The Cabinet of Northumberland Council met on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, approving several capital investment proposals and a new approach to kerbside recycling collections. Key decisions included the acquisition of mines and minerals rights under the former Hexham Middle School site, funding for projects in Penrith and Alnwick as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, structural works at Tynedale House, and essential maintenance for the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service estate. The council also adopted a new kerbside recycling collection model to comply with the Simpler Recycling initiative.

Capital Investment and Property

The Cabinet approved a series of capital investment proposals aimed at improving council assets and supporting local development.

• Acquisition of Mines and Minerals Rights at Former Hexham Middle School: The council will spend £0.300 million in 2025-26 to acquire the freehold mines and minerals rights under the former Hexham Middle School site. This acquisition is necessary to facilitate the planned redevelopment of the site, which includes housing and an extra care unit, by providing a clean title for a developer. The cost will be funded from the existing Property Stewardship Fund.
• Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal – Place Programme: Significant investment was approved for projects funded by the Borderlands grant. This includes £0.196 million for a wayfinding and interpretation project in Penrith and £1.700 million to restore the Grade 1 listed Northumberland Hall in Alnwick. These funds will be reallocated from the existing Borderlands Place Plan project.
• Tynedale House Structural Works: £0.105 million will be spent in 2025-26 on remedial polymer-resin injection works for Tynedale House in Blyth. This is to address structural movement issues affecting residents. The funding will come from the Property Stewardship Fund.
• Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service Estate Essential Maintenance: Up to £0.959 million will be spent in 2025-26 on essential health and safety works across the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service estate. This funding is allocated from the existing NFRS Fire Station Upgrade Programme.

Future of Kerbside Recycling Collections

The Cabinet approved a new approach to kerbside recycling collections to comply with the Simpler Recycling initiative, which mandates separate collection of a wider range of materials from 31 March 2026.

• Option 3a Approved: The council will implement Option 3a, identified as the most efficient and effective collection model. This will involve the separate collection of additional materials, including plastic pots, tubs, and trays, glass bottles and jars, and tetra packs and flexible plastics.
• New Recycling Bin: A new black-bodied bin with a burgundy lid will be supplied to each household for paper, card, and cardboard.
• Implementation Timeline: The earliest realistic, though challenging, timeframe for implementation is October 2026. Firm dates will be confirmed once negotiations with the PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contract have concluded.
• Delegated Authority: Authority has been delegated to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Rural and Farming, to agree commercial terms and contract amendments with the Waste PFI Contract and instruct Northumberland Energy Recovery Limited (NERL) to proceed with Option 3a.

Urgent Business: Use of Former Hexham Fire Station Site

The Cabinet noted that the former Hexham Fire Station site is not for sale and is identified for depot development and expansion.

• Depot Expansion: Plans to progress with the expansion of the Tyne Mills Depot in Hexham will proceed, subject to the 2026-27 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). Preparatory activities, such as demolition, will continue.
• Art Store and Gallery: Discussions will continue with the artist Sir Antony Gormley regarding plans for an art store and gallery in Hexham. The Leader of the Council will seek an urgent discussion with Sir Antony Gormley to advance these opportunities.

Market Testing Arrangements for Renewable Electricity

The Cabinet authorised the sale of renewable electricity generated at the Line 3 Energy from Waste Facility (EfW) through online energy auctions for the 2026/27 period.

• Online Auction: The council's PFI contractor, Suez, will be authorised to enter online energy auctions to sell electricity generated between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. This will be for a one-year fixed price agreement.
• Reserve Price and Negotiation: Delegated authority has been given to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration to set and amend the reserve price based on market analysis. If the reserve price is not met, the Executive Director can either negotiate with the highest bidder or re-auction the electricity, aiming to maximise income for the council. This strategy will be subject to market analysis until the end of October 2025. The aim is to achieve at least a breakeven position against the income levels built into the Council's MTFP.

Other Discussions

• Northumberland Local Employer Commitment: The Cabinet noted the council's contribution to the Northumberland Local Employer Commitment, a partnership aimed at providing employment opportunities and winning business contracts locally. Councillor Gordon Stewart highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses, particularly in light of global instability and rising costs, and called for the introduction of banking hubs within the county.
• Energising Blyth: Plan for Neighbourhoods (Pride in Place Programme): The Cabinet endorsed the approach to the Blyth 10 Year Regeneration Plan and 4 Year Investment Plan, which is part of the UK Government's Pride in Place Programme. The council will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and accept £19.537 million in funding for capital and revenue interventions.
• Integrated Health and Work Approach: The council formally endorsed an integrated approach to health and employment support, supported by £6.97 million in funding. This initiative aims to strengthen pathways into employment, provide tailored support for employers, and improve system integration. Authority was delegated to enter into financial agreements with the North East Combined Authority and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.
• Integrated Domestic Abuse Services: Cabinet approved the procurement and award of a contract for an Integrated Domestic Abuse Service for Northumberland. This service will help the council meet its statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The contract will be for an initial two years with an option to extend for a further two years, with an estimated overall value of £3,488,000. Particular attention will be given to rural communities.
• Review of the Council Tax Support Scheme: The Cabinet agreed to a public consultation on proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme for working-age claimants, to be implemented from 1 April 2026. The preferred option is a simplified, banded scheme, which aims to direct more support to lower-income households and improve administrative efficiency. The current scheme costs £28.7 million annually, with £16.3 million relating to working-age claimants, and the council faces significant budget pressures. The proposed changes aim to create a more sustainable scheme with an annual cost of awards of £14.3 million, alongside an exceptional hardship fund of £1 million. Following consultation, a final draft scheme will be presented to Cabinet on 9 December 2025 before going to Full Council for approval.