The Northumberland County Council cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including regeneration projects, employment initiatives, domestic abuse services, and council tax support. Key decisions included endorsing a plan for neighbourhood regeneration in Blyth, supporting local employer commitments, and approving amendments to the capital programme for infrastructure and cultural projects. The cabinet also authorised a consultation on potential changes to the council tax support scheme.

Council Tax Support Scheme Review

The cabinet has authorised the Executive Director of Transformation & Resources to undertake a consultation exercise with the public and Major Precepting Authorities on the development of a new Council Tax Support Scheme for working age applicants for 2026-27. The consultation will focus on Option 3, a simplified banded scheme with an annual cost of awards of £14.3 million and an exceptional hardship fund of £1 million.

The current scheme costs £28.7 million, with £16.3 million supporting working-age claimants and £12.4 million for pensioners. The cost of supporting working-age claimants has risen by 23.48% since 2019-20. Councillor Nick Oliver, Cabinet Member for Finance and Value for Money, said that this level of increase is not sustainable given the pressures on vital frontline services.

The proposed changes aim to direct more support to those households with the lowest incomes, provide transitional support to protect claimants who experience exceptional hardship, and simplify the scheme for claimants and administrators. Any changes will only affect working-age claimants and will be implemented from 1 April 2026.

The proposed banded scheme is designed around an income grid, which reflects the following key principles:

• More support will be given to those households on the lowest of incomes.
• The income bands of the Banded scheme are wide enough to avoid constant changes in entitlement and only those with significant income changes will move between bands, reducing changes in entitlement.
• Households with higher levels of income will receive less/no Council Tax reduction.
• Protection for low-income families with non-dependants living at home, as there will be no non-dependant charges applied.
• Income such as child benefit, disability benefits and personal independence payments will be disregarded as they are under the current Scheme.
• A savings limit of £6,000 will apply and where savings held by customers are above this threshold there will be no entitlement to Council Tax Support.
• One or fewer earnings disregard to simplify the Scheme, depending on the chosen option.

The report Review of the Council Tax Support Scheme April 2026 outlines three options for a banded scheme:

• Option 1: This option would see 100% council tax support for single people with a weekly income of up to £105, couples with a weekly income of up to £160, families with one child with a weekly income of up to £250, and families with two or more children with a weekly income of up to £330. Claimants would have a standardised earnings disregard of £25 per week, and families incurring childcare charges would have an amount of income disregarded of up to £175 for one child and £300 for two or more children.
• Option 2: This option would see 100% council tax support for single people with a weekly income of up to £105, couples with a weekly income of up to £155, families with one child with a weekly income of up to £245, and families with two or more children with a weekly income of up to £335. Claimants would have an earnings disregard of £7.50 for single people, £12.50 for couples and £17.50 for lone parents.
• Option 3: This option contains the same income bands as Option 2, but the rate of discount applied to claimants falling into bands 3, 4 and 5 has been reduced.

The consultation will take place over six weeks with the public and major precepting authorities. A final draft scheme will be presented to the cabinet in December 2025 before going to the full council for approval in January 2026.

Energising Blyth: Plan for Neighbourhoods

The cabinet has endorsed the approach to the Blyth 10 Year Regeneration Plan and 4 Year Investment Plan, which is part of the UK Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative. They have also agreed to receive a further report in advance of the launch of the Programme in 2026/27 setting out a detailed programme approach to mobilisation.

The Plan for Neighbourhoods is a government initiative providing long-term funding to towns, delivered in partnership with local places through Town Boards. Blyth is set to receive £19.537 million over 10 years. The funding will be allocated towards capital (75%) and revenue (25%) projects, focusing on regeneration, high streets, heritage, cohesion, work, productivity, skills, transport, health and well-being, education, opportunity, and housing.

The cabinet noted that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, Cabinet Member and s.151 Officer, has approved the submission of the £19.537 million Plan for Neighbourhoods programme proposals for Blyth to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). They also agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the MHCLG and delegated authority to the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources to accept the funding and finalise the Grant Funding Agreement.

The Energising Blyth programme builds upon the existing £95 million investment in the town, overseen by the Neighbourhood Board and guided by the Town Investment Plan. The new 10-year Regeneration Plan will form an additional part of the overall programme from spring 2026.

Northumberland's Local Employer Commitment

The cabinet has agreed to contribute to Northumberland's Local Employer Commitment, demonstrating how employers in Northumberland are increasing opportunities for residents. They also agreed to receive further updates on this matter as part of the annual report from the Chief Executive.

The Northumberland County Partnership established the Local Employer Commitment to encourage employers to:

• Maximise spending in the local economy.
• Hire more Northumberland residents.
• Encourage businesses, residents, and employees to volunteer in Northumberland and look after green spaces.

The council's commitment includes expanding initiatives to close employment gaps for people facing barriers, such as care leavers, carers, veterans and looked-after children. The council is also working with businesses to promote good work policies and practices and supporting the growth of key sectors of the economy.

Berwick Maltings Theatre: Business Case and Cashflow Reprofiling of Borderlands Funding

The cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration to submit the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Maltings Theatre redevelopment to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Borderlands Partnership Board. They also delegated authority to the Executive Director of Transformation and Resources to accept the offer of £25.5 million in funding from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and to finalise the Grant Funding Agreement.

To allow the submission of the FBC to the Borderlands Partnership, the cabinet has approved the allocation of £500,000 from the council’s Climate Change Capital Fund to the Maltings Theatre project, increasing the council’s total budget allocation to £2,837,415. They also authorised expenditure of up to £6,883,201 by the council to undertake improvement works to the Gymnasium building at Berwick Barracks.

The cabinet requested that full council approves a capital funding allocation of £4,045,786 to the Berwick Maltings Theatre project to temporarily cashflow the Borderlands funding, which will subsequently be reimbursed subject to approval of the Full Business Case.

The Berwick Maltings Theatre is a cornerstone of cultural life in Northumberland and the wider Borderlands region. The redevelopment project aims to transform the theatre by expanding and improving its facilities, attracting more visitors, increasing local spending, and supporting the broader culture-led regeneration of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Integrated Health and Work Approach

The cabinet formally endorsed the integrated approach to health and employment funding and support services and authorised the Executive Directors of Children and Young People and Place and Regeneration to enter into relevant agreements with the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB).

Northumberland has been awarded £6.97 million to strengthen pathways into employment for local residents, provide tailored support for employers, and advance system integration. The funding will support the Connect to Work programme, Local Supported Employment, the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer, and the Health and Growth Accelerator.

The integrated approach aims to create a coordinated, place-based employment support ecosystem built on strong partnership working under the established Work Smart, Live Well brand.

Integrated Domestic Abuse Services

The cabinet authorised the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Education and Director of Children’s Services to procure, award, and manage the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service contract. The contract is for an initial period of 2 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years, having an estimated overall contract value of £3,488,000.

The commissioning intentions for the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service have been developed to reflect both statutory requirements and the local needs analysis. The service will include an integrated Domestic Abuse Support Service, children's counselling and therapeutic and outreach support, a behaviour change service, and an adult counselling service.

Summary of New Capital Proposals

The cabinet approved several amendments to the capital programme, including:

• Flood AI Contract: Granted delegated authority to the Chief Executive to enter into a contract up to £5.350 million to develop a prototype flood warning system.
• Eden Hill Railway Bridge: Approved the adoption of the Eden Hill Railway Bridge and the spend of £0.255 million in 2025-26 for its refurbishment.
• Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway: Approved the spend of £0.018 million in 2025-26 to contribute to the Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway Group for the restoration of the narrow gauge railway at Woodhorn Museum.