Agenda

Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 11 October 2022, 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 where a matter arises at a meeting;

a.         Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

b.         Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

c.         Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being (and is not DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

d.         Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

e.         Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it.

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Outcomes of Statutory Consultation on Proposals for the Coquet Partnership

This report sets out an analysis of the representations and responses received from interested parties and stakeholders during the four-week statutory consultation, which commenced on 22 September and closed on 20 October 2022, in relation to proposals for the Coquet Partnership. The report also sets out an analysis of the responses received to the four-week statutory consultation in relation to proposals for Barndale House Special School, which was also published 22 September 2022 and closed on 20 October 2022. The two published statutory proposals set out the following proposed prescribed changes to the schools within the Coquet partnership and to Barndale House Special School:

•           Extend the age range, from 9 years to 11 years, for Amble First School, Amble Links First School, Broomhill First School, Red Row First School and Grange View First School from 1st September 2024.

•           Reducing the age range, from 9 to 18 years to 11 to 18 years, for James Calvert Spence College commencing on 1st September 2024.

•           To create a satellite provision of Barndale House School on the South Avenue, Amble site from 1st September 2024.

•           Increase the planned pupil numbers at Barndale House School from 60 to 110 from 1st September 2024.

Cabinet is asked to make a final decision on whether or not to approve the prescribed changes for schools in the Coquet Partnership and for Barndale House Special School, as set out in the Statutory Proposals, for implementation with effect from 1st September 2024. At the same time, Cabinet is requested to consider and approve the non-statutory proposal to extend the age range of Grange View Church of England First Schools with effect from 1st September 2024 as it is linked to the other proposals outlined above (Appendix A).

SEND Capacity and Place Planning Strategy 

To advise Cabinet of the development of a 5 year SEND Capacity and Place Planning Strategy (Appendix B).

Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2023-2027 05

This report provides an update on the development of the 2023-24 Budget and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) covering the period 2023 to 2027 (Appendix C).

Bebside to Town Centre Cycling and Walking Corridor:  Outline Business Case

In accordance with the Energising Blyth Programme - Local Assurance Framework, the report seeks the approval of the Town Deal Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Bebside to Town Centre Cycling & Walking Corridor project which is pending approval by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The OBC has been externally appraised with a recommendation to proceed to Full Business Case (FBC). It was approved by Town Deal Board on 28 September 2022 (Appendix D).

Northumberland Energy Park (NEP1) – Dock Capping Beam:  Updated North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) Full Business Case

In accordance with the Energising Blyth Programme - Local Assurance Framework, the report seeks the approval of the Town Deal Summary Document which sets out details of an adjusted NEP1 Infrastructure investment which is pending approval by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Members have previously approved an application on 7th December 2021 from Port of Blyth for the original NEP1/Battleship Wharf Project Business Case proposal to build an internal heavy duty access link between NEP1, NEP 2 and Battleship Wharf but this can no longer proceed due to Subsidy Control limitations. An updated NELEP Full Business Case for an alternative scheme and applicant (Advance Northumberland (Commercial) Ltd) towards a new capping beam which will allow the Ash Barge Dock deep water berth (part of NEP1) to become fully operational has been externally appraised with a recommendation to proceed. It was approved by Town Deal Board on 28 September 2022 (Appendix E).

Northern Gateway Phase 2: Outline Business Case

In accordance with the Energising Blyth Programme - Local Assurance Framework, the report seeks the approval of the Town Deal Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Regent Street Improvements (Northern Gateway Phase 2) project which is pending approval by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The OBC has been externally appraised with a recommendation to proceed to Full Business Case (FBC). It was approved by Town Deal Board on 28 September 2022 . (Appendix F).

Northumberland County Council Rationale for the Establishment or Continuation of a Council-owned Company

The purpose of this report is to propose a statement of principles and criteria which form the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) to determine the rationale for the establishment or continuation of any company established by Northumberland County Council (NCC) under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 or other appropriate powers (Appendix G).

Applying the Council-Owned Company Rationale to Advance Northumberland Ltd and Update on the Business Strategy Review

At its meeting of 17 November Cabinet will consider a statement of principles and tests for establishing or continuing Council-owned companies established under the Localism Act or other appropriate power, as proposed by the Independent Governance Review (The ‘Caller Review’) and under action 22 of the subsequent Plan of Action.

In anticipation of agreement to this statement of principles and tests – the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) criteria - for establishing or continuing Council-owned companies, this report sets out the outcome of applying the agreed criteria to Advance Northumberland Ltd (ANL), as an existing company of Northumberland County Council, and provides an update on the Advance Northumberland Ltd Review of Business Strategy (Appendix H)

Future of Northumberland Enterprise Holdings Ltd and Northumbria Integrated Consultancy Ltd

The purpose of this report is to:

A.       recommend a course of action for approval by Cabinet regarding the future status of the Council’s wholly-owned company Northumberland Enterprise Holdings Ltd and its subsidiary company Northumbria Integrated Consultancy Ltd, in light of current trading activity or prospects;

B.       propose the Role Profile for the Northumberland Enterprise Holdings Ltd Controlling Shareholder’s Representative (“CSR”);

C.       propose the appointment of the Executive Director of Finance as CSR of Northumberland Enterprise Holdings Ltd to provide alignment and uniformity with the Council’s other wholly-owned company, Advance Northumberland Ltd (Appendix I)

Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2022

To present the updated Adult Social Care Market Position Statement (Appendix J).

Family Hubs Development Update

To provide an update in relation to the development of the Family Hubs offer in Northumberland (Appendix K).

Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group

The report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the officer Capital Strategy Group (CSG) via email on 6 October 2022 (Appendix L).

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.

It is expected that matters included in this part of the Agenda will be dealt with in private.  Reports referred to are enclosed for members and officers only, coloured pink and marked "Not for Publication".

The Committee is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

(a)    That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the Agenda as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and

(b)    That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:-

Agenda Items          Paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A

18                             3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

19                             1 - Information relating to an individual

AND                         The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the interest in disclosure because disclosure could adversely affect the business reputation or confidence in the person / organisation; and could adversely affect commercial revenue (item 18) and because disclosure could identify the individual (item 19).

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Leisure Review - Findings of the Review of NCC Supported Leisure Provision and Consideration of Future Management and Procurement Arrangements

Following completion of an extensive review of Council funded leisure provision this Report provides an overview of key findings and outlines a proposed course of action to maximise both the health and wellbeing potential, and value, of future investment (Appendix M).

Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group

The report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the officer Capital Strategy Group (CSG) via email on 6 October 2022 (Appendix N).