Agenda and decisions

Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 to be confirmed 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 Leader of the Council

This report provides a summary of the progress against the Council’s three Corporate Plan priorities along with the underpinning priority to protect and enhance the environment. Following a review of the corporate performance framework the report presents a refreshed set of indicators.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the progress against the Corporate Plan Priorities as summarised in the report.

Report of the Leader

To set out the key issues which will underpin a new, Northumberland Housing Strategy. A new county wide housing strategy will make a fundamental difference to the health and social outcomes for our residents.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet note and agree the issues set out in the report to inform a new “Countywide Northumberland Housing Strategy”; and

(b)      Cabinet agree that the issues in the report will inform;

•         the Northumberland Local Plan review

•         Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 30-year budget setting process

•         NCC Social Housing Regulation Assurance Framework

•         The Council’s work with partners to tackle inequalities.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

The purpose of the report is to provide an update to Cabinet on the development of the 2025-26 Budget and the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) covering the period 2025 to 2029, prior to the receipt of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26 in December 2024.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet review and note the revisions to the assumptions (and the risks) within the Budget 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan;

(b)      Cabinet note that further work is required to refine and finalise the Budget 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan;

(c)      Cabinet note that the revenue implications of the capital programme are still to be updated; and

(d)      Cabinet note that there are still budget balancing measures required to be identified over the term of the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

The purpose of this report is to seek Cabinet approval of the tax base calculation for 2025-26 for all domestic properties liable to pay council tax. The tax base must be set by the statutory deadline of 31 January 2025.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the council tax base for 2025-26 as detailed within Appendix A equating to 116,999.73 Band D equivalent dwellings. This is an increase of 4,814.27 Band D equivalents from 2024-25.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

The purpose of the report is to ensure that the Cabinet is informed of the current financial position for the Council against the Budget for 2024-25.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      the following be approved:

(i)             the re-profiling to the Capital Programme of £69.689 million from 2024-25 to 2025-26 to reflect estimated expenditure levels in the current financial year.

(b)      the following be noted:

(i)       the projected overspend on services of £5.996 million and the assumptions outlined in this report;

(ii)       the supplementary estimates at Appendix A and the required changes to the budgets;

(iii)      the delivery of the approved savings at Appendix B;

(iv)      the use of the contingency shown at Appendix L;

(v)      the use of reserves shown at Appendix M;

(vi)      the virements requested by services within delegated limits as shown in Appendix N; and

(vii)     the details of capital project reprofiling shown at Appendix O.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

This report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the Capital Strategy Group on 29 October 2024.

Blyth Market Place Improvement Works

RESOLVED that:-

a)             Cabinet approve the spend of £0.583 million (£0.193 million in 2024-25 and £0.390 million in 2025-26) to enable the completion of the Market Place improvements as part of the transformation of Blyth Town Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Energising Blyth Acquisitions and Delivery budget in the Capital Programme; and

b)             Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.193 million in 2024-25 and £0.390 million in 2025-26 from the Energising Blyth Acquisitions and Delivery project to the Blyth Market Place Improvement Works project.

Cramlington Regeneration Active Travel Corridors Phase One

RESOLVED that:-

a)             Cabinet approve the spend of £0.300 million in 2024-25 to deliver active travel walking routes and the resurfacing of existing active travel corridors. This spend will be funded from the existing Cramlington Regeneration budget in the Capital Programme; and

b)             Cabinet approve the amendment to the Capital Programme to reallocate £0.300 million from the Cramlington Regeneration project to the Cramlington Regeneration Active Travel Corridors Phase One project in 2024-25.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People

The Annual Report 2022-23 highlights actions and progress against the key priorities for Education, SEND and Skills 2023-2024.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet consider the education achievements of our children, young people, and residents across Northumberland in 2023/24; the impact of the work undertaken to support the achievements and the priorities for 2024/25. Members noted the content and outcomes in the report and scrutinise through direct questioning at full council and FACS scrutiny, and also via direct contact with the Director;

(b)      Cabinet note the valuable support provided to all learners within:?

· Early Years Settings and Schools?

· Special Education Needs support and service?

· Virtual School?

· Learning and Skills Service?

· School Organisation and Resources; and

(c)      Cabinet note that the priorities, core functions and action areas for the Directorate are in line with the plans of the council and our statutory responsibilities going forward.?

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.