Here is a summary of the upcoming Northumberland County Council cabinet meeting. The cabinet is expected to discuss the Corporate Performance Report, the Bailiffgate Museum project, the Council Tax Support Scheme, the financial performance, the Housing Allocations Policy and the Northumberland Coast National Landscape Management Plan. It is important to note that as I am only summarising the reports pack, I cannot say for certain whether these topics will be discussed, or what decisions will be made.

Council Tax Support Scheme

The cabinet is scheduled to consider a report about the Council Tax Support Scheme, and whether to approve the implementation of a revised scheme with effect from 1 April 2026.

The report pack notes that the council is required to review its Council Tax Reduction Scheme each year in accordance with schedule 1A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992¹. The report pack also notes that, like most English authorities, Northumberland County Council needs to make changes to the Council Tax Support scheme for working age applicants, in order to reduce the costs of the scheme and to relieve the significant administrative burden placed on the Council by the introduction of Universal Credit. The report pack states that efficiencies of £53.6m are required over the life of the current MTFP (2025-26 to 2028-29) to balance the General Fund budget, of which £38m is still to be identified. The report pack says that modelling of potential outcomes of the fair funding review, on which the Government is currently consulting, suggests that this gap could widen if, as expected, funding is redistributed away from rural counties towards metropolitan areas from April 2026.

The report pack includes a recommendation that the council approve the implementation of a new income banded/grid scheme for working age applicants with effect from 1 April 2026 in order to:

(a) to improve the overall level of support for the lowest income families; and (b) reduce the administrative burden placed on the Council by the introduction of Universal Credit.

The report pack lists the proposed income grid model:

The report pack notes that the highest level of discount will be at a maximum level of liability Band 1, and all current applicants that are in receipt of a passported benefit² such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) and Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related) receive maximum discount.

The report pack also notes that all other discount levels are based on the applicant's and partner's, (where they have one) net income, and that the scheme allows for variation in household size with the levels of income per band increasing where an applicant has a partner, and / or dependants.

The report pack lists the following key features that will apply:

• The current working age earnings disregards (which range from £5 per week for a single person to £25 per week for a lone parent) will be replaced by the following:
  • Single persons £7.50 per week
  • Couples £12.50 per week
  • Lone Parents £17.50 per week
• No charges will be made for non-dependants
• Disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Allowance will continue to be disregarded
• Child benefit and Child Maintenance will continue to be disregarded
• The following elements of Universal Credit will also be disregarded:
  • An amount in respect of the Housing Element
  • Transitional Protection
• The total disregard on war pensions and war disablement pensions will continue
• The Extended payments and Second Adult Reduction schemes will be removed
• The capital limit will be £6,000 but with no tariff being applied.

The report pack notes that the new scheme will contain additional provisions to protect vulnerable claimants who experience exceptional hardship, and that the council will consider all applications for exceptional hardship on an individual basis, taking into account available income and essential outgoings, with funds available of £1m in 2026-27.

The report pack also contains a summary of the public consultation outcomes, noting that the main issue raised was reducing the capital limit to £6,000, and that in view of these responses, it is proposed that the capital limit for eligibility be increased to £8,000.

Northumberland Coast National Landscape Management Plan

The cabinet is scheduled to consider the formal adoption of the Northumberland Coast National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030 for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The report pack notes that Local Authorities have a duty, under Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000³, to prepare a Management Plan for all AONBs (National Landscapes) within their area and to review these at least once every five years. The report pack also notes that the statutory purpose of the Management Plan is to formulate the local authority's policy for the management of the National Landscape and for the carrying out of their functions in relation to it. The report pack states that the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 includes important amendments to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 affecting protected landscapes, and that relevant authorities must now 'seek to further the statutory purposes of protected landscapes. The report pack notes that the Management Plan sets the Vision for the National Landscape and describes the special qualities of it in a 'Statement of Significance', and includes a set of overarching common principles followed by the four main chapters – Place, People, Nature and Climate.

Borderlands Place Programme: Bailiffgate Museum at Northumberland Hall

The cabinet is scheduled to receive an update on the Bailiffgate at Northumberland Hall project which forms part of the Alnwick Borderlands Place Programme in Northumberland. The report seeks Cabinet's endorsement of the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and Lease of Northumberland Hall, Alnwick to Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery (BMG). The report pack notes that this report seeks Cabinet's support for the disposal of the Northumberland Hall building to Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery on a long-term lease via the Community Asset Transfer process, on the basis that the valuation and prominence of the grade 1 listed Northumberland Hall building in the heart of Alnwick town centre may arouse particular public interest or publicity. The report pack explains the project context as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre supported by the Borderlands Place Programme, and outlines the project development undertaken to date and the next steps with the Bailiffgate at Northumberland Hall project set to begin main construction works in 2026 subject to the above recommendations being agreed.

Q1/Q2 Corporate Performance Report

The cabinet is scheduled to receive a summary of the progress against the council's three corporate plan priorities. The report pack notes that the report presents the key performance indicators and supporting narrative to show the activity of services across the council in delivering the Corporate Plan priorities during quarters 1 & 2. The report pack lists the council's three corporate plan priorities as:

• Achieving Value for Money
• Driving Economic Growth
• Tackling inequalities

The report pack includes narrative to reflect the council's activity over the period April 2025 – September 2025, and presents performance indicators and a definition of each performance measure. The report pack also notes that during 2025 a refresh of KPI's is being undertaken in line with the development of our new Corporate Plan 2026.

Financial Performance 2025-26

The cabinet is scheduled to be informed of the current financial position for the council against the Budget for 2025-26. The report pack includes a recommendation to approve the re-profiling to the Capital Programme of £67.451 million from 2025-26 to 2026-27 to reflect estimated expenditure levels in the current financial year. The report pack also notes the projected overspend on services of £3.334 million and the assumptions outlined in this report, the projected overspend on the HRA budget of £1.372 million, the supplementary estimates, the delivery of the approved savings, the use of the contingency, the use of reserves and the virements requested by services within delegated limits.

NCC Housing Allocations Policy

The cabinet is scheduled to consider a report to seek approval for the updated Housing Allocations Policy, ensuring it remains fair, transparent, and fit for purpose. The report pack notes that the revised policy reflects statutory requirements and addresses current housing pressures by prioritising those in greatest need, making best use of limited social housing stock, and aligning with the Council's wider homelessness prevention objectives. The report pack also notes that Section 166A of the Housing Act 1996 places a duty on local authorities to have an allocation policy for determining priorities, and for defining the procedures to be followed in allocating social housing accommodation. The report pack states that Northumberland County Council's current Allocations Policy was adopted in 2009, with minor amendments made in 2019 and 2021, and that substantial changes to the Allocations Policy are now necessary. The report pack lists the most notable changes as:

• Strengthened Local Connection Criteria
• Refined Housing Need Eligibility
• Updated Financial Assessment Thresholds

Education, SEND & Skill Annual Report for Academic Year 2024-25

The cabinet is scheduled to note the Education, SEND & Skill Annual Report for Academic Year 2024-25. The report pack notes that the Annual Report 2024-25 highlights actions and progress against the key priorities for Education, SEND and Skills. The report pack also notes that Early Years providers, schools, Northumberland Skills and college have adapted learning environments to be able to support many of our children and young people's needs as we live and work within increasing levels of need, challenging budgets and a changing national education landscape.

Summary of New Capital Proposals considered by Capital Strategy Group

The cabinet is scheduled to consider a report that summarises proposed amendments to the capital programme considered by the Capital Strategy Group on 28 October 2025. The report pack includes recommendations to approve the spend of £0.150 million in 2025-26 for the replacement of the existing sewer and septic tank at Allenheads Public Toilets, and to approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.150 million in 2025-26 from the Property Stewardship Fund project to the Allenheads Public Toilets project. The report pack also includes a recommendation to approve the spend of £0.450 million (£0.110 million in 2025-26 and £0.340 million in 2026-27) to undertake the full replacement of three boilers in plant room one and three boilers in plant room two in County Hall, and to approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.450 million (£0.110 million in 2025-26 and £0.340 million in 2026-27) from the Property Stewardship Fund project to the County Hall Boiler Replacement project.