Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:       That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 January, 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

That the contents of the report be noted.

The Chief Executive provided an update on the problematic odours in the Borough associated with Walleys Quarry going through the report that had been circulated.

Paragraph 3 deals with the complaint data. There had been a rise in complaints received in the second and third week of January by both the Council and the Environment Agency although these were still lower than those received two years ago by some margin.

Regarding the information coming from the monitoring stations which record the percentage of time when the stations are picking up hydrogen sulphide concentration that is above the World Health Organisation’s threshold, three of the units are now consistently recording very low levels. The fire station hasn’t recorded anything for the last three months.

The Galingale View monitoring station, that is usually the area where recorded levels are highest, recorded higher levels two weeks in December and one week in January. What happened then was that an exceedance was noted from 5pm on the 20^th January to 10am the next day. The gas management contractor which is now monitoring the site remotely had metrics that show there had been an increase in suction in the gas infrastructure which turned out to be due to a blockage caused by ice which was dealt with in the morning. This was considered a good example of dynamic response.

The complaints and air quality data appear to be relatively consistent although there was a spike of complaints on the 23^rd January for which the reasons couldn’t be identified yet.

The Environment Agency continues monitoring the site too.

The month’s summary in terms of waste acceptance is attached to the report. There had been no issue of non-conformity raised with the operator. The key performance indicator number 7 shows that the concentration of hydrogen sulphide within the gas is down to 1,500 vs 6,000 two years ago.

The Leader expressed his satisfaction over the report and thanked the Chief Executive and team of officers involved.

Responding to questions from members the Chief Executive elaborated on the mediation agreement which had successfully reset the dialogue with the operator. It was felt that things were moving in the right direction.

The Leader informed the meeting that both the monitoring data and cabinet report would be accessible from the main page of the Council website so that information is readily available for residents.

Resolved:       That the contents of the report be noted.

Watch the debate here

(i)            That the Revenue and Capital Budgets as detailed in this report and in the report to Cabinet dated 10 January 2023 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ii)           That the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 (Appendix 2) be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iii)         That the strategy for ensuring a balanced revenue outturn position for 2022/23 be approved.

(iv)         That the calculation of the Council Tax base and the Council Tax increase to be proposed for 2023/24 of 1.99% per Band D equivalent property be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(v)          That the risk assessment at Appendix 3 and the Section 151 Officer’s recommendation on the level of reserves and contingencies provisionally required to be maintained in 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(vi)         That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix 5) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(vii)        That the Borough Growth Fund Priorities for 2023/24 be approved.

(viii)       That the Capital Strategy (Appendix 6) for 2023/33 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ix)         That the Treasury Management Strategy (Appendix 7) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(x)          That the Investment Strategy (Appendix 8) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(xi)         That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Appendix 9) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

The Deputy Leader presented the last version of the Revenue & Capital Budgets & Strategies 2023/24 to be presented to Full Council on 15^th February.

This was an updated medium term financial strategy and the proposals to be recommended towards a balanced 2023/24 General Fund Revenue Budget along with the Capital Program for 2023/24 to 2025/26. It also included the flexible use of Capital Receipts Strategy (updated for 2023/24), the Capital Strategy for 2023/33, the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24 and the Investment Strategy for 2023/24 for approval by Full Council.

The Cabinet considered the report and expressed their agreement with the recommendations put forward.

Resolved:

(i)               That the Revenue and Capital Budgets as detailed in this report and in the report to Cabinet dated 10 January 2023 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ii)              That the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 (Appendix 2) be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(iii)            That the strategy for ensuring a balanced revenue outturn position for 2022/23 be approved.

(iv)            That the calculation of the Council Tax base and the Council Tax increase to be proposed for 2023/24 of 1.99% per Band D equivalent property be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(v)             That the risk assessment at Appendix 3 and the Section 151 Officer’s recommendation on the level of reserves and contingencies provisionally required to be maintained in 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(vi)            That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix 5) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(vii)          That the Borough Growth Fund Priorities for 2023/24 be approved.

(viii)         That the Capital Strategy (Appendix 6) for 2023/33 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(ix)            That the Treasury Management Strategy (Appendix 7) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(x)             That the Investment Strategy (Appendix 8) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

(xi)            That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Appendix 9) for 2023/24 be recommended to Full Council for approval.

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That the acceptance of the Safer Streets Round 4 grant be approved and proper officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, be authorised to seek tenders/quotations for the agreed projects and award contracts to deliver the schemes.

The Community Safety and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the grant funding offer from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) under the Safer Streets Round 4 scheme along with the request for approval to accept and spend the grant on an agreed programme of projects.

The PFCC came to Newcastle in October 2022 and various projects were identified with partners to reduce violence and antisocial behaviours. £750,000 was subsequently awarded to the PFCC and split across 5 areas in North Staffordshire of which Newcastle-under-Lyme which was awarded £150,000.

Part of the funding needs to be defrayed by the end of March. Projects this could go to include improved lighting, more CCTV, environmental works and alley gating as well as the provisions of Street Pastors and a £40,000 antisocial behaviour campaign, all very good for the town centre.

Members welcomed the proposal as very good news and all agreed.

Resolved:       That the acceptance of the Safer Streets Round 4 grant be approved and proper officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, be authorised to seek tenders/quotations for the agreed projects and award contracts to deliver the schemes.

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That the Leader and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People, and Partnerships, in consultation with the Executive Director – Growth and Development be authorised to award a contract for the a provider of advertising services.

The Leader introduced the report on the award of a contract for the provision of a service provider to deliver a solution for the generation of income from advertising streams ahead of the expiration of the current contract at the end of February.

So that the Leader could be content with the detail of the tender and evaluation process, he moved that the recommendation be amended so that the authority to award the contract be delegated to himself as Leader and Portfolio Holder in consultation with the Executive Director on Growth and Development. All agreed.

Resolved:       That the Leader and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People, and Partnerships, in consultation with the Executive Director – Growth and Development be authorised to award a contract for the provision of advertising services.

That the Forward Plan be received.

Members reviewed and agreed on the Cabinet Forward Plan upcoming items.

Resolved:       That the Forward Plan be received.

There was no Urgent Business.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following reports, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

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 contained within 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 7 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

That the confidential appendix be received.

Resolved:     That the confidential appendix be received.