Agenda item

(A) Councillor Patterson to propose Councillor McCutcheon to second;-

“We call on the Council to discontinue the 5% above inflation annual uplift in allotment rents.

We call on the Council to introduce a fair system of charges for water usage on allotments in place of the proposed flawed system.

That a time limited scrutiny investigation is undertaken for the proposed water charges.”

(B) Councillor Lane to propose Councillor Malpas to second;-

“This Council congratulates the staff and administration on the progress made in tackling homelessness in Northampton. As noted by the cross party task and finish group “significant improvements have been made within the homeless service”.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also commended the Council reporting “that it was clear that Northampton had made substantial progress in this area” and it was very good news.”

Council therefore commends staff and the administration on the hard work and progress achieved.”

(C) Councillor Crake to propose Councillor Simpson to second;-

“This Council supports Northamptonshire Police Authority in its decision not to volunteer for merger into a new East Midlands strategic police authority.

In particular,this council is concerned that;-

(1)The estimated merger costs of £101 million plus £35 million per annum to meet the improvements required,calculated by all five police authorities in the East Midlands,will not be adequately funded by Government,leading to reduced front line policing or higher police precept on the Council Tax.

(2)The proposed merger is not projected to improve protective policing services until at least 2014.

(3)All five Chief Constables in the region have expressed the view that the proposed merger as presently designed is unaffordable,very complex and very high risk and therefore likely to damage policing.

(4)A single strategic regional police authority will lead to weaker local democratic accountability for policing.

This Council requests the Chief Executive to respond to the letter from the Home Office to record this Council’s objection to the proposed merger,and to write to Northampton’s MP’s requesting them to oppose the merger in Parliament and urges all councillors and members  of the public to take part in the Police Authority’s consultation exercise.”  

(D) Councillor Tavener to propose Councillor Hill to second;-

“This Council opposes the merger of Northamptonshire Police Force into an East Midlands or other regional police service. We believe that effective policing should be responsive to local neds and accountable to the local community.”

(E)Councillor Eldred to move and CouncillorAcock to second;-

“This Council condemns the proposed cut in funding to Cynthia Spencer Hospice by Daventry and South Northants Primary Care Trust (PCT).

We believe that the hospice plays a vital and important role in our town and therefore request that the PCT review their decision and mandates the Chief Executive to communicate this on our behalf.”

(F)The following motion to be moved by Councillor Wire and seconded by Councillor Evans ;-

That Procedural rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion to be discussed and a vote to be taken;-

“That this Council agrees that public confidence in our decision making and public announcing of decisions and issues is paramount  to the transparency of democracy.

In the light of that council further agrees that the cross party report on delegated decisions now needs to be implemented so that we can jointly monitor how delegated decisions are being made and the public accountability of the decisions.

In addition in future all announcements and comments made to the local press and media by Borough Council “spokespersons” are to cease and any comments made will be made by the elected councillor who is accountable to the public. In any exceptional circumstances where it is deemed appropriate for a comment from the authority only the accountable officer ,the |Chief Executive (or respective Director in her absence) may make public comment and must do so in name.

7(A)

At this juncture, and prior to consideration of the Notice of Motion under Item 7(A) regarding Allotments, the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and Councillor Boss declared an interest and left the meeting during discussion of this item.

In the Mayor’s absence the Leader of the Council, Councillor Hadland, assumed the Chair.  Mr Oliver, Mr Hewitt, Mr Care and Mr Newham then addressed the Council in respect of the Notice of Motion on Allotments asking that the motion be supported to the flaws in the proposed water charge increases and to what they considered to be an unreasonable increase in rent.  They asked that charges should be charged per pole in line with the rents and that any water leaks should not be included in the water charges and that tenants should only be charged for the water that they were actually using. 

Councillor Patterson then proposed and Councillor McCutcheon seconded the motion: “We call on the Council to discontinue the 5% above inflation annual uplift in allotment rents.

We call on the Council to introduce a fair system of charges for water usage on allotments in place of the proposed flawed system.

That a time-limited scrutiny investigation is undertaken for the proposed water charges.”

Councillor B Markham then moved and Councillor Glynane seconded an amendment to the motion, “That the last sentence be expanded to include rents as well as water, so that it reads that a time-limited scrutiny investigation is undertaken for the proposed water charges, rents and concessions.” 

The amendment was voted upon and carried.

The motion as amended was then voted upon and carried and it was agreed that this would be put before the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 14 June and that the allotment holders would be invited along to speak to that meeting. 

The Mayor resumed the Chair.

7(B)

Councillor Lane proposed and Councillor Malpas seconded, “This Council congratulates the staff and administration on the progress made in tackling homelessness in Northampton.  As noted by the Cross-party Task and Finish Group “significant improvements have been made within the homeless service”.  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also commended the Council reporting, “That it was clear that Northampton had made substantial progress in this area and it was very good news.

“Council therefore commends staff and the administration on the hard work and progress achieved.”

Councillor Glynane then submitted an amendment and in view of the fact that the Labour Group had a similar amendment it was agreed that the Council adjourn for five minutes to combine the two amendments accordingly.

The meeting adjourned for five minutes.

The meeting resumed.

Councillor Mason then proposed and Councillor Glynane seconded an amendment to the motion: “This Council notes the progress made in tackling homelessness in Northampton.  As reported by the Overview & Scrutiny Task and Finish Group, “significant improvements have been made within the homeless service”.  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also commended the Council reporting, “that it was clear that Northampton had made substantial progress in this area”.

This Council acknowledges that although service improvements have been achieved much is left to do before the citizens of Northampton will be receiving the service in this area of Council delivery that they deserve.

Council therefore commends the partnership work with NCC and progress achieved and looks forward to more improvements in the future as detailed in the Overview & Scrutiny Action Plan.”

Following some debate a vote was taken upon the amendment and carried. 

A vote was then taken upon the motion as amended and carried. 

7(C)

NB – Councillor Church declared a personal and prejudicial interest as a member of the Police Authority in the following motion and left the room whilst Items 7(C) and 7(D) were under discussion.

Mr Adams and Mr Clarke then addressed the Council in respect of Items 7(C) and 7(D) regarding the proposed merger of Northamptonshire Police Authority.  Mr Clark stated that he was a member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands and stressed that such a proposed merger was not just being proposed for the Police Force but was also on the cards for the Fire and Ambulance Services.  He stated that there was hardly a Chief Constable in the Country that was not opposed to these mergers and questioned therefore why the Government were doing this.  He stated that if it became a regional Police Force then control would pass to the region and the Council’s role would be greatly diminished.  He asked that the merger be opposed for the sake of democracy.

Councillor Crake then proposed and Councillor Simpson seconded the motion regarding the Police merger as detailed under Item 7(C) on the agenda: “This Council supports Northamptonshire Police Authority in its decision not to volunteer for merger into a new East Midlands Strategic Police Authority. 

In particular this Council is concerned that:

1.      The estimated merger costs of £101m plus £35m per annum to meet the improvements required, calculated by all five Police authorities in the East Midlands, will not be adequately funded by Government, leading to reduced frontline policing or higher Police precept on the Council Tax.

2.      The proposed merger is not projected to improve protective policing services until at least 2014. 

3.      All five Chief Constables in the region have expressed the view that the proposed merger as presently designed is unaffordable, very complex and very high risk and therefore likely to damage policing.

4.      A single strategic regional Police Authority will lead to weaker local democratic accountability for policing.

This Council requests the Chief Executive to respond to the letter from the Home Office to record this Council’s objection to the proposed merger and to write to Northampton’s MPs requesting them to oppose the merger in Parliament and urges all Councillors and members of the public to take part in the Police Authority’s consultation exercise.”

Councillor Tavener then proposed and Councillor Hill seconded an amendment that motion (D) be inserted into motion (C) as the penultimate paragraph: “This Council opposes the merger of Northamptonshire Police Force into an East Midlands or other regional Police service.  We believe that effective policing should be responsive to local needs and accountable to the local community”.

The amendment was carried.

The motion as amended was voted upon and agreed unanimously with the proviso that Vernon Coker be invited to visit Northampton to discuss these proposals accordingly.

7(E)

At this juncture Councillors Allen and Roy declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the meeting whilst the matter was under discussion.

At this juncture Mrs Buckingham addressed the Council speaking on behalf of the PCT.  She stated that she wanted to address Council to ensure that they had all the facts and to explain the position with regard to the Cynthia Spencer Day Care Centre.

Councillor Eldred then moved and Councillor Acock seconded: “This Council condemns the proposed cut in funding to Cynthia Spencer Hospice by Daventry and South Northants Primary Care Trust (PCT).

We believe that the Hospice plays a vital and important role in our town and therefore request that the PCT review their decision and mandates the Chief Executive to communicate this on our behalf. 

In moving the motion an amendment was added with the addition of a sentence at the end to read, “We also call on Council to support our cause and host a petition that is accessible to the public from tonight until 12 June”.  The amendment was duly accepted by Council and it was further agreed that the words “Cynthia Spencer Hospice” be amended to call it “Cynthia Spencer Day Care Centre” instead.

The motion duly amended was debated, voted upon and carried unanimously.

7(F)

Councillor Wire proposed and Councillor Evans seconded that Procedural Rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion to be discussed and a vote to be taken.

The motion was carried.

Councillor Wire then moved and Councillor Evans seconded: “That this Council agrees that public confidence in our decision making and public announcing of decisions and issues is paramount to the transparency of democracy.  In the light that Council further agrees that the cross-party report on delegated decisions now needs to be implemented so that we can jointly monitor how delegated decisions are being made and the public accountability of the decisions.

In addition in future all announcements and comments made to the local press and media by the Borough Council “spokespersons” are to cease and any comments made will be made by the elected Councillor who is accountable to the public.  In any exceptional circumstances where it is deemed appropriate for a comment from the Authority, only the accountable officer, the Chief Executive (or respective Director in her absence) may make public comment and must be do so in name.”

Councillor Hadland then proposed and Councillor Tavener seconded an amendment in that the last paragraph by deleted and replaced with the following: “In addition this Council recognises that its media relations and communications programme must be appropriately managed.  To this end it requires that a media protocol, communications protocol and code of conduct be drawn up and that formal guidelines be issued for all staff issuing or making media statements.  These documents are to be consistent with the “Guidelines for Publicity Within Local Authorities” issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government and draft documents are to be submitted for consideration by the Improvement Board on 8 June.”

Following some discussion Councillor Woods proposed and Councillor Tavener seconded that the motion be now put.

A vote was then taken upon the amendment and carried. 

A vote was then taken upon the motion as amended and duly carried.