Agenda and decisions

Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 11 March 2025, 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.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities

The purpose of the report is in accordance with the Energising Blyth Programme - Local Assurance Framework, the report seeks the endorsement of the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the Richard Stannard House Conversion and delegate approval of the Outline Business Case to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration following consideration of the detail at Programme Board.

RESOLVED that:-

In relation to NCC as the Accountable Body for the Levelling Up Deep Dive funding:

(a )     Cabinet endorse the principles of the Outline Business Case, as set out in the report, and delegate approval of the OBC to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration following consideration of the detail at Regeneration Programme Board;

(b )     authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration to approve the Full Business Case subject to consideration of the recommendation by the Programme Board and to report any additional subsequent capital implications to Cabinet via the Capital Strategy Group, for inclusion in the Capital Programme;

(c )     Cabinet approve a total reallocated budget of £3.534 million (£0.371 million in 2024-25 and £3.163 million in 2025-26) from the Levelling Up Deep Dive Housing Renewal and Town Centre Living project to the Richard Stannard House Conversion from the Energising Blyth NCC Budget which is included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan; and

(d )     subject to paragraph (b) and (c) above and subsidy control compliance,  authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration and Executive Director of Transformation and Resources to authorise by NCC as accountable body to enter into a grant funding agreement (GFA) with ANCL the sum £3,388,580.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities

The purpose of the report is to present Cabinet with the final drafts of the Northumberland Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and to request that these are formally adopted.

The report also provides a progress update on several active travel schemes being delivered across the county.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet formally adopt the Northumberland Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans detailed in section 5.10 of the report (LCWIPs);

(b)      Cabinet note progress on the infrastructure schemes to date; and

(c)      Notes the pipeline of funding opportunities for delivering further infrastructure.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Council’s updated Risk Management Strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the updated Risk Management Strategy, attached as Appendix 1.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

This report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the Capital Strategy Group on 25 February 2025.

RESOLVED that:-

Great Northumberland Forest

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £1.761 million in 2025-26 for the additional bespoke planting offer as part of the Great Northumberland Forest project. This spend will be externally funded from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to include the £1.761 million spend in 2025-26.

Waterworld Boiler Replacement

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.180 million in 2025-26 to carry out the replacement of the Boiler Plant at Waterworld Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Leisure Remedial project in the capital programme; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.180 million in 2025-26 from the Leisure Remedial project to the Waterworld Boiler Replacement project.

Wentworth Sport Hall Roof

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.500 million in 2025-26 to carry out the replacement of the sports hall roof at Wentworth Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Wentworth Capital Improvement project in the capital programme; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.500 million in 2025-26 from the Wentworth Capital Improvement project to the Wentworth Sports Hall Roof project.

Willowburn Refurbishment

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.100 million in 2025-26 to carry out poolside electrical upgrade works at Willowburn Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Willowburn Capital Improvement project in the capital programme;

b)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.500 million in 2025-26 to carry out the replacement of the air handling unit at Willowburn Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Willowburn Capital Improvement project in the capital programme; and

c)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.600 million in 2025-26 from the Willowburn Capital Improvement project to the Willowburn Poolside Electrical Works Project £0.100 million and the Willowburn AHU Replacement £0.500 million.

Ashington Learner Pool Tiles Replacement

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.050 million in 2025-26 to carry out the replacement of the tiles within the learner pool at Ashington Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Leisure Remedial project in the capital programme; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.050 million in 2025-26 from the Leisure Remedial project to the Ashington Learner Pool Tiles Replacement project.

Borderlands Place Programme

a)       Cabinet approve the inclusion in the capital programme of £1.094 million (£0.040 million in 2024-25, £0.319 million in 2025-26, £0.725 million in 2026-27 and £0.010 million in 2027-28) for the following Borderlands projects: Penrith Playhouse £0.118 million, Penrith Station £0.476 million and the Roxy (Ulverston) £0.500 million. This spend will be externally funded from Borderlands Funding.

Bus Service Improvement Plan

a)       Cabinet approve the spend of £0.182 million in 2025-26 to enable development of the Alnwick Bus Station Safety and Accessibility as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan. This spend will be externally funded from North East Combined Authority funding;  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

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.