Agenda

Minutes of the meetings of Ashington and Blyth Local Area Council held on Wednesday 13^thFebruary 2023 as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact Legal Services by email at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

To reply to any questions received from members of the public which have been submitted in writing in advance of the meeting. Questions can be asked about issues for which the Council has a responsibility. (Public question times take place on a bimonthly basis at Local Area Council meetings: in January, March, May, July, September and November each year.) 

As agreed by the County Council in February 2012, the management of local public question times is at the discretion of the chair of the committee.  

Please note however that a question may possibly be rejected if it requires the disclosure of any categories of confidential or exempt information, namely information: 
 

1.    relating to any individual; 

2.    which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; 

3.    relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person 

4.    relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations; 

5.    restricted to legal proceedings 

6.    about enforcement/enacting legal orders 

7.    relating to the prevention, investigation of prosecution of crime. 
 

And/or: 
 

·       is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;  

·       it is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of this or another County Council committee in the past six months;  

·       the request repeats an identical or very similar question from the same person; 

·       the cost of providing an answer is disproportionate;  

·       it is being separately addressed through the Council's complaints process; 

·       it is not about a matter for which the Council has a responsibility or which affects the county; 

·       it relates to planning, licensing and/or other regulatory applications 

·       it is a question that town/parish councils would normally be expected to raise through other channels. 

If the Chair is of the opinion that a question is one which for whatever reason, cannot properly be asked in an area meeting, he/she will disallow it and inform the resident of his/her decision.  

Copies of any written answers (without individuals' personal contact details) will be provided for members after the meeting and also be publicly available. 

Democratic Services will confirm the status of the progress on any previously requested written answers and follow up any related actions requested by the Local Area Council.

This item is to:? 

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(a) Receive any new petitions:?to receive any new petitions. The lead petitioner?is?entitled?to briefly introduce their petition?by providing a statement in writing, and a response to any petitions received will then be organised for a future?meeting; 
 

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(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received:? 

(c)? Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously?? considered:?any updates will be verbally reported at the meeting.

To receive a verbal update from the Area Managers from Technical Services and Neighbourhood Services in attendance about any key recent, ongoing and/or future planned Local Services work for the attention of members of the Local Area Council, who will also then?have the opportunity to?raise issues with the Area Managers.

The Area Managers have principal responsibility for highway services and environmental services, such as refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, within the geographic boundaries of the Local Area Council.

To receive a presentation from Councillor G Sanderson, Leader of the Council and Sarah McMillan, Service Director.

A consultation on the proposed Devolution Deal for the North East, which would see significant funds and powers transferred to the region, was launched on 26 January 2023.

The cabinets of the seven local authorities have now agreed the terms and process for the devolution deal and have approved the next stage of the plans, which include a public consultation.  This is an important opportunity for residents, businesses and other stakeholders to give their feedback on the proposed changes.  The item will provide a briefing on the Devolution Deal and consultation and provide an opportunity for members to ask questions and provide their views on the proposed plans.

The report provides an update for members of the service provision for residents who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, in Northumberland providing an outline of the key data and the services available for people sleeping rough.

To note the latest version of agreed items for future Local Area Council meetings (any suggestions for new agenda items will require confirmation by the Business Chair after the meeting).

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 April 2023 (planning only)

To consider such other business, as in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.