Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That, subject to the inclusion of Councillors’ Lewis and Moss as being in attendance, the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November, 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor made one announcement:

The Mayor’s Civic Mass would be held on Sunday 25 February, 2024 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, commencing at 11am.

The Leader introduced a report on the Council’s Annual Report for 2022-23 which provided a summary of work and outcomes achieved during the first year of the Council’s 2022-2026 Council Plan.  Some of the achievements were outlined at paragraph 2.2 and expanded upon by the relevant Portfolio Holders.

Councillor Gillian Williams referred to the creation of the Neighbourhood Delivery Team under paragraph 2.2 and asked who the people were, what they did and how they could be contacted.

The Leader asked the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment, Councillor Hutchinson to contact Members with the contact details of the officers and team that was set up under the Service Director – Neighbourhood Delivery.

Councillor Gorton queried why one of the recommendations was to receive and consider the Annual Report for 2022-23 but it was already in the public domain.

The Leader stated that the Annual Report had already been to Cabinet and the purpose this evening was to receive it.

Resolved:     (i)         That the Council’s Annual Report for 2022-23 be received.

(ii)        That the achievements of the Council over the reporting period be recognised.

(iii)       That the publication date of the Annual Report going forward – September each year, be noted.

Watch the debate here

The Leader introduced a report seeking approval of amendments made to polling districts and places, following a review.

Councillor Dave Jones stated that at least one polling station was being relocated back into a school and asked the Returning Officer if he would like to make a comment on what impact that would have on the pupils.

The Chief Executive stated that, in the review, they had tried to minimise the use of schools but if there were no alternative places, local schools did have to be used.

The Leader stated that the school in question had been happy to take the polling station back and had requested it.

Resolved:     That the amendments to the polling districts and polling places,

as set out in the report, be approved.

Watch the debate here

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg presented the statement that had been circulated about the activities and decisions made by Cabinet to allow questions and comments. Reference was made to the Council’s Annual Report and the Leader stated that this Council ‘made things happen’ and this Statement reflected that.

Questions were raised and responses were provided as follows.

On paragraph 1 – Cabinet Meetings

Councillor Fox-Hewitt expressed concerns at a decision taken at Cabinet on 16 January regarding the future delivery of the Communications Service – being outsourced and managed by Staffordshire County Council.  Councillor Fox-Hewitt felt that this should have been subject to scrutiny. 

The Leader was asked if he would engage in a small stakeholder consultation including members, external partners, local businesses and residents before committing to outsourcing this vital element of council delivery.

The Leader stated that the item was not called-in when it could have been.  The County Council had already been delivering the service for around twelve months due to Communications Officers’ retiring or going on maternity leave.  The cover from the County Council had worked well and the County did work for other Authorities too.

No consultation would be carried out.  The matter had been discussed at Cabinet and was not called-in.  There was potential for it to be looked at by the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee in the future. 

On paragraph 2 – Walleys Quarry Update

Councillor Bettley-Smith asked the Leader if he agreed that the stink was as bad as ever and would he consider that the inactions of the Environment Agency (EA), along with their failed monitoring systems was unacceptable and an outrage.  In addition, did the Leader agree that this now needed a full public inquiry.

The Leader agreed and stated that at the last Full Council meeting there had been a request to write to the Secretary of State and at the following Cabinet meeting that request was upgraded to include writing to the Prime Minister also.  As of today, the Leader had received no response so the matter had been taken up with the local MP to try and get a response in regard to the public inquiry.

Councillor Brown asked the Leader if the Council had evaluated any new data and any links to ill health from the emissions, now that the EA monitoring stations were calibrating correctly. If this was the case, could the report be shared immediately.

The Leader stated that the Council was not doing the re-evaluation.  The EA had brought in an independent body to do it.  Once the data was available, the Health Agency could give its view on the health impacts.

Councillor Lawley asked, in light of the increase in complaints to the Council and EA, had the Council approached Walleys Quarry to establish what the cause of the increase in odours and emissions was and if so, what was the response.

The Leader stated that the Council’s Chief Executive had regular meetings with Walleys Quarry and they were aware  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Reports are attached for the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee and the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee.

The reports for the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee and Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee had been circulated with the agenda.

A verbal update was given for the Finance Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee detailing the items discussed at previous meetings.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.

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Reports are attached for the Licensing and Public Protection Committee and the Planning Committee. 

The Audit and Standards Committee has not met since the last meeting.

Reports for the Licensing and Public Protection Committee and the Planning Committee were attached to the agenda.

The Audit and Standards Committee had not met since the last meeting of the Full Council.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.        

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To consider a motion seeking to ban the giving of live animals as prizes on Newcastle land.

A Motion was received concerning banning live animals as prizes, proposed by Councillor Adcock and seconded by Councillor Simon Tagg.

Councillor Dave Jones proposed an amendment to the list of recommendations to include the development of an Animal Welfare Charter for the Borough as the third bullet point.

The mover of the original motion was happy to accept the amendment and suggested that it could be discussed at the Health, Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee.  The seconder of the original motion stated that the Council could commit to putting a charter together, take it through Scrutiny and bring it to Full Council for approval.

Following a debate on the original motion, a vote was taken.

In Favour (Y) – 41

Against (N) – 0

Abstain – 0

The Motion was carried.

Watch the debate here

Three questions were received:

1)        Question from Councillor Parker to the Deputy Leader of the Council:

“It was encouraging to see the report that went to Health Scrutiny Committee and was publicised on the Council website about the reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. This helps to counter some of the negative comments that sometimes surround the Town Centre

Can the Deputy Leader please highlight some of the initiatives that have been implemented to bring about this reduction?”

The Deputy Leader stated that Public Space Protection Orders had been implemented; Safer Night’s Schemes; Operation Saltmine; Safe Space; Street Medics; gating, extended CCTV; security marshalls and weekly enforcement meetings.

Councillor Parker asked a supplementary question:

“Does the Deputy Leader have any statistics to back up the good work that is being done in Newcastle?”

The Deputy Leader stated that information provided by the police  showed a reduction in anti-social behaviour of 10%; reduction of reported crime 3%; increased engagement with the community and businesses; increase in CCTV cameras; improved partnership working.

2)        Question from Councillor Bettley-Smith to the Leader of the Council:

“I am sure the Leader is familiar with German U Boat (SM U118) that washed onto Hastings’ beach on 15 April 1919. But, for others, two coastguard officials, showed visitors around the submarine daily over several months. Visitors complained about the smell of ‘rotting food’. The two officials died in December 1919 and February 1920, respectively: not due to ‘rotting food’ but due to their prolonged exposure to low levels of chlorine gas. Visitors had no lasting effects. Here we are dealing with Hydrogen Sulphide: but the principle is the same, given Hydrogen Sulphide is poisonous. Therefore, will the Leader, in pressing for a Public Inquiry, insist the relevant authorities consider the long-term health risks, of our residents’, our Council Tax payers, prolonged exposure to the stink from Walley’s Quarry?”

The Leader stated that officers were in regular contact with a range of

agencies including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which had replaced Public Health England and, the UK HAS continued to assess the health risks monthly.  They had acknowledged that there was a greater degree of uncertainty with the historic H2S data up to August 2023.  They were therefore only able to consider current exposures.  The UK HSA latest health risk assessment covered the period September to November, 2023 and concluded that the risk of long term health problems was likely to be small but could not be excluded at this stage.

The Hydrogen Sulphide data continued to show low level exposure to the population around the landfill site and the two monitoring station sites showed a monthly average concentration in November above the long term lifetime health based grievance value.  MMF2 showed a concentration below the guidance value.

The findings of an independent peer review were awaited, due to be released in February.

Councillor Bettley-Smith asked a supplementary question:

“Was the Leader appalled that permission for this outrageous, totally unacceptable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To receive from Members any petitions which they wish to present to the Council.

There were no petitions.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Section B4, Rule 9 of the constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be  deemed necessary.

There was no urgent business.

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

There were no confidential items.