Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Mr Kelvin Turner – Executive Director, Resources and Support Services.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

The meeting was moved into the Council Chamber to accommodate the large number of public who were in attendance.

 The Chair welcomed people in the public gallery and explained that there was a procedure to follow to address the Cabinet.   However, on this occasion the Chair ruled that the two day rule would be waived.  A representative was invited into the Chamber to address Cabinet.

Mr Lee Hartshorne, representing the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Action Group,  thanked the Chair for allowing him to speak.  Mr Hartshorne addressed the Cabinet and handed over his contact details and a box containing opinions from the people of Kidsgrove which was received.

The Chair explained the current position with regard to the  Sports Centre.

The Chair moved onto the next item of business but some members in the gallery exhibited disruptive behaviour which prevented the Chair from proceeding with the business of the meeting.  Therefore the decision was taken by the Chair to suspend the meeting at 6.10pm whilst the gallery was cleared.

The meeting was reconvened at 7.05pm and was moved to Committee Room 1 which was the original advertised location for the meeting.    

(i)            That the representations set out in the Issues Consultation and Response Document and approve the document for publication be noted.

(ii)          That, subject to any issues arising from the Planning Committee, Cabinet agreed to the publication of the Draft Strategic Options Consultation Document and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Report for public consultation purposes, in line with the methods of consultation set out in the adopted Statement of Community Involvement.

(iii)         That a report be submitted to a subsequent meeting of the Cabinet on the results of the Strategic Options public consultation exercise, as part of the next stage in the Joint Local Plan process – Preferred Options later in 2017.

(iv)         That the revised timetable for the production of the Joint Local Plan and that this is published as an update to the Council’s Local Development Scheme be agreed.

(v)          That, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing, the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development be given delegated powers for the following:

·            The authority to finalise the public consultation

arrangements and associated documentation for the Strategic Options stage.

·             The authority to respond to any issues and to

make decisions  which may arise from time to time (including any necessary revisions to the timetable) in order to ensure the satisfactory progress of the plan making process and also to ensure that  collaboration with Stoke-on-Trent City Council is maintained throughout the process, including reference to the Joint Advisory Group.

·            To represent the Borough Council at all Duty to Co-

operate meetings and to consider and respond (if necessary) to any matters raised at such meetings.

A report was submitted to Cabinet advising Members on the current position in respect of the Joint Local Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Kyle Robinson summarised the report, advising members that he sought Cabinet’s approval to go out to consultation on the next stage.  The results of the consultation would be brought back to a meeting of the Cabinet in Autumn 2017 as part of the next stage of the process.

The Council’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Development, Mr Neale Clifton gave a presentation to Members which had previously been shown to Members of the Planning Committee on 22 June,2017.

The presentation provided an update on the plan-making process for the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke on Trent Joint Local Plan beginning witht e Vision for the Plan along with its aims and objectives..

Members attention was drawn to the ‘Growth Scenarios’ and were advised that Option C was the most appropriate one based upon the evidence and that this level of growth would be considered as the Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) for the area..

It was then explained that six ‘Broad Options’ had been reviewed with the aim of achieving a level of growth to meet the OAN.

Members were informed that Stoke on Trent City Council’s Planning  Committee had considered the same documentation and supporting information as Newcastle on 26 June, 2017.  The same recommendations had been approved and it was also agreed that it should be the subject of public consultation.  In addition, it was confirmed that the City Council’s Cabinet had approved the report and agreed the recommendations at its meeting held on 27 June, 2017.

The Vice-Chair of the Borough Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor Chris Spence was in attendance and was invited to speak.  He thanked the Council’s Planning policy Manager, Ms Helen Beech and her team for the work that they had done in preparing the documents on such a complex subject matter and for Ms Beech’s informative presentation to Plsanning Committee.

Councillor Robinson also thanked Ms Beech and her team as well as Mr Clifton for the amount of work that had been done and was still to do.  Councillor Chris Spence was also thanked for his comments from the Planning Committee.

Councillor Turner also thanked Ms Beech and her team for their work and  stated that  the process needed to be done thoroughly in order to avoid problems later. 

The Chair, Councillor Mrs Shenton asked about slippage of the timetable.  In addition to the explanation provided in the report and by the officer at the meeting it was noted that a Joint Advisory Group had been established as an informal group who would track and monitor progress.

Councillor Turner stated that the chances of young people obtaining a mortgage in the future was questionable and therefore there needed to be an increase in social housing that was available.  Mr Clifton confirmed that the ‘affordable housing’ definition within the Plan did include social housing and that there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

That Premier Placements become the preferred supplier for temporary agency workers, and that the other eleven tenderers should also be included on the ‘call-off’ framework.

A report was submitted to Cabinet informing Members of the outcome of the tendering process for the supply of temporary agency workers and to seek Cabinet’s approval regarding the formation of the ‘call-off’ contract for the supply of temporary agency workers.

Resolved:     (i)        That Premier Placements become the preferred supplier

for temporary agency workers, and that the other eleven tenderers should also be included on the ‘call-off’ framework.

There was no Urgent Business.