Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Thursday, 06 August 2009

New Executive Arrangements - Your Chance to Have a Say in How this Council is to be Governed in the Future

Government legislation (Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) requires this Council, and others, to adopt one of the following Executive models of governance (i.e. how the Council is structured to make decisions):-

• Directly Elected Mayor and Cabinet; or
• Council Leader and Cabinet

Currently, this Council operates an original Council Leader and Cabinet executive arrangement. This involves 56 Councillors elected by the public, determining who they wish to fulfil the role of Leader of the Council and which Councillors should form the Cabinet. Information regarding the role of the current Council Leader and Cabinet can be found on the home page of this blog.

The new legislation now however requires the Council to decide which of the two new options available under the legislation it wishes to adopt with effect from the next local elections in May 2011.
 
Consequently,  The Council's Cabinet has recommended that all electors should firstly be consulted in September/October this year on which of the two options they prefer, with a view to a preferred model then being the subject of a referendum at which all electors will be able to vote on whether they would wish to see that model operated by the Council from May 2011 onwards.  Details of each option will be included in the consultation information sent to each elector. All views should be returned by 9th October 2009.

Thereafter, following evaluation of the results of the consultation, Cabinet and Council will confirm in November/December the preferred executive model and the date upon which a public referendum on this option will be held. It is anticipated that the referendum will take place in mid to late February 2010.

Further information about the forthcoming consultation on New Executive Governance Arrangements can be obtained by contacting Electoral Services on 01642 526196; e-mail electoral@stockton.gov.uk

Annual Report of the Standards Committee

Cabinet also considered the annual report of the Council's Standards Committee; which has  general responsibility for promoting and maintaining high standards of conduct amongst elected and co-opted members of this authority, and for ensuring that they abide by the authority's code of conduct. This responsibility also extends to members of each of the Parish and Town Councils within Stockton borough.
A full copy of the report is available at http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/images/att9501.doc

2008/2009 also saw the Committee take on additional responsibility for handling complaints about member conduct under the new local assessment regime. The Committee comprised 5 Members of the Council, three independent Members and 2 Parish Council representatives; and was chaired by one of the independent Members, Mr Francis Hayes.
Cabinet also considered  The Annual Report of the Monitoring Officer, whose duties included providing advice regarding issues of lawfulness, maladministration, standards and probity  and the Council's powers in relation to reports, agendas and decisions; ensuring good governance; overseeing Council compliance with the Freedom of Information requirements; maintaining Members & Officers Register of Interests; Declarations of Gifts & Hospitality received etc.. A full copy of the report is available at http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/images/att9503.doc

Proposed Integrated Health & Care Facility, Alma Street, Stockton

Further to Cabinet's support for the development by Stockton on Tees Teaching PCT of an integrated health and care facility at Alma Street, Stockton, Cabinet was advised of the outcome of consultation undertaken with service users/carers and stakeholders of the current Alma Centre regarding the proposed relocation of the day service facility for adults with disabilities and older people/older people with mental health needs.

The following themes were identified from the consultation:-

• Views on the changes for health facilities and a lack of understanding of what an integrated care centre was, how it differed from the existing GP facilities and what would be provided there.
• Transport to and from the centre - difficulties in access and potential changes to current travel plans.
• Continuity of staff - a wish to ensure that existing staff should move with the service.
• Disruption and potential impact for clients, in particular those who attend the Kitwood Unit (the facility which supports the most vulnerable clients).
• Design issues - a wish to maximise the garden space, to ensure that the future design meets client needs e.g. disabled WCs, car parking and drop off areas. The transfer of specific items from Alma to Halcyon e.g. piano, sewing machines, craft materials.
• Norton and Billingham clients - a concern that they would not be able to remain with the Alma Centre group.

A project group of officers responsible for reviewing the service implications of the proposed new health and care facility would now consider the feedback and take into account the issues raised.
Cabinet would receive a further report in September regarding the PCT business case for the proposal, and would include the outcome of negotiations for the sale of the Alma Street site by the Council to the PCT. Subject to this, a timetable for the works would also be agreed, and any transport issues, transfer arrangements and staffing implications would be addressed. Any transfer of the service would be based around the building works timetable, but a provisional date of May 2010 was being worked towards.

Economic Climate

Members were also updated with the latest local Economic Climate report, which contained a summary of both positive and negative economic changes in the last month.

Concern was expressed at the news announced this week regarding the sudden closure of the Swallow Hotel, with the loss of 70 jobs. The Council had had no warning of the closure from the administrators however; it would endeavour to ensure that it provided as much help as possible to the staff affected, and also individuals who had booked rooms and/or events at the hotel.  Members also noted that Corus was in discussions with interested parties regards the under threat Teesside Cast Products site; however no imminent rescue deal was in place.
A positive development within the engineering/manufacturing field had seen news of MGT Power's proposed £500M Tees Renewable Energy Project at Teesport, which would deliver the UK's largest biomass power station, and could create up to 750 jobs.  

The number of people on Job Seeker Allowance in the Borough as of June 2009 was 6,247, as compared to 3,626 the same time last year.

A full copy of the Economic Climate report can be viewed at http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/images/att9496.doc. Further information on any of the above economic climate information can be obtained from Richard Poundford, Head of Regeneration & Economic Development, tel. 01642 527024, e-mail Richard.Poundford@stockton.gov.uk