Northumberland council leader insists capital programme is affordable despite budget pressures
The leader of Northumberland County Council has insisted that the Conservative administration’s capital programme remains affordable despite pressures on the local authority’s coffers. Savings of £18.5 million have been put forward in this year’s budget, set to go before full council next week.
Residents can also expect their council tax bills to rise by 2.99%. The capital programme for 2026/27 stands at £340.5 million, and comes amid criticism from Reform over the council’s level of borrowing.
Speaking at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting where members recommended the budget for approval next week, leader Glen Sanderson insisted the capital programme was affordable.
He said: “We’re very careful around our capital programme. We know that it is one that our treasury experts agree is absolutely fine in terms of size and nature.
“That has been backed by a recent peer review by the Local Government Association and our external auditor. It might look like a lot of money to some, but it is how councils spend money.
“They borrow money to fund projects like the ones we’re doing. We know right across the county people are seeing new areas of development.”
Of the entire capital programme, £147.1 million comes from external funding while £193 million comes from external funding such as Government grants. The council has spent heavily on improvements in recent years, particularly on schools with new builds in Hexham, Ponteland and Seaton Valley.
That is set to continue in the next financial year, with £24.3 million allocated in 2026/27 for the Berwick Academy rebuild and £14.9 million for the redevelopment of the school system in Amble. Just over £3 million of this cash comes from external sources.
Blyth is also set to benefit from further investment following a number of high-profile regeneration projects. The capital programme includes £8.7 million for the second phase of the Energy Central Campus and £13.2 million for the Blyth Relief Road.
Just under £12 million of the funding for the relief road has been sourced externally.
The budget requires approval from full council next Wednesday. The Conservatives lead a minority administration, meaning it is likely they will need support from opposition parties to pass the policy.
