The Northumberland County Council meeting on 21 May 2025 included the election of a chair and deputy chair, the establishment of committees, and a review of the council's constitution. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss the annual timetable of meetings, appointments to outside bodies, and a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Election of Chair and Deputy Chair

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of a person to preside as chairman of the council for the ensuing year, followed by the election of a deputy chairman.

Establishment of Committees and Political Proportionality

Councillors were scheduled to discuss arrangements for the discharge of the council's non-executive functions through the appointment of committees. This included appointing members to those committees in accordance with the proportionality of the council, and agreeing to their terms of reference.

The report pack included a recommendation that the council:

Establishes the committees, agrees the size and numbers of members of the committees and appoints the chairs and vice chairs of committees as proposed and set out in Appendix A to the rear of this report;

The report pack also contained a recommendation to approve the provisions of Appendix C(a) and C(b), which sets out the proportional allocation of places on committees.

Following the May 2025 elections, the political makeup of the council was scheduled to be noted as:

• Conservative: 26
• Reform: 23
• Labour: 8
• Independent: 7
• Liberal Democrat: 3
• Green: 2

The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 requires the council to allocate seats on committees to political groups, giving effect, as far as practicable, to certain principles of proportionality.

Constitutional Review

A cross-party group was scheduled to be set up to consider the current constitutional arrangements, including committee structure. They were scheduled to make recommendations to the council on any proposed revisions, with a view to ensuring arrangements remain appropriate and relevant. The proposed review relates to all aspects of the constitution, including the committee structure and procedure rules.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

The council was scheduled to agree its nominations to outside bodies. A list of the bodies to which the council nominates members was included in the report pack. These include:

• Environment Agency's Northumbria Regional Flood & Coastal Committee
• FPS Local Pension Board
• Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust
• National Park Authority
• North of England Reserve Forces & Cadets Association
• North of England Combined Authority - Cabinet
• North East Combined Authority - Overview & Scrutiny Committee
• North East Combined Authority - Audit & Standards Committee
• North Pennines National Landscape
• Northumberland Coast AONB (National Landscape) Partnership
• Northumberland Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority
• Northumbria Police and Crime Panel
• NTC Touring Theatre Company
• Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee
• Rural Services Network
• Tyne & Wear Pension Fund Pensions Committee

Timetable of Meetings for 2025-26

The council was scheduled to approve the annual timetable of meetings for the 2025-26 municipal year. It was proposed that meetings of full council between October and March would begin at 2pm, while meetings between April and September would remain at 3pm. Non-decision-making committees and working groups would agree their own timetable of meetings.

Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel

Members were scheduled to be updated on the current position regarding the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel¹. It was recommended that current levels of allowances are retained pending review by the cross-party Constitutional Review Group.

Returning Officer's Report

The returning officer was scheduled to submit the return of the persons elected as councillors on 1 May 2025. The report pack included a list of councillors elected, their place of residence, and their description. Daniel Johnson Burn was not on the list.