Agenda item

Three valid questions on notice have been received for a response at this meeting.

1.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor A Newman

Would the Elected Mayor give us an update on the progress made with the veterans walk way which is planned to be installed near Spanish City in Whitley Bay?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

The Authority has been working closely with the National Veteran Walk charity to secure the installation of a veteran’s walkway around the Cenotaph at the Links, in Whitley Bay.

We have assisted with the design of the walkway, and we are now working with the Charity to promote the walkway which will be a lasting tribute to proud service.

Orders are now being taken for the granite plaques, as a lasting tribute to proud service.

The names of those dedicated are also added to the National Veterans’ Walk Roll of Honour.  It will be a wonderful tribute, not only to those servicemen and women who have passed away, but to military personnel who continue to sacrifice so much for their country.

2.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor M Thirlaway

Would the Elected Mayor tell us how much funding North Tyneside Council has lost, since she was first elected in 2013, due to cuts to local government imposed on us by the Conservative Party while in power?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

Given changes in the way funding has been provided to local government over the past decade it is hard to give an exact figure, but hopefully I can give a flavour of the changes that have been experienced by the Council.

In 2013, the Authority had a revenue budget of £177m, compared to £196m in 2024. However, in 2024 prices, the 2013 budget would have been over £240m representing a reduction of £44m in the current financial year alone – and that is before the increased demands on council services.

Over that period, the sector has seen a shift towards funding coming from local sources, notably through council tax.  Since 2013, following Government assumptions, the amount of our overall funding that comes from council tax has increased from 40% to 64% in 2024.

The main source of funding from central Government is Revenue Support Grant (RSG), which has reduced from £63m in 2013 to £14m in 2024, a reduction of £49m or 78%.  Had the 2013 levels of RSG been maintained at the same level in cash terms, the Authority would have received an additional £470m of central Government funding over the period since 2013.

3.      Question to the Elected Mayor by Councillor C Johnson

North Tyneside Council has a proud track record of supporting our armed forces and veterans. Some local authorities take into account military compensation payments when working out benefit entitlement.  Would the Elected Mayor confirm what the position is in North Tyneside?

Councillor C Johnson responded as follows:

The Council is very proud of our track record in supporting our armed forces and veterans.  In regard to benefit entitlements the government makes provision for the first £10.00 of income from War Disablement Pension, War Widows (Widowers) Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme to be disregarded in any housing benefit and Council Tax Support assessment. The cost of this disregard is fully reimbursed to the Council.

It is at the Council’s discretion to disregard any further amount in addition to the statutory £10.00 provision from these pensions. I can confirm that the Council has used our discretion and fully disregards war related pensions and income from Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support as follows:

•          War Disablement Pension

•          War Widows (Widowers) Pension

•          Income from Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

It is only in regard to the provision of Disabled Facilities Grants for adaptations where legislation currently does not provide for the disregard of Service Invalidity Pensions’.  This appears to be because Service Invaliding Pensions (SIP) are not awarded as the result of injuries or illness sustained whilst on duty, however the Council is working to come up with a solution to this on the basis of our work around the Armed Forces Covenant and I hope officers can report back soon with a solution.

The Council is thankful to the Royal British Legion for highlighting this issue through their campaigning.  Thankfully no veteran in North Tyneside has been impacted by this and we are sure a solution can be found.