Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors P. Jackson and M. Murphy.

2.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 433 KB

Minutes of the meetings of the Corporate Services and Economic Growth OSC held on 7th March 2021, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on?7 March 2021, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

3.

FORWARD PLAN OF CABINET DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To note the latest Forward Plan of key decisions.  Any further changes made to the Forward Plan will be reported to the Committee. 

 

Minutes:

The Forward Plan of forthcoming Key Cabinet decisions was reported to the Committee.  (Report enclosed with the signed minutes as Appendix A).

 

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan of key decisions be noted 

4.

BLYTH RELIEF ROAD pdf icon PDF 443 KB

The purpose of the report is to provide Cabinet with:

 

·       An overview of progress to date on the development of the business case for a new relief road for Blyth which will significantly improve access to the town by all modes.

·       A recommendation for the preferred route alignment to be taken forward to a public engagement exercise

·       An update on the business case which includes emerging costs, benefits and programme for the scheme.

 

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Portfolio Holder for Business is required to attend for this item.

 

Minutes:

R. O’Farrell, Executive Director, introduced the report to committee. It gave an update on the Blyth Relief Road and outlined the funding that will be needed for the option 5 route. Councillor W. Ploszaj, Portfolio holder for Business added that it was a much needed road in Blyth and will be beneficial to the County. 

 

The following comments were made in response to member’s questions:- 

 

  • Members welcomed the proposals set out in the report given the longstanding traffic congestion problems in and around Blyth. 
  • Members acknowledged that Route 3 was no longer viable due to risks from housing developments. Route 5 was now the most viable option. 
  • It was acknowledged that Route 5 was on the periphery of the congestion area, however Members were assured that there were amendments to Route 5 to help alleviate congestion. 
  • Officers confirmed that Route 5 was the only viable option as it was the only route that matched the cost to benefit analysis and other routes may not have secured funding from Central Government. Officers were confident that the funding would be approved and confirmed that discussions had with the Department of Transport had been positive. 
  • Members were assured that there would be a full public consultation on the proposed route and the programme of the consultation would be shared with Members. 
  • Members were assured that there was a strong commitment from the Administration to complete the work, but a date of completion could not be given. 
  • Paragraph 7 of the report outlined the improvements that would be made to Route 5. Officers assured Members that there would be joined up working within other services to ensure work was not duplicated throughout the scheme.

 

RESOLVED members agreed to note and support the recommendations in the report.

5.

ADVANCE NORTHUMBERLAND

Members to receive a presentation from the Chief Operating Officer of Advance giving an overview and update on the work they are undertaking.

 

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services is requested to attend for this item.

Minutes:

R. O’Farrell, Executive Director, introduced the Advance team to committee. It was explained that Advance had presented at Informal Cabinet and NALC and they had been well received, therefore it was thought beneficial to present to committee. 

 

R. Earle, Chief Operating Officer, introduced the presentation to committee. The presentation gave an overview of Advance Northumberland as a company and highlighted activities undertaken by different sectors. The presentation gave information regarding the Advance Northumberland Estate including commercial and residential properties in their portfolios. 

 

D. Brown, Ascent Homes Development Director, gave an overview of the Housing Regeneration work. It outlined schemes that had been delivered and up-coming schemes in the pipeline. It showed the proportions of private sale and affordable housing within these schemes. 

 

A. Mowbray, Head of Project Management, gave an insight into the project management work carried out by Advance Northumberland Developments. They outlined the companies they had worked with which included Active Northumberland. The work illustrated how Advance Northumberland Developments had a skilled and experienced team with a proven track record of successful completed projects and there were £150 million of committed projected running to 2025 in the pipeline. 

 

M. Black, Director of Economic Growth & Investments, presented how Advance Northumberland supported businesses across the County. The presentation showed strategic employment sites and entrerprise zones including Northumberland Energy Park. It also gave a summary of Key Town projects including Amble Retail Park and Tyne View Retail Park in Prudhoe. 

 

The following comments were made in response to Members questions: - 

 

  • Officers confirmed that Ashington College was relocated to the Wansbeck Business Park after they approached Advance, it would have been preferrable to keep the Business Park for employment only however there were benefits to the location. 
  • Members thanked Officers for the detailed presentation and asked if a presentation could be brought to Scrutiny on an annual basis to give a yearly update which Officers were happy to oblige. 
  • Discussions were on-going regarding the acquisition of the Priestpopple site. Planners were creating a development brief to outline what would be appropriate on the site in conjunction with adjacent developments.  
  • Officers acknowledged that the Real Estate industry was a male orientated industry and had schemes in place to try and overcome this. There was a rising stars project which gave training and development for internal progression. It was confirmed that ¼ of the Senior Team were female and there were 2 female board members with another female member joining soon.  
  • Officers confirmed that the costing fronts were being monitored on projects in response to the cost of living rising to ensure investments were economically viable. 
  • Officers confirmed that the Council would be responsible to create schemes to combat issues of sustainability in rural areas and then Advance would implement this. 
  • Officers confirmed that affordable housing was rented out through social housing companies.  
  • Discussions were on-going between Advance and the Council regarding delivering a large part of the affordable housing that was set out in the Council budget. 
  • Members were assured that everywhere  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

BRITISH VOLT pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Members to receive a presentation from the Executive Chairman of British Volt giving an update on the work they are undertaking.

 

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services is requested to attend for this item.

Minutes:

P. Rolt, Executive Chairman of British Volt, introduced the presentation to committee. The detailed presentation gave an update on the project. It outlined the plans for the Gigaplant factory in Northumberland and the Supplier Park to support the factory. It also introduced the committee to the BV FutureGen Foundation which would hope to encourage people into a career at British Volt. 

 

The following comments were made in response to Members questions:- 

 

  • Members thanked Officers for an excellent presentation, and shared their enthusiasm at the fantastic opportunity British Volt had brought to Northumberland.  
  • It was explained to Members that there were technical challenges when looking at producing a battery for HGV due to energy density but in the future there may be a way to produce one. 
  • Members were assured that British Volt wanted to be on the leading edge of battery production but it was also important to ensure the technology was sustainable. The senior team in the company were all leading experts and had many accolades for their work within the battery production sector highlighting the companies commitment to the longevity of the project. 
  • Members were assured that British Volt wanted to create jobs for local people. The Learning & Development team were already in place and were visiting schools to encourage the next generation into the industry through STEM learning. 
  • It was confirmed that the supplier park was to produce parts that were needed to make the product. The supplier park being in close proximity meant batteries would be produced more efficiently. 
  • Officers confirmed there would be no waste discharge from the factory. There would be a small amount of by-product which would be tinkered off site and processed elsewhere.  
  • Members were assured that partners of the company would break down the raw materials into the usable products.

 

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.

7.

MONITORING REPORT pdf icon PDF 548 KB

The Committee is asked to review and note the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee Monitoring Report for the 2021/22 council year.

Minutes:

The Committee received an update on its Monitoring Report for the 2021/22 council year.?

 

RESOLVED that this information was noted.??

8.

URGENT BUSINESS

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.