in other formats.  In addition, to simplify the application process and to improve  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB6/21

To seek approval for the approach towards developing an inclusive economy in North Tyneside

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for an overarching approach to building a more inclusive North Tyneside, particularly using the local economy as a route to make that happen.  It provided a framework for a range of projects and activities which aimed to make North Tyneside and its economy, more inclusive.

Following a peer review in 2018, a clear recommendation for the Authority was to develop and implement an inclusive economy strategy for the Borough.  Building upon the good work already achieved and the commitments already made in promoting inclusivity and tackling deprivation, this strategy aimed to act on that recommendation and provide an approach in which North Tyneside could achieve some real gains in becoming an inclusive economy.

A great deal of international policy development had gone into thinking about inclusive economic growth.  Focus had shifted to look at the quality of economic growth and not just its rate. This meant an economy that worked for and included everyone, where the benefits of the economy were spread, so that all communities flourished and grew equally.

The single biggest excluding factor in North Tyneside was deprivation. Around 1 in 10 residents lived in an area that was ranked as the most deprived in England and an estimated 18.7% of children in North Tyneside were living in poverty in 2018/19. This approach aimed to tackle that and respond to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which had only served to heighten the gap. In addition, this approach would concentrate on supporting those 9 Protected Characteristics created by the Equality Act 2010. 

This framework for change was organised across seven fundamental areas, key to promoting an inclusive economy; Education, Employment, Safety, Social equity, Housing, Connections and Environment.

Success in creating an inclusive economy would mean:

·         Every resident had the right to a good education, closed the attainment gap between students from deprived and affluent areas and made sure that young people had the skills, experience and qualifications to take up quality training and jobs.

·         Every resident had the right to employment in a safe working environment, with opportunities for progression, paid a fair wage and feeling valued. 

·         Every resident had the right to the feeling and experience of safety in their communities.

·         Every resident had the right to social equity, including commitment to fairness, justice and equality from employers, education and training providers.

·         Every resident had the right to good quality and affordable housing, providing a place to grow and learn throughout the life course.

·         Every resident had the right to social and digital connections which maximised opportunities to fully participate in their communities.

·         Every resident had the right to a sustainable environment, where the Borough’s growing economy did not come to the detriment of the climate.

The strategy set out the challenges across each of these rights and how the Authority would achieve these successes as a Council, including current and proposed interventions and activities, links to existing strategies and polices and ways in which the Authority could work with partners  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB7/21

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 9 and 10 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 in private: The reports in items (9) and (10) below 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 a public consultation on an amended North Tyneside Council Contributions Policy including proposals to review of the amount the Authority will use as the minimum disregard in financial assessments, and change the pension age.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to undertake public consultation on an amended North Tyneside Council Contributions Policy for Adult Social Care and Support Services.

The policy had recently been reviewed and highlighted some issues which needed further consideration by Cabinet and required public consultation to enable Cabinet to make informed decisions, as follows:

1.        The delegation of responsibility for setting of fees and charges.

2.        The pension age to be used in financial assessments.

3.        The Minimum Income Guarantee to be used in financial assessments.

The proposal to go out to public consultation would enable the Authority to consider local views from both individuals accessing services and from the wider general public when finalising the pension age and setting the rate for the financial disregard in the Contributions Policy. The outcome of the consultation would be brought back to the August Cabinet meeting for further discussion and final decision.

Cabinet considered the following decision options:

Option 1: To adhere to the Minimum Income Guarantee rates as set out by Department of Health and Social Care.

Option 2: To set a disregard rate based on Department of Health and Social Care Minimum Income Guarantee rates and add an extra 5%.

Resolved that (1) the Head of Health, Education, Care and Safeguarding, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, the Head of Resources and the Head of Law and Governance, be authorised to set the rates of charges for Adult Social Care which will be reviewed on an annual basis;

(2)  public consultation be undertaken on an amended North Tyneside

Council Contributions Policy including proposals to (a) review the amount the Authority would use as the minimum disregard in financial assessments and (b) change the pension age; and

(3) Cabinet receive a further report in August 2021 at the conclusion of the consultation Period so that consideration can be given to the approval, or otherwise, of the amended North Tyneside Council Contributions Policy.

(Reasons for decision:  The proposed delegated authority will allow the charges to be reviewed on a regular basis and updated in line with the rates the Authority pays for services in a timely and efficient manner.

The changes proposed under sections 1.6 and 1.7 may have significant impacts on those people accessing services.  In order to demonstrate the Authority has followed due process before making a decision, it is necessary to seek their views.)

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.

(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.)

Monday 28 June 2021 at 6.00pm.

6.00pm on Monday 28 June 2021.