The Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) met on Monday 28 September 2026 to discuss the findings of an inspection into Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, initial proposals for the refresh of the Gambling Act 2005 licensing policy, and the annual service review by Places Leisure. The committee also reviewed its work programme for the upcoming council year.

HMICFRS Report - Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service

The committee was scheduled to consider the outcome of the 2025-27 HMICFRS inspection of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS). The report highlighted areas where NFRS needs to strengthen its governance, leadership, and workforce development. The proposed improvement plans aim to ensure efficient and effective use of resources, providing assurance of high service levels and community safety. The inspection identified five Causes of Concern: Site Specific Risk Information, Ensuring fairness and diversity, Leading people effectively, Training and developing the right people with the right skills, and Promoting, embedding and improving values and culture. The report noted that some of these concerns were escalated from previous areas for improvement, with some positions having deteriorated. The committee was asked to provide any comments or recommendations to Cabinet before its consideration of the report on 6 October 2026.

Gambling Act 2005: Initial Proposals for Refresh of Licensing Policy

The committee was scheduled to be consulted on initial proposals for the refresh of the Gambling Licensing Policy. The Gambling Act 2005 requires local authorities to publish and review a licensing policy to regulate gambling activity, focusing on three key objectives: preventing crime and disorder, ensuring fair and open gambling, and protecting children and vulnerable persons. The proposed refresh aims to move towards a more modern, evidence-led public protection framework, with a greater emphasis on gambling-related harm, safeguarding, and public health. The initial proposals include strengthened expectations around local risk assessments and partnership working with public health and safeguarding bodies. The committee was asked to consider these proposals before they were presented to Cabinet and then the County Council for approval.

Places Leisure Annual Service Review

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the 2025-2026 Annual Service Review from Places Leisure, the operator of the county's leisure centres. The report provided background information on the Leisure Operating Contract (LOC) between Northumberland County Council and Places Leisure, which commenced on 1 April 2024 and runs for 10 years. The review was expected to cover key elements of the service, including customer satisfaction, usage, membership levels, energy management, financial performance, workforce development, and the Healthy Communities Programme. The committee was asked to consider the review and provide comments to assist in the continuous improvement of the Leisure and Wellbeing Service.

Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was asked to consider its work programme for the 2026/27 council year. The report outlined the committee's terms of reference, which include overseeing management agreements for leisure and tourism services, and scrutinising policies related to public safety, culture, leisure, tourism, roads and highways, environment, rural affairs, housing, and planning. Items scheduled for consideration included an update on the North East Transport Plan, the operation of the Fix My Street public realm reporting system, and the HMICFRS report on Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. The committee was also to review the initial proposals for the Gambling Licensing Policy. Previous work from the 2025/26 year was also summarised, including detailed examinations of highways maintenance, the North East Local Transport Plan, the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service's performance, storm resilience, the Great Northumberland Forest initiative, the library service redesign, and the operations of Places for People Leisure.