Agenda and minutes

Councillor Oldham declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest in item 9 as a Council tenant.

Councillors Kilbride, Bottwood, M Markham, Ashraf and Chunga declared personal non-pecuniary interests as board members of Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH)

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on Monday, 30th January 2017

The minutes of the meeting held on 30^th January were agreed and signed by the Mayor.

Apologies were received from Councillors Cali, Flavell and Aziz.

The Mayor announced the sad passing away of Lesley Ingram, Environmental Warden. The Mayor commented that he had written a personal letter to her family offering condolences on behalf of staff and Councillors. He stated that her funeral was to be held on Friday 10^th March at 11am at the County Crematorium in Milton Malsor.

The Mayor announced that the funeral of former Councillor and Alderman, Mr Trevor Bailey was due to be held on 3^rd March 2017 at St Albans Church, Broadmead Avenue at 1.30pm

The Mayor thanked all those who attended the Mayoresses tree planting in Great Billing Pocket Park on the 28^th February.

The Mayor proposed a suspension of standing orders under Rule 25 to enable the mover and seconders the opportunity to speak for a maximum of 10 minutes and that no other speech exceeds 5 minutes in relation budget reports, item 7, 8, 9 and 10 was agreed.  

It was also noted that in accordance with the principles of the 2014 regulations, recorded votes would be held on all matters relating to the budget items 7,8,9, and 10 of the agenda.

Ms Beverley Mennel addressed Council and commented that there was a lack of public toilet facilities in the town centre. She stated that the Council needed to look at increasing provisions within the town and making them more visible and user friendly for Disabled people. As a member of the Disability Forum, this was an issue that needed addressing urgently.

Mr Arthur Newbury addressed Council and commented that the Council Tax increases proposed were necessary in order for further investment to be made in the town centre and improvements to local services.

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Councillor Nunn submitted a report that sought approval for the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2017 to 2022 and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council any final necessary amendments to finalise the Corporate Plan for publication.

Councillor Larratt seconded the report.

The Council debated the recommendations and detail in the Corporate Plan.

The recommendations were agreed.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Corporate Plan (2017 to 2022) attached to the report be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council any final necessary amendments to finalise the Corporate Plan for publication.

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Councillor Eldred submitted a report advising Council on the robustness of the estimates in the budget and the adequacy of the proposed financial reserves for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account.

Councillor Nunn seconded the report.

There voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Ansell, Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Bottwood, Caswell, Choudary, Chunga, Culbard, Davenport, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Eldred, Golby, Gowen, Hadland, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, B Markham, M Markham, Marriott, McCutcheon, Meredith, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Russell, Sargeant, Smith, Stone and Walker.

RESOLVED:

That careful consideration be given to the content of this report with regards to the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account prior to recommending the approval of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/22, the Revenue Budget for 2017/18, Capital Programme 2017/22 and Treasury Management Strategy 2017/18.

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Councillor Eldred submitted a report which reported on the outcome of the consultation process on the 2017/18 General Fund budget and the final formula grant settlement for 2017/18 and to agree the Cabinet’s recommendations for the General Fund revenue and capital budgets, the level of Council Tax increase for 2017/18 and indicative levels for 2018/19 to 2021/22. It also sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy attached to the report.

Councillor Nunn seconded the report.

Councillor Stone proposed and Councillor Birch seconded amendments, on the attached supplementary document to the minutes.

There voted for the amendments:

Councillors Ashraf, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, Culbard, Davenport, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, McCutcheon, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There voted against the amendments:

Councillors Ansell, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hadland, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, M Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant and Walker.

There abstained: The Mayor, Councillors Beardsworth, B Markham and Meredith.

The amendment was lost.

Council debated the recommendations contained within the report.

There voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Ansell, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hadland, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, M Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations:

Councillors Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, Culbard, Davenport, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, b Markham, Marriott, McCutcheon, Meredith, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There abstained the Mayor.

The recommendations in the report were agreed.

RESOLVED:

2.1 That the feedback from consultation with the public, organisations and the

Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committees be considered and welcomed

(detailed at Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of attached Cabinet report).

2.2 That a General Fund Revenue Budget for 2017/18 of £28.015m (excluding parishes) be approved (detailed in Appendices 4 and 5 of attached Cabinet report).

2.3 That the Council increase the Council Tax for its own purposes, i.e. excluding County, Police and Parish Precepts, by £5 per year per band D property for 2017/18.

2.4 That the Council approve the General Fund Capital Programme and proposed financing for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 6 of attached Cabinet report.

2.5 That Council confirms the aim of maintaining a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £5.5m for 2017/18, having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment.

2.6 That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Cabinet Member to:

·         Transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become

necessary during the financial year.

·         Update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators Report and

Treasury Strategy Report to Council, for any budget changes that impact

on these.

2.7 That the draft Fees and Charges set out in Appendix 9 of the attached Cabinet report be approved, including immediate implementation where appropriate.

2.8 That Council approve the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18 at

Appendix 10 of the attached Cabinet report: incorporating:

(i)            The Capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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Councillor Eldred submitted a report that sought approval of the HRA 2017/18 budget and the HRA indicative levels for 2018/19 to 2021/22, rent setting, service charges and other charges for 2017/18, including the Total Fee proposed for Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) to deliver the services in scope for 2017/18.

Councillor Hibbert seconded the report.

There voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Ansell, Ashraf, Birch, Bottwood, Choudary, Chunga, Culbard, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Eldred, Golby, Gowen, Hadland, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, B Markham, M Markham, Marriott, McCutcheon, Meredith, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Russell, Sargeant, Smith, Stone and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor.

RESOLVED:

2.1      That Council approved:

a)        An average rent decrease of 1% per dwelling, in line with the legislation and the government’s national rent policy, to take effect from 3^rd April 2017.

b)        The HRA budget for 2017/18 of £52.7m expenditure including options detailed in Appendix 1.

c)         The HRA capital programme for 2017/18, including future year commitments, and proposed financing as set out in Appendix 2.

d)        The proposed service charges listed in Appendix 3.

e)        The Total Fees proposed for NPH to deliver the services in scope for 2017/18 detailed in Appendix 4.

f)         That Cabinet be authorised, once the capital programme has been set, to approve new capital schemes and variations to existing schemes during 2017/18, subject to the funding being available and the schemes being in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Council.

2.2      That the Council acknowledges the issues and risks detailed in the Chief Finance Officer’s statement on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

2.3      That the Council confirms the reserves strategy of protecting balances wherever possible to allow the option of supporting future years’ budgets, aiming for a minimum level of unallocated Housing Revenue Account balances of at least £5m for 2017/18, having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment.

2.4      That Council delegate authority to the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer to implement any retained HRA budget options and restructures.

2.5      That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Portfolio Holder to:

·         transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·         transfer monies to /from HRA working balances between the Council and NPH  for cash flow purposes should that become necessary during the financial year.

·         update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators report and Treasury Strategy report, for Council for any budget changes that impact on these.

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Councillor Eldred submitted a report that set out the final precept determinations from the majorprecepting authorities (Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner), parish councils, and the budget setting decision of the Council.

Councillor Nunn seconded the report.

There voting for the recommendations:

Councillors Ansell, Ashraf, Birch, Beardsworth, Bottwood, Choudary, Chunga, Culbard, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Eldred, Golby, Gowen, Hadland, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, B Markham, M Markham, Marriott, McCutcheon, Meredith, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Russell, Sargeant, Smith, Stone and Walker.

RESOLVED:

There were none.