Agenda item

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.

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 industrially was in high demand and across the industrial portfolio there hadn’t been a higher occupancy before.  
• Although the company works closely with the Council it was clarified to Members that company was autonomous with its own board. 

RESOLVED  that the presentation be noted.