Agenda item

(A)   The following motion to be moved by Councillor B.Hoare and seconded by Councillor Hollis:-

“That procedural rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion to be discussed and a vote taken

This Council welcomes the LGA report entitled “Leading the way:how local authorities can meet the challenge of climate change”. This Council recognises the importance of promoting a clean environment for the citizens of Northampton especially a clean air environment for the children of our town.

The Council therefore commits itself to producing a plan to reduce carbon emissions as part of its medium term plan and to working with other agencies within the LAA to reduce carbon emissions in all public services in Northampton.

That this Council supports the Climate Change Bill introduced to Parliament by Michael Meacher MP,John Gummer MP and Norman Baker MP which would require annual cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 3 per cent to be delivered in a framework that includes regular reporting and new scrutiny and corrective processes.”

(B)The following motion to be moved by Councillor Simpson and duly seconded:-

“That procedural rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion to be discussed and a vote taken:-

This Council recognises Northampton Racecourse as one of the most important parks in the town.

Further this Council;

Acknowledges that recent occurrences of anti-social behaviour and crime on the park have led to concerns about the safety of the environment on the park.

Welcomes the initiative by the Chronicle and Echo in its “Reclaim the Racecourse” campaign the recent summit held jointly with Friends of Northampton Racecourse.

Welcomes the “healthy living hub” initiative as a possible way of levering funds and resources to create a new public facility on the park.

Notes that it passed policy in 2003 to draw up a rolling 5 year plan for the park and that this has not happened

This Council resolves to;

Work with all stakeholders and partners to draw up a masterplan for the park.

Support the idea of the healthy living hub to seek lottery funding for plans to improve the park and develop new public facilities

Set up a Racecourse Action Team headed by a NBC manager that draws together all NBC stakeholders and external partners.

Actively seek external funding opportunities for improvements to the park

            At this juncture copies of the emergency motion were circulated and the Mayor pursuant to Procedural Rule 3.6.10 moved that the meeting be adjourned for five minutes to enable the tabled motion to be considered.

           The meeting resumed

           Councillors Church Simpson and Woods declared an interest in the motion as members of Friends for Northampton Racecourse.

(B)       Tracy Gilbey stated that she was speaking on behalf of Friends of Northampton Racecourse and a supporter of the Healthy Living Hub Project.  She explained that this had been set up by Friends of Northampton Racecourse and had generated some funding to carry out a feasibility study to consult widely with the community regarding ways of improving and enhancing the Racecourse.  She stated that early indications showed that there was a lot of support for the project.  A Racecourse summit meeting the previous week had been attended by key stakeholders.  She stated that the main reason she was speaking this evening was to highlight the amount of enthusiasm and support about the project which was extremely well supported by the local community and residents.

Steve Winder then addressed the Council stating that much of what he wanted to say had been covered by the previous speaker but stressed the importance of the involvement of the local community in such projects and stressed that this should be the way forward with all the Borough’s open spaces.  He stated that he hoped there would be consultation in any areas that were dealt with.

Councillor Wire then moved and Councillor Boss seconded that Procedural Rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion and the emergency motion to be debated.

The motion was carried.

Councillor Simpson then moved the motion as printed under item 6B on the agenda and in so doing asked that the word “lottery” be deleted from the second resolved point and to add a final resolved point “to nominate relevant Councillors and senior officer to represent the Borough on the new Racecourse Partnership Board”.

            Councillor Church in seconding the motion proposed an amendment that the emergency motion regarding the Racecourse summit as circulated be treated as an amendment and added on to the existing Racecourse motion.

The emergency motion which Councillor Church was suggesting being taken as an addition to this existing motion was as follows:-

“This Council welcomes the Racecourse summit held on Thursday 20 July 2006 and congratulates the Chronicle and Echo for their initiative and involvement.  This Council also welcomes the contribution and attendance of all other Partners and Stakeholders especially the Friends of the Racecourse.  In particular this Council welcomes the Healthy Living Hub Initiative and appreciates the effort put in by stakeholders to take this forward.

            This Council requests the Cabinet to discuss and address the outcomes of the summit and work with partners and stakeholders to drive them forward.  Council also requests Cabinet to identify resources and support and develop a viable action plan and long term vision for the Racecourse in partnership with partners and stakeholders”.

Following some discussion on whether to accept the emergency motion as an amendment to be appended to the existing motion a vote was taken and it was carried.  As such the emergency motion became part of the original motion as printed on the agenda.

A vote was then taken upon the motion as amended and carried.  The motion would read as set out below:-

This Council recognises Northampton Racecourse as one of the most important parks in the town.

Further this Council;

            Acknowledges that recent occurrences of anti-social behaviour and crime on the park have led to concerns about the safety of the environment on the park.

Welcomes the initiative by the Chronicle and Echo in its “Reclaim the Racecourse” Campaign, the recent summit held jointly with Friends of Northampton Racecourse.

Welcomes the “Healthy Living Hub” Initiative as a possible way of levering funds and resources to create a new public facility on the park.

Notes that it passed policy in 2003 to draw up a rolling five year plan for the park and that this has not happened.

This Council resolves to;

Work with all stakeholders and partners to draw up a master plan for        the park.

Support the idea of the Healthy Living Hub to seek funding for plans to improve the park and develop new public facilities.

Set up a Racecourse Action Team headed by a Northampton Borough Council Manager that draws together all NBC stakeholders and external partners.

Actively seek external funding opportunities for improvements to the park.

To nominate Councillors and senior officers to represent the Borough on the new Racecourse Partnership Board.This Council welcomes the Racecourse summit held on Thursday 20 July 2006 and congratulates the Chronicle and Echo for their initiative and involvement. This Council also welcomes the contribution and attendance of all other Partners and Stakeholders, especially the Friends of the Racecourse.  In particular this Council welcomes the Healthy Living Hub Initiative and appreciates the effort put in by stakeholders to take this forward.

This Council requests the Cabinet to discuss and address the outcomes of the summit and work with partners and stakeholders to drive them forward.  Council also requests the Cabinet to identify resources and support and develop a viable action plan and long term vision for the Racecourse in partnership with partners and stakeholders.

(A)  Councillor B Hoare moved and Councillor Hollis seconded; “That Procedural Rule 3.4 be suspended to enable the following motion to be discussed.

            The motion was carried.

            Councillor B Hoare proposed the motion which Councillor Hollis seconded and in so proposing he asked Council to approve an amendment in that the whole of paragraph three be deleted.  This was accepted.

            Councillor Patterson then moved an amendment which was seconded by Councillor Evans in terms of the second paragraph to read “The Council requests Overview and Scrutiny to review the existing energy strategy and to delete the rest of the second paragraph.  Councillor Hoare duly accepted this amendment.

            A vote was taken and the amendment was carried.

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

            The motion to read as set out below:-

            This Council welcomes the LGA Report entitled “Leading The Way: How Local Authorities Can Meet the Challenge of Climate Change”. This Council recognises the importance of promoting a clean environment for the citizens of Northampton especially a clean air environment for the children of our town.

            The Council requests Overview and Scrutiny to review the existing Energy Strategy.