Agenda and decisions

Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 17 September 2024, 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; 

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. 

The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) has reviewed highways maintenance issues in Northumberland and seeks Cabinet approval of a recommendation. The report also asks Cabinet to note actions proposed by the OSC following presentations made to it.

RESOLVED that the report of the Communities and Place OSC be noted, the issue of additional funding be considered under item 7 on the agenda,  and the Leader write to the region’s four new MPs to seek reassurances that the £184m of funding pledged to the Authority by the previous Government remain in place.

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

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on the development of the Cramlington Regeneration Programme. This follows engagement with the community through the ‘Cramlington Conversation’ and the development of a new Place Plan for the town based on this feedback.  Updates are provided regarding the development of a new pipeline of priority projects to improve the town which are set to begin delivery in 2024 supported by the £3.5m allocation in the Capital Plan for this purpose subject to relevant County Council approvals.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)  The outcome of the Cramlington Conversation engagement process and the development of the draft Cramlington Place Plan summarised in the report;

(2)  The progress made in the development of the Cramlington Regeneration Programme. The programme includes a pipeline of developing projects which will be delivered from 2024-25 utilising the existing £3.5m Cramlington Regeneration Programme allocation.  This is subject to relevant approval process being followed for each project as required by the County Councilp;

(3)  The longer-term pipeline of projects that could form part of the delivery of the Cramlington Regeneration Programme subject to the availability of NCC and / or external funding;

(4)  The commitment by the County Council to support the development of projects with £50k development and feasibility work.  This is being undertaken to identify measures to improve the town centre including gateways, public realm, parking and connectivity and to support the development of the new youth hub project; and

(5)  Further updates will be provided as the Programme develops and moves into delivery.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025-26 to continue to provide support at a maximum level of 92% of council tax liability.

RESOLVED that County Council be recommended to approve the current Council Tax Support Scheme attached as Appendix 1, to be adopted as the Council’s local scheme for 2025-26.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

This report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the Capital Strategy Group on 27 August 2024.

RESOLVED that:-

1.       Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £1.242 million (£0.828 million in 2024-25 and £0.414 million in 2025-26) for the purchase and refurbishment of 7 properties. This spend will be funded by £0.651 million from the existing Affordable Homes Budget in the Capital Programme and £0.591 million from grant funding;

b)       Cabinet note the receipt of £0.596 million grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This grant funding is made up of a £0.591 million capital grant and £0.005 million revenue grant;

c)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.651 million from the Affordable Homes project in the Capital Programme to the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 project; and

d)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to include the external grant from MHCLG of £0.591 million.

2.       Bellingham Middle and Primary Schools Low Carbon Heating System

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £0.887 million (£0.048 million in 2024-25 and £0.839 million in 2025-26) to install a low carbon heating system. This spend will be funded from the existing Climate Change Capital fund in the Capital Programme; and  

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.887 million from the Climate Change Capital Fund project in the Capital Programme to the Bellingham Middle and Primary Schools Low Carbon Heating System project.

3.       Otterburn First School Low Carbon Heating System

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £0.155 million (£0.010 million in 2024-25 and £0.145 million in 2025-26) to install a low carbon heating system. This spend will be funded from the existing Climate Change Capital fund in the Capital Programme; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.155 million from the Climate Change Capital Fund project in the Capital Programme to the Bellingham Middle and Primary Schools Low Carbon Heating System project.

4.       New Hartley Bungalows

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed additional spend of £0.563 million for the development of 9 bungalows at the New Hartley site. The spend will be funded using HRA reserves and Treasury retained capital receipts; and

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme for the updated spend as profiled in table 9.11.

5.       Network Infrastructure Update

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £3.573 million for the Network Infrastructure Update as profiled in table 10.8. This spend will be funded from the existing Network Infrastructure project and CISO project in the capital programme;

b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.713 million (£0.613 million 2024-25 and £0.100 million in 2025-26) from the CISCO project to the Network Infrastructure Update project; and

c)       authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Transformation and Resources to enter into a contract for the work required up to £3.573 million.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Improving Roads and Highways

The report highlights the impacts on highway drainage systems due to the exceptionally wet weather experienced over the 2023/24 winter period which has resulted in significant amounts of soil, grit and debris being washed into highway drainage systems, resulting in an increase in public complaints relating to highway drainage, increased risks to road users from surface water flooding issues and damage to road structures which will create further and more extensive damage to the network this winter due to freeze/thaw cycles if left unresolved. The report details the proposed approach to address the drainage issues in advance of the winter period which would be funded from the severe weather reserve.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve an intensive programme of ditch cleaning, channel sweeping and gully cleansing activity using external contractors over an ~18 week period starting in late August and running into the winter to address the damage to highways drainage systems and to mitigate the risk of a further increase in highway flooding issues and drainage maintenance requests from occurring over the coming winter period. The cost of this activity would be ~£59,542 per week, totalling ~£1,070,856 for an 18-week period, to be funded from the Council’s Severe Weather Reserve

Report of the Cabinet Member for Improving our Roads and Highways

The Fleet Replacement Programme is relevant to both the, ‘Achieving value for money & ‘Driving Economic Growth’ priorities included in the 2023/26 corporate plan.  The allocation of capital funding to support a rolling fleet replacement programme is essential to ensure that key front-line services have reliable, cost effective and modern vehicles and equipment to enable them to deliver services to individuals and communities across the County.  An effective, modern and well managed vehicle fleet also ensures that the council minimises the impact that its transport activities have on the environment, makes a positive contribution to tackling climate change and that it keeps pace with innovation and best practice. 

A modern refuse collection fleet will support and maintain the high standards of vital local services ensuring the natural and physical environments our residents live in are safe, clean and well maintained.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)  Cabinet approve the commencement of a procurement process to enable the phased replacement of the Council's fleet of 54 refuse collection vehicles (“RCV”) at an estimated cost of £13.1m as part of its on-going capital investment in the Fleet Replacement Programme, with a new RCV fleet to be provided over a ~3-year period starting from 2025/26; and

(b)  The Executive Director of Place and Regeneration be given delegated authority to award the contracts for the provision of a new RCV fleet following the successful completion of the procurement exercise.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People

This report provides an update on the outcomes of the feasibility and detailed design works for the building works associated for the expansion of the first schools to become primary schools as part of the wider school reorganisation project.

RESOLVED that authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Inspiring Young People, to approve the award of contract to the preferred contractors following the procurement process for the works required to support the changes for the first schools to become primaries, currently estimated to be £8.207m capital expenditure from the overall project budget of £50.225m.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People

To propose a package of in-year interventions in the areas of children’s residential care and SEND in 2024-25. These interventions accelerate a package of long-term initiatives which are forecast to deliver a significant reduction in projected cost escalation and to mitigate the challenges which are set to continue.

RESOLVED that:-

In-year funding in 2024-25 to rapidly commence children’s residential care demand management and capacity building:

1.       Cabinet approve the relaunch and scale-up of a foster carer recruitment campaign in Northumberland to grow foster care capacity, working in tandem with the regional ‘Foster with North East’ collaborative partnership, £0.045m in 2024-25;

2.       Cabinet approve an uplift on the weekly Skills/Fee payment made to foster carers from £183.49 to £210 per week per child, £0.446m in 2024-25; and

3.       Cabinet note plans to put in place project management resource to accelerate and meet milestones of existing children’s homes capital schemes which have not progressed sufficiently rapidly to date and to support future capital schemes, £0.034m in 2024-25 funded from existing capital schemes.

In-year funding in 2024-25 to accelerate SEND developments and more routinely comply with statutory processes:

4.       Cabinet approve investment in the SEND team to meet increase on statutory assessments, reduction of mistakes, mitigation of fines, and support service transformation - enabling meeting statutory duties with two 9month fixed term roles, £0.038m in 2024-25 funded from NCC funds released by capitalising salaries;

5.       Cabinet approve the development of a team underpinning our statutory duties comprised of 4 SEND Inclusion Consultants, 3 of those being at band 6, and one with supervisory responsibility at Band 7. The team will be modelled on a comparable and successful team established in early years and will work with children and families upstream, before they become entrenched in complex and stressful assessment processes, to provide advice, guidance, and support in a more agile way to those making choices for their children’s education, £0.082m in 2024-25 funded from Dedicated Schools Grant;

6.       Cabinet approve commencement of the development of a digital Education, Health & Care Planning system, £0.019m in 2024-25 (phase 1 development) funded from Early Years Block and unused Disability Access Funding;

and,

7.       Cabinet note that the in-year 2024-25 funding requested is to enable immediate progress with longer-term initiatives which are forecast to deliver a significant reduction in projected cost escalation and to mitigate the challenges which are set to continue.

The purpose of this report is to recommend to Cabinet a preferred delivery model for the provision of museum services in Northumberland based on the outcome of the Delivery Model Assessment and related due diligence exercise on the preferred delivery model.

RESOLVED that:-

a)       Cabinet agree that the preferred option for the delivery of museum services in Northumberland is a shared services arrangement in partnership with Tyne & Wear Museums and Archives;

b)       Cabinet agree that officers should engage with the Tyne & Wear Archives Museums (“TWAM”) partnership, namely its constituent authorities: Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, North Tyneside Council and South Tyneside Council and the accountable body: Newcastle City Council in relation to the expansion of the TWAM partnership;

c)       authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Director for Transformation and Resources, the Director for Law and Corporate Governance and the Portfolio Holder for Healthier Lives, subject to agreement of all parties, to give effect to the transfer and prepare all necessary legal documentation in relation to joining the Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums partnership and shared services arrangement;

d)       Cabinet note that there will be additional year 1 transition costs to the Council in 2025-26 of circa £0.370 million, of which £0.270 million can be funded from existing Council funding and the remaining £0.100 million will be subject to the approval of a non recurrent pressure in 2025-26, submitted as part of the 2025-26 budget and MTFP 2025-29; and

e)       Cabinet note the update on progress of the Living Barracks project and the partnership approach for delivery.

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.