Decision

The Cabinet has decided to approve various capital expenditures for infrastructure projects in Northumberland, including purchasing ISO containers, replacing the roof of a leisure centre, funding sustainable transport schemes, and enabling works for a bus station.

Analysis

outcome: The Cabinet approved the various expenditures as outlined in the decision.

summary: The decision involves approving various capital expenditures for infrastructure projects in Northumberland, including purchasing ISO containers, replacing the roof of a leisure centre, funding sustainable transport schemes, and enabling works for a bus station.

topline: The Cabinet has decided to approve various capital expenditures for infrastructure projects in Northumberland, including purchasing ISO containers, replacing the roof of a leisure centre, funding sustainable transport schemes, and enabling works for a bus station.

reason_contentious: This decision may be contentious as it involves significant financial allocations and resource reallocations for multiple projects, which could impact different stakeholders and communities.

affected_stakeholders: ["Northumberland Skills Seghill campus", "Concordia Leisure Centre", "Residents using the A193 and Ashington A1 Active Travel Schemes", "Northumberland Hall and Alnwick Bus Station visitors"]

contentiousness_score: 7

political_party_relevance: There are no explicit mentions of political parties in the decision, but the allocation of funding for these projects could have political implications.

URL: https://northumberland.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=379

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: This report summarises proposed amendments to the Capital Programme considered by the Capital Strategy Group on 27 May 2025.

Content: RESOLVED that Cabinet approve as follows:-   Seghill Campus ISO Containers   a)       Approve the spend of £0.027 million in 2025-26 for the purchase and installation of three International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) containers at the Northumberland Skills Seghill campus. This spend will be funded from an RCCO from the Strategic Management Reserve. The reserve will be replenished over three years from 2026-27 using the additional funding received b)       Approve the amendment to the capital programme to include the £0.027 million spend in 2025-26.   Concordia Leisure Centre Roof Replacement   a)       Approve the spend of £0.500 million in 2025-26 for the replacement of the flat roof above the bowling alley, bar and studios at Concordia Leisure Centre. This spend will be funded from the existing Concordia Capital Improvement project in the capital programme. b)       Approve the amendment to the capital programme to reallocate £0.500 million in 2025-26 from the Concordia Capital Improvement project to the Concordia Leisure Centre Roof Replacement project.   City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS)   a)       Approve the spend of £9.688 million for the A193 Seafront Active Travel Scheme. This spend will be funded £1.453 million from Council resources and £8.235 million from North East Combined Authority (NECA) grant funding. b)       Approve the spend of £5.166 million for the Ashington A1 Active Travel Scheme. This spend will be funded £0.775 million from Council resources and £4.391 million from North East Combined Authority (NECA) grant funding. c)       Approve the amendments to the capital programme to include the A193 Active Travel Scheme and Ashington A1 Active Travel Scheme based on the funding profile in table 8.10. d)       Grant delegated authority to the Executive Director for Place and Regeneration to enter into a contract up to the value of the approved budget allocation. e)       Note that the Council contributions for the aforementioned schemes will be backloaded in the funding profile.   Borderlands Place Programme: Northumberland Hall Enabling Works and Alnwick Bus Station Improvements   a)       Approve the spend of £0.182 million to deliver the Bailiffgate at Northumberland Hall enabling works in Alnwick in 2025-26. This spend will be funded from the existing Borderlands Place Programme project in the capital programme. b)       Approve the spend of £0.090 million to develop the concept designs for the Alnwick Bus Station building. This spend will be funded from the existing Borderlands Place Programme project in the capital programme. c)       Approve the amendments to the capital programme to reallocate £0.272 million in 2025-26 from the Borderlands Place Programme project and allocate £0.182 million to the Bailiffgate at Northumberland Hall project and £0.090 to the Alnwick Bus Station project.

Date of Decision: July 8, 2025