Agenda item

At this point each of the Cabinet members made a presentation on their respective portfolios, which had been circulated with the Agenda. 

Councillor Woods, as Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Partnerships Improvement, submitted his portfolio update and apologised to Councillors in the delay in responding to questions that had been raised at the last Council meeting. 

In answer to a question from Councillor Clarke, Councillor Woods noted that the proposal to remove the Delapre bunding applied only to land in the Council’s ownership, ie along London Road.  English Partnerships would take the clean material and the bund material would be tested at the time English Partnerships were ready to accept it. Councillor Clarke referred to the statements made to one of the Council’s legal officers by lorry drivers delivering the bund infill that it contained contaminated material. Councillor Woods commented that these statements were inadmissible as they had not been made under oath and would need to be resworn.  In answer to a question from Councillor Lane, Councillor Woods indicated that he would write to him in respect of the reduction in car parking income. 

Councillor Glynane, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Safety, then presented his portfolio update and, in answer to a question from Councillor Clarke, commented that some run-off testing from the Delapre Park bund had been conducted and the results copied to the Friends of Delapre Abbey.  The test results had shown that the water had not been contaminated.  He also noted that the statements from lorry drivers could not be acted upon, as they had not been taken under oath.  Councillor Glynane reported that the Diwali celebrations had been a great success.

Councillor Mildren, as the Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented his portfolio update and, in answer to a question from Councillor J Lill, commented that he would write to her in respect of the cost of lighting the Mayorhold Car Park at night and noted that buildings such as this often needed to be lit at night for security reasons.  In answer to a question from Councillor Hadland he noted that the shortfall in funding for local government nationally was estimated to be £1.5 billion.  The Administration would do its best to maintain current service levels but every authority in the country was predicting increased deficit situations.  In answer to a question from Councillor Clarke, Councillor Mildren noted that the Trustees of Delapre Abbey would be receiving tenders to be able to make a bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  These tenders would be initially considered by the Trustees and a recommendation made to the Director of Finance and himself who would, in turn, make a recommendation to Cabinet.  At this stage he could not indicate what the Trustees were likely to recommend.  In answer to a question from Councillor J Lill, Councillor Mildren commented that he would look at the costs and issues involved in testing for flooding at Collingtree.

Councillor Beardsworth, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, presented her portfolio update and, in answer to a question from Councillor Palethorpe, noted that benefit case loads would continue to be monitored and that where possible discussions with small businesses would take place, bearing in mind the Council’s duty to collect business rates.  In answer to a question from Councillor Clarke, Councillor Beardsworth apologised for the delay in writing to him and the residents of the Cooper Street flats but noted that Housing Officers had been keeping tenants appraised of the situation and it was intended that the works would be completed shortly after Christmas.  In answer to a question from Councillor Hadland, Councillor Beardsworth noted that the PFI proposal was just a small part of the Housing and Asset Management Strategy.  If a bid for PFI funding was not made now then the opportunity to bid again would not occur for another three years and the Council could not afford to wait that long.  An e-mail had been sent to all Councillors. 

Councillor Church, as the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, presented his portfolio update and noted that the report on the Racecourse Masterplan would now be presented to Cabinet on 26 November 2008.  He also noted that the West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee had had a successful first meeting on 21 October and that Councillor Woods had been appointed Chairman of it.  In answer to a question from Councillor Clarke, Councillor Church commented that he was confident that a resolution to the market trader concerns would be reached in terms of the layout of the market.  In answer to a question from Councillor Palethorpe, Councillor Church noted that the house building targets for the period 2006-2011 were unlikely to be met and the Government had been asked to adjust the timetable accordingly. 

Councillor Crake, as the Portfolio Holder for Environment, presented her portfolio update and, in response to a question from Councillor Larratt, stated that the Friends of Eastfield Park were conducting consultation with local people in respect of the play equipment for eight to thirteen year olds that would be provided.  She also noted that two other bids for funding had been unsuccessful.  In answer to a further question from Councillor Larratt, Councillor Crake noted that residents had been informed of the change in plastics collection on Radio Northampton, tags placed in recycling boxes and wheelie bins and articles in the Chronicle & Echo.  The glass collection scheme would commence in January 2009.  In answer to a question from Councillor J Lill, Councillor Crake undertook to investigate a past undertaking for flood works at Penvale Park.  In answer to a question from Councillor Edwards, she undertook to remind all funeral directors about the availability of burial plots in Duston. 

Councillor B Hoare, as the Portfolio Holder for Performance, presented his portfolio update.