Social Value Ideas for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Walleys Quarry closure response

Cabinet welcomed the Environment Agency closure notice for Walleys Quarry and agreed the council must continue legal and regulatory action, keep residents reporting odours, and support any appeal defe…

“okay welcome to uh Newcastle Bor council's cabinet meeting today we're in a strange environment today when're not in our usual room because there's a …”

Further legal funding for quarry action

The council approved additional funding for legal action over Walleys Quarry odour breaches. The report and debate indicate an extra £400,000 drawdown, on top of around £600,000 already allocated, fro…

“the council's legal action is what we're here to discuss tonight and the officers are bringing a report asking us to to allocate uh more money to the …”

Wallis Quarry inquiry findings

Council endorsed the inquiry report on Wallis Quarry, concluding that the operator and the Environment Agency had failed residents and calling for closure, capping, restoration, and a public inquiry. …

“This report is perfect example of cross party working at its best at no stage will politics get in the way so it will come as no surprise when I say t…”

Walleys Quarry odour worsening

Complaints and monitoring data show the Walleys Quarry odour issue is deteriorating again, with more complaints in October, higher odour events, and increased H2S readings. Officers described it as th…

“I'd refer uh members uh firstly to uh item 2.1 which is the complaint data and really just to show uh that uh since the summer uh complaints have cont…”

MTFS budget gap and funding loss

The medium-term financial strategy identified a £1.777m gap in the current year and £3.69m over the five-year period. Members attributed much of the pressure to the government fair funding review and …

“Okay. Thank you Steve. Yes, endorse this this MTFS. Thank all the team for working on it. It's obviously we're well into the the process of setting ne…”

Draft accounts show positive outturn

The draft 2024/25 statement of accounts records a small general fund surplus of around £20,000, which officers presented as a good result given wider local government pressures. The committee approved…

“Um the report also includes details on the financial outturn for 2425. Um the report highlights key issues including a commentary on the general fund …”

Budget gap managed with reserves

The council is working to close a £1.752m budget gap for 2026/27 using cautious assumptions, inflation-linked cost growth, and a general fund reserve used to absorb shortfalls. Officers said the reser…

“Savings and funding strategies have been identified to address a 1.752 million pound budget gap for 2627 via a vigorous internal efficiency board proc…”

Treasury interest income and no borrowing

The council reported no external borrowing during 2024/25, while earning £810,000 in interest at an average rate of 4.77%, largely from holding Town Deal and Future High Streets funds. Officers said e…

“"So the council has um received interest of £810,000 during that uh year. This was an average rate of return of 4.77% um which was predominantly inter…”

Taxi policy overhaul

The committee reviewed a major draft update to the taxi and private hire licensing policy for 2025-2030 and agreed to consult on it for 12 weeks. The key procurement-relevant proposals were a move awa…

“"the recommendation today chair um is for members of the committee to review the proposed policy document which is attached to appendix a um and to ap…”

Taxi policy updated after consultation

The committee considered the full taxi and private hire licensing policy review and backed a revised policy taking effect from 2026. Key changes include emissions-based vehicle criteria, reinstated gr…

“The main reason for that is the statutory standards for taxi licensing suggest it should be one cohesive policy rather than um sort of fragmented docu…”

Private hire fee changes 2026/27

The committee was asked to approve private hire and hackney carriage fees and charges for 2026/27 following consultation. Most fees would rise slightly in real terms, while the taxi knowledge test fee…

“Um a report was pre previously presented to public protection committee on the 8th of October in respect to these fees and charges. Um the committee d…”