Agenda and decisions

Minutes of the meeting of the following meetings of Cabinet, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair:- 

1. Tuesday 11 July 2023 

2. Tuesday 20 July 2023. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair:-

(a)  Tuesday 11 July 2023

(b)  Thursday 20 July 2023

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting; 

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. 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. 

5. 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.

BEST: Delivery Partner Delegated Decision 

To seek delegated authority for the Council’s Executive Director of Transformation and Resources to enter into a contract for the BEST Delivery Partner in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services (Appendix A).

BEST: Delivery Partner Delegated Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, to enter into a contract for the BEST Delivery Partner.

Financial Performance 2023-24 – Position at the end of June 2023 

The purpose of the report is to ensure that the Cabinet is informed of the current financial position for the Council against the Budget for 2023-24 (Appendix B).

Financial Performance 2023-24 – Position at the end of June 2023

RESOLVED that:- 

(a)      Cabinet : 

• Approve the use of £1.855 million from contingency to partly fund the shortfall in the expected cost of pay awards for 2023-24.  
• Approve the re-profiling to the Capital Programme of £15.902 million from 2023-24 to 2024-25 to reflect estimated expenditure levels in the current financial year. 
• Approve the transfer of £1.556 million from the Public Health main grant reserve to provide additional services to reduce poverty and health inequalities. 

(b)      Cabinet note: 

• the projected overspend on services of £4.115 million and the assumptions outlined in the report. 
• the projected net overspend of £4.471 million after accounting for outstanding inflationary pressures and the utilisation of the Exceptional Inflation Reserve and contingency. The financial monitoring process is a continuous process, and it is not unusual to predict an overspend in the first formal monitoring report as pressures in the system are recognised and realised. Services are now taking appropriate action to bring the budget back into balance and corporately work is underway to ascertain if rising interest rates will ensure a favourable return to the Council and improve the position further. An updated position for the 6 months to September 2023 will be presented to Cabinet on 12 December 2023. 
• the supplementary estimates at Appendix A and the required changes to the budgets. 
• the delivery of the approved savings at Appendix B. 

• the use of the contingency shown at Appendix L. 
• the use of reserves shown at Appendix M. 
• the virements requested by services shown at Appendix O. 

Loan to Whittingham, Callaly and Alnham Parish Council 

The report provides details of a potential loan facility to Whittingham, Callaly and Alnham Parish Council (WCAPC) of £4,435 towards the capital reserve (Appendix C).

Loan to Whittingham, Callaly and Alnham Parish Council 

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve a loan facility of £4,435 to WCAPC subject to the following: 

• WCAPC agreeing to the proposed terms and conditions; and 

• NCC’s Legal Team completing a legal agreement with WCAPC in advance of any loan drawdown by WCAPC, containing the terms and conditions set out within the report.

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 (Appendix D).

Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group  

30.1    Family Hub grant

RESOLVED that Cabinet: 

a)    Approve the receipt of the capital element of the Family Hub grant of £0.063 million in 2023-24 and £0.059 million in 2024-25 and update the capital programme; and  

b)    Grant delegated authority for the Executive Director of Children, Education and Young people to enter into contracts for the appropriate items of capital expenditure as and when they are identified up to the approved total budget limited.  

30.2    Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management schemes 

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the updated expenditure of £0.118 million and the amendment of the budget allocations within the Capital Programme for Otterburn Surface Water Flood Alleviation Scheme and Red Row Surface Water Flood Alleviation Scheme.

30.3    Lilidorei Play Village – Additional funding from Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUCH) 

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the inclusion of the £0.500 million funding already received from DLUCH and update the Capital Programme. 

30.4    Levelling Up Funds – Hexham to Corbridge and Bedlington East to West 

RESOLVED that Cabinet: 

a)    Accept the funds from the Levelling up Fund Tranche 2 of £14.712 million;  

b)    Approve funds in line with the costs outlined in the table set out in paragraph 9.5; and  

c)    Approve the reallocation in the Capital Programme of £2.000 million from the existing allocation for Local Cycling and Walking Programme.  

30.5    Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden, Bedlington Cemetery 

RESOLVED that Cabinet: 

a)    Approve capital expenditure totalling £0.043 million for improvements to the West Bedlington Cemetery Garden of Remembrance; and 

b)    Approve the reallocation in the Capital Programme of £0.027 million from the existing Parks Enhancement Capital Programme and £0.017 million from Cllr Malcolm Robinson’s Members’ Local Improvement Scheme Funds.  

30.6    Telecare Digital Switch 

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the allocation of £0.547 million from the Adult Social Care Capital Grant in the Capital Programme to implement the capital project. 

Additional Market Sustainability and Improvement Grant 

This report presents outline proposals for the use of additional grant funding announced by the Government on 28 July 2023, and requests delegated authority to resolve details to ensure that the grant can be spent effectively (Appendix E).

Additional Market Sustainability and Improvement Grant

RESOLVED that:- 

1. Cabinet endorse the overall approach to the use of the additional Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) set out in paragraphs 6.28 to 6.30 of the report; and  

2. the Executive Director for Adults, Ageing & Wellbeing be authorised to agree detailed allocations of expenditure within that overall approach, and to manage the overall resources available from the MSIF and the Adult Social Care Discharge fund flexibly to as to maximise the benefits for people with care and support needs, subject to consultation with the Cabinet Member for Caring for Adults, and the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources. 

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.