Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received from Councillor Jones.

Minutes of the meeting of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 16 January 2024, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 16 January 2024, 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.

Budget Engagement Report

This report provides a summary of the engagement on the Council’s Budget which commenced in July 2023 and included a Budget Survey which closed on 26th January 2024. This engagement helps to inform the Council’s Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (Agenda item 4)

RESOLVED that the Budget engagement activities and the summary results of the Budget Consultation Survey undertaken between December and January 2024 be noted. 

Budget 2024-25 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2024-2028

The purpose of this report is to enable the Cabinet to make formal budget recommendations to the County Council.

The report provides the Revenue Budget for 2024-25 and Revenue MTFP 2024-28 and the Capital Budget for 2024-25 and Capital MTFP 2024-28, following the Government’s Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, and the publication of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement on 18 December 2023.

It is important to note that there may need to be some revisions to the figures following receipt of the Government’s final Local Government Finance Settlement figures in February 2024. It is proposed that any changes to the figures as a result of this announcement, which impact on the Budget 2024-25 and MTFP 2024-28 are delegated to the Executive Director for Transformation and Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services. If the final Local Government Settlement is received prior to the Cabinet or 21 February 2024 Council meeting, then a supplementary report will be provided to Members advising of any changes (Agenda item 5).

RESOLVED that County Council be recommended to:-

1.             Note that the figures contained within the Budget 2024-25 within Appendix 1 are based on the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement of 18 December 2023.

2.            Approve:

a.              the Revenue Budget for 2024-25 including the efficiencies totalling £10.834 million for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1 (detailed in Appendix 10), which includes the deletion of the proposal in  Environment and Transport to increase the charge for a pay and display and display parking permit (2024-25 £0.012m; 2025-26 £0.011m; 2026-27 £0.015m); and,

a)         the Schedule of Efficiencies totalling £14.939 million for 2025-26 contained within Appendix 1 (detailed in Appendix 10) noting that the efficiencies identified may be progressed during 2024-25 in order to realise the efficiencies early.

3.             Note the Revenue MTFP covering the period 2024-28 detailed within Appendix 1 and the requirement to deliver budget balancing measures of £20.248 million in 2026-27 and £14.238 million in 2027-28.

4.             Note the estimated receipt of Revenue Support Grant of £14.020 million for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

5.             Note the estimated retained Business Rates and the Top-Up Grant funding to be received by the Council for 2024-25 of £103.696 million and £324.303 million over the remaining period of the MTFP contained within Appendix 1.

6.             Note the estimated surplus from prior years on Collection Fund Business Rates balance of £3.471 million in 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

7.             Note the estimated receipt of Rural Services Delivery Grant of £2.745 million for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

8.             Note the estimated receipt of the New Homes Bonus of £1.682 million (excluding service element of £0.028 million) for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

9.             Note the estimated receipt of Improved Better Care Funding Grant of £12.496 million for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

10.          Note the estimated receipt of Social Care Grant funding of £25.821 million for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

11.          Note the estimated receipt of Adult Social Care Discharge Grant funding of £2.920 million in 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

12.          Note the estimated receipt of Adult Social Care Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund Grant of £6.656 million in 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

13.          Note the estimated receipt of the Services Grant of £0.439 million in 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

14.          Approve a 2.99% increase in Council Tax for 2024-25, noting that this is in line with the Government’s assumptions regarding the Council’s Core Spending Power; and, within the Government’s referendum limit of 3.00%.

15.          Note that the MTFP 2024-28 includes a 2.99% annual increase in Council Tax for 2025-26 and then 1.99% thereafter for the remaining years of the MTFP and, that an estimate of annual tax base growth has been included.

16.          Note the non-collection rate for Council Tax purposes remains at 1.00% for 2024-25 (1.00% in 2023-24).

17.          Note the estimated surplus of £4.149 million from prior years on the Collection Fund Council Tax balance for 2024-25 contained within Appendix 1.

18.          Approve the Council Tax Support Hardship  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

Revenues and Benefits Policies

The purpose of this report is to update Members on the policies governing the administration of Revenues and Benefits and seek approval for the updates and amendments highlighted (Agenda item 6).

RESOLVED that County Council be recommended to:

•         Approve the Revenues and Benefits Policies attached as Appendix 1 to Appendix 6;

•         Approve implementing the 100% Empty Homes Premium after one year from 1 April 2024; and

•         Make a determination to implement a 100% premium for second homes to increase the council tax charge to 200% from 1 April 2025.

Corporate Fraud Policies

The purpose of the report is to provide an update on the County Council’s policies in relation to Corporate Fraud activity and seek approval for updated policies (Agenda item 7).

RESOLVED that County Council be recommended to approve the updated Anti-Money Laundering Policy and Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy, attached as Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 to 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 (Agenda item 8).

RESOLVED that:

Energising Blyth Programme – Culture Hub and Market Place

a)       Cabinet approve the amended budget, shown in table 6.16, for inclusion in the Capital Programme of £16.546 million including £6.135 million from the Energising Blyth Project Delivery Support budget which is included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan;

b)       authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place and Regeneration to enter into the main construction contract relating to the project, subject to the appropriate procurement processes being followed.

c)       Subject to approval by North East Mayoral Combined Authority (NEMCA) of the £2.5m Business Case, this be added to the Culture Hub & Market Place budget within the Medium-Term Financial Plan, and the associated financial profiles be approved as set out in the report; and  

d)       Cabinet approve the transfer of funding of £0.388 million from the 2024-25 Climate Change Fund to the Culture Hub Project.

Gilesgate Structural Works

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.100 million to undertake the structural works at 2 Gilesgate, Hexham.  This spend will be funded from the Property Stewardship budget within the Capital Programme;

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate the funding from the Property Stewardship budget to the 2 Gilesgate, Hexham project.

Broadband Connectivity and Oracle Upgrade

a)       Cabinet note the receipt of a Gainshare payment from BT of £3.707 million;

b)       Cabinet approve the payment of a portion of the Gainshare receipt of £1.723 million to BDUK as per the terms of the funding agreement. Approve the allocation of the remaining Gainshare receipt of £1.984 million to the Community Broadband project in the Capital Programme. The £1.984 million will be profiled with £0.044 million in 2023-24 and the remaining £1.940 million in 2024-25;

c)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.088 million for the implementation of new functionality in the Oracle system. This will be funded as follows:

•         A reallocation of £0.044 million from the Community Broadband project in 2023-24.

•         A reallocation of £0.042 million from the Microsoft 365 project in 2024-25.

•         A reallocation of £0.002 million from the Computer Hardware project in 2024-25; and

d)       Cabinet approve the amendments to the capital programme as per the above.

Adult Social Care: Extra Care and Supported Living Strategy

To present the updated Extra Care and Supported Living Strategy (2024) (Agenda item 9).

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet endorse the Extra Care and Supported Living Strategy as the overarching strategy that will provide the context, vision and aspirations for delivery of projects in Northumberland;

(b )     Cabinet support opportunities which are consistent with the strategy including those that involve the use of Council land or buildings and planning decisions;

(c )     Cabinet note that some schemes can be developed without Council funding, whilst others may require support including capital funding and/or the use of Council land.  Where Council capital funding is required for the viability of schemes, detailed business cases will be prepared; and

(d )     the Executive Director for Adults, Ageing and Wellbeing be requested to prepare a future report on the capital requirements of this programme once a number of submissions have been analysed. 

North East Investment Zone

The purpose of the report is to provide an overview of the North East Investment Zone proposal focused on Advanced Manufacturing and Green Industries and seeks authorisation for designation of a Business Rates Retention Site in Northumberland (Agenda item 10).

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet note the proposals in relation to the North East Investment Zone (NEIZ), including the inclusion of the Blyth Energy Central Site as an Investment Zone (IZ) Tax Site;

(b )     Cabinet authorise inclusion of the Blyth Energy Central BRR Site in the NEIZ for 25 years, noting the NEIZ Business Rates Reinvestment Strategy (attached at Appendix 1); and 

(c )     Cabinet authorise the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration, in consultation with the Director of Finance, the Director of Law and Corporate Governance, the Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities and Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, to finalise the elements of the NEIZ proposal specific to Northumberland County Council in conjunction with the Interim Chief Executive Officer for the North East Mayoral Combined Authority, and enter into a written agreement with the North East Mayoral Combined Authority and constituent local authorities.

School Admission Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for the 2025/2026 Academic Year

This report informs Cabinet of the outcomes of the consultation on School Admission Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for the 2025/26 Academic Year as required by the School Admissions Code 2021.  Approval (determination) of these admission arrangements is also sought (Agenda item 11).

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     Cabinet note the outcomes of the six week consultation undertaken in relation to the Council’s proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2025/26 that took place between 10th November 2023 and 22nd December 2023;

(b )     Cabinet approve the proposed co-ordinated admission scheme for all maintained schools and academies, as provided in Appendix 1 of the report;?

(c )     Cabinet approve (determine) the proposed admission arrangements, including proposed oversubscription criteria and proposed admission numbers for First and Primary community and voluntary and controlled schools, as provided in Appendix 2 of the report;

(d )     Cabinet approve (determine) the proposed admission arrangements, including proposed over subscription criteria and proposed admission numbers, for Middle, High and Secondary Community and Voluntary Controlled schools, including sixth forms, as provided in Appendix 3 of the report;?

(e )     Cabinet approve a reduction of the Published Admission Number at Seahouses Primary School from 21 to 15 with effect from September 2025, in view of current and future pupil numbers; and

(f )      Cabinet Approve a reduction of the Published Admission Number at Longhoughton Primary School from 30 to 15 with effect from September 2025, in view of current and future pupil numbers.

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.