Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

There is an amendment to Minute item 6, which should read:

That the Chief Executive be authorised to enter into a contract by direct award (and inform the Cabinet member for Environment and Recycling), to a known and previously used supplier for the delivery of technical consultancy work required to meet Ministerial Directive relating to Air Quality deadline of 31^st October 2019.

Resolved:     That, subject to the following amendment, the Minutes of the

meeting held on 24 April, 2019 be agreed as a correct record:

Minute item 6, should read:

That the Chief Executive be authorised to enter into a contract by direct award (and inform the Cabinet member for Environment and Recycling), to a known and previously used supplier for the delivery of technical consultancy work required to meet Ministerial Directive relating to Air Quality deadline of 31^st October 2019.

(i)            That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the  Portfolio Holder to progress with officers and other interested parties a programme of market improvement arising from the National Association of British Market Authorities’ review of Newcastle-under-Lyme market.

(ii)          That progress made on market improvements be fed into the emerging Town Centre Plan.  

A report was submitted to Cabinet updating Members on the progress with the review and management of the market in the town centre and seeking authority to progress any actions arising so far.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency, Councillor Stephen Sweeney stated that the market traders were appreciative of the dialogue between themselves and the Council and they were happy to promote the market.

Various ideas had already come forward and some initiatives were being considered.

Members welcomed the report.  Councillor Mark Holland drew Members’ attention to paragraph  2.4 which outlines the economic benefits.  Councillor Paul Northcott stated that the success of  the market would impact upon the shops within the town centre as footfall was brought in.

The Leader, and Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships,  Councillor Simon Tagg stated that the market was an important part of the town centre. 

Councillor Tagg proposed an additional recommendation (ii) be added which was agreed by Members.

Resolved:     (i)         That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in

consultation with the  Portfolio Holder to progress with officers and other interested parties a programme of market improvement arising from the National Association of British Market Authorities’ review of Newcastle-under-Lyme market.

(ii)          That progress made on market improvements be fed into the emerging Town Centre Plan. 

That the Attendance Management Policy be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval of a proposed Attendance Management policy and procedure for the Council.

Councillor Simon Tagg advised Members that they now had a Recognition Agreement with Human Resources.  Members’ attention was drawn to the document which was appended to the report.

Councillor Sweeney totally supported the policy stating that it was good that a line of communication had been re-established with the Trade Unions

Councillor Holland, the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage endorsed the comments made, stating that the proposed policy had been endorsed by the Council’s Executive Management Team and the Trade Unions.

Councillor Simon Tagg drew Members’ attention to paragraph 4.1, particularly bullet point three, suggesting that ‘more simplistic’ be amended to ‘simplification’.

Resolved:     That the Attendance Management Policy be approved.

That the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval for a proposed Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS).

Councillor Simon Tagg  stated that this Scheme would give flexibility in a period of change where services were being redesigned.

Members were advised that the Trade Unions were in agreement with this.

Resolved:     That the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) be

approved.

(i)            That the progress to date in preparing a draft Single Use Plastics Reduction Strategy be noted.

(ii)          That the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee be invited to review the Strategy and inform its completion.

A report was submitted to Cabinet updating members on the Council’s approach to minimising the use of Single Use Plastics.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling, Councillor Trevor Johnson introduced the report stating that this had been highlighted by a Motion which was submitted to Full Council in November, 2018.

Councillor Holland was pleased to see this report and stated that progress had been made in producing a draft Single Use Plastics Strategy.  The Strategy would now be referred to the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee for comments.

Councillor Simon Tagg advised that, following a letter being sent to the Secretary of State, a reply had been received stating that they were pleased with what the Council was doing.

Resolved:     (i)         That the progress to date in preparing a draft Single Use

Plastics Reduction Strategy be noted.

(ii)          That the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee be invited to review the Strategy and inform its completion.

(i)            That the contents of the report  be noted and that the recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period, be agreed.

(ii)           That the future development of the Financial & Performance report to reflect the vision and priorities of the Council Plan 2018-2022 be supported.

A report was submitted to Cabinet providing the Financial and Performance review Report for Quarter Four 2018/19.

Councillor Sweeney introduced the first part of the report, drawing Members’ attention to page 79 which outlined the current financial position.

Councillor Simon Tagg introduced the performance part of the report, commencing at page 81 of the agenda.   Referring members to ref 1.5, he stated that there had been a number of long term sickness issues which were now resolved.

Reference 1.9 showed the sickness rate as being off target.  The new Attendance Management Policy would assist in this area.

Councillor Holland commented on ref 2.1 and 2.2  and praised the volunteers especially those at the Brampton Museum.

Councillor Northcott addressed ref 2.3 and 2.4 stating that the target had not quite been met, due to a reduction in the number of major planning applications being submitted. Staffing was not at full capacity.

Councillor Simon Tagg addressed ref 4.1 to 4.3 stating that the vacancy rate had continued to rise and said that a Town Centre Plan would help to address this.

Resolved:      (i)         That the contents of the report  be noted and that the

recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period, be agreed.

(ii)           That the future development of the Financial & Performance report to reflect the vision and priorities of the Council Plan 2018-2022 be supported.

That the Forward Plan be noted.

Councillor Simon Tagg stated that this was the first time that the Forward Plan had appeared on the Cabinet agenda.  The document could be viewed by the public and showed the pace at which the Administration was moving, into its second year.

Members thanked the Chief Executive, Martin Hamilton for his work on this.

Resolved:     That the Forward Plan be noted.

There was no Urgent Business.