This week in Northumberland:

Food Waste Collection Faces Cuts Due to Funding Shortfall

The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) met on Wednesday to discuss the rollout of food waste services, mandated by the Environment Act 2021. The discussion revealed that Northumberland County Council faces a significant funding shortfall, potentially limiting the service to only a portion of households. The committee was also expected to note the schedule of decisions made by the cabinet since the last meeting, together with the latest forward plan of key decisions, and to review its work programme for the 2025/26 council year. Read more about the Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) meeting.

Key Points:

• The Mandate: From April 1, 2026, all local authorities in England must provide weekly food waste recycling collections to all households.
• The Shortfall: Northumberland County Council received £2,949,940 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), but estimates it needs an additional £1,541,989 to cover all households.
• The Options: The council presented two options:
  • Option 1: Prioritize areas with the highest housing density, such as southeast Northumberland, and limited parts of central Northumberland including Morpeth and Ponteland.
  • Option 2: Serve the twelve main towns of Northumberland: Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blyth, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Morpeth, Ponteland and Prudhoe.
• The Decision: The Cabinet has already approved Option 1 as the preferred approach, pending the outcome of an appeal to DEFRA for additional funding.
• The Impact: Many households in Northumberland may miss out on food waste collection services, potentially hindering the council's ability to meet recycling targets and reduce environmental impact.

This decision echoes previous discussions about financial constraints impacting essential services, as seen in the recent Schools' Forum meeting where funding challenges for SEND provision were highlighted.

Committee to Review Cycling, Road Safety, and Green Spaces

The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) was scheduled to consider its work programme for the 2025/26 council year. Key issues identified for inclusion are:

• Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plans development
• Northumberland Road Safety Strategy
• New Section 106 system¹
• Green / Open spaces review
• Tree and Woodland Strategy

The committee's focus on these areas suggests a commitment to improving infrastructure, safety, and environmental quality for Northumberland residents.

Cabinet's Upcoming Decisions

The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) was scheduled to note the schedule of decisions made by Cabinet since the last meeting together with the latest Forward Plan of key decisions. The Forward Plan included the following items:

• Future of kerbside recycling collections under Simpler Recycling
• Levelling Up Deep Dive: Town Centre Living Extra Care Facility
• Northumberland Line Update
• Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group
• Ashington Regeneration Programme Update
• Food & Feed, Safety & Standards Service Plan 2025/26
• Integrated Domestic Abuse Services for Northumberland – Permission to Tender and Award Contracts

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of meetings scheduled for the next 7 days:

• The Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday 05 August 2025, will consider planning applications for a renewable energy scheme, a service station with holiday lodges, and alterations to a theatre and cinema.
• The Audit and Standards Committee meeting on Wednesday 06 August 2025, will review the effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal controls within Northumberland County Council, including updates on internal and external audits, financial reporting and risk management.
• The Cabinet Shareholder Committee meeting on Friday 08 August 2025, is scheduled to meet to discuss several matters relating to Advance Northumberland (AN) and its subsidiary companies, including the appointment of a new board chair, approval of a delegated authority policy, and a sustainability business case for Advance Green Futures Ltd.
• The Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday 14 August 2025, has no agenda currently available.

This week in Northumberland:

Healthwatch Report Highlights Service Gaps and Community Needs

The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday to discuss the annual report from Healthwatch Northumberland, the local health and social care champion. The report, which covers the period up to March 2025, sheds light on key issues affecting residents' access to healthcare and social care services. The committee also discussed an overview of adult services, and reviewed the committee's work programme. Read more about the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Key Findings from Healthwatch Northumberland:

• Community Engagement: Healthwatch Northumberland engaged with over 2,150 people, gathering 809 experiences of health and social care services.
• Service Improvements: Feedback from parents and carers led to improvements in the Growing Healthy 0-19 Service Northumberland, including better communication and consistent service delivery.
• Areas of Concern: The report highlights ongoing challenges with GP access, dentistry, and adult social care, which will be priorities for Healthwatch Northumberland in the coming year.
• Financial Information: Healthwatch Northumberland receives an annual grant of £200,000 from Northumberland County Council¹.

This year we set out to hear more from users of health and social care services in Northumberland whose voices we've heard less often in the past.

Peter Standfield, Chair, Healthwatch Northumberland

The report underscores the importance of community engagement and collaboration in addressing healthcare challenges and ensuring that services meet the needs of Northumberland residents.

Council Reviews Financial Risks and Debt Recovery

The Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday to discuss the council's financial performance, debt recovery, and risk management strategy. The committee also discussed the establishment of a Task and Finish Group to review the member enquiry process. Read more about the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Key Discussion Points:

• Financial Performance: The committee was informed of the final outturn position for the council against the budget for 2024-25.
• Debt Recovery: The committee received an update on the level of outstanding debt owed to the council, which has reached its highest ever level due to rising Council Tax and the cost of living crisis.
• Risk Management: The committee discussed the council's updated Risk Management Strategy, which aims to ensure a consistent and effective approach to risk management across all council activities.
• Member Enquiries: The committee discussed the establishment of a Task and Finish Group to review the member enquiry process, following concerns raised by Councillor Mark Peart.

The discussions highlight the financial challenges facing the council and the importance of effective risk management and debt recovery strategies.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of meetings scheduled for the next 7 days:

• The Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday 05 August 2025, will consider planning applications for a renewable energy scheme, a service station with holiday lodges, and alterations to a theatre and cinema.
• The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) meeting on Wednesday 30 July 2025, will include discussion of the rollout of food waste services, and a review of the committee's work programme for the 2025/26 council year.

This week in Northumberland:

Schools Face Funding Crisis as SEND Overspend Balloons

The Northumberland Council Schools' Forum met on Wednesday to discuss a concerning overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), particularly within the High Needs Block, which funds special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. The forum reviewed the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn for 2024-25, school balances, and the scheme for financing maintained schools. Read more about the Schools' Forum meeting.

• The deficit: The DSG overspent by £8.052 million in 2024-25, with a staggering £9.187 million overspend in the High Needs Block.
• The drivers: This overspend is largely attributed to a 22.49% increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in 2024-25, leading to increased costs for SEN top-ups and additional place funding in mainstream schools.
• The impact: The overall DSG reserve has plummeted from a £1.159 million surplus to an £8.052 million deficit. Projections indicate that the deficit on the High Needs block reserve could rise to between £17.1 and £19.8 million by the end of 2025-26.
• The national context: The Department for Education (DfE) acknowledges that SEND funding challenges are a nationwide issue, affecting local governments across the UK.

This financial strain could lead to difficult decisions about SEND provision, potentially impacting vulnerable children and families who rely on these vital services. The report pack stated that the Department for Education (DfE) recognises that SEND provision challenges are not unique to Northumberland Council, but represent a national issue affecting local governments across the UK.

Northumberland Skills Receives Good Rating, But Improvements Needed

The Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday to discuss the annual self-evaluation of children's social care and the Ofsted inspection summary for Northumberland Skills, the council's post-16 education provider. Read more about the Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

• The verdict: Ofsted rated Northumberland Skills as Good for overall effectiveness and in all specific areas of inspection.
• The positives: Ofsted's report highlighted the positive learning environment and effective safeguarding measures at Northumberland Skills.
• The areas for improvement: Ofsted identified two key areas for improvement: collecting accurate data on learners' destinations and ensuring learners complete health and safety theory before practical training.

While the Good rating is a positive achievement, addressing the identified areas for improvement is crucial to ensure that Northumberland Skills continues to provide high-quality education and training for its learners.

Licensing Sub-Committee to Discuss Confidential Public Safety Reports

The Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee met on Thursday, and were scheduled to review reports from the Cabinet Member for Public Safety. Read more about the Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee meeting.

• Exclusion of Public: The subcommittee was asked to exclude the press and public from a portion of the meeting due to the confidential nature of the reports, citing that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
• Reports of the Cabinet Member for Public Safety: The subcommittee was scheduled to review reports from the Cabinet Member for Public Safety, listed as Case No. 170725/461, Case No. 170725/462 and Case No. 170725/463. These were to be discussed in private.

Other Matters

• Children's Social Care Self-Evaluation: The Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to receive an update on the self-evaluation that had been completed to support the annual conversation with Ofsted. The report noted that a conversation was held with Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI) inspectors from Ofsted in March 2025, and that the inspectors felt that the self-evaluation provided a good overview of the services delivered within Northumberland, and the impact that the services have had for children, young people and families. Read more about the Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of meetings scheduled for the next 7 days:

• The Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 21 July 2025, is scheduled to review the council's financial performance, risk management and debt recovery.
• The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 22 July 2025, is scheduled to discuss an overview of adult services, receive the annual report from Healthwatch Northumberland, and review the committee's work programme.
• The Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 30 July 2025, has no agenda currently available.

This week in Northumberland:

Dementia Strategy Aims to Improve Lives

The Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday to discuss the Northumberland Dementia Strategy 2025-2035, a multi-agency plan developed in partnership with the Northumberland Dementia Steering Group. The strategy aims to reduce the risk of dementia and support those living with the condition to live life to their full potential.

• The vision: The strategy's vision is to reduce the risk of people developing dementia, and to enable and support people living with dementia to live life to their full potential.
• The priorities: The strategy focuses on five key areas: preventing well, diagnosing well, supporting well, living well, and dying well, mirroring the NHS England Transformation Framework Well Pathway for Dementia.
• The challenges: The report pack identifies several challenges, including an ageing population, funding limitations for VCSE¹ organisations, the need for early intervention and joined-up care, a lack of respite care and housing options, and gaps in dementia awareness and support services.
• The impact: The board was asked to approve the strategy, particularly the objectives aligned to each of the five priorities, which could lead to improved services and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

The strategy was informed by the experiences of people living with dementia and carers, with the Alzheimer's Society seeking views from the Northumberland Dementia Voices group and adults living with dementia who accessed the Northumberland post-diagnosis support service.

Read more about the Northumberland Dementia Strategy.

Council Reviews Financial Performance Amidst Capital Project Shifts

The Cabinet at Northumberland County Council met on Tuesday to discuss the Q3 & Q4 Corporate Performance, the Northumberland Local Plan Evaluation Report, and the Financial Performance for 2024-25.

• Financial Performance: The Cabinet reviewed the final financial outturn for 2024-25, including directorate performance and the use of reserves. They approved the net re-profiling of £67.286 million to the 2025-26 financial year.
• Local Plan Evaluation: The Cabinet considered a report evaluating the Northumberland Local Plan, which provides a framework for future development until 2036. The evaluation found the plan to be effective but recommended preparing a new Local Plan due to changes in circumstances, including the re-introduction of passenger services on the Northumberland Line and increased demand for employment sites.
• Corporate Performance: The Cabinet discussed the Corporate Performance Report, which summarizes progress against the council's priorities: value for money, economic growth, and tackling inequalities. The report highlighted achievements such as the £110 million Northumberland Growth & Investment Endowment Fund and town centre transformation projects.

Read more about the Cabinet meeting.

Firefighters' Pension Scheme Board Discusses Pension Dashboards and Risk Management

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme Local Pension Board met on Tuesday to discuss a range of issues relating to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, including pension dashboards, risk management, and the scheme's annual report.

• Pension Dashboards: The board discussed pension dashboards, digital interfaces designed to allow individuals to view information about all of their pensions in one place.
• Risk Register: The board reviewed the local pension board risk register, which identifies potential risks to the pension scheme and outlines mitigation measures.
• Annual Report: The board reviewed the draft annual report of the Firefighters Local Pension Board for 2024-2025, which provides an overview of the board's activities and the performance of the pension scheme.

Read more about the Firefighters' Pension Scheme Local Pension Board meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a list of meetings scheduled for the next 7 days:

• The Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee meeting on Thursday 17 July 2025, will include the election of a chair and a review of interest disclosures from committee members. The subcommittee will also consider excluding the press and public from a portion of the meeting to discuss confidential reports related to public safety.
• The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 22 July 2025, is scheduled to discuss an overview of adult services, receive the annual report from Healthwatch Northumberland, and review the committee's work programme.
• The Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday 17 July 2025, are scheduled to meet to discuss the annual self-evaluation of children's social care, and to review the outcomes of an Ofsted inspection of Northumberland Skills.