Here is a summary of what was scheduled to be discussed at the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. The agenda included a review of the committee's work programme, an update on the BEST programme, and a discussion of the annual workforce report. Councillor Denise Nicholson was also scheduled to be appointed to the committee, replacing Councillor Patrick Lambert.

Annual Workforce Report 2024/25

The Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to review the Annual Workforce Report 2024/25. The report provided an overview of the People and Culture service activity, highlighting key outcomes and ongoing plans. It also included an overview of key people metrics, including trends and actions taken to address areas that require focus and closer scrutiny, and assurance that annual statutory reporting is being adhered to and associated plans are in place to support any areas that require improvement and or development.

The report was structured around the four key elements of the People and Culture Strategy¹:

• Future Ready: Attracting, retaining, growing and developing a diverse workforce.
• Leadership and Culture: Building leadership and management capability at all levels; enabling the workforce to successfully navigate change and fostering a culture aligned to the council's vision and values.
• Employee Experience: Creating an inclusive, psychologically safe, best working environment for the council's people throughout their employment journey.
• Strategic Enablers: Capabilities, resources and organisational infrastructure needed to effectively deliver the strategy.

The report noted several achievements, including the introduction of a job architecture framework, increased social media presence for talent acquisition, and the commencement of strategic workforce planning. The Staff Bank² has also developed bespoke campaigns to target roles in service areas where agency use has been historically high. The report also identified areas still to be addressed, such as the re-design of the careers website, succession planning, and the development of a learning and development plan.

Key performance indicators included:

• Reduced 'time to hire'.
• Ability to fill posts first time.
• Positive candidate experience.
• Continued attraction of a diverse workforce.
• Staff Bank spend increase / Agency spend decrease.
• Growing a Skills based Organisation.
• Early careers.
• Social mobility.
• Development of an Emerging Talent programme.

The report also provided data on sickness absence, case management, employment tribunal cases, health and wellbeing reviews, and staff turnover. Sickness absence rates had increased marginally (0.07%) when compared to the same period last year, but month on month a reducing trend was being seen.

The report stated that the People and Culture team's focus for the coming year would concentrate on building upon the foundations established by the People and Culture strategy. Priorities would centre on supporting organisational change and delivery of the corporate plan through the council's people. Specific areas of focus include:

• BEST - New Ways of Working
• Job Architecture Framework - Career Pathways, Mobility and Succession Planning
• Strategic Workforce Planning
• Policy Review
• Systems Development
• Talent Capability and Skills Focused Organisation
• Digital first learning
• On-Boarding and Off Boarding
• Leadership and Management Development
• Refresh P&C strategy

BEST Programme Update

Jan Willis was scheduled to provide an update on the BEST programme. The BEST programme is Northumberland County Council's new way of working, enabling it to give residents the best experiences through its services, creating opportunities and broadening the experiences of its people.

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

The committee was scheduled to review and note the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Monitoring Report 2025-26.

The terms of reference for the committee are:

• To maintain an overview of the Council's Annual Budget and Budgetary Management via the Medium Term Financial Plan.
• To maintain an overview of the performance and strategy in place between the Council and Advance Northumberland taking into account the role of the Cabinet Shareholder Committee.
• To review or scrutinise the nature, impact and effectiveness of any policy proposed or adopted by the Council or Cabinet in the name of the portfolio holder and to contribute to the formulation, development, review, and variation of any such policies in the following areas:
  • Leader of Council: Leads Strategic Policy for the Council; NCC Reputation; Engagement and Communications; Performance, Improvement and Efficiency across all Council Services; Value for Money (in all Council Services); Tackling Inequalities.
  • Finance and Value for Money: Customer Services; Finance & MTFP; Governance; HR & OD; Procurement; Revenues & Benefits; Performance; Audit & Risk; Member Services; ICT; Digital Connectivity; Elections; Corporate Health & Safety; BEST.
  • Deputy Leader: Business, Growth and regeneration, including Rural Growth; Digital Connectivity; Public Transport; Employability; Cycling & Walking Strategy; Strategic Transport & Infrastructure; Asset Management; Town Markets.

The report noted that the committee would be more proactive in early stage development work in formulating new policies and strategies; to investigate matters of interest and concern to the wider community, and to keep under review the performance and financial position of the Council.

The following items were scheduled to be timetabled:

• Budget 2026-27, Medium Term Financial Plan 2026-30 and 30 Year Business Plan for the Housing Revenue Account
• Debt Recovery Update
• Advance Northumberland Update

The report also provided a summary of what the committee looked into last year, including:

• Economic Development
  • Energising Blyth Programme
  • Borderland Place Programme
  • Cambois Hyperscale Datacentre
• Financial Performance
• Debt Recovery
• Budget Proposals
• BEST workstreams
  • Best Use of Assets
  • Phase 1 Property Review Outcomes
  • Best Next Phase of New Ways of Working Developments
• Advance Northumberland
• Staffing
  • Apprenticeships in the Council

Forward Plan of Cabinet Decisions

The committee was scheduled to note the decisions of Cabinet since the previous meeting of the OSC and the latest Forward Plan key decisions.

Cabinet decisions included:

• Outline Business Case for the New School Building for Berwick Academy
• Berwick Maltings Theatre: Business Case and Cashflow Reprofiling of Borderlands Funding
• The Councils contribution to Northumberland's Local Employer Commitment
• Energising Blyth: Plan for Neighbourhoods
• Integrated Health and Work approach in Northumberland
• Integrated Domestic Abuse Services for Northumberland – Permission to Tender and Award Contracts
• Review of Council Tax Support Scheme April 2026
• Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group
  • Flood AI Contract
  • Eden Hill Railway Bridge
  • Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway
• Market Testing Arrangements - Sale of Renewable Electricity from the Integrated Waste Management Contract EfW for 2026/27
• Future of Kerbside Recycling Collections under Simpler Recycling
• Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Officer Capital Strategy Group
  • Acquisition of the mines and minerals rights under the former Hexham Middle School site
  • Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal – Place Programme
    • Wayfinding and interpretation project in Penrith
    • Restoration of the Grade 1 listed Northumberland Hall
  • Tynedale House Structural Works
  • Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service Estate Essential Maintenance Programme
  • Use of Hexham Former Fire Station Site

Forthcoming cabinet key decisions included:

• Borderlands Place Programme: Bailiffgate Museum at Northumberland Hall
• Approval of The Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27
• Council Tax Base 2026-27
• Education, SEND & Skill Annual Report for Academic Year 2024-25
• Environment Policy Statement Action Plan Update
• Financial Performance 2025-26 - Position at the end of September 2025
• NCC Housing Allocations Policy
• Newcastle International Airport - Governance Arrangements
• Northumberland Coast National Land Management Plan 2025-2030
• Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Capital Strategy Group
• Q1/Q2 Corporate Performance Report
• Budget 2026-27, Medium Term Financial Plan 2026-30 and 30 Year Business Plan for the Housing Revenue Account
• Corporate Plan 2026-2030
• Biodiversity Planning and Reporting
• Notification of the Estimated Collection Fund Balances 2025-26 – Council Tax and Business Rates
• Wansbeck Square Gateway - Business Case
• Adoption of the North Pennines National Landscape Management Plan 2026-2031
• Financial Performance 2025-26 - Position at the end of December 2025