The Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Northumberland Council was scheduled to meet on 21 July 2025. The agenda included a review of the council's risk management strategy, a financial performance report, and a debt recovery update. Also scheduled was the establishment of a task and finish group to review the member enquiry process.

Financial Performance 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to note a report informing the cabinet of the final outturn position, subject to audit, for the council against the budget for 2024-25. The report included a request to approve the net re-profiling to the Capital Programme of £67.286 million from 2024-25 to 2025-26 to reflect expenditure levels during the financial year. The report also scheduled for noting:

this final outturn is based upon the draft Statement of Accounts and is subject to external audit. the net underspend of £0 177 million, after the utilisation of earmarked reserves, which was transferred to the Council's Strategic Management Reserve. the delivery of the approved savings at Appendix A. the use of the contingency shown at Appendix K. the schedule of movement in the Council's reserves shown at Appendix L. the virements requested by services within delegated limits as shown in Appendix M. the details of capital project reprofiling shown at Appendix N.

The report detailed the revenue outturn for each service area. Adults, Ageing & Wellbeing had an overspend of £2.694 million, while the Chief Executive underspent by £0.461 million. Children, Young People & Education overspent by £10.009 million, and Place and Regeneration overspent by £0.745 million. Public Health, Inequalities & Stronger Communities underspent by £0.330 million, and Transformation & Resources underspent by £1.028 million.

The report also provided an update on the BEST programme¹, noting that while the recurrent General Fund savings target of £3.631 million was not achieved, the overall financial benefits from BEST initiatives exceeded the target by £1.189 million.

Debt Recovery Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the level of outstanding debt owed to the council as of 31 March 2025. The report noted that the council was owed £67.405 million by its sundry debtors, with £18.393 million past due. Thirteen customers had past due balances of over £0.100 million, representing 54.24% of the total debt past due.

The report also detailed the amount of council tax outstanding, noting that at 31 March 2025, £26.393 million was outstanding, with £9.329 million relating to the 2024-25 financial year. The council's collection rate for in-year collection was 96.7%.

With respect to Housing Benefit overpayments, the report noted that there was currently £2.799 million outstanding.

Risk Management Strategy

The committee was scheduled to consider a report seeking approval for the council's updated Risk Management Strategy. The strategy applies to all of the council's activities and reflects a risk management hierarchy, with risks identified, monitored and managed at three key levels: corporate risks, service strategic risks, and service operational risks.

Member Enquiries Task and Finish Group: Scoping Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss the establishment of a Task and Finish Group to review and make recommendations on the member enquiry process. The recommendation was to agree to the establishment of the group to review the process and report its findings and recommendations to cabinet/council within six months.

Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Monitoring Report 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to review and note the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Monitoring Report 2025-26. The terms of reference included maintaining an overview of the council's annual budget, corporate plan, performance management arrangements, and management agreements with Advance Northumberland. The committee also planned to monitor and review corporate services, partnership development, relationships with external bodies, regeneration and economic development, strategic transport network and infrastructure, employability, skills, capital programme and asset management, and support to VCS organisations and the council's relationship with town and parish councils.