Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were none.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 15^th July were agreed and signed by the Leader.

There were no items to be heard in private.

Ms Jessica D’aulerio spoke on Item 9 – Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID). She commented that the proposal to renew the BID was an exciting opportunity and that she looked forward to multi agency working and continued work with the Council.

Councillor Hadland declared a personal non pecuniary interest in Item 9 – as a Member of the Town Centre BID Board.

Cabinet noted the report

Report of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny (Copy herewith)

Cabinet noted the report.

Councillor Ashraf thanked the Scrutiny Panel for looking at issues with regards to parking, specifically match day parking that impacted in the St James’ Ward. She urged Cabinet to adopt the recommendations and noted that parking issues still remained in St James and that long term commitment could help to resolve the problems being faced.

Councillor Lane, as the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny submitted a report and thanked the Panel and Scrutiny Officer for their work. He commented that a number of the recommendations directly requested that provision of extra parking, specifically at Claret car park and Chalk Lane.

The Leader thanked members of the panel and commented that before reporting back, Cabinet needed to consider the recommendations liaise with other agencies.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny (Copy herewith)

Cabinet noted the report.

Councillor Haque urged Cabinet to adopt the recommendations as overgrown trees were an ongoing issue and action needed to be taken and dealt with expediently.

Councillor Lane, as the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny submitted a report and thanked Members of the panel and the Scrutiny Officer. He referred to recommendations 2.1.5 and asked that Cabinet look at adopting a policy of thinning out trees in Parks and Open Spaces.

Councillor Bottwood, as the Cabinet Member for Environment, welcomed the report and commented that he would look at requesting the planning department to assist with tree maintenance and that future work would be undertaken, specifically in the Eastern District and with the Ward Councillors.

The Leader thanked the Scrutiny Panel for their work and commented that they acknowledged the problem relating to tree maintenance and that the Cabinet Member would look at addressing issues.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

Cabinet agreed the preparation of a Local Plan Part 2 for Northampton Borough as set out in Section 3 of the report.

1.    Agrees the scope of the Local Plan Part 2 as set out in Paragraphs 3.1.14 – 3.1.17 below;

2.    Agrees the timetable for the preparation of the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 as set out in Paragraph 3.1.30 below;

3.    Approves the Northampton Borough Local Development Scheme and brings it into immediate effect, i.e. from the 9^th September 2015;

4.    Agrees to a review of the Northampton Statement of Community Involvement to include six weeks consultation and delegates adoption of the revised SCI to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise;

5.    Delegates approval of the Scope of the Plan consultation documentation, the Call for Sites documentation and the proposed consultation details to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise; and

6.    Approves the establishment of a Cabinet Advisory Group to advise and liaise with officers during the preparation of the Local Plan. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise will Chair the Group which will comprise 5 Members as set out in Paragraph 3.1.40 of this Report.

Councillor McCutcheon commented that he had some concerns about the amount of activity on the timetable in the next 3 months, and emphasised the need to ensure that it was not owner and developer lead but that the Council be involved too.

Councillor Hadland, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted a report and commented that the Local Plan currently sat under the Joint Core Strategy and therefore a ‘Part 2’ plan was necessary. He commented that it was recommended that a Cabinet Advisory Group be established comprising 5 Members.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the scope of the Local Plan Part 2 as set out in Paragraphs 3.1.14 – 3.1.17 of the report be agreed;

2.    That the timetable for the preparation of the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 as set out in Paragraph 3.1.30 of the report be agreed.

3.    That the Northampton Borough Local Development Scheme be bought into with immediate effect, i.e. from the 9^th September 2015 be approved.

4.    That a review of the Northampton Statement of Community Involvement to include six weeks consultation and delegates adoption of the revised SCI to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise be agreed.

5.    That the Scope of the Plan consultation documentation, the Call for Sites documentation and the proposed consultation details be delegated to the Director of Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise.

6.    That the establishment of a Cabinet Advisory Group to advise and liaise with officers during the preparation of the Local Plan be approved. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise to Chair the Group which will comprise 5 Members as set out in Paragraph 3.1.40 of the Report.

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

2.1         Cabinet recommended to Council that:

2.2         The CIL Charging Schedule was approved in accordance with Regulation 25 of the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) to take effect from 1^st April 2016 (Appendix 1)

2.3         The CIL Regulation 123 List attached at Appendix 2 of the report be approved

2.4         Exceptional circumstances relief be not applied to Northampton Borough

2.5         CIL policy on payments in kind and the Instalment Policy attached at Appendix 3 of the report be approved

2.6         The Interpretative Note to the CIL Charging Schedule attached at Appendix 4 of the report be approved

2.7         Delegated authority  given to the Council’s Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to allocate requirements outlined in the report to resource the operational functions to facilitate the implementation of CIL

Councillor McCutcheon commented that he welcomed the report and noted that it was a positive step to have CIL funding a range of infrastructure that would be needed which would run alongside Section 106 agreements to ensure a proper return into local communities. He further commented that it should be recognised that this would not generate a vast amount of capital but that it would at least be a contribution.

Councillor Hadland, as the relevant Cabinet Member submitted a report and elaborated thereon. He explained that Appendix 2 of the report expanded on where the infrastructure levy would go, including Parish Councils. He further noted that there was a ceiling on the amount of Section 106 money and the CIL would provide extra funding.

RESOLVED:

1.         Cabinet recommended to Council:

2.            That the CIL Charging Schedule be approved in accordance with Regulation 25 of the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) to take effect from 1^st April 2016,

3.            That the CIL Regulation 123 List attached at Appendix 2 of the report be approved

4.            That in exceptional circumstances relief be not applied to Northampton Borough

5.            That the CIL policy on payments in kind and the Instalment Policy attached at Appendix 3 of the report be approved

6.            That the Interpretative Note to the CIL Charging Schedule attached at Appendix 4 of the report be approved

7.            That authority be delegated to the Council’s Monitoring Officer to amend the Constitution to allocate requirements outlined in the report to resource the operational functions to facilitate the implementation of CIL

B Report of Chief Executive

Cabinet agreed to instruct the Ballot Holder (the Local Returning Officer) to conduct a ballot of local businesses in accordance with legislation, in order to determine whether the proposal for the renewal of Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District may proceed.

Cabinet delegated to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Hadland, and the authority to exercise the Council’s rights to vote in the ballot on behalf of the Borough Council.

Councillor Haque addressed Cabinet and expressed his hope for a successful ballot and noted that the Town Centre BID had achieved what it had been set up to do.

Councillor Hadland, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted a report and commented that the BID board had undertaken a huge amount of work including researching views from across the board.

The Leader thanked the Cabinet Members and the BID board for their hard work and noted that people had would could to witness the benefits in the Town Centre.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Ballot Holder (the Local Returning Officer) to be instructed to conduct a ballot of local businesses in accordance with legislation, in order to determine whether the proposal for the renewal of Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District may proceed.

2.    That it be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Hadland, and the authority to exercise the Council’s rights to vote in the ballot on behalf of the Borough Council.

Report of Director of Customers and Communities (Copy herewith)

Cabinet adopted the Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy 2014-2017 including the target of reducing carbon dioxide emission by 4.5% over the period of the strategy.

Cabinet agreed to sign up to the Climate Local Commitment

Councillor Stone addressed Cabinet and commented that the Labour Group welcomed the report and noted that whilst there had been a reduction in the number of emissions, there needed to be a continued and collective move to further reductions. She emphasised the need to increase the amount of recycling and to educate future generations about the importance of recycling and other environmental considerations such as reducing traffic and pollution.

Councillor Bottwood, as the relevant Cabinet Member, introduced the report and noted that any initiative to decrease the amount of emissions was positive.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Northamptonshire Climate Change Strategy 2014-2017 including the target of reducing carbon dioxide emission by 4.5% over the period of the strategy be adopted

2.    That it be agreed to sign up to the Climate Local Commitment

B Report of Chief Executive (Copy herewith)

2.1            Cabinet reviewed the contents of the report and appendices, and identified actions to be taken to address any issues arising from it.

2.2            Cabinet noted the changes to the 2015-16 General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.

2.3            Cabinet approved the purchase of a Strategic Acquisition within the Enterprise Zone reported in paragraph 3.5.2 of the report.

2.4            Cabinet approved the re-phasing of capital budgets for the Dallington New Build scheme in the HRA Capital Programme.

Councillor Gowen addressed Cabinet and commented that the figures contained within the Finance and Performance Report were not altogether encouraging, specifically those recorded as homeless or sleeping rough. She noted that there was three times the number of missed bins and that not enough recycling was being carried out. Councillor Eldred asked Councillor Gowen what she ws doing in her own ward to promote recycling and the commnetd that she informed people how to recycle.

Councillor Hallam, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted his report and commented that he took the homeless strategy extremely seriously.

The Leader commented that the figures relating to homelessness and rough sleepers were not always accurate as people who were not legal to reside in the Country and had no status were included in the figures and further commented that Officers and Members worked extremely hard in their out-reach work. With regards to recycling, the Leader stated that every Councillor had a responsibility to participate and promote recycling in their Wards.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the contents of the report and appendices of the report be noted.

2.      That the changes to the 2015-16 General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report be noted.

3.      That the purchase of a Strategic Acquisition within the Enterprise Zone reported in paragraph 3.5.2 of the report be approved.

4.      That the re-phasing of capital budgets for the Dallington New Build scheme in the HRA Capital Programme be approved.

B Report of Chief Executive (Copy herewith)

       Cabinet recommended to Council that they note the Council’s treasury management performance for 2014-15 (outturn), and updated treasury management data for quarter 1 of 2015-16. 

Councillor Hallam as the relevant Cabinet Member submitted a report and elaborated thereon. He thanked the officers for their hard work and congratulated them on the work they had completed.

RESOLVED:

That it be recommended to Council that they note the Council’s treasury management performance for 2014-15 (outturn), and updated treasury management data for quarter 1 of 2015-16.