NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
ECONOMIC GROWTH & CORPORATE SERVICES
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
At a meeting of the Economic Growth & Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held in Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland,
NE61 2EF on Tuesday 22 March, 2016 10.00a.m.
PRESENT
Councillor A Wallace
(in the Chair)
MEMBERS
Douglas, M.I.Grimshaw, L.
Nisbet, K. / Sambrook, A.
Sanderson, H.G.H.
Tebbutt, A.
OFFICERS
Armstrong, T.English, D.
Little, L.
Naples, R.
Nicholson, S.
Rose, J. / External Programmes Co-ordinator
Communities & Infrastructure Manager
Democratic Services Officer
Planning Officer
Scrutiny Officer
Economic and Inclusion Policy Manager
ALSO PRESENT
Hepple, A.Lang, J. / Ledger, D.
Simpson, E.
79.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cairns, Castle and Riddle.
80.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Tebbutt declared a personal interest in the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan as he was a Member of Morpeth Town Council. Councillor Sambrook declared a personal interest in the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan in relation to Pegswood and also declared a personal interest in the Portas Pilot report due to his involvement in Themed Scrutiny on this issue.
81.MINUTES
(a)16 February 2016
RESOLVED that theminutes of the Economic Growth and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 February 2016, as circulated, be agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.
(b)23 February 2016
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Economic Growth and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 February 2016, as circulated, be agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.
82.FORWARD PLAN OF KEY DECISIONS
The published Forward Plan (attached to the signed minutes as Appendix A) was presented. The Scrutiny Officer advised that a report on Asylum Seekers and Refugees would be presented in April and a further report on the Core Strategy would be presented to this Committee in May.
RESOLVED that the information be noted.
REPORTS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED BY CABINET
83.REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-20 and Budget 2016-17
On 22 February 2016 Cabinet considered a report on the revised Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2020 and Budget for 2016-2018 (two years). An extract of the minutes was attached to the signed minutes as Appendix B.
RESOLVED that the information be noted.
REPORTS TO BE CONSIDERED BY CABINET
84.REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
(a)Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan
The Cabinet report attached as Appendix C sought approval to formally “make” the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan passed independent examination in September 2015. A local referendum held in the Parishes of Morpeth, Hebron, Hepscott, Mitford and Pegswood in February 2016 returned a majority vote in favour of using the Plan to make decisions on planning applications. The Council was now obliged by statute to make the Neighbourhood Plan unless it considered that doing so would breach European Union obligations. Councillor A Hepple, Portfolio Holder; D English the Communities & Infrastructure Manager and R Naples, Planning Officer were in attendance to present the report. The Chair, on behalf of the Parish Councils involved, thanked D English and R Naples for their help in bringing the Plan to fruition.
The Committee was informed that whilst the Regulation 19 Decision Statement advised that a resolution would be made by County Council on 4 May, after taking legal advice, it had been confirmed that the decision would be made by Cabinet. It was clarified that the independent examination of the Neighbourhood Plan had provided assurance that all European Union obligations had been met.
Members advised that this had been a mammoth piece of work and credit should also be given to the Councillors and members of the communities involved who had spent a large amount of time in the preparation of the Plan which had been robustly challenged by Developers at every stage. There had been a 30% turn out at the referendum with 93% in favour of making the Plan which was a fantastic tribute to the Community.
RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported the recommendations as outlined in the report.
(b)North East Combined Authority (NECA) Transport Manifesto
The report attached as Appendix D provided an update on progress being made by the North East Combined Authority in development their transport strategy, specifically the consultation on the Transport Manifesto which outlined the high level transport ambitions which would feed into the final Transport Plan. Councillor A Hepple, Portfolio Holder and J Rose, Economic and Inclusion Policy Manager were in attendance to present the report.
The Committee was advised that this was a high level document which set out the vision for the next 20 years and more detail would be provided within the Transport Plan for the next five years. The rural nature of both Northumberland and Durham had been acknowledged and it was clarified that a block allocation would be devolved to NCC with continued Member involvement in how this money would be spent with the existing team still undertaking this work.
RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported therecommendation as outlined in the report.
REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION BY SCRUTINY
85.REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Berwick and Newbiggin Portas Pilots Update
The report attached as Appendix E to the signed minutes was in response to a request from this Committee for an update on the Berwick and Newbiggin Portas Pilots. Councillor Hepple, Portfolio Holder and T Armstrong, External Programmes Co-ordinator were in attendance to present the report.
It was questioned whether the provision of a pathway along Berwick’s Quayside was an appropriate use of Portas Pilot money which had been provided to attempt to reinvigorate Town Centres and boost trade. Councillor Hepple advised that this was a project which had been identified by local people as a priority in order to utilise the balance of NCC Match funding following termination of the programme in December 2015
Councillor Simpson, Deputy Business Chair advised on behalf of Councillor Davey, Leader of the Council who had been unable to attend the meeting that no further carry forward of the money would be allowed and all funds for both schemes must be spent by the beginning of May 2016. She advised that this statement had also been supported by Councillor Ledger, Deputy Leader.
In response to criticism of the way in which the Berwick Portas Pilot had been unsuccessful whilst the Newbiggin scheme had succeeded, Councillor Sambrook advised that the people involved had been very committed to the delivery of the project, however external influences had impeded its success.
RESOLVED that the information be noted.
REPORT OF THE SCRUTINY OFFICER
86.Work Programme
The Committee’s work programme was attached as Appendix F to the signed minutes. Members were reminded if they wished any items to be added to the Work Programme then they should contact the Scrutiny Officer so that these can be reported to the Chairmen’s Group.
RESOLVED that the information be noted.
INFORMATION REPORT
The following report was for information only and could be accessed through Northumberland County Council’s Website. If a member of the Committee would like further explanation of the report, or had questions they wished to put to the relevant Cabinet Member, he/she should contact Democratic Services Section in order that appropriate arrangements could be made.
87.POLICY DIGEST
The report gave details of the latest policy briefings, government announcements and ministerial speeches which may be of interest to members.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
CHAIR
DATE
Ch.’s Initials………
Economic GrowthCorporate Services OSC –22 March 2016 1