Agenda item

(i)            Councillor Hadland to propose and Councillor Nunn to second:

“This Council records its gratitude to the Market Advisory Group and its independent chair, Mr. Raymond Everall for their hard work so far, in helping the Administration find solutions to the problems faced by Market Square traders.

This council believes that a vibrant Town Centre is the key to attracting more visitors, business and investment to our town with the Market Square at its heart. This year events such as Godiva Awakes, the Olympic Torch Relay, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and St. Crispin's Street Fair have attracted thousands of people onto the streets of our Town Centre.

This Administration is also committed to deliver more schemes such as an hour of free parking and the 25 percent reduction in market rents to help Town Centre businesses, and in cooperation with our partners, is delivering long-term the 'Northampton Alive' regeneration projects such as the new bus interchange, the St. John’s development, the new railway station, Project Angel and the new cinema at The Royal and Derngate for the benefit of the whole town.”

(ii)          Councillor Mackintosh to propose and Councillor Eldred to second:

“This council recognises the outstanding contribution made by Walter Tull both in the service of our country and in breaking down racial barriers as a sportsman and a soldier. 

Walter Tull served with distinction during the First World War, seeing action at the Battle of The Somme in 1916, and gaining a Mention in Despatches for his ‘gallantry and coolness’ during his time fighting in Italy.  As the first black officer in the British Army he has come to be seen as an important historical role model.  Walter Tull was killed in action before the end of the war, and was unfortunately never awarded the Military Cross for which he was recommended.

Walter Tull made 111 appearances for Northampton Town Football Club between 1911-1914, and is a figure of national importance with whom Northampton is proudly associated.

2014 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, and 2013 is the 125th anniversary of Walter Tull’s birth.  This Council adds its support to the campaign for Walter Tull to be posthumously awarded the Military Cross.”

(iii)         Councillor Palethorpe to propose and Councillor Davies to second:

“This Council recognises that the National Minimum Wage as of the 1^st October 2012 has increased to £6.19 an hour.

This Council also recognises the significant impact on hard working people in Northampton ability to provide the essentials of life for their families of higher fuel and housing costs along with inflation of over 2% and the changes arising from the Welfare Reforms.

Northampton Borough Council recognises that it has a responsibility to provide the leadership required to help hard working families and that the National Minimum Wage is insufficient to provide the essentials for their families.

This Council recognises that the Living Wage is calculated according to the cost of living and given minimum pay rates required – “for a worker to provide their family with the essentials of life”.

As a major employer and sub-contractor responsible for the provision of public services to the Northampton taxpayers’ this Council agrees that it will become a Living Wage Employer in the financial year 2013/2014.  In becoming a Living Wage employer this Council determines that no member of staff, whether directly employed or under an agency agreement will earn less than the calculated Living Wage which is currently £7.45 an hour.

This Council also determines that any contracts entered into with external service providers will require the employer to pay employees employed to deliver the contract the Living Wage rate of pay.”

(iv)         Councillor Marriott to propose and Councillor Gowen to second:

“This Council notes that in October 2012 the former Deputy Conservative Prime Minister, Lord Heseltine, published a report titled, ‘No Stone Unturned: In Pursuit of Growth’

This Council further notes the following paragraphs on page 52 of the report that states,

‘2.78  Unitary authorities run local services effectively and at considerably lower cost.  They provide greater clarity and accountability about where responsibilities lie for delivery of local services.  They avoid duplication and coordination issues that can arise between different local authority functions.  They facilitate faster and more robust decision making and avoid the unnecessary administrative expense associated with running a two-tier system.’

‘2.81  Changing to a unitary model of local government will not be easy.  It will naturally be uncomfortable for those involved, it may be disruptive in the short term and it will take time.  But it would be a mistake not to persevere.  The costs of the two-tier system are simply unsustainable.  The advantages in increasing effectiveness and freeing resource for the benefit of communities will outweigh the pain.’

This Council agrees and endorses these two paragraphs of the report.  It allows for a future discussion about the self-governance of our town.”

(v)          Councillor Mason to propose and Councillor Mennell to second:

“This Council notes the recent changes brought in by the Coalition Government to Housing and Welfare Reform, which will have a huge impact on our tenants.

This Council notes that this has put added pressure on staff to cope with these changes and to comply with all the new legislation.

This Council believes that for these changes to be implemented there can be no compulsory redundancies within the Housing Department in the HRA budget 2013/14.”

i)             Councillor Hadland proposed and Councillor Nunn seconded:

“This Council records its gratitude to the Market Advisory Group and its independent chair, Mr. Raymond Everall for their hard work so far, in helping the Administration find solutions to the problems faced by Market Square traders.

This council believes that a vibrant Town Centre is the key to attracting more visitors, business and investment to our town with the Market Square at its heart. This year events such as Godiva Awakes, the Olympic Torch Relay, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and St. Crispin's Street Fair have attracted thousands of people onto the streets of our Town Centre.

This Administration is also committed to deliver more schemes such as an hour of free parking and the 25 percent reduction in market rents to help Town Centre businesses, and in cooperation with our partners, is delivering long-term the 'Northampton Alive' regeneration projects such as the new bus interchange, the St. John’s development, the new railway station, Project Angel and the new cinema at The Royal and Derngate for the benefit of the whole town.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

ii)            Councillor Mackintosh proposed and Councillor Eldred seconded:

“This council recognises the outstanding contribution made by Walter Tull both in the service of our country and in breaking down racial barriers as a sportsman and a soldier. 

Walter Tull served with distinction during the First World War, seeing action at the Battle of The Somme in 1916, and gaining a Mention in Despatches for his ‘gallantry and coolness’ during his time fighting in Italy.  As the first black officer in the British Army he has come to be seen as an important historical role model.  Walter Tull was killed in action before the end of the war, and was unfortunately never awarded the Military Cross for which he was recommended.

Walter Tull made 111 appearances for Northampton Town Football Club between 1911-1914, and is a figure of national importance with whom Northampton is proudly associated.

2014 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, and 2013 is the 125th anniversary of Walter Tull’s birth.  This Council adds its support to the campaign for Walter Tull to be posthumously awarded the Military Cross.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

iii)           Councillor Palethorpe proposed and Councillor Davies seconded:

“This Council recognises that the National Minimum Wage as of the 1^st October 2012 has increased to £6.19 an hour.

This Council also recognises the significant impact on hard working people in Northampton ability to provide the essentials of life for their families of higher fuel and housing costs along with inflation of over 2% and the changes arising from the Welfare Reforms.

Northampton Borough Council recognises that it has a responsibility to provide the leadership required to help hard working families and that the National Minimum Wage is insufficient to provide the essentials for their families.

This Council recognises that the Living Wage is calculated according to the cost of living and given minimum pay rates required – “for a worker to provide their family with the essentials of life”.

As a major employer and sub-contractor responsible for the provision of public services to the Northampton taxpayers’ this Council agrees that it will become a Living Wage Employer in the financial year 2013/2014.  In becoming a Living Wage employer this Council determines that no member of staff, whether directly employed or under an agency agreement will earn less than the calculated Living Wage which is currently £7.45 an hour.

This Council also determines that any contracts entered into with external service providers will require the employer to pay employees employed to deliver the contract the Living Wage rate of pay.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a requisition for a recorded vote:

There voted for the motion: Councillors Aziz, Beardsworth, Begum, I Choudary, N Choudary, Davies, Glynane Gowen, Marriot, Mason, Mennell, Meredith, Palethorpe, Sivaramen, Stone and Strachan.

There voted against the motion: Councillors Ansell, Bottwood, Caswell, Duncan, Eldred, Flavell, Ford, Golby, Hadland, Hallam, Hibbert, Hill, Lane, Larratt, Mackintosh, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant and Yates.

There abstained the Mayor.

The motion was lost.

iv)           Councillor Marriot proposed and Councillor Gowen seconded;

“This Council notes that in October 2012 the former Deputy Conservative Prime Minister, Lord Heseltine, published a report titled, ‘No Stone Unturned: In Pursuit of Growth’

This Council further notes the following paragraphs on page 52 of the report that states,

‘2.78  Unitary authorities run local services effectively and at considerably lower cost.  They provide greater clarity and accountability about where responsibilities lie for delivery of local services.  They avoid duplication and coordination issues that can arise between different local authority functions.  They facilitate faster and more robust decision making and avoid the unnecessary administrative expense associated with running a two-tier system.’

‘2.81  Changing to a unitary model of local government will not be easy.  It will naturally be uncomfortable for those involved, it may be disruptive in the short term and it will take time.  But it would be a mistake not to persevere.  The costs of the two-tier system are simply unsustainable.  The advantages in increasing effectiveness and freeing resource for the benefit of communities will outweigh the pain.’

This Council agrees and endorses these two paragraphs of the report.  It allows for a future discussion about the self-governance of our town.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote the motion was lost.

v)            Councillor Mason proposed and Councillor Mennell seconded:

“This Council notes the recent changes brought in by the Coalition Government to Housing and Welfare Reform, which will have a huge impact on our tenants.

This Council notes that this has put added pressure on staff to cope with these changes and to comply with all the new legislation.

This Council believes that for these changes to be implemented there can be no compulsory redundancies within the Housing Department in the HRA budget 2013/14.”

Council debated the motion:

Upon a vote the motion was lost.