The Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) of Northumberland Council was scheduled to discuss the council's budget for the upcoming financial year and the medium-term financial plan. The committee was also set to review the work programme for the Corporate Services and Economic Growth OSC for the 2025-26 council year.

Budget 2026-27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2026-2029

The committee was scheduled to consider an updated report on the Budget for 2026-27, the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026-30, and a 30-year Business Plan for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). This report, presented to Cabinet on 13 January 2026, outlined proposals for the HRA budget, including a recommended increase in housing rents and service charges by 4.80% from 1 April 2026. The report detailed planned expenditure for the HRA Capital Programme, including investments in the Affordable Housing Investment Programme and the Major Repairs Programme. It also addressed pressures such as increased borrowing costs, higher pay awards, and non-pay inflation, alongside proposed growth items to address issues like damp and mould following the introduction of Awaab's Law, council tax on void properties, and electrical testing. The report also noted the impact of changes to the Right to Buy scheme and outlined plans for energy efficiency upgrades and stock condition surveys.

The report indicated that the HRA budget was aligned with the priorities of the Corporate Plan 2023-26, Northumberland: Land of Great Opportunities, aiming for value for money, improved customer experience, and support for inequalities through good quality housing. The proposals included a reduction in the HRA reserve balance from £21.996 million at 31 March 2026 to £14.021 million at 31 March 2027, with indicative budgets to 2029-30 reducing the reserve further to £13.909 million. The report also detailed the expenditure plans for the HRA Capital Programme, with £26.539 million allocated to the Affordable Housing Investment Programme and £52.461 million to the Major Repairs Programme between 2026-27 and 2029-30.

The report included an integrated impact assessment which concluded that the HRA Budget proposals would not have a disproportionately negative impact on any protected characteristic groups. It noted that while rent increases were proposed, these were in line with government standards, and that benefits linked to inflation were also expected to rise. The assessment highlighted that the investment in housing stock would improve the quality of life and properties for customers.

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

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for the 2025-26 council year. The terms of reference for the committee, as revised on 5 November 2025, included maintaining an overview of the Council's Annual Budget and Budgetary Management via the Medium Term Financial Plan, and overseeing the performance and strategy between the Council and Advance Northumberland. The committee was also tasked with reviewing and scrutinising policies proposed or adopted by the Council or Cabinet in areas such as strategic policy, engagement, performance, value for money, tackling inequalities, customer services, finance, governance, HR, procurement, and digital connectivity. The work programme indicated that the committee would be more proactive in early-stage policy development and would investigate matters of interest to the wider community.

The report also provided a summary of the committee's activities from the previous year. This included discussions on the Energising Blyth Programme, the Borderlands Place Programme, and proposals for a Hyperscale Data Centre Campus in Cambois. The committee had also received quarterly reports on financial performance and six-monthly reports on debt recovery. A joint meeting with other OSCs to examine budget proposals was also noted, alongside regular updates on the BEST workstreams and a review of the Best Use of Assets initiative, which aimed to improve property asset management and reduce running costs. The report detailed the outcomes of Phase 1 of the property review, focusing on buildings in Southeast Northumberland, and noted proposals for the next stage of New Ways of Working developments. Updates on staffing, including apprenticeships within the Council, were also mentioned.

The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on Advance Northumberland's operations and future plans, as well as a report on debt recovery.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Morpeth, on Monday, 2 February 2026, at 10:00 AM.