CABINET AGENDA Tuesday 4 November 2014 at 10.00am at the Civic Centre, Gateshead From the Chief Executive, Jane Robinson Item Business 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes (Page 4) The Cabinet is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2014. Key Decisions 3. Selective Part – Night Street Lighting (Page 12) Report of the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment 4. Tenders for the Supply of Goods and Services (Page 21) Report of the Strategic Directors, Corporate Services and Governance and Corporate Resources Recommendations to Council 5. Revised Whistle Blowing Policy (Page 30) Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance 6. 2014 Statutory Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places (Page 49) Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance 7. Capital Programme and Prudential Indicators 2014/15 – Second Quarter Review (Page 58) Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources 8. Education Strategy (Page 71) Report of the Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning 9. Policy to Support Quality Provision for Rising 3s in Schools (Page 86) Report of the Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning Non Key Decisions 10. Budget Consultation 2015 – 2017 (Page 94) Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Resources Contact: Kevin Ingledew (0191) 433 2142 Date: 27 October 2014 1 Item Business 11. Responses to Consultation (Page 142) Report of the Chief Executive 12. Revenue Monitoring 2014/15 (Page 154) Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources 13. Surplus Declaration and sale of land, depot and garages at Heddon View Ryton at less than best consideration (Page 160) Report of the Strategic Directors, Corporate Services and Governance, Communities and Environment and Corporate Resources 14. Surplus Declaration and Sale of Land at Less than Market Value – Land at Malton Green, Harlow Green (Page 167) Report of the Strategic Directors, Corporate Services and Governance and Corporate Resources 15. Demolition of Wrekenton Library (Page 172) Report of the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance 16. Petitions Schedule (Page 175) Report of the Strategic Director, Legal and Corporate Services 17. Exclusion of the Press and Public The Cabinet may wish to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds indicated: Item Paragraph of Schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 18 3 19 3 20 3 21 3 2 3 2 GATESHEAD METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL CABINET MEETING 7 OCTOBER 2014 PRESENT: Councillor M Henry (Chair) Councillors: C Donovan, A Douglas, M Foy, M Gannon, M Graham, L Green J McElroy, M McNestry and P Mole C81 MINUTES The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 September 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. C82 TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GATESHEAD ENERGY CENTRE AND CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE GATESHEAD TOWN CENTRE DISTRICT ENERGY SCHEME Consideration has been given to awarding the contract for construction of the Energy Centre and customer connections for the Gateshead Town Centre District Energy Scheme (Lot 1) and to approving initial site investigations works in advance of finalising the proposed construction contract, with the value of such works to be capped at £50,000. The alternative option to that being recommended, but which was discounted, included delaying the appointment of the Lot 1 contractor until full scheme approval is sought. RESOLVED - (i) That the tender from Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd., for the Construction of the Energy Centre and Customer Heat Connections (Lot 1) be accepted. (ii) That the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment be authorised to instruct Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd., to carry out initial site investigation works in advance of finalising the proposed construction contract, with the value of such works to be capped at £50,000. The above decisions have been made for the following reasons: (A) A comprehensive evaluation of the three tenders received has been undertaken. The recommended tender is the highest quality, and most economically advantageous tender submitted. 1 4 (B) Limiting the works to site investigations initially allows further cost certainty to be achieved for the scheme, reducing scheme risks and potentially reducing scheme costs and improving scheme viability. C83 SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SCHEME FOR COUNCIL BUILDINGS Consideration has been given to the award of a contract for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on Council buildings. The alternative option to that being recommended, but which has been discounted at this time, included ground mounted solar PV panels. RESOLVED - (i) That the contract award to British Gas/Warm Up North as the preferred delivery contractor be approved. (ii) That the Strategic Director, Communities and Environment be authorised to negotiate the details of the contract up to a value of £1.9m following consultation with the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance and the Strategic Director, Corporate Resources. The above decisions have been made for the following reasons: (A) To continue to reduce the Council’s electricity costs, contributing to budget savings. (B) To support fee income, where possible, the installation is delivered by Council in-house services, Communities & Environment. (C) To continue to reduce carbon emissions of buildings. C84 REDUNDANCY POLICY AND PROCEDURE Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve a revised redundancy policy and procedure. RESOLVED - That the Council be recommended to approve the revised Redundancy Policy and Procedure as set out at Appendix 2 to the report. 2 5 The above decision has been made to ensure the Council has a Redundancy Policy and Procedure which is fit for purpose. C85 LIBRARY SERVICE REVIEW Consideration has been given to the outcome of the first phase of consultation on the Library Service Review and to the proposal to commence phase 2 of the consultation with residents, stakeholders and service users on options for the Service going forward. RESOLVED - (i) That the findings of the Phase 1 library service public consultation be noted. (ii) That the Vision and Functions of Gateshead’s Library Service, to ensure it is fit for the future, as identified in paragraphs 29 and 30 of the report be approved. (iii) That phase 2 of consultation with residents, stakeholders and service users on the following options for the Service going forward be approved: Option 1 - Area Libraries with a community network – This option proposes the establishment of a core network five main libraries for Gateshead - Gateshead Central Library, Birtley, Blaydon, Leam Lane and Whickham Libraries - plus the option to add local libraries to the network, prioritised according to need or the geographical remoteness of a community. These libraries would also be supplemented by the Readers at Home Service, Mobile Library and an enhanced digital library service (ebooks; online, library app). Option 2 – A network of Area Libraries – This option proposes the establishment of a core library network of five main libraries for Gateshead - Gateshead Central Library, Birtley, Blaydon, Leam Lane and Whickham Libraries. These libraries would also be supplemented by the Readers at Home Service, Mobile Library and a developing digital library service (ebooks; online, library app). Option 3 - The potential to develop new volunteer managed libraries – The selection of either of the Option 1 or Option 2 above could result in the potential for new volunteer managed libraries in Gateshead. These libraries may provide an enhancement to a reduced statutory network. The Council would support the development of new volunteer managed libraries, whilst these libraries move to a point of self- sustainability. 3 6 Option 4 - Support for established volunteer managed libraries – Currently there are five volunteer managed libraries in Gateshead. The Council proposes to continue to support these libraries, whilst the Volunteer Associations move to a point of self- sustainability. Option 5 - Changes to Mobile Library, Readers at Home or Audio Visual Service – The Council could consider changes, including reducing, the Mobile library, the Readers at Home Service and the Audio Visual Service. Option 6 - Commissioned and Co-located Services – this option would consider a Council library service seeking commissions from other organisations (Health; DWP) and/or co-located with other public, voluntary and private sector organisations Option 7 – As a result of consultation, an alternative option may be identified. If this is the case, it would need to be investigated, costs analysed and reported to the Council. Any alternative option would need to be tested against statutory duties; assessment of need, affordability and implementation. (iv) That phase 2 consultation starts on 8 October 2014 and concludes on 23 January 2015. The above decisions have been made to ensure that the Council provides a Library Service which meets its statutory duties and is sustainable into the future. C86 GATESHEAD’S DRAFT CULTURE STRATEGY 2030 Consideration has been given to consulting with partners, stakeholders and residents on the draft Culture Strategy. RESOLVED - That the draft Culture Strategy as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved for consultation with partners, stakeholders and residents. The above decision has been made to ensure the Strategy is developed