Agenda, decisions and minutes

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February, 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

(b)  to take all reasonable and proportionate steps to protect the Council’s interests in the future management and maintenance of Council-owned land in the overall public interest.

A report was submitted to Cabinet to review the consultation feedback and seeking agreement for the adoption of the Open Spaces and Green Infrastructure Strategies.

Resolved:              (i)         That the Open Spaces and Green Infrastructure

Strategies (as amended following the outcome of the consultation with stakeholders as detailed in this report) be adopted.

(ii)         That an annual report on progress with the

Strategies be brought to future meetings of the Cabinet.

(iii)           That the aims and objectives of the strategies

be noted and their use as part of the evidence base for the emerging joint Local Plan, including the consequential updating of other elements of the evidence base such as the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment be agreed.

(iv)          That the content of the Strategies be noted and

officers be authorised to take appropriate steps to both:

(a)  report back to Cabinet upon the implications of these Strategies for the Council’s Asset management Strategy, and;

(b)  to take all reasonable and proportionate steps to protect the Council’s interests in the future management and maintenance of Council-owned land in the overall public interest.

Item deferred.

Members were advised that this Item had been deferred.

(i)            That the allocation of funding as set out in paragraph 3(iii) of this report be approved and that officers be authorised to engage and develop a short term agreement as stated with the service provider

(ii)           That a review of future advice service provision by officers where the impact of Welfare Reform and expected changes to how users access services are considered be agreed.

A report was submitted to Cabinet to advise on the current situation with the continuing delivery of a Generalist Debt Advice in the borough and the potential impact from the County decisions on the service.   In addition, approval was sought for a contract extension to allow further review.

Resolved:       (i)         That the allocation of funding as set out in paragraph 3(iii) of

this report be approved and that officers be authorised to engage and develop a short term agreement as stated with the service provider

(ii)           That a review of future advice service provision by officers

where the impact of Welfare Reform and expected changes to how users access services are considered be agreed.

(i)            That the information arising from the consultation responses be received.

(ii)           That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Town Centres, Property and Business be authorised to make any minor modifications to the Traffic Regulation Order and proceed to adoption.

(iii)           That the fees and charges be amended to incorporate a 10% discount for the purchase of 10 permits or more and a 20% discount for the purchase of 20 permits or more.

A report was submitted to Cabinet to review the progress with the implementation of the changes to the car parking charges and the proposed adoption of the Traffic Regulation Order.

Members were advised that the business rates on car parks had risen substantially and therefore the extra costs need to be covered.

Resolved:       (i)         That the information arising from the consultation responses

be received.

(ii)           That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development

in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Town Centres, Property and Business be authorised to make any minor modifications to the Traffic Regulation Order and proceed to adoption.

(iii)           That the fees and charges be amended to incorporate a 10%

discount for the purchase of 10 permits or more and a 20% discount for the purchase of 20 permits or more.

(i)            That an external partner be sought to operate and manage the Council’s town centre Markets and that officers be authorised to prepare a tender pack at the earliest opportunity and to take all the necessary steps to procure such an operator.

(ii)           That officers be authorised to prepare an outcome-based specification for the service in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s) taking account of the views of the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.

(iii)          That the results of this tendering exercise be reported back to a future meeting of Cabinet with a view to appointing an external market operator for Newcastle town centre market as soon as practically possible.

A report was submitted to Cabinet setting out options for the future management of the town centre market and seeking a decision on the preferred option.

The matter had been examined by the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee and the Chair, Councillor Allison Gardner had been invited to this meeting of Cabinet to update Members.

Councillor Gardner advised members that four areas for investigation had been reviewed:

1)    How can the performance of Newcastle market be improved

2)    What do customers want from Newcastle market

3)    How can new traders be attracted to Newcastle market

4)    How can current traders be encouraged to work with the Council for the benefit of Newcastle market.

Surveys and interviews had been carried out with various interested parties and a ‘walk about’ had been undertaken around the market.

Different types of management models had been looked at and presentations had been given looking at possible ways of improving the current situation.

A report had been produced, in draft form, but it had not yet been to a meeting of the  Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.  Approximately twenty suggested recommendations are listed within the draft report.

Resolved:       (i)         That an external partner be sought to operate and manage the

Council’s town centre Markets and that officers be authorised to prepare a tender pack at the earliest opportunity and to take all the necessary steps to procure such an operator.

(ii)           That officers be authorised to prepare an outcome-based

specification for the service in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s) taking account of the views of the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee.

(iii)          That the results of this tendering exercise be reported back to

a future meeting of Cabinet with a view to appointing an external market operator for Newcastle town centre market as soon as practically possible.

That the Microsoft Enterprise Subscription Agreement for the supply of Microsoft products, including software and maintenance be renewed for a further three years.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval for the renewal of the Council’s Microsoft  Enterprise Agreement for a further three year period.

Resolved:       That the Microsoft Enterprise Subscription Agreement for the supply of

Microsoft products, including software and maintenance be renewed for a further three years.

That the items detailed within the confidential appendix be considered irrecoverable for the reasons stated and be written off.

Prior to the consideration of this report, Members were asked if they wished to make reference to specific items contained within the confidential appendix attached to this report.  Members agreed that there was no requirement to do so, therefore it was not necessary for the Cabinet to go into closed session.

A report was submitted to Cabinet providing details of items deemed irrecoverable from debtors and seeking approval to write off the balances as shown in the appendix.

Resolved:       That the items detailed within the confidential appendix be considered

irrecoverable for the reasons stated and be written off.

There was no Urgent Business.  However, the Chair, Councillor Elizabeth Shenton expressed her concerns in respect of the events that had taken place at Westminster earlier today.  The thoughts of the Cabinet were with all those who had been caught up in the shocking events and also with the families of those who had lost their lives.