Agenda and draft minutes

Nominations were received for a Chair for the meeting.  Councillor Joan Whieldon was appointed.

Councillor Joan Wheldon in the Chair

A minute’s silence was held for the late Mayor, Councillor Barry Panter and former Councillor Charles Edward (Ted) Holland.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Tagg led tributes to Councillor Panter stating that he had been dedicated to public service throughout his life and loved collecting model police cars, books and pencils.  He was elected as Councillor in 2016 and had always wanted to become Mayor.  Best wishes were sent to his family and friends.

Councillor Dave Jones stated, on behalf of the Labour Group that the news of Councillor Panter’s passing had hit everyone hard.  He had made public service his life commitment and was a true gentleman. Best wishes were sent to the family.

Members stated that Councillor Panter was a good friend, an all-round nice guy and a true gentleman, well known and well liked who would be hugely missed.

The Chair stated that a letter had been received from Adam Jogee MP which would be passed to the family.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Tagg led tributes to former Councillor Charles Edward  (Ted) Holland stating that he had worked for local government in the Planning Department and had served on Newcastle’s Planning Committee.  He had also been leader of the Conservative group and a Cabinet member and sent best wishes to his family.

Members sent condolences to his family.  He always welcomed new Councillors and was always ready to share his knowledge.

Watch the tributes here

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

The Chair asked the Council’s Monitoring Officer for advice on Dispensation for Councillors on agenda item 5.

The Monitoring Officer advised that it had been decided that all Members would be granted a dispensation this evening on the matter of Local Government Reorganisation at item 5 of the agenda.  There was therefore no need for any Member to declare an interest in that item.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

This item includes an amendment from the Labour Group.

The Leader introduced a report, seeking Council’s endorsement and support for actions to preserve the Borough following the release of the English Devolution White Paper in December, 2024.

The Leader had written to  Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution inviting him to visit the borough and setting out concerns with the reorganisation process;  a copy of the letter was appended to the report. 

The Leader stated that the two tier local government system had worked very well for this Council over the years and could continue to deliver in the future and was therefore the best model going forward.

Referring to the recommendations, the Leader referred to the ‘Strategic Authority’ participation (recommendation C), which supported economic growth and better infrastructure at a strategic level.  At a recent Cabinet meeting at Stoke City Council, discussing the possibility of merges with Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle, all of the benefits that they discussed were those of a ‘Strategic Authority’. 

The Leader stated that there needed to be a Government-funded Borough-wide referendum on any proposals and a full boundary review and that the Government fully fund any reorganisation.

The response of this Council on the forced local government reorganisation was routed in the preservation of the Borough’s independence and maintaining of high standards of local service provision and recognition of residents opinions in choosing its future.  The governance model should be in the best interests of Newcastle and the first option would be that of recommendation I – the unitary council for Newcastle but, keeping options open with investigations of other possible models.

Councillor Sweeney in seconding the motion stated that removing a level of democracy would not make the system more democratic nor would it save money, but there would be a detriment for local decision making.

An amendment had been submitted, proposed by Councillor Dave Jones and seconded by Councillor Fox-Hewitt.  The amendment solely supported a Unitary Council model for Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Following a debate on the amendment a named vote was taken.

In Favour (Y) – 14 

Against (N) - 22

Abstain – 1

The amendment was not carried, therefore Members debated on the original motion put forward by the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Holland referred to a comment made by the Leader of Staffordshire County Council in a report to their Cabinet which stated that two tier local government worked in Staffordshire and struck the right  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

should there be a requirement to enter into closed session:

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.