Cabinet Approves Community Fund and Local Plan Debate Continues

We watched the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Cabinet Meeting so you don't have to.

A wide-ranging meeting of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's new Cabinet saw councillors discuss everything from Walleys Quarry and crime in the town centre to museum improvements, pet cremation services and the future of the borough's Local Plan.

The meeting, held at Castle House on 23rd June, included several significant decisions and updates that will affect residents across the borough.

Local Plan Moves Closer to Adoption

One of the most significant discussions centred on the Borough Local Plan, which will guide future development across Newcastle-under-Lyme until 2040.

Cabinet heard that, following examination by the Planning Inspector, no further amendments can now be made to the plan. Councillors were told the authority effectively faces two options: adopt the modified plan or reject it entirely.

During the discussion, Council Leader Cllr Jonathan Gullis declared an interest, informing Cabinet that Indurent, the developer behind the proposed AB2 employment site, is a client of a company for which he works as a Senior Advisor. Cllr Gullis also serves as the Cabinet member responsible for Planning.

Cllr Gullis said he would have preferred more time to build cross-party consensus around the plan, but officers warned that failing to adopt it could leave the council vulnerable to speculative planning applications and potential intervention from central government.

Rather than backing adoption outright, Cabinet's formal decision was to note the Inspector's findings and record that the administration will seek "positive engagement" with opposition groups before the matter goes to Full Council, so the outcome remains very much up for debate.

Positive Update on Walleys Quarry

Residents affected by odour issues from Walleys Quarry received a largely positive update.

Cabinet heard that only seven complaints had been made to the council during 2026 so far, with council officers directly observing two incidents of bad odour.

While some residents have called for a public inquiry into the long-running issue, Cabinet was told there are currently no plans by the Environment Agency to launch one. However, Cllr Gullis indicated he would support revisiting the idea once the Environment Agency's legal proceedings conclude.

Crime Falls, But Concerns Remain

Cabinet also received an update from the Newcastle Community Safety Partnership.

The report showed crime and antisocial behaviour has fallen by 20.4% over the last three years and remains below both regional and national averages. However, violence continues to be the largest category of offending, with Newcastle town centre remaining the borough's primary hotspot.

Other priorities identified by the partnership include anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, domestic abuse, drugs and county lines activity.

Despite the positive statistics, multiple councillors questioned whether crime figures fully reflected residents' experiences, suggesting many incidents may go unreported.

The discussion also saw Cllr Jonathan Gullis call for tougher enforcement powers to tackle anti-social behaviour, while Cllr Graham Shaw pressed for greater visibility of daytime policing in the town centre, on top of the existing weekend patrols.

Cllr Gullis also pointed to Stafford Borough's recent move to include face coverings in its own PSPO, saying he would "love" to see Newcastle do the same.

On rough sleeping and persistent anti-social behaviour in the town centre, Cllr Gullis said he had "no compassion" for those who refuse offers of support, adding: "I would like a sort of El Salvador model where we come and sweep these people up off the streets."

New Community Fund Approved

Cabinet approved the creation of a new Community Fund.

The scheme will provide each borough councillor with up to £2,500 annually to support local projects and initiatives within their wards. The fund is expected to cost around £110,000 per year, made up by combining the former Civic Pride Investment Fund with additional money reallocated from the Civic Growth Fund.

Supporters argue the fund will allow councillors to respond directly to local priorities and support grassroots community projects.

Brampton Museum Funding Bid

Cabinet also approved plans for Brampton Museum to apply for up to £150,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to deliver a project running from April 2027 to March 2029.

If successful, the funding would help improve the museum's upstairs exhibition space, support new exhibitions celebrating Newcastle's history, enhance children's activities and fund energy-saving improvements including insulation and lighting upgrades.

Pet Cremation Service Planned

Councillors backed proposals to develop a new pet cremation service at Bradwell Crematorium.

Officers have been working on the plans for the past year and a planning application has now been submitted. If approved, the service would operate separately from existing cremation facilities and provide a new option for bereaved pet owners across the borough.

Strong Financial Position Reported

Cabinet also reviewed the council's financial performance for the final quarter of 2025/26.

The authority reported a revenue surplus of £115,000 against a budget of £19.7 million, while more than £27 million was invested in regeneration projects, town deals and community initiatives during the year.

Although some major projects have been delayed into 2026/27, councillors were told the council remains in a stable financial position, with around 70% of performance indicators meeting their targets.

The next Cabinet Forward Plan is due to be published on 1st July.