Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson

The Cabinet of Northumberland Council decided to approve the Berwick Maltings Theatre project status on 06/10/2026. They accepted £28.500m of grant funding, approved the allocation of £2.050m from the Council's Strategic Regeneration Projects Budget, and recommended Council approval for an additional capital funding allocation of £2.625m. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Willmott Dixon Construction Limited for the construction work.

Northumberland Council Cabinet decided on 06/10/2026 to approve changes to the operating model of the Telecare service. The council will provide a monitoring-only service with charges to recover full operating costs and cease the Mobile Warden Response element. The Executive Director of Adults Ageing & Wellbeing was delegated authority to consult staff on proposed changes and develop the implementation plan for the new model and charges.

The Cabinet of Northumberland Council decided to approve the commencement of a six-week public consultation on proposed changes to the Education Transport Policy. This decision was made on 06/10/2026. The consultation seeks views on removing the discretionary policy of providing free school transport for children attending a school outside their priority area due to parental preference for a school's ethos based on faith or belief.

The Cabinet decided to approve recommendations for the sale of renewable electricity from the Integrated Waste Management Contract EfW for 2027/28 on 06/10/2026. The council's Waste PFI Contractor, Suez, is authorised to enter online energy auctions to sell electricity generated at the Line 3 EfW facility for a one-year fixed price. Authority is delegated to the Executive Director of Place and Regeneration to set and amend the reserve price, and to negotiate or re-auction if the reserve is not met.

The Cabinet of Northumberland Council decided to note progress against plans for the Communities First Approach on 06/10/2026. This included approving recommendations to embed the approach further. The council will continue to invest in data science and predictive modelling, grow the Northumberland Volunteer Passport and Assemble platform, and use behavioural insights for future campaigns.