Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meetings of the Corporate Services and Economic Growth OSC held on 13^thFebruary 2023, 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 13 February 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

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.

Councillor M. Murphy declared an interest in item 5 Advance Northumberland as she was a member of the board. The Chair agreed that she could remain in the meeting but would not partake in any discussion.

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). 

It was noted that the date of the meeting had changed to the 17^th April 2023 to accommodate the report deadlines. 

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan of key decisions be noted.

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

Robin Earl, Group Executive Director of Advance, introduced the presentation and his colleagues to committee. The presentation highlighted the work Advance had done in the last 12 months. Advance continued to work with a number of organisations to produce collaborative projects. Leisure centres in Berwick upon Tweed, Newbiggin by the Sea and Morpeth had been completed and handed over to Active Northumberland successfully. There were two flagship projects in the Advance programme that were highlighted to committee: the Energy Central Learning hub and Culture Centre and Market Place. Advance were working closely with the Energising Blyth programme to manage the design process and support stakeholder consultations and business case development.  

The housing market had been difficult in recent times due to inflationary pressures but it was important to be aware that the North East was not facing as difficult times as what was being published nationally. Ascent had built 117 homes in the last 12 months with 107 of them being affordable homes. They had active developments in Alnwick, Blyth, Choppington, Ellington and Wooler with planned projects in Bellingham, Berwick and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. 

Advance provided good quality residential and commercial properties for residents and businesses of Northumberland to live and work. As they were private landlords they were not restricted. The current portfolio was performing very well. There was continual recovery post-pandemic especially in the commercial portfolio. 

It was confirmed that a financial remodel was in progress. Advance had appointed independent accountants to look over the financial model and give suggestions on how the company would look moving forward. 

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

• It was confirmed that there was no requirement on the current rural scheme at Wooler for affordable housing for locals, but such conditions could be made on future projects. 

• Members noted that it took a considerable amount of money, approximately £15,000 per house, to construct a property with sustainable eco-friendly features. 
• Advance housing worked with housing associations and the Council for social housing as it depended on who was best place to take on the rentals due to existing stock. 
• Members were assured that there was a healthy stream of work for Ascent homes. The company tried to work on a 5-year cycle for the landbank. It worked closely with the Council for housing estates.  
• The reconstruction of the Advance board was still on-going. Advertisements had been published for non-executive directors to bring in more skilled workers onto the board. Interviews were taking place in the very near future. It was confirmed that any board members appointed would go through the correct governance and recommendations would be made to Council which would need to be approved.  
• Through numerous consultations it was evident that a new cinema was a priority for the public in the regeneration of Blyth. Members were assured that independent cinemas were becoming more popular post pandemic. It was confirmed that an independent cinema business had already been chosen.  
• Members were assured that necessary steps had been taken since to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

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.   

Members requested that the final report regarding inflationary pressures on the current budget be brought to committee. The report was due to go to cabinet in May and Officers confirmed they were happy for the report to come to scrutiny.  

Members also requested an update on the position of the NCC lottery. 

? 

RESOLVED that this information was noted.