Agenda, decisions and minutes

Prior to the commencement of the meeting a minute’s silence was held in tribute to Councillor Eileen Braithwaite who had recently passed away.

The Leader advised members that a letter of condolence had been sent to the family.

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:    That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March, 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

That all property within the red line boundaries on plan 1 and plan 2 be appropriated, in accordance with section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), from use for commercial purposes to use for planning purposes under S.237 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

A report was submitted to the Cabinet seeking authorisation for the appropriation of the sites at former St Giles’ and St George’s School in Barracks Road and land at the Ryecroft.  The reason for the action was to ensure that the sites were held for planning purposes under Section 237 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

The appropriation would make any third party interests that might exist, subject to compensation only and prevent any injunction being sought that could delay the redevelopments from proceeding.

Resolved:    That all property within the red line boundaries on plan 1 and plan 2 be appropriated, in accordance with section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), from use for commercial purposes to use for planning purposes under S.237 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

(i)     That the progress reports produced by each of the nine Locality Action Partnerships (LAPs), which highlights their achievements during the last twelve months be acknowledged and endorsed.

(ii)    That the work of the LAPs in the nine localities across the Borough and assists in enabling them to continue to contribute to the delivery of the Council’s Co-operative Strategy through further development continue to be supported.

(iii)  That Council departments be encouraged to proactively use the LAPs for consultation purposes, making information packs available to be disseminated to the groups and the wider community.

(iv)  That the LAPs receive feedback of the findings of the Cabinet Panel and encourages a dialogue to ascertain shared benefits of partnership working between the Council and the LAPs.

The LAPs are also supported and assisted to;

(i)               proactively engage and continue to encourage new partnerships for the benefits of locality working in the Borough;

(ii)              continue to share information, disseminate good practice and raise awareness of activity;

(iii)            report further progress and activities back to Cabinet in 12 months time to review achievements and areas for improvement

A report was submitted to Cabinet updating members on the work of the Locality Action Partnerships (LAPs).

The report was an information item and Cabinet’s approval was requested for ongoing support to assist in the further development of the LAP’s in the nine localities across the Borough.

A LAP’s Cabinet Panel had been convened and had debated what the LAP’s do well and some of the challenges that they face.  The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Localism who is also the Chair of the LAP’s Cabinet Panel advised members that she, along with the Council’s Partnership’s Manager, would be going out to visit each of the LAP’s and would bring a further update to Cabinet once this had been done.

Resolved:         (a)      (i)       That the progress reports produced by each

of the nine Locality Action Partnerships (LAPs), which highlights their achievements during the last twelve months be acknowledged and endorsed.

(ii)              That the work of the LAPs in the nine

 localities across the Borough and assists in enabling them to continue to contribute to the delivery of the Council’s Co-operative Strategy through further development continue to be supported.

(iii)             That Council departments be encouraged to

proactively use the LAPs for consultation purposes, making information packs available to be disseminated to the groups and the wider community.

(iv)            That the LAPs receive feedback of the

findings of the Cabinet Panel and encourages a dialogue to ascertain shared benefits of partnership working between the Council and the LAPs.

                    (b)      The LAPs are also supported and assisted to;

(i)                proactively engage and continue to

encourage new partnerships for the benefits of locality working in the Borough;

(ii)              continue to share information, disseminate

good practice and raise awareness of activity;

(iii)             report further progress and activities back to

Cabinet in 12 months time to review achievements and areas for improvement

(i)               That the adoption and implementation of the Housing Strategy 2016-2021 based on the Strategic Housing Market Assessment and the Building Research Establishment dwelling analysis be approved.

(ii)              That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to make any minor amendments following the Cabinet discussion.

A report was submitted to the Cabinet seeking approval to adopt the Newcastle-under-Lyme Housing Strategy 2016-2021.

The document had been through the scrutiny process and public consultation. 

Members’ attention was drawn to the proposed strategic priorities within the draft strategy.

Councillor Turner stressed that this was an important document and that issues relating to the private rented sector needed to be taken seriously as more younger people who could not afford to buy their own property and would therefore go into rented accommodation.  Private landlords need to be educated and supported where possible.  It needed to be made known that Newcastle Borough Council would not accept substandard housing.

Resolved:              (i)       That the adoption and implementation of the

Housing Strategy 2016-2021 based on the Strategic Housing Market Assessment and the Building Research Establishment dwelling analysis be approved.

(ii)             That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to make any minor amendments following the Cabinet discussion.

That the adoption and implementation of the Homelessness Strategy 2016 –2021 be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval and adoption of the Homelessness Strategy 2016-2021.  Members were advised that the strategy took into account  good practice and government guidance to assist in achieving the Gold Standard in the delivery of homelessness services.

Resolved:    That the adoption and implementation of the Homelessness

Strategy 2016 –2021 be approved.

There was no Urgent Business.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the attached report, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved:-             That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1,2, and 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

That the application to exhume be approved subject to written confirmation that all costs will be met by the applicant.

A report was submitted to Cabinet which was a request to exhume cremated remains from a grave at Newcastle Crematorium.

Resolved:    That the application to exhume be approved subject to written confirmation that all costs will be met by the applicant.