The Ashington & Blyth Community Partnership meeting was scheduled to cover updates on strategic investment sites, consider a petition regarding speed bumps, and discuss employability opportunities. The meeting also included a community marketplace for informal discussions.

Northumberland Strategic Investment Site (N-SIS) Update

An update was scheduled to be provided on the Northumberland Strategic Investment Site (N-SIS). This initiative aims to drive economic growth and development within the county.

Petition Regarding Speed Bumps on Station Road, Ashington

The partnership was scheduled to receive a new e-petition concerning the implementation of speed bumps on Station Road, Ashington (Postcode: NE63 8RN). There were no reports on previously received petitions, nor updates on any outstanding ones.

Employability Opportunities and the Connect to Work Scheme

Following on from a previous discussion, the meeting was set to provide further information on the Connect to Work Scheme. This government-funded programme aims to assist businesses in building a stronger and more inclusive workforce. The scheme focuses on recruiting and retaining a motivated workforce, enhancing diversity and inclusion, and strengthening pipelines of local talent. It works with individuals with health conditions, disabilities, and priority groups such as ex-offenders, refugees, the homeless, and veterans. The scheme offers engagement, vocational profiling, employer engagement, job matching, and in-work support, including job coaching, ongoing support, retention assistance, and free training for employers and their teams. The previous meeting's notes indicated that details about the Connect to Work Scheme could be found online at https://www.northumberlandskills.co.uk/connect-to-work.

Community Marketplace and Informal Discussion

A community marketplace was planned to facilitate informal discussions with various local businesses. Representatives were expected to be in attendance to engage with partnership members. Additionally, there were scheduled informal discussions regarding the Budget Consultation and the Library Service.

Public Question Time and Petitions

The meeting was to include a session for public question time, where written questions submitted in advance could be addressed. The agenda outlined the criteria for question acceptance, noting that questions could be rejected if they required the disclosure of confidential or exempt information, were defamatory, frivolous, offensive, substantially similar to previous questions, or if the cost of answering was disproportionate. The partnership's chair has discretion over the management of public question times.

Disclosure of Members' Interests

Members were reminded of their obligations regarding the disclosure of interests. This included disclosing Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and Other Registrable Interests, with specific guidance on participation in discussions and voting based on the nature of the interest. Members were advised to contact the Monitoring Officer at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk for clarification.

Other Business

The agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence, the notes of the previous meeting, and urgent business if deemed necessary by the Chair. The date of the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 18 November 2026.