Decisions

RESOLVED that the updated BEST Strategic Business Case be approved.

RESOLVED that:-

(a )     the findings and recommendations set out in the Local Partnerships report be noted;

(b )     Cabinet approve the action plan at Schedule 2 to this report, to address key recommendations from the report and delegate authority to the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources and Director of Law and Governance to take the necessary actions to implement; and

(c )     the recommendation of Local Partnerships to increase membership of the Shareholder Cabinet Sub-Committee from 3 to 4 be agreed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the excellent progress with the implementation of the Environmental Policy Statement Action Plan and give their approval to progress the project ‘Supporting Nature in our Green Spaces’, the next stage of which includes undertaking a community conversation using the questionnaire attached in Appendix A to seek views on the broad principles and priorities that will help shape the project outcomes.

RESOLVED that:-

(1 )     Loan to Advance Northumberland – Longhorsley Scheme

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £9.665 million (£3.670 million in 2024-25 and £5.995 million in 2025-26) to provide a loan to Advance Northumberland Developments Ltd for the purchase of land at Longhorsley and subsequent construction of 55 new Ascent Homes. This spend will be funded from the existing Loans to Third Parties project in the capital programme. 

(2)      Energising Blyth Levelling Up Deep Dive: Town Centre Extra Care Facility

a)       Cabinet approve the proposed spend of £1.000 million (£0.075  million in 2024-25 and £0.925 million in 2025-26) in advance of a full business case in order to carry out property acquisitions and demolition work for the development of an Extra Care Facility. This spend will be funded from the existing Energising Blyth Levelling up Deep Dive – Housing Renewal and Town Centre Living project in the capital programme;

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b)       Cabinet approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £1.000 million (£0.075 million in 2024-25 and £0.925 million in 2025-26) from the Energising Blyth Levelling up Deep Dive – Housing Renewal and Town Centre Living project to the Energising Blyth Levelling Up Deep Dive: Town Centre Extra Care Facility project in the capital programme;

c)       Cabinet delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place & Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources and the relevant Cabinet Member, to enter into a demolition contract relating to the project and to complete strategic property acquisitions subject to confirmation of associated funding being in place and the appropriate/compliant procurement processes being followed; and?

d)       Cabinet approve the appropriation of land, required to deliver the scheme, from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to the General Fund at market value.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      Cabinet approve the establishment of a £9m Town Centre Transformation Package (TCTP) contributing to the Programme’s delivery funded by Northumberland County Council from the £9m MTFP allocation for the Borderlands Place Programme; and

(b)      Cabinet approve a funding allocation authorising expenditure of up to £4,000,000 NCC funding to enable early delivery of the TCTP projects set out below and eligible capital project development expenditure across the Borderlands project pipeline from the current £9m MTFP allocation for the Borderlands Place Programme, of which £500,000 is profiled in 2025-26 and £3.5m is profiled in 2026-27 :

a.       Alnwick Town Centre TCTP Phase 1 (Northumberland Hall Enabling Works (Bailiffgate Museum), Town Centre Transformation Project including Transport Hub Bus Station Improvements) – up to £1.2m.

b.       Prudhoe TCTP Phase 1 (East Centre Enabling Works, The Glade Town Square and Public Realm, Wayfinding and Connectivity) – up to £500,000.

c.        Bedlington TCTP Phase 1 (Bedlington Station Heritage Café and Bistro, Town Centre Strategic Sites, Market Place Revitalisation Project and Public Realm, Wayfinding and Connectivity) - up to £600,000.

d.       Newbiggin by the Sea TCTP Phase 1 (Promenade Transformation Car Park Improvements) – up to £550,000.

e.       Bellingham TCTP Phase 1 (Station Yard Business Pods and Storage facilities) – up to £250,000.

f.        Haltwhistle TCTP Phase 1 (Visitor Facilities Package Phase 1) – up to £200,000.

g.       Rothbury TCTP Phase 1 (Town Centre public realm, wayfinding and connectivity) – up to £200,000.

h.       Place Programme eligible capital project development support – up to £500,000.

RESOLVED that:-

The following be approved:

1.1      the re-profiling to the Capital Programme of £36.817 million from 2024-25 to 2025-26 to reflect estimated expenditure levels in the current financial year.

1.2      the creation of a new earmarked reserve for Leisure and the subsequent transfer of an estimated £1.300 million to this reserve following the liquidation of Active Northumberland. It is proposed that the reserve will be used to offset leisure pressures.

1.3      Delegate the utilisation of the reserve to the Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities in consultation with the Section 151 Officer.

The following be noted:

1.4      the projected overspend on services of £2.997 million and the assumptions outlined in the report.

1.5      the supplementary estimates at Appendix A and the required changes to the budgets.

1.6      the delivery of the approved savings at Appendix B.

1.7      the use of the contingency shown at Appendix L.

1.8      the use of reserves shown at Appendix M.

1.9      the virements requested by services within delegated limits as shown in Appendix N.

1.10    the details of capital project reprofiling shown at Appendix O.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Young People and Education in consultation with the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources and the Director of Law and Corporate Governance to authorise the award of the final contract to Kier Construction Limited in the sum of £31.576.403;

(b)      Cabinet agree to issue an early works instruction to Kier Construction Limited as an extension of the current preconstruction services agreement, dated 3rd July 2024 (PCSA) up to the value of £0.700 million to prevent any increases in cost or delays in programme until the award of contract is complete in April 2025; and

(c)      Cabinet note the revised allocation of £46.932 million capital funding for the Coquet Schools Redevelopment which includes the increase of £4.000 million NCC Borrowing as approved by Full Council to amend the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan 2025-29 to deliver the scheme.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)      the contents and policies of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) be noted;

(b)      the consultation responses (as summarised) be noted;

(c)      the concerns raised by the Joint Local Access Forum (JLAF) and survey respondents relating to the resourcing of the delivery plan be noted; and

(d)      the Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2025-2035 be adopted.

The report will seek approval in respect of governance arrangements and related matters concerning the Council's role as shareholder in Newcastle International Airport Limited.