The North East Area Council met to discuss environmental provisions, commissioning and finances, and ward alliance budgets. The meeting included presentations on health and wellbeing initiatives, updates from the Area Council Link Officer Jon Finch, and a review of commissioned services. Councillors were scheduled to discuss the future of the Clean, Green and Tidy service, and consider a financial update report.

Clean, Green and Tidy Provision

A report regarding the Barnsley North East Area Clean, Green and Tidy Provision was prepared for discussion. The report provided an update on environmental provisions in the North East area, and an opportunity to re-evaluate the needs of the locality.

For the past 10 years, BCB Trading Ltd had delivered the North East Area's Clean, Green and Tidy contract, known locally as the Tidy Team, but this arrangement concluded at the end of June 2025.

The North East Area Council had been reviewing options for ongoing service provision in the area, and the report stated that the current situation provided an opportunity to re-design the service following changes to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC) core services and the time limited increase in resources due to the Love Where You Live (LWYL) campaign.

The report noted that Neighbourhood Services had recommenced servicing the recreational litter bins and street cleansing in the high footfall areas, and that the Area Manager had secured interim provision for the remainder of 2025/26 Q2 via Neighbourhood Services.

A working group had met for a workshop on 8 July 2025, where the councillors present valued the outgoing provider's local knowledge, rapid response to hotspot reports, flexible work patterns, and support with community events. The councillors also highlighted how much they valued the retention of competent, capable and personable staff delivering this type of service to ensure continuity of local intelligence and a relational approach to the delivery of the service.

The report stated that long term outcomes involved culture change and encouraging future generations to protect their own local environments, and that members reminisced about the Junior Wardens schemes that have previously run very successfully and encouraged community guardianship and generated social capital.

During the workshop on 8 July 2025, the Area Manager shared with members a comprehensive mapping of the services currently commissioned by the other 5 Area Councils for their environmental priority, including the associated staffing structure, associated costs and the roles and responsibilities.

Following the discussion, the working group recommended prioritising street cleansing, horticulture, volunteer capacity building support for volunteers, events support transport and infrastructure, and seasonal activities.

At a further meeting of the Priority Working Group on 21 July 2025, it was recommended that agency staffing was a suitable interim provision whilst a review was undertaken.

The working group met subsequently on 2 September 2025 with the Area Manager, to review the summer provision. The all area mapping of Clean, Green and Tidy provision commissioned by the 5 other Area Councils was also revisited and reviewed in detail.

The working group met for a final time on 8 September with Howard Gaskin, Service Manager – Neighbourhood Services, and Judith Myers, Public Rights of Way Officer (PROW), in order to better understand the core offer and how the additional Love Where You Live resources be utilised, prior to re-assessment of their locality's need before agreeing on a preferred service model.

The report stated that members had recommended that the preferred service model a Community Caretaker service, with a team leader and two drivers, including a vehicle and tools, and that members had requested that the service starts as soon as possible after the decision is agreed at Area Council.

The report recommended that:

• Members note the update on current provision in the area.
• Members receive feedback from the priority working group representatives following a series of workshops and listen to their recommendations.
• Members consider the commissioning implications of a service level agreement (SLA) with the BMBC Neighbourhood Services.
• Members agree to fund an Environmental Caretaker Team for the next 18 months, at a maximum value of £81,931.20 for Year 1 Q3 and Q4; and £164,704.20 for Year 2, as per the financial profile in section 8 of this report.
• Members agree to devolve responsibility to the Area Council Manager to agree an SLA with Neighbourhood Services based on the draft document discussed on the 8th September 2025.

Commissioning and Financial Update

The North East Area Council was scheduled to discuss a Commissioning and Financial Update Report. The report provided an overview of the council's current priorities, contracts, service level agreements and grant funded projects, with associated timescales. It also outlined the financial position to date for 2024-25 and the projected financial position to 2025-26, assuming that the base income budget remains the same and that existing services are maintained.

The report recommended that:

• Members note the overview of NEAC current priorities, and overview of all current contracts, contract extensions, Service Level Agreements and Grant fund projects, with associated timescales.
• Members note the update regarding the Clean, Green and Tidy provision and financial implications, noting the recommendation to fund an Environmental Caretaker Team for the next 18 months, at a maximum value of £81,931.20 for Year 1 Q3 and Q4; and £164,704.20 for 2026/27.
• Members note the time commitment that will be required to participate in the Youth Development Fund moderation process.

The report detailed a number of contracts and grant financial decisions, including:

• Thriving and Vibrant Economies: The Clean Green and Tidy provision delivered by BCB concluded on 30 June 2025, earlier than anticipated. Members had recommended that the preferred service model is a Barnsley MBC Neighbourhood Services, Environmental Caretaker Team, with a team leader and two drivers, including a vehicle and tools, at a maximum value of £81,931.20 for Year 1 2025/26 Q3 and Q4; and £164,704.20 for 2026/27.
• Love Where You Live Priority – Private Sector Housing: The Private Sector Housing Officer (PHSO) continues to respond to high demand across the North East Area and has engaged with residents and supported with a variety of issues including housing disrepair, dog fouling and waste in gardens, fly-tipping, side waste, overgrown gardens, noise complaints, bin issues, illegal businesses, self-neglect/hoarding and people struggling financially.
• Young People's Priority – Detached Youth Work: Following a workshop discussion with the Young People's Priority working group on 9 December 2024, the group recommended the extension of the grant agreement with the Youth Association for a further 12months from April 2025 to March 2026 at a value of £43,000.
• Young People's Priority – Youth Development Fund: The Youth Development Fund is funding 6 different projects in the 2025/26 period, at a total cost of £37,971.28.
• Healthy Lifestyles Priority – Social Isolation and Dementia Initiative: On 10 January 2025 the Healthy Lifestyle Priority Working Group met to discuss the Social Isolation and Dementia Initiative delivered by Age UK. At the NEAC meeting on 23 January 2025, The Priority Working Group recommended extending the provision by 12 months, July 2025-June 2026, at a value of £42,000.
• Healthy Lifestyles Priority – Advice and Guidance: The NEAC has devolved £12,000 (£3,000 per Ward Alliance) to be ringfenced for Ward Alliances to fund Information, Advice and Guidance services within their Ward Areas based on identified needs through Ward Alliance Fund arrangements.
• Healthy Lifestyles Priority – Drug and Alcohol Outreach Advisor: The Drug and Alcohol Advisor commenced in role on 16 June 2024. The Area Council Manager attended Communities and Public Health DMT's meeting to provide feedback on the first 6 months of the project. The update was well received and the feedback was positive. The Area Council has agreed to gradually reduce the funding of the role, rather that completely withdrawing financial support for the model, and the Area Manager is in the process of seeking alternative match funding.

Ward Alliance Budget Overview

The North East Area Council was scheduled to receive an update on the financial position of the Ward Alliance budgets for each ward for the 2025/26 period.

As part of the decisions made by the Council's Cabinet in 2013 each Ward was allocated an annual Ward Alliance Fund of £10,000. In addition, the Area Council has devolved £10,000 to each of the Ward Alliances and £3,000 for information, advice and guidance services.

The report recommended that each Ward in the North East area prioritises the efficient expenditure of the Ward Alliance Funds 2025/26, in line with the guidance on spend.

The report detailed budget allocations for 2025/26:

The report noted that all wards should take an opportunity to consult on their ward plan early during the financial year 2025/26, and that Ward Alliance Chairs are requested to notify the Area Manager as soon as possible regarding projects that require a long lead in time and/or the Area Team support for delivery.

Ward Alliance Notes

The North East Area Council was scheduled to receive the notes from Cudworth, Monk Bretton, North East and Royston Ward Alliances held throughout May and July 2025.

Cudworth Ward Alliance

The Cudworth Ward Alliance met on 14 July 2025. Councillor Joe Hayward was in attendance as Chair, alongside Joanne Smith as Community Development Officer, and Karen Roberts as Secretary.

The meeting included a Love Where You Live update, where JS from AES reported that they had received one quote from Red Rocks for 2 carved stones including delivery, £1,750, and that they still needed to obtain permissions and explore any affects to utilities and traffic management.

JS also reported that BCB would no longer be supplying the environment contract for Cudworth area, and that in the interim this would be provided by Neighbourhood Services.

The meeting also included a finance update, where it was noted that the 2024 Christmas motifs budget is £1,416.00 in credit (includes £1,000.00 donation), and that this is to be carried forward to this year's budget, with the donation to be used to purchase 2 new lights.

Monk Bretton Ward Alliance

The Monk Bretton Ward Alliance met on 1 May 2025 at Silverdale Community Centre. Councillors Steve Green, Ken Richardson, and Margaret Sheard were in attendance, alongside Sue Fox, Victoria Agnew, Christie McFarlane, and Rosie Adams.

The meeting included project feedback from Jolly Good Communities ½ term Pilot, and a discussion of volunteer training projects.

The Monk Bretton Ward Alliance also met on 12 June 2025 at Silverdale Community Centre. Councillors Ken Richardson, and Margaret Sheard were in attendance, alongside Sue Fox, Victoria Agnew, and Christie McFarlane.

The meeting included project feedback from volunteer sessions at Monk Bretton Memorial, and a discussion of summer activities.

North East Ward Alliance

The North East Ward Alliance met on 15 July 2025 at Bow Street Offices. Councillor Dorothy Coates was in attendance as Chair, alongside Councillor Ruth Booker, Mick Curphey, Councillor Ashley Peace, Brenda Doyle, Linda Father Fern, Gill Holland, Peter Makinson, Peter Stevenson , Knight Jenny Yates Community Development Officer (CDO).

The meeting included a discussion of funding requests for a working fund, pictures on the pitch, and summer holiday provision.

Royston Ward Alliance

The Royston Ward Alliance met on 9 June 2025 at The Grove, Station Road, Royston. Councillor Pauline McCarthy was in attendance as Chair, alongside Councillor Caroline Makinson, Kevin Copley, John Craig, Graham Kyte, John Openshaw, and Christie McFarlane as Community Development Officer.

The meeting included a discussion of the Youth Club Site, and In Bloom.