Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 October 2022.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 October be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 October be agreed as a correct record.

This item includes a supplementary report.

That the report be noted and welcomed.  

The Chief Executive updated on Walleys Quarry.

The council had recently reached a settlement agreement with Walleys Quarry Limited (WQL) and the report set out the details. The agreement meant WQL had withdrawn their appeal and the Abatement Notice was now in place and legally enforceable. There was one minor amendment excluding the site area itself from the notice meaning the statutory nuisance element related to a defined area outside the site. This was a technical correction.

The agreement recognised that the plans currently in place on the site did represent Best Practicable Means but it was also recognised that this could change over time.

There were various other requirements to the agreement including a commitment that the council and WQL engage constructively in good faith, WQL carry out specific community engagement measures including giving advance notice of activities that might give rise to odours, refreshing the Liaison committee and making recordings of these meetings publically available.

WQL had agreed to pay the council £400k towards the council’s costs in responding to the appeal plus £60k towards future monitoring activities.

The report set out the complaints data which showed a downward trend. The data from the four Air Quality monitoring stations showed consistently low percentage exceedances above the World Health Organisation’s nuisance levels over the past 12 weeks.

Members of Cabinet thanked officers for their hard work in achieving this outcome. The opportunities for future joint working were welcomed.

In accordance with the Cabinet Procedure Rules and the permission of the Chair, Councillor Brown raised issues as follows – concern about reporting fatigue, the reporting process not being straightforward, was there a number trigger for taking action on the Abatement Notice, what did the £400k account to as a proportion of the time taken to defend the appeal, what were the assurances around the odour nuisance being managed?

The Chief Executive responded that the permit in place related to not causing an odour nuisance off site, the exclusion of the site itself recognised that odour on site was not the issue, to take further action would require the council to conclude that a statutory nuisance was taking place based on the following criteria:

-       Frequency

-       Intensity

-       Duration

-       Offensiveness

-       Location.

The council had accepted that the current odour management plans represented Best Practicable Means and that this involved a process of contain, capture and destroy. The process when complaints were submitted to the council would include verification and any further action was not based on volume of complaints but the 5 criteria set out above. The detail of the costs would be shared outside the meeting. The regulatory role of the Environment Agency was important and council officers were meeting next month with EA officers along with the MP, Leader of Staffordshire County Council and community representatives.

Resolved: that the report be noted and welcomed. 

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That

1.         Progress with the Newcastle Town Deal be noted, and that Cabinet continues to receive such updates as required.

2.         The Executive Director Growth and Development, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to complete the grant funding agreements with such external partners as may be necessary to deliver the approved projects.

3.         A future report on the Astley Centre for Circus be considered by Cabinet at the appropriate time.

Cabinet considered a report on the Newcastle Town Deal. The Town Deal Board had been awarded £26.3m to deliver 9 projects, around 4 objectives – digital, transport, delivery of key sites, culture. To date, 8 projects had received approval to progress to delivery stage subject to a final financial check. There was one project – the Astley Centre for Circus – that was to be submitted for assessment in December.

Cabinet was also pleased to note that the Grosvenor roundabout had received a Britain in Bloom Award.

In accordance with Cabinet Procedure rules and with the permission of the Chair, Councillor Brockie asked a question around financial checks, reporting to the council and the timelines.

In response, the meeting was informed that the Business Cases were approved by the Government and the Town Deal Boards were managing the process. There were regular reports submitted to each meeting of Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee. The Head of Finance explained that close monitoring was taking place of all projects and affordability reviews underway for council projects and with partners. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth reported that he had written to the former Chancellor regarding the impact of inflation and would resend the letter to the new Chancellor.

Resolved: that

1.         Progress with the Newcastle Town Deal be noted, and that Cabinet continues to receive such updates as required.

2.         The Executive Director Growth and Development, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder be authorised to complete the grant funding agreements with such external partners as may be necessary to deliver the approved projects.

3.         A future report on the Astley Centre for Circus be considered by Cabinet at the appropriate time.

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That

1.         Progress with Kidsgrove Town Deal be noted and Cabinet will continue to receive such updates as required.

2.         Completion of the Kidsgrove Sports Centre be noted

3.         Progress with the Chatterley Valley project be noted.

4.         The Executive Director Growth & Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder be authorised to complete the Grant Funding Agreements with Network Rail, East Midlands Railway, and the Canal and Rivers Trust to enable progress with these projects.

5.         That progress with the Shared Service Hub be noted and work continue with Kidsgrove Town Council and other partners to develop this project.

6.         Cabinet receives a further report on delivery of the Shared Service Hub at a future meeting.

Cabinet considered a report on the Kidsgrove Town Deal. The Government had awarded £16.9m towards 5 projects. There were 3 objectives:

•           Objective 1: To drive growth and opportunity through enhanced enterprise structure in Kidsgrove. 

•           Objective 2: To create a connected, accessible town centre which links key assets, retains the heritage and uniqueness of Kidsgrove and delivers and drives new demand and footfall.

•           Objective 3: to maximise the leisure and recreation opportunities available in Kidsgrove, providing facilities that are supported by communities and opportunities for residents to improve their health and wellbeing.

Five projects had been approved including Kidsgrove Sports Centre redevelopment which received fast track funding and had now been completed.

Cabinet welcomed the schemes.

Resolved: that

1.         Progress with Kidsgrove Town Deal be noted and Cabinet will continue to receive such updates as required.

2.         Completion of the Kidsgrove Sports Centre be noted

3.         Progress with the Chatterley Valley project be noted.

4.         The Executive Director Growth & Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder be authorised to complete the Grant Funding Agreements with Network Rail, East Midlands Railway, and the Canal and Rivers Trust to enable progress with these projects.

5.         That progress with the Shared Service Hub be noted and work continue with Kidsgrove Town Council and other partners to develop this project.

6.         Cabinet receives a further report on delivery of the Shared Service Hub at a future meeting.

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That Cabinet:

1.         Notes the successful completion of the refurbishment and redevelopment of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and Swimming Pool.

2.         Notes that Kidsgrove Sports Centre has now re-opened to the public and is being run by a Community Interest Organisation.

3.         Notes the overall capital cost of the project £7,755,340.05 (which includes additional works as detailed in the report).

4.         Notes the additional funding provided to the project by Sport England and the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group.

5.         Approves the adjustment of the Capital Programme to reflect the final account figure and the additional cost to the Council of £129,490.05.

6.         Notes the work that Willmott Dixon Construction have undertaken in the community as part of their Social Value programme

Cabinet considered a report on the completion of the refurbishment of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and swimming pool and the detail of the final account of the contract with Willmot Dixon Construction for the project.

The Sports Centre had fully reopened in July 2022. It was managed by the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Interest Company (KSC CIC). The refurbishment works had been funded by various parties including the Borough Council, County Council, Sport England and through money raised by the KSC CIC. It was also noted that Kidsgrove Town Council had provided funding towards equipment.

Members noted the Sports Centre had been popular and well used since it had opened and was a great resource. Members expressed thanks to the KSC CIC for their work and for running the Centre.

The report outlined the final costs which had seen an overspend for the reasons as set out.

Resolved: that Cabinet:

1.         Notes the successful completion of the refurbishment and redevelopment of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and Swimming Pool.

2.         Notes that Kidsgrove Sports Centre has now re-opened to the public and is being run by a Community Interest Organisation.

3.         Notes the overall capital cost of the project £7,755,340.05 (which includes additional works as detailed in the report).

4.         Notes the additional funding provided to the project by Sport England and the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group.

5.         Approves the adjustment of the Capital Programme to reflect the final account figure and the additional cost to the Council of £129,490.05.

6.         Notes the work that Willmott Dixon Construction have undertaken in the community as part of their Social Value programme.

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That

1.         The Cabinet authorises the Executive Director Development and Growth in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - One Council, People and Partnerships to:

•           Enter into any Grant Funding Agreements with the Government as required for the Investment Plan

•           Make amendments to the projects as required to meet the interventions targets in line with any government feedback on the Investment Plan;

•           To award contracts or Funding Agreements to deliver the range of projects to meet the interventions required

2.         That Cabinet receive further updates on the delivery of the Investment Plan at regular intervals.

Cabinet considered a report on progress with developing the Shared Prospectus Fund Investment Plan. The council was the lead accountable body and had supported the development of a Newcastle Shared Prosperity Board. The Board had identified a number of projects to deliver under 3 key themes – Communities and Place Investment, Supporting Local Business and People and Skills investment. The allocation for Newcastle was £4,836,174.

Resolved: that

1.         The Cabinet authorises the Executive Director Development and Growth in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - One Council, People and Partnerships to:

•           Enter into any Grant Funding Agreements with the Government as required for the Investment Plan

•           Make amendments to the projects as required to meet the interventions targets in line with any government feedback on the Investment Plan;

•           To award contracts or Funding Agreements to deliver the range of projects to meet the interventions required

2.         That Cabinet receive further updates on the delivery of the Investment Plan at regular intervals.

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That the Forward Plan be received.

Cabinet considered the Forward Plan listing upcoming key decisions to be made by Cabinet.

Resolved: that the Forward Plan be received.

There was no Urgent Business.