Issue - meetings

B Report of the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning (Copy herewith).

Cabinet approved the additional capital expenditure of up to £490,000 in order to meet the costs of additional works that need to be undertaken to enable the full public opening of Delapre Abbey.

Cabinet agreed to amend the capital programme for 2017/2018 in order to provide for additional capital expenditure of up to £490,000 for Delapre Abbey funded by £120,000 of 2016/17 underspends and a reduction of £370,000 to the block capital programmes 2017/18 as detailed in 4.2.3 of the report.

Cabinet delegated authority to approve, control and monitor expenditure to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, as appropriate, acting in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer.

Councillor Davenport addressed Cabinet and commented that people in her ward had struggled to have bins provided but that that millions of pounds were being spent by the administration and could have been better spent on the housing crisis. She stated that there had been a lack of consultation with both Ward Councillors and Groups and noted that whilst she supported the restoration of Delapre Abbey she questioned the cost.

Councillor Eldred, as the Cabinet Member for Finance, commented that Members had been consulted by way of the Budget and that at no point did opposition members raise concerns or objections.  

The Leader commented that the approval of an additional budget would enhance the Abbey further and would include CCTV, security and car parking.

Councillor Hadland as the relevant Cabinet Members submitted the report and elaborated further noting that the end product would be significantly better than first predicted and that the additional budgets would ensure a better capacity for parking needs to be met.

Councillor Larratt commented that the Abbey was a great asset to Northampton noting that a few years ago there had been public concern that the Abbey was falling derelict.

Councillor Eldred commented that consideration needed to be given to the wider reaching positive effect on the Town including increased employment opportunities and increased tourism.

RESOLVED:

That the additional capital expenditure of up to £490,000 in order to meet the costs of additional works that need to be undertaken to enable the full public opening of Delapre Abbey be approved.

That it be  agreed to amend the capital programme for 2017/2018 in order to provide for additional capital expenditure of up to £490,000 for Delapre Abbey funded by £120,000 of 2016/17 underspends and a reduction of £370,000 to the block capital programmes 2017/18 as detailed in 4.2.3 of the report.

That authority to approve, control and monitor expenditure be delegated to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning, as appropriate, acting in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer.