Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Paul Wheeler  (0191) 643 5318 Email: Democraticsupport@northtyneside.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

OV67/20

Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

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 P Oliver declared a non-registerable personal interest in item 6 Children and Young Peoples Plan 2021-2025. She has a family member in receipt of SEND services.

OV68/20

Minutes pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2020.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minute of the meeting held on 9 November 2020 be confirmed.

OV69/20

Annual Report of the Elected Mayors

Minutes:

The  Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn, attended the meeting to share the Council’s  achievements in the past year and her priorities for the year ahead .

 

There was no doubt that the year had been different to anything that had been experienced. It had been a time of ambiguity and uncertainty both nationally and locally.  The pandemic, which was once discussed and thought about in theoretical terms, had become a reality and one that had and will continue to deal with and manage

 

Responding the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to make it an extremely busy time and many things had been done differently and with great speed.

 

The Mayor thanked her Cabinet colleagues, Council Members, Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and officers for their support and commitment. 

 

Staff had continued to ensure that bins were emptied, that the most vulnerable residents were cared for and supported, that children were provided with a school meal. All staff rose to the challenge and at times risked their lives to ensure services were delivered and she praised their bravery.

 

The Good Neighbour Scheme in conjunction with North Tyneside VODA had also been a tremendous resource throughout the pandemic and she thanked the volunteers for the support they provided.

 

When the Covid-19 restrictions came into place, the regular Listening Events in Town Centres on a Saturday morning were put on hold. Something which would return in the future when it is considered safe to do so.

 

Targeted engagement activity to seek the views of residents had continued to take place, with the feedback providing an opportunity to hear issues of real importance to residents and would be adapted for the borough accordingly. 

 

The aim now, was to drive forward the recovery from Covid-19 through the Council Plan. While concentrating on managing local outbreaks and keeping people safe, the Council and partners were trying to continue to protect the recovery of North Tyneside.

 

She stated that there was real importance to make sure children and young people could stay in education and catch up.

 

There are several ambitious plans for changing North Tyneside and investing in the borough. 

 

In looking to the future, it was important to evaluate and analyse what can be done differently, to help and reshape services in the future, with continuous development of plans to make North Tyneside an even greater place to live, work and visit.

 

The focus would continue to be on three key priorities – our people, our place, and our economy with the aim of delivering positive opportunities for everyone in the borough.

 

Children & Young People

 

The plan ensures that the Council works better for residents by improving how it does things and allowing more opportunities to volunteer, be more independent and do more for local communities.  Something that had clearly been demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Covid-19 Support Hub, set up in March with VODA to help protect the most vulnerable residents and several other wonderful community and voluntary organisations, businesses and many, many  ...  view the full minutes text for item OV69/20

OV70/20

Children and Young People's Plan 2021 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 221 KB

To consider the initial proposals for the development of a refreshed Children and Young People’s Plan for the Borough covering the period 2021-2025.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Senior Manager – Transformation Health, Education, Care & Safeguarding and improvement Manager Planning and Business Transformation attended the meeting to present the draft Children and Young People’s Plan 2021-2025.

 

The Plan was developed by the Children and Young People’s Partnership, which is part of the North Tyneside Strategic Partnership.

 

Although many significant achievements had been delivered in recent years, there remained many challenges that the partnership had continued focus. 

 

The draft of the Children and Young People’s Plan 2021-25 appended to the report set out the priorities and deliverables that were aligned to the five strategic outcomes based on what children and young people had informed what was important to them, and 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: Support 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

 

The Committee took the opportunity to question officers and raised concerns in relation to:

 

The 16- and 17-year olds who were Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET) is was stated that the effect of Covid would have had an impact on continuity of help for this group. It was stated that it was a concern however the connexions team had a good digital engagement offer that enabled continued contact with individuals and would be considered further.

 

With children with SEND needs and resources within the borough to accommodate them. It was stated that some children continued to access some educational provision outside the borough, but it was a focus within the plan. A member asked the number of children receiving out of borough provision. In response it was stated that this information would be provided at the meeting on the 2 February 2021.

 

A Member requested and it was stated further information to the new Autism Strategy would be provided to the next meeting on 2 February 2021.

 

Agreed that the draft Children and Young People’s Plan 2021-2025.

OV71/20

2021/22 Budget sub-group report pdf icon PDF 163 KB

To consider the report produced by the Budget Sub-group

Minutes:

The Committee received the report of the Budget Sub-group that detailed the scrutiny into the Cabinet’s initial 2021/25 Financial Planning and Budget proposals.

 

The group met on 17 December 2020 and 12 January 2021, where officers presented the position of the Authority budget, the Initial budget proposals to deliver a balanced budget.

 

The Committee was informed that there would be a further meeting of the Budget Sub-group, where it would scrutinise the Cabinets Final Budget Proposals and this would take place on the 2 February 2021. The Committee agreed to delegate the sub-group responsibility to make further comment and any recommendations to Cabinet following this meeting.

 

There were two themes that the Committee considered needed to be emphasised further, and made recommendations to Cabinet in relation to;

 

1.    The level of strategic reserve where it recommended that the strategic reserve be more widely explained to the public; and

2.    A simple graphical representation of the funding received by North Tyneside Council from Central Government be made available to provide a greater understanding to the public.

 

It was Agreed that (1) the Budget Sub-Group report detailing comments be referred to Cabinet; (2) delegate responsibility to the Budget Sub-group to make further comment and any recommendations to Cabinet following scrutiny of Cabinets 2021/22 Final Budget Proposals; and (3) further views and recommendations by Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee be referred to Cabinet for consideration.