Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors J. Beynon, P. Ezhilchelvan, M. Murphy and M. Robinson.

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.

Councillors D. Bawn, N. Oliver and G. Sanderson declared that their businesses had received Covid grants.  It was confirmed that they would still be present and take part in discussions.

Minutes of the meetings of the Corporate Services and Economic Growth OSC held on 11^th July 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July 2022, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

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

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

Members noted that the Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022-27 was due to come to Committee on 7^th November, but J. Willis had advised that this be deferred until the December meeting to allow further information to be gathered. 

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan of key decisions be noted with the verbal amendment.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2023-24 to continue to provide support at a maximum level of 92% of council tax liability. 

A briefing note is also attached as the request of the Chair setting out specific Government assistance provided to the Council to distribute to help with Council Tax since the COVID pandemic from 2020/21.

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

Councillor R. Wearmouth, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services introduced the report.  The scheme was one of the most generous in the North East.  It was hoped the Committee would endorse the scheme for the next financial year which would provide support 92% Council Tax support to working age claimants.  Central Government was providing support for energy bills this winter along with winter fuel allowances for those who were eligible.  A briefing note was also attached to explain the Government assistance provided to the Council to help with Council Tax since the COVID pandemic 2020/21. 

It was confirmed that the Authority were awaiting confirmation on the continuation of the Council Tax hardship scheme, but no information was expected imminently.  G. Barnes, revenues, benefits and customer services manager, was in attendance to answer questions from members. 

The following comments were made in response to member questions: 

• Members welcomed the additional assistance from the Government however that aid was to combat the energy crisis and that Council Tax support had always been in place.  Some members felt that the support provided was only bringing residents up to an expected level of living.  It was felt that the Council needed a scheme to help those hit hardest even if only temporarily to combat the cost of living crisis.  By raising the support to 100% it would simplify the scheme to residents and reduce the need for recovery action.  
• The scheme which was being proposed was unchanged from last year.  It was confirmed that the Authority was one of the most generous in the region. Members were unaware of any major problems with the scheme and it was felt that 8% was a small amount of money.  The Council Tax scheme was felt to be generous and had proven to work. 
• It was confirmed to members that the forecasted cost of £25,756,617 was for residential homes only. 
• Members noted that the future of the hardship fund would be announced in due course.  If it was not continued the Council would look into providing similar cover within its own budget. 
• There was a suggestion that a national scheme would simplify the process for residents and reduce the workload on officers. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised of the comments made by members and that the Committee supported the recommendation contained in the report.

To provide members with: 

•An overview of progress on all broadband / connectivity projects 

•Details of forthcoming projects and their likely impact

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

Councillor R. Wearmouth, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services introduced the report.  C. Thompson, Director of Information Technology and S. Pringle, Business and Community Engagement Officer were in attendance.  They explained that the report gave a summary of projects, some national and some local which were being undertaken to close the historical gap in broadband connectivity. 

Due to the diverse geography of Northumberland and the rurality of much of the county, delivering good digital connectivity across the whole county has been a perennial challenge.  The Covid crisis in 2020 and 2021 brought the need for good connectivity into even sharper focus with many residents struggling to work from home and children to access online learning.  

The following comments were made in response to member questions: 

• Members noted that the LFFN project had concluded, and 216 sites had been created with a number of structures being capitalised such as schools and libraries.  It was still in the early stages of the project, but it was hoped that other providers would link in with the spine connections.  It was hoped it would be the backbone of the future network in the County. 
• Project Gigabit is a government infrastructure project which aims to deliver fast and reliable digital connectivity that officers were confident would be started in early 2023.  It has a target of connecting 85% of residents.  Northumberland has been split into two procurement categories: Type A for North Northumberland and Type B for the rest of the County and parts of Durham.  Officers confirmed that a map could be shared with members and published on the website once more details of the premises included are known.  
• Members noted that social tariffs were available from most providers however they were not widely advertised.  Each provider would have their own eligibility criteria for these tariffs.  Also, as part of the procurement process for Project Gigabit, BDUK had requested a social value section. Members confirmed that they had experience of the Council actively pursuing hard to reach communities. 

RESOLVED that the information in the report be noted.

At its February 2022 meeting, Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a report summarising the results of the Budget Consultation undertaken as part of the 2022/23 Budget setting process. At that meeting, Members requested that the Committee have the opportunity to input into the development of the Budget Consultation for the next year (2023/24).

To help the Committee to do this, this report provides a summary of results from the last budget consultation undertaken between 10th December 2021 and 21st January 2022, setting out each of the questions asked (Appendix 1). The report also includes summary demographic information in relation to the respondents (Appendix 2).

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

Councillor R. Wearmouth, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services introduced the report.  The report provided questions included in the 2022-23 budget consultation for members to consider and make suggestions upon. It also sought members views on how to strengthen the consultation and engagement with residents. 

The following comments were made from members: 

•  It was suggested that a section regarding the Council Tax support scheme be added. 
• Members suggested that it would be useful to create an interactive budget tool for customers to create their own budget online or a way in which customers could rank the importance of different services. 
• It was agreed that it was important to get as much interaction and participation from residents and businesses within the county.  
• It was noted that the online response was good value for money and it was important to get the online consultation out to the public for more responses. Members were encouraged to promote the consultation on social media. 
   

RESOLVED that the information be noted and suggestions be examined for inclusion in the Budget Consultation 2022/23.

The purpose of this report is to provide a final, consolidated position to the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the delivery of the Covid Business Grants and Business Rate relief schemes delivered by the County Council from May 2020, to support the County’s businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions.

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

Councillor R. Wearmouth, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services introduced the report.  Members reiterated thanks to officers for their efficient hard work during the pandemic to ensure swift support was given to those in need.  It was acknowledged that there was a high number of microbusinesses in the county which made it a mammoth task to accomplish with over 39,000 individual payments being made. 

G. Barnes, Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services Manager and S. McMillan, Assistant Service Director were in attendance to answer questions from members. 

The following comments were made by members: 

• First-hand experience highlighted the efficiency of the service.  It was acknowledged that the Authority was the 4^th fastest to distribute the support nationally.  

• Members thanks officers for the detailed report and commented on the coherence of it. 
• Members highlighted the importance of using town and parish councils to relay important communications into the community. 

RESOLVED that the information in the report be noted.

The Committee is asked to review and note the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for the 2022/23 council year. 

The Committee received an update on its Work Programme for the 2022/23 council year.  The Scrutiny Coordinator reiterated to members that the Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022-27 item would be deferred until the December meeting. 

? 

RESOLVED that this information was noted.

The Committee is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

(a)    That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the Agenda as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and

(b)    That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:-

Agenda Items          Paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A

12                             3 - Contains information relating to business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) 

AND                              The public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure because disclosure could adversely affect the business reputation or confidence in the person/ organisation and could adversely affect commercial revenue.

This report provides the latest financial positions of the trading companies and of any relevant issues arising. 

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

The confidential report, which was considered by Cabinet on 21 September 2022, was introduced to the Committee by Councillor R. Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services. 

Members welcomed the report.  J. Willis confirmed that work was underway to create a rationale for NEHL and a strategic review was taking place of Advance. Members were assured that further information would be provided in due course regarding the future of NEHL. 

It was confirmed that there were no active tenders being pursued and none would be until the future of the NEHL company was confirmed. 

It was also confirmed that a detailed annual presentation from Advance on its core operations would be provided to the Committee in March 2023. 

RESOLVED that the information in the report be noted.