Agenda

Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8 June 2021, 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 to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact Legal Services, on 01670 623324. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Write Offs 2020-21 

To report on debt written off during the 2020-21?financial year (Appendix A). 

Establishment of a NE Enhanced Bus Partnership 

To outline the rationale for and implications of the creation of a North East Enhanced Bus Partnership and the associated preparation of a Bus Service Improvement Plan by the North East Joint Transport Committee to conform with the Government’s National Bus Strategy (Appendix B). 

Energising?Blyth?Programme (Future High Streets Fund and Town Deal 

To update Cabinet regarding the establishment, development and delivery of the Energising Blyth Programme supported by the Government’s Towns Fund including the Future High Streets Fund and Town Deal (Appendix C).?? 

Borderlands Place Programme: Town Prioritisation and Place Preparation Framework for Northumberland 

To outline the implications of the Borderlands Place Programme for those towns prioritised in the Business Case approved by the Government to prepare a Place Plan to identify economic projects eligible for investment from the Borderlands Growth Deal (Appendix D). 

Funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Current funding arrangements for the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership and the North Pennines AONB Partnership ended at the end of the last financial year. Ongoing funding is available from Defra, but this is conditional on at least 25% match funding being secured from local authorities. The purpose of this report is to seek approval for funding from NCC for the next three years (Appendix E).

Unreasonable Persistent and Vexatious Contact Policy

The purpose of this report is to propose the adoption of an updated Unreasonably Persistent and Vexatious Contact Policy, which is necessary to allow Northumberland County Council to operate a fair, effective, and efficient complaints process, and also to reflect good practice advocated by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Following review of existing arrangements, it has been identified that the current policy in place to manage challenging behaviour exhibited by a small minority of customers (the Habitual or Vexatious Complainants Policy 2010) has been in place for some time and would benefit from updating. The changes proposed are set out in a newly updated ‘Unreasonably Persistent and Vexatious Contact Policy’, which if adopted will allow the Authority to deliver its complaints processes as effectively as possible to all users of our services (Appendix F).

Blyth Welding & Fabrication Training Centre

To summarise for Cabinet the outcomes of the Outline Business Case for Blyth  Welding & Fabrication Training Centre capital investment. The investment of £1.08m will deliver a technical vocational training centre in the Port of Blyth industrial area focused upon training school leavers, adults and sector employees in welding and fabrication disciplines, management of sector related apprenticeships and delivery of mandatory professional industry qualifications which are unique to the sector (Appendix G).

Hexham Neighbourhood Plan

To seek approval to formally ‘make’ the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in January 2020. A local referendum held in the Parish of Hexham on 6th May 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council is now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considers that doing so would breach European Union obligations (Appendix H).

Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan

To seek approval to formally ‘make’ the Alnmouth Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in December 2020. A local referendum held in the Parish of Alnmouth on 10 June 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council is now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considers that doing so would breach European Union obligations (Appendix I).

Craster Neighbourhood Plan

To seek approval to formally ‘make’ the Craster Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in October 2020. A local referendum held in the Parish of Craster on 10 June 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council is now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considers that doing so would breach European Union obligations . (Appendix J)

Embleton Neighbourhood Plan

To seek approval to formally ‘make’ the Embleton Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in March 2020. A local referendum held in the Parish of Embleton on 10 June 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council is now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considers that doing so would breach European Union obligations (Appendix K).

Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan

To seek approval to formally ‘make’ the Lesbury Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in June 2020. A local referendum held in the Parish of Lesbury on 10 June 2021 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council is now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considers that doing so would breach European Union obligations (Appendix L).

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 on 1 June 2021 (Appendix M).?

?