To consider the member questions deferred from the budget meeting of Council held on 23rd February 2022.
Minutes:
Council was asked to consider the member questions deferred from the budget meeting of Council held on 23rd February 2022.
Question 1 from Councillor Dale to Councillor Wearmouth
At the Full Council meeting on 1st?September 2021 I asked Cllr Wearmouth for an update on the cost of the refurbishment of County Hall.? Please could Cllr Wearmouth give me a further update on the costs incurred to date for all the work undertaken so far.? Councillor Wearmouth advised that it was £11.3m as at the end of January 22.
Councillor Dale asked whether a value for money impact assessment should be done at the end to assess the added value for Morpeth as opposed to what might have been added for Ashington. Councillor Wearmouth commented that the amount of money which had been saved from not moving away had freed up money to do many other things in the capital programme.
Question 2 from Councillor Wallace to the Leader
This was withdrawn as it had been answered.
Question 3 from Councillor Scott to Councillor Renner Thompson
Question 4 from Councillor Scott to the Leader
Councillor Scott would receive written answers in her absence.
Question 5 from Councillor Nisbet to Councillor Watson
We recently wrote collectively to you about the Blyth Beach huts. We found your response disappointing. The Beach Huts in Blyth are being made inaccessible to local people because of the changes being made. Will you actively lobby Active Northumberland to look again at keeping these community assets accessible to local people for one off bookings? Not everyone can afford to block book the huts and while we welcome tourism into Blyth it mustn't be at the expense of local people.?
Councillor Nisbet advised that this had been answered briefly at the last meeting, but she believed the huts had previously been available on a daily basis all year round so she was not happy with the response that they would only be available in the Summer. It was important that the huts were available for those with disabilities in particular.
Question 6 from Councillor Ball to Councillor Horncastle
As we have seen the past two years have caused a financial hardship for many residents across Northumberland.??How many council tenants are currently subject to action due to late payment on rent?
As Councillor Horncastle was not present, a written response would be provided from him.
Question 7 from Councillor Ball to Councillor Renner Thompson
Young people are being hit hard by the long term impacts of Covid 19. Missing out on education, socialising and feeling the direct effects of falling house hold incomes. Strong youth services are key to helping these young people and improved life chances. Can we have a commitment to the young people of Northumberland that the youth service will not suffer more cuts in coming budgets and actually see investment as every penny spent in advance will reduce spend later in interventions?
Councillor Renner Thompson replied that he was aware of the impact of Covid 19 on young people. He had recently visited the Duchess High School in Alnwick and it was very clear what the impact had been and would continue to be for the next 3-4 years. He had also visited the Sure Start Centre in Prudhoe and the staff there had said the same thing about young children coming in who had had no early years help so far. Efficiencies would not be made into the front line youth services but efficiencies had been made in the management structure. Going forward, the family hubs model would be rolled out for 0-19 and up to 25 for those with extra needs, which brought in professionals from all the services not just the Council.
Councillor Ball asked what this investment actually meant in terms of numbers of youth workers delivering front line services. There had been an 80% decrease in funding in Northumberland since 2010 and she asked how this was investing in future generations. Children were being exploited but there was no intervention until a child appeared on a list. She asked the Administration to commit to putting more youth workers back on the streets and to develop a County-wide strategy. Councillor Renner Thompson replied that the issues which had been highlighted were well known and the family hubs would ensure that the relevant sectors would get into families’ lives as early as possible. The youth service had changed over the years and there was no longer blanket provision across the County. Provision was targeted to those areas where it was needed which was a better approach. Some authorities in the North East no longer had a service at all.
Question 8 from Councillor A. Watson to the Leader
Could the Leader please update the chamber on progress of the Blyth relief road? As he will know it was the Labour-led council that invested in the consultation and route identification. With so many roadworks happening in Blyth soon which will compound the problems of getting in and out of the town. Could he explain to the chamber what is holding up this urgently needed transport link and when will the relief road we were promised by both the local MP and the Conservatives on their manifesto leaflets, be delivered?
The Leader replied that there was around £18m in the capital programme for this, with £3m provided by the County Council and the remainder from Government. A report to Cabinet on 12 April would lay out in more detail the plans for how the project would begin. The Administration was committed to this and he looked forward to working with Blyth members in getting this off the ground.
Councillor Scott sought reassurances that the local members would be kept fully informed as this progressed which the Leader provided.
Question 9 from Councillor Waddell to the Leader
The Levelling Up White Paper confirms that Government will negotiate to create an expanded Mayoral Combined Authority in the North East. In the House of Commons, Michael Gove said local authorities south of the Tyne should work with the North of Tyne Mayor to bring this about. It has been government policy since the 2020 budget that we would gain devolved transport funding worth hundreds of millions of pounds if we bring all of Tyne & Wear to an expanded Combined Authority. Will the leader please confirm two things? Firstly, is he actively trying to secure this much needed new funding for Northumberland’s inadequate public transport system?
Secondly, can he reassure Council that he will take a strong negotiating position to preserve all of the excellent work done by the North of Tyne Combined Authority for the benefit of Northumberland, by making sure it continues its current programmes and keeps its highly respected officer team?
The Leader did not agree that Northumberland suffered from an inadequate transportation system or funding. Good progress had been made in the last couple of years in transport funding. He had good relationships with the Leaders of the other local authorities and he looked forward to working more closely with them.
Councillor Waddell asked whether the Leader had ever tried to travel on public transport in her ward as her residents would disagree that it was adequate. The Leader reiterated that good progress had been made, though more funding would always be welcome. If the Councillor had specific issues where improvements could be made, he asked her to write to him.
Question 10 from Councillor Grimshaw to the Leader
This was withdrawn.
Question 11 from Councillor Robinson to Councillor Ploszaj
Question 12 from Councillor Robinson to Councillor Wearmouth/Pattison
These were withdrawn as Councillor Robinson had left.
Question 13 from Councillor Taylor to Councillor Ploszaj
Councillor Taylor did not wish to put her question but reported that she had spoken to Councillor Ploszaj recently. The presentation to the LAC recently from Advance had been disappointing in terms of what was planned for the development in Bedlington and it had been reported that there was no interest now in retail. The Leader responded that it would be helpful to have the Bedlington members meet with Rick O’Farrell, Councillors Watson and Wearmouth and himself, and he would arrange this.
Question 14 from Councillor Taylor to Councillor Wearmouth
There is significant funding for toilets outlined in the new budget, Bedlington doesn’t have town centre toilets and every town should have such a basic provision for its residents and visitors. Which towns will benefit from this funding and can Bedlington be put on that list?
The Leader responded that the Administration did take public toilets very seriously as evidenced by the funding being made available. Councillor Taylor asked if Bedlington could be added to the list where improvements were being made.
Councillor Riddle replied that there were 54 public conveniences across the County and it was correct that Bedlington was not on the list for investment as it was a programme of investment in existing facilities. The ‘You’re Welcome to Use Our Loos’ scheme’ was promoted by the Council and in Bedlington the Red Lion public house was a member of this.
Question 15 from Councillor Swinburn to Councillor Watson
The new library and hub at Cramlington has been a significant success and is now used by a variety of people and groups on a daily basis. When this building was previously used there was a large sculpture inside, a piece of artwork that I was informed came from a local artist, and residents have asked where it has got to. This sculpture disappeared when the building was closed and mothballed?back in 2016, and I would like to ask if the council can find out where it has vanished to and hopefully reinstate it please?
Councillor Watson agreed that the Community Hub was proving to be a popular and highly valued community resource.? The installation 'Carbon Bond' was commissioned by Blyth Valley Borough Council in 2005 as part of the 'Your Link' building project. The figure element of the installation remained in storage within Concordia Leisure Centre,?the?remaining elements of the sculpture (the spheres) remained on site in some capacity.?One of the spheres could not be re-hung because of the sound baffle boards which must have been fitted when the building was previously in operation. Now the building had been significantly repurposed he had asked officers to assess the possibility of reintroducing the full installation.
Question 16 from Councillor Swinburn to the Leader
The old library site on Forum Way was previously grassed over and when asked about the possibility of using this for parking we were informed by the former Managing Director of Advance Northumberland that this could not be used for this due to upcoming development work in and around this area, that was due to start within 12 months. Following numerous concerns raised from residents, could you advise when this work is due to start please?
The Leader advised that the former Cramlington Library site was acquired by Arch (now Advance Northumberland) in 2016 as part of the purchase of Manor Walks Shopping Centre. The former library car park was open to the public for parking on a temporary basis to support the shopping centre' and the area comprising the demolished library itself was not, as there had been the possibility of early development on it. ?
While Manor Walks Shopping Centre and Westmorland Retail Park had performed relatively well during Covid, the impact on retail and leisure markets had required Advance to pause and reappraise its previous plans. This work would form part of the Blueprint For Cramlington which Councillor Swinburn and his colleagues had asked for. It would be down to the local members to identify the best way forward for the area.
Councillor Swinburn responded that 4 years ago members had been told that work would begin in 12 months and the surrounding area now looked derelict. He asked what steps could be taken to improve the area whilst the long-term solution was being decided upon. Councillor Wearmouth replied that there was now an upturn in retail interest in the area and he was sure an update could be provided either through the Cramlington hub or direct from Rick O’Farrell.