Agenda item

To receive an update in relation to the Our North Tyneside Plan.

The Committee received a report that provided an update on proposed new measures to monitor the performance of the Our North Tyneside Plan (ONT) 2021- 2025.

The proposed measures reflected the policy priorities following the Mayoral Election May 2021, in additional to those of residents, businesses, partners and stakeholders that had been received during both internal and external engagement.

The ONT Plan was structured around the five themes:

·       Thriving

·       Family Friendly

·       Caring

·       Secure

·       Green

A set of high-level outcome measures that had been developed against most the priorities were appended to the report. It was acknowledged that there were some priorities where written qualitative updates would be more appropriate than performance metrics.

The reporting of the performance of the Our North Tyneside 2021-2025 plan would continue to be received on a 6-monthly basis in the format of a dashboard report with accompanying analysis.

Under the Thriving Theme that further information was asked to be provided in relation to the responsibility of updating of the masterplan for North Shields with the inclusion to who would be consulted prior to the update and the spend in delivering it.

Further information was requested in relation to:

·       the vacancy rate in shops/properties in the area, the number of business start-ups in the Town centre with a breakdown of the number of business trading one -year after being started and the number of jobs the start-ups.

·       reducing the number of derelict properties across the borough it was asked the approach for considering a long-term vacant dwelling.

·       to properties deleted from Council Tax Valuation List - property uninhabitable, rationale to the process of selection.

A Member raised that consideration should be made to in relation to a measure for sole trader registration as this was an area where people move from of benefits and onto establishing businesses.

Secure Theme

Under the priority - We will maintain the Council Tax support scheme that cuts bills for thousands of low-income households across North Tyneside. It was asked what the current percentage applications for Local Council Tax Support and what proportion was this in relation to whole borough be provided.

Green Theme

Under the priority - Council environmental hit squads will crack down on littering. It was asked that information be provided on the assumptions/forecast targets for each of the measures fly tipping incidents reported, fixed penalty notices issued for littering, fixed penalty notices issued for fly tipping.

A Member raised that there was no measure with regards to Culture and Heritage. Officers stated there was to be a review of the Cultural Strategy and some metrics may arise from that.

A Member questioned how the Council ensured there was engagement with marginalised groups. Officers informed of the increased partnership working with Voluntary/Community Sector to ensure comprehensive community engagement.

The Committee noted and agreed that the final set of proposed measures be presented at a future meeting.

Agreed that (1) the Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 update report be noted; and (2) the final set of proposed measures be presented at a future meeting.