Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received from Councillors Renner Thompson and Watson.

Minutes of the meeting of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 10 October 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 10 October 2023, as circulated, 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.

North East Devolution

The purpose of this report is to consider and determine if consent should be given to the making of an Order that would abolish the North East and North of Tyne Combined Authorities, whilst at the same time establishing a new North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Appendix A).

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     the content of the report be noted;

(b )     Cabinet agree in principle that the Council should consent to the making of the order;

(c )     the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to issue the Council’s formal consent to the Secretary of State when requested;

(d )     the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise the terms of the side agreement regarding the support arrangements associated with these proposals; and

(e )     the Chief Executive be authorised to take all other steps necessary to implement these proposals.

Setting the Scope and Targets for the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26

To agree the scope and targets to be addressed in detail in the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 and to ensure alignment with the Council’s Environment Policy Statement (Appendix B).

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet agree that the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 is a key element of the Council’s wider Environmental Policy Statement, which commits the Council to strengthen the work being undertaken to maintain, protect and enhance the environment through a broad range of policies and activities, including active travel, nature recovery, planning, procurement, public health/disease control and general environmental services provision;

(b )     Cabinet agree that the Climate Change Action Plan will include a focus on greenhouse gas reduction and climate change resilience through nature in collaboration with the Council’s strategies for wider ecology and biodiversity issues;

(c )     Cabinet agree to restate the Carbon Neutral target for the county by 2030 and clarify that it refers to carbon dioxide only;

(d )     Cabinet agree a new target to work with Government and other key stakeholders to achieve net-zero for all greenhouse gases for the county of Northumberland by 2040, a strategy for which will be developed as part of the new Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(e )     Cabinet agree that the local and regional adaptation response to the risks and impacts of a changing climate be included in the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(f )      Cabinet agree a new target to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, a strategy for which will be developed as part of the new Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26;

(g )     Cabinet agree that the scope of the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 continues to only include direct, territorial emissions (i.e. those produced in Northumberland) as its focus for projects but that it should do more to raise awareness amongst stakeholders of scope 3 (indirect) emissions (i.e. those produced outside of Northumberland) and how they can be reduced; and

(h )     Cabinet agree the core structure of the Climate Change Action Plan 2024-26 including a commitment to set out a strategy for planning in relation to the climate change targets.

Strengthened Biodiversity Duty and Reporting Obligations

To set out the Council’s new obligations to take action to conserve and enhance biodiversity and to report on such actions, and to propose a ‘first consideration’ of such actions as required under S.40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as amended (Appendix C).

RESOLVED that Cabinet accept the document attached to the report as a record of the Council’s first consideration of actions the Council can take to conserve and enhance biodiversity in accordance with S.40 (1C) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 as amended, which will then be used by Officers to develop an implementation plan.

Approval of the Council Tax Support Scheme

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024-25 to continue to provide support at a maximum level of 92% of council tax liability (Appendix D).

RESOLVED that County Council be recommended to approve the Council Tax Support Scheme attached as Appendix 1 to be adopted as the Council’s local scheme for 2024-25.

Corporate Feedback Performance 2022/2023

The purpose of the Annual Report is to review the operation of the complaints process over twelve months (01.04.2022 to 31.03.2023), including statistical data, and to provide the local authority with how it keeps itself informed about how effective its current arrangements are for handling customer complaints.

The same statutory reporting framework does not govern the Corporate Complaint process as Adults and Children's Complaints; however, it is deemed best practice to provide an analysis of Corporate Complaints received from customers. It should be noted that Corporate Complaint Annual reports from here on will be produced in alignment with the framework for Adult and Children's Complaints (Appendix E).

RESOLVED that the findings of the report on complaint handling within the authority be noted.

Corporate Performance Quarter 1 2023-24

This report provides a summary of the progress against the Council’s three Corporate Plan priorities using the Council's performance at the end of Quarter 1, 2023/24 (Q1) (Appendix F)

RESOLVED that progress against the three Corporate Priorities as summarised in the report be noted. 

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 G).

Kyloe House CCTV Upgrade

RESOLVED that:

(a )     Cabinet approve the receipt of the capital grant of £0.221 million from the Department for Education (DfE); and

(b )     Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to include the funding and spend.

Replacement of Boating Pontoon in Wansbeck Riverside Park

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the proposed spend on the Boating Pontoon and amend the Capital Programme in 2023-24. Note that the project will be wholly grant funded under an agreement with Cambois Rowing Club.

Highways Laboratory Expansion

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet approve the expenditure of the £0.615 million which is already included in the MTFP under Highways Laboratory Expansion project; and

(b )     Cabinet note that a portion of the allocation will be slipped into financial year 2024-25. This is currently anticipated to be 50% but will be dependent on the date of approval.

North East Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet note the agreement for the North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) to release BSIP capital funding to assist scheme promoters with development of the programme;

(b )     Cabinet approve the BSIP capital funding to develop the “Bus Priority Infrastructure – Tranche 1” programme; and

(c )     Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to include £0.121 million funding from Transport North East (TNE) to enable development of the BSIP Tranche 1 programme. 

Parks Enhancement Capital Programme

(1)  Cleasewell Hill Park

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Approve capital expenditure of up to £0.240 million for the refurbishment scheme at Cleasewell Hill Park;

(b )     Approve the reallocation in the Capital Programme of £0.200 million from the existing Parks Enhancement Programme and £0.040 million contribution from Choppington Parish Council which has been agreed in principle subject to formal approval; and

(c )     Note that if funding of £0.040 million from Choppington Parish Council is not received works will be scaled back and expenditure will be limited to £0.200 million. 

(2)  Gallagher Park

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet approve capital expenditure totalling £0.019 million for car park repairs, overflow provision and fencing at Gallagher Park; and

(b )     Cabinet approve the reallocation in the Capital Programme of £0.010 million from the existing Parks Enhancement Programme and £0.009 million from Cllr Robinson, Cllr Taylor, and Cllr Wilciezk’s Members’ Local Improvement Scheme funds. 

(3)  Plessey Woods – Bouldering Park

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet approve capital expenditure totalling £0.159 million for Plessey Woods Bouldering Park; and

(b )     Cabinet approve the reallocation in the Capital Programme of £0.088 million from the existing Parks Enhancement Programme, £0.067 million from Section 106 contributions and £0.005 million from Cllr Robinson’s Members’ Local Improvement Scheme funds. 

Strategic Regeneration Investment

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet accept grant funding to establish the Northumberland Stewardship and Rural Growth Investment Programme as follows, noting that the establishment of the programme and projects below was previously agreed by Cabinet in February 2023:

·       Accept grant funding of £4.810 million including £2.000 million capital and £2.810 million revenue for  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.

Delegate Authority to Award Leisure Contract

The purpose of this report is to seek permission to delegate authority to enable the contract award of the Northumberland Community Leisure and Well-being Service to the preferred bidder, following final evaluation by the panel (Appendix H).

RESOLVED that Cabinet delegate authority to the Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities in consultation with the Leader, also Portfolio Holder for Environment and Local Services,  the Deputy Leader, also Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, the Portfolio Holder for Healthy Lives, the Director of Law and Corporate Governance and the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources to award and enter into a contract for the Northumberland Community and Wellbeing Service with the preferred bidder.

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.