A LEAKED council report, raising what are described as ‘areas of immediate and significant concern’, has cast doubt on the future of Advance Northumberland. The document, which was discussed behind closed doors at the January meeting of Northumberland County Council’s audit committee, contains a raft of recommendations said to be necessary to address ‘a number of continuing weaknesses in governance arrangements’ at the regeneration company, which is wholly owned by the local authority. However, the firm’s boss has refuted a number of the issues raised, while noting that they have not seen the report, were not able to respond to the concerns included within it and were not allowed to attend the meeting.