Agenda item

Councillor Maxfield asked the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth about background work on the Joint Local Plan.

Councillor Northcott stated that the Joint local Plan would show where housing development would take place and  would be a safeguard for development when they came forward.  In July, a revised National Planning policy Framework had been produced which meant that Newcastle had to revisit its policies.  Originally the second round had been due to begin in the next few weeks but this had been put on hold to look at our Policy.

Councillor Fear asked The Leader of the Council for an update on his work with the Business Improvement District (BID).

The Leader outlined his work with the BID since December, 2017 and stated that the Council would continue to work closely with them in terms of the Ryecroft site, markets and carparking.

Councillor Rout asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency about the withdrawal of the contract from the Borough’s churches for servicing and Maintenance of the clocks.

Councillor Sweeney stated that there were three clocks involved and the Council continued to support the servicing contracts.  The maintenance contracts would need to be discussed.

Councillor Kearon asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency for an update on the commissioning process for demolition of the former Civic Offices.

Councillor Sweeney advised that officers had prepared a brief to undertake a survey to assess the amount of asbestos within the building.  The commissioning process would cost £30,000 and information should be available around Easter 2019.  Councillor Sweeney assured that he would share the information with Members when he received it.

The former Civic Offices is a 1960’s building – full of asbestos so it was difficult to work out costs of demolition without full information of its extent.  Demolition of the former Sainsbury’s building had cost two to three hundred thousand pounds to demolish. 

Councillor Shenton asked the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing  what plans were in place for a no deal Brexit.

The Leader answered this question as it affected all Council services.  A Local Government Association report had been sent to all Council’s.  The Council’s Acting Chief Executive would be attending an event on 13 December and would report back on this.

Councillor Shenton asked about the “reasonable worst case scenarios” for a no-deal Brexit and what discussions the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing had had with the multi-agency tactical coordination groups in the event.

Councillor Jill Waring would do a written response on this.

Councillor Robinson asked the Leader of the Council why the recent appointment of the Head of Human Resources had not been an internal one.

The appointment had been made on advice given by an HR Officer from South Staffordshire District Council who advised to bring in extra capacity and an Interim Head of Human Resources.

Councillor Robinson asked what training was being given to officers to encourage career progression.

The Leader replied that progression training would be provided and it was a shame that this had not been thought of by the previous administration.  Figures on the costings for the HR support would be sent out to Members.

Councillor Robinson asked the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing what plans were being put into place to reduce the amount of rough sleepers this winter.

Teams went out offering support and at the end of November the Lyme Trust would be participating.  In addition, up to the end of March, 2019 there would be a Serious Weather-Rough Sleeper Protocol in place.

Councillor Robinson said that there was a large amount of rough sleepers in all areas who were not getting the support that they needed. Councillor Robinson asked  how much of the Emergency B&B budget had been used.

Councillor Waring advised that the amount of rough sleepers per night in Newcastle had reduced by one from last year – from five to one.

With regard to the budget, Councillor Waring would consult with officers and get back to Councillor Robinson.