Minutes:
Question 1 from Councillor Hill to the Business Chair
As Business Chair, do you accept that it is very poor practice for papers to be distributed during the actual meetings and not circulated to members in advance?
The Business Chair replied that the provisions of Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 set out the arrangements for convening meetings of the council and its committees, and for publication of the agenda and reports.? These were contained in the council procedure rules in part 5 of the NCC constitution. ?As members were aware, the Access to Information Rules required that notice is usually given 5 clear days in advance and that the business to be transacted at a meeting is set out in the agenda convening the meeting.? It was best practice for written reports to accompany each agenda item. Both the Local Government Act 1972 and the Council Procedure Rules provided that in cases of urgency, the Chair could permit additional items of business to be added to the agenda, and in such cases a written report accompanying the urgent business would be provided to the meeting.? Similarly, if there were new facts or matters which had come to light since the original report was published, it would be best practice for an updated report to be provided to a meeting.
Councillor Hill commented this was not the procedure at this Council and asked if Councillor Flux was aware of the increasing concern from members about this practice, particularly in relation to long and complex matters. She asked for a reassurance that no councillor would be presented with long and complex reports at a meeting and be expected to make a decision on them.
The Business Chair asked Councillor Hill to provide him with specific examples but added that sometimes this practice was necessary rather than to have to call additional meetings.
Question 2 from Councillor Hill to the Leader
The Leader recently said that he is looking to cut £1m from the NCC wage bill; “by employing full-time staff, mainly senior staff, instead of consultants and interims.” What recent progress have you made on this?
The Leader responded that significant progress had been made. The independent governance review would be reported upon soon and he was keen to have a review of the senior management structure carried out at the appropriate point as he was concerned about the turnover of staff. He expressed gratitude to those interim officers who were currently in place. The saving would be achieved without any compulsory redundancies if he could help it. He urged members to be less negative and get behind Council staff.
Councillor Hill commented that all members were entitled to express criticism when it was justified. She asked if the Leader accepted that when the public looked at the costs detailed on the Council’s transparency webpage, that they would see these salaries as excessive, and she asked if the Leader would commit to make sure that public money was used sensibly and not wasted. The Leader responded that everyone wanted to make sure the right staff were in the right place and doing the right job at the right rate of pay.
Question 3 from Councillor Taylor to Councillor Riddle
There have been a number of concerns raised by residents and visitors following the Easter holidays by people using the footpath from Attlee Park to Humford Woods, this path is in a terrible state and needs looked at urgently. I have raised this before so could I please have an assurance that this will be a priority for repair before the summer holidays this year.
Councillor Riddle replied that the footpath would not be repaired for the summer and had not been included in Councillor Taylor’s LTP priorities. Money had been identified in this year’s LTP to do a feasibility study but this would be a major project and wouldn’t be done this year. It would be included with other bids for next year’s LTP. In the meantime, the Council would continue to inspect the footpath and undertake any minor repairs or path realignment required to ensure the route remained accessible and in a safe condition for users.
Councillor Taylor asked whether it would be possible to erect some temporary fencing at the places where it was quite narrow. Councillor Riddle replied that if officers felt there was a need for safety measures they would be put in place.
Question 4 from Councillor Taylor to Councillor Ploszaj
With the agreement for the additional £2.0m to ensure the completion of phase 1 of Bedlington town centre redevelopment, when will work recommence as it seems to have stopped again.
Councillor Ploszaj replied that the original £2m additional funds would allow Advance Northumberland to sign the contract for the remaining works, and the contractor was expected to start work by the end of May.
Councillor Taylor asked if the works were expected to finish on time. Councillor Ploszaj would get a response to her on this, and the Leader added that a further meeting was scheduled with Bedlington members for 11 May.
Question 5 from Councillor Ball to Councillor Horncastle
We have seen the cost of living is turning in to a cost of surviving crisis for many. Rents up including council rents…… council tax up again this year …… national insurance rising for many middle income earners. People struggling and people in work having to access support from food banks and some food banks reporting a new crisis that people who are receiving food from them are in the tragic situation that they cannot afford to cook the food as they have key meters and the cost of electric has near doubled so no electric to turn on the cooker.
We as a local authority are having to find more and more year on year to support hard working families to get by while the rich get richer and support cut to the worst off.
How does Northumberland County Council ensure that tenants are not stuck in the situation they have a place to live but no standard of living due to rising rents and pre-payment meters, and can I meet with the portfolio holder to gain a understanding of how both Northumberland County Council and the arm’s length company Advanced Northumberland Homes are supporting tenants and hear what the long term plans are as we are seeing the situation get worse year on year?
Councillor Horncastle replied that the Council recognised the impact of the cost-of-living squeeze on residents and was providing support for both prospective and current tenants in a number of ways. With new tenants a financial assessment was undertaken prior to allocation so that the properties that were allocated were affordable. At tenancy sign up welfare support was also provided to ensure access to appropriate benefits and grants.
The Council also supported existing tenants who were struggling and eviction was only considered as a last resort. The Council proactively supported those on Universal Credit, providing advice and setting up payment plans. The welfare support team last financial year helped tenants generate an extra £476,032.20 and the Council would continue to offer this service to any tenant facing financial hardship or needing advice and support.
The Council also provided other assistance, including, as agreed as part of the 2022/23 HRA Budget, a rent-free week for Council tenants and a Council Tax hardship payment of up to £200 was available. In addition, the size of the Discretionary Housing Payments Fund had been doubled to provide extra targeted help to households across all tenure types that were struggling to pay their rent and other essentials.
Alongside this, the Council was working hard to ensure that financial support from central Government such as the £150 energy bill rebate and the £2.5m Household Support Fund got to those households in greatest need. 45,000 payments were expected to be made from the Household Support Fund during the first 6 months of this financial year, including 21,000 to families with children and 13,000 to vulnerable pensioners. Payments would cover a range of essential needs including shopping vouchers and assistance with energy and water bills.
Councillor Ball commented that the long term plan for those in work poverty needed to be addressed. Would Northumberland support the right to food campaign?
Councillor Horncastle responded that there had bee a lot of change in Northumberland in recent years and the recent budget had contained many measures to help those who were struggling. The Local Plan would ensure that further investment was attracted to the area and there had been major investment in education in the County in the last couple of years. He agreed that he would meet with Councillor Ball to discuss matters further.
Question 6 from Councillor Ball to Councillor Ploszaj
It a welcome sight to see Home Bargains open on the Portland Park Development, Any news on when we will have a cinema and the other plots filled?
Councillor Ploszaj replied that the Council remained committed to the development of Portland Park and to securing a cinema as part of that development. Tenders had been received for the construction of the cinema and were being examined. The Council was also with partners developing a wider Levelling Up Fund bid for the town, which would pull together in a cohesive way the investments the Council was making in Portland Park and in the new Northumberland Line rail station. He expected to have news to share with partners and residents soon.
Councillor Ball commented that the funding had been secured a couple of years ago for the cinema and there had been no progress. What was happening? Councillor Ploszaj replied that the cost had risen due to covid and that was why the tenders had had to be revisited.