Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Flavell.

None.

None.

Report of Corporate Manager, Regeneration, Growth and Community Development (copy herewith)

The Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development submitted a report that set out a revised Joint Local Development Scheme for submission to the Government Office for the East Midlands.  He commented that the Scheme was a statutory document and was a public statement of the Council’s programme for the production of local development documents.  It would be kept under review through an annual monitoring report.  He further stated that Cabinet had approved a scheme for submission to GOEM in December 2006, however the Government Office had issued a holding direction to the Council, and Daventry and South Northants Councils, due to concerns that they had at that time.  Since that time, the three Councils had worked together to revise the document, which had now been adopted by South Northants Council and was being considered by Daventry Council this evening.  The key changes were a new programme for the Core Strategy would give developer guidance including information on district and neighbourhood centres and the Central Area Action Plan.  The Government office and the Planning Inspectorate had indicated that they were happy with the revisions made. The Corporate Manager commented that approval of the document was now urgent as it needed to be approved by the Government Office and implemented by 31 March 2007 so as to avoid loss of Planning Delivery Grant funding for plan making during the next year.

The Leader of the Council commented that a great deal of work had gone on, on behalf of the three Councils, to get to this stage and he thanked the Corporate Manager and his colleagues for their work to produce the document.

Councillor Caswell commented that GOEM had been particularly helpful in preparing the revised document.

RESOLVED: (1) That approval be given to the revised Local Development Scheme for submission to the Government Office for the East Midlands.

                        (2) That any modifications to that part of the revised Joint Local Development Scheme accountable to this Council arising from comments from GOEM, or as the result of consideration by Daventry and South Northants District Councils, be delegated to the Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Infrastructure; further any modifications required for parts not directly accountable to this Council be delegated to the Corporate Manager for Regeneration, Growth and Community Development. 

                        (3) That the Local Development Scheme be brought into effect from 31 March 2007.

(4)   That the Cabinet thank the Government Office for the East Midlands and Eddison Associates in facilitating the discussions which have led to an agreed and revised scheme.

(5)    That subject to obtaining the agreement of the Mayor under paragraph 15.10 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedural Rules in view of the urgency to gain Government Office approval and implementation of the Scheme by 31 March 2007 so as to avoid the loss of Planning Delivery Grant, the decisions (1) to (3) above be excluded from Call- in.

NB   Councillor Larratt declared a personal interest  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

THE CHAIR TO MOVE:

“THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSURE TO THEM OF SUCH CATEGORIES OF EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 100(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS LISTED AGAINST SUCH ITEMS OF BUSINESS BY REFERENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PARAGRAPH OF SCHEDULE 12A TO SUCH ACT.”

The Chair moved that the public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

The Motion was Carried.

Report of Corporate Manager, Street Scene and Property Maintenance (copy herewith)

The Corporate Manager for Street Scene and Property Maintenance submitted a report that set out the situation in respect of the existing contract and timetable for the letting of a new one.  He further commented that this service had improved dramatically over the previous twelve months and that the new contract would take account of new regulations and legislative requirements.

RESOLVED: That the progress to date be noted and that an extension of the existing contract be negotiated until the date of the award of the new contract (with a brief overlap if necessary).

Report of Solicitor to the Council (copy herewith)

The Solicitor to the Council submitted a report that sought authority to enter into a contract with Greatmidas Limited to supply a nominated consultant to act the Council’s Interim Chief Executive. 

RESOLVED:That a contract be entered into with Greatmidas Limited to supply a nominated consultant, Mr John Edwards, to act as the Council’s Interim Chief Executive.

The meeting concludedat 18.31 Hours