Agenda and draft 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 the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May, 2025 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

The Mayor wished the former Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir Ian Dudson all the best for his retirement and looked forward to welcoming his successor, Professor Elizabeth Barnes to Newcastle in due course.

There would be two further Mayoral walks in August – on 10^th and 24^th as part of the Mayor’s walking around the boundary of the Borough.

The Mayor would be attending an event on 26^th September at Burland Hall.  The event would be raising money for Papyrus which was one of the Mayor’s chosen charities.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment, Councillor David Hutchison introduced a report setting out the success of being awarded a grant as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero PSDA Phase 4 funding  for the decarbonisation of the Council’s J2 leisure centre.

As part of the revised Sustainable Environment Strategy, external funding was pursued to help with decarbonisation and energy efficiency of the building.  Members were asked to accept the grant of £2,790,173  towards the project which, in total would cost £3,207, 266.  A contribution of £417,093 would be made by the Council, which was included in the Borough Council’s Capital Programme for the Sustainable Environment Strategy associated delivery plan.  The Portfolio Holder moved the recommendation.

The Leader, in seconding the recommendation, stated that funding for J2 had been ‘missed out on’ in the past, with funding going to Kidsgrove Sports Centre instead.  He was therefore pleased that funding had been received to bring in measures to save energy and cut carbon emissions at J2.

Councillor Stubbs stated that this was fantastic news and congratulated the finance team in acquiring the funding.

Councillor Holland stated that the money was welcome as it would go towards reducing bills and the future liability on the tax payer.

The Leader, referring to previous funding for Kidsgrove Sports Centre stated that the funding for J2 was a ‘win’ for the Borough’s leisure facilities.

Resolved:    That the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero granting of funding available to enable Salix Finance to provide the Council with a grant of up to £2,790,173 to assist in carrying out a low carbon energy reduction heating project at its Jubilee 2 Leisure Centre, be accepted.

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.

Questions were raised and responses were provided as follows.

On paragraph 2 – Walleys Quarry Odour Issues

Councillor Adcock stated that he would like to see more information from the Environment Agency (EA) that was available to residents, regarding the long term future for the site such as the future restoration and funding settlement.  Councillor Adcock asked the Leader if he agreed that the EA should hold a public meeting as soon as possible where residents could have their questions answered.

The Leader agreed, stating that interaction with the public by the EA was important.  In a recent meeting with the EA and other partners, the Leader had asked if they would be willing to convene the liaison committee and they had said that it would be considered.  A stakeholders meeting was really important, especially with what could happen in the autumn and when the BUND money had run out.

Councillor Whieldon stated that residents were pleased that odours had diminished but were anxious about any  possible future recurrence and were therefore seeking assurance that the EA would continue to do the job properly.

The Leader stated that it was important for the monitoring equipment to come back to Silverdale Pumping Station, if required.   The EA had stated that they were discontinuing the dedicated Walleys Quarry reporting system in favour of a standard national one.

Council staff were dealing with any odour complaints and any received were being investigated.

On paragraph 3 – Fields In Trust

Councillor Holland asked the Leader if he welcomed the news that Village Green status had been given to three green spaces in the Westlands ward and if he agreed that the extra protection would compliment the protection given by the Fields in Trust status and stop development of the sites.

The Leader welcomed the decision by Staffordshire County Council’s Rights of Way Committee for this and stated that it was down to the dedication of residents making the application.  Repton Drive, Winchester Drive and Clayton Field would now be pout on the list of Village Green and would also be put into the Fields in Trust applications.

Councillor Whieldon asked if there was potential for increasing the number of parks and open spaces from the 88 mentioned in the report.

The Leader stated that there were more Village Green status applications in the pipeline and more sites were being sought to put into the Fields in Trust.

On paragraph 4 – Devolution and Forced Local Government Reorganisation Update

Councillor Fear recalled that, at the last meeting, it was noted that Staffordshire Moorlands District Council did not seem to be cognizant on this Council’s position on the  compulsory reorganisation and a letter was sent to them in that respect.  The Leader was asked if any reply had been received back and if he agreed that Staffordshire Moorlands had surrendered to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Reports for the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee, the Health Wellbeing and Environment Scrutiny Committee and the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee were attached to the agenda.

Resolved:    That the reports be received.

Watch the debate here

Reports for the Planning Committee and the Audit and Standards Committee were attached to the agenda.

Members were advised that the Licensing and Public Protection Committee had not met since the last meeting of the Full Council.

Resolved:    That the reports be received.

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A Motion has been received regarding Walleys Quarry.  An amendment to the Motion is also attached.

A Motion, concerning Walleys Quarry, had been submitted by the Labour Group and an amendment to the Motion was submitted by the Conservative Group. 

The Monitoring Officer advised Members that the proposer and seconder of the Motion wished to withdraw it - with the consent of the Mayor.

Councillor Holland, under Procedure Rule 4.3 of the Constitution, proposed to move the suspension of Procedure Rule 4.6 in order that the text of the Conservative Group’s amended Motion may be debated.

The meeting was suspended briefly whilst the Mayor took advice from the Chief Executive and the Monitoring Officer.

The Mayor accepted the withdrawal of the Labour Group’s Motion and advised that adjournment of the meeting was necessary in order to discuss Councillor Holland’s Point of Order.

Meeting adjourned at 8.10pm

Meeting resumed at 8.40pm

The Mayor advised that following discussion, the Point of Order to discuss the Motion would be allowed.

The Leader was asked to propose the ‘Motion Without Notice’.

The Leader moved the Motion which, following the issuing of the Closure Notice for Walleys Quarry, gave a number of resolutions which included calling upon the Environment Agency (EA), MP and relevant authorities to ensure that the site was remediated, made safe and fully restored.  The Motion also asked for a Public Inquiry to be held, looking into the failings of the EA as regulator of the site.

Councillor Holland seconded the Motion stating that the Motion was clear.  The national framework for protecting the residents of Newcastle had failed in this instance and therefore the national bodies should be held accountable.

Following a debate, which raised issues such as what happens next, the Leader in summing up stated that the Motion was clear and set out the parameters for moving forward. 

A vote was taken and the Motion was carried.

Watch the debate here

Question from Councillor Mark Holland to the Leader of the Council:

“There has been considerable coverage in the media about so-called "DOGE savings" since the local elections in May. Could the Leader of the Council outline how the Conservative Administration at Newcastle Borough Council, working with Council Officers, has delivered millions of pounds in efficiency savings since 2018?”

The Leader advised that from this Council’s point of view, the efficiencies that were attached to the DOGE agenda were nothing new as efficiency board meetings had taken place in the Council since 2018 and, through that funding strategy almost £17m had been saved.  This had allowed for the financial position to be balanced each year and services had improved in the process.  The Efficiency Board process had begun for this year which would feed through to Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees  before going to Full Council for the budget in February, 2026.  This Council would come forward with a measure of savings to save almost £2m.  Decisions would be made such as not closing the toilets in town and to support the Museum and flower displays across the Borough, all of which could be challenged, DOGE’d and removed.

Councillor Holland did not ask a supplementary question

Question from Councillor Richard Gorton to the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage:

“A decade after his death,  Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister remains a giant of rock music. Lemmy may have been born in Burslem, but the greater part of his childhood was spent in Madeley. In view of Lemmy's international status as a musician, song writer and leader of the band Motorhead, does the Portfolio Holder agree that it is time Lemmy's association with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme was formally recognised and celebrated?”

The Portfolio Holder stated  that Lemmy spent a lot of time in Madeley before  the age of ten, then moving to Anglesey.   The Council did have discussions on the unveiling of the recent statue in Burslem – if it could be located in the new Astley Place area, alongside the new music venue where there could be a motorhead themed restaurant.  However, Burslem was selected as it was his birthplace.   A national Blue Plaque had also been considered at his childhood home in Madeley but unfortunately he had only been passed for ten years - with the criteria being twenty years.   The Museum had been approached to look into ways that Lemmy could be recognised.

Councillor Gorton asked a supplementary question:

“Does the portfolio agree that, at some stage it would be brilliant if an exhibition could be held at the Museum celebrating Lemmy’s life and music.”

The Portfolio Holder agreed, stating that he would be following up with the Museum into possible events.

Question from Councillor Andrew Fox-Hewitt to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment:

“Following a number of members raising concerns with regards the councils new grass management strategy, Council was informed last year that a review would be undertaken including a public consultation.

Can the Portfolio Holder please  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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

No petitions were handed in.

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.