Agenda item

The Scrutiny Panel to receive a response to its core questions from a number of Expert Advisors:

Cabinet Member for Planning

·         Deputy Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Regeneration

·         Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety

·         Cabinet Member for Housing

·         Head of Economic Development

·         Head of Planning

·         Environmental Health and Licensing Manager

·         Private Sector Housing Manager

·         Town Centre Manager

·         Chair of the CSP

Councillor Hadland (Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Enterprise) and Councillor James Hill (Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning) presented their responses to the core questions, elaborating on the salient points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comments, asked questions and heard:

·         Concern was raised regarding buses and traffic flow on the Bedford Road. It was queried whether the traffic lights needed altering to cope with the traffic. It was confirmed buses had been running this route for some weeks.

·         The Highways Authority has put in improvements to Bedford Road

·         There is adequate staff parking (758 spaces) on the University site and they are also being encouraged to car share.

·         The HMO Policy is being investigated and the results are expected shortly.

·         With regard to parking, the Cabinet Member (Regeneration and Enterprise) advised this is unknown until students have arrive at the University.

·         The students are a benefit to the town.

·         In response to a query regarding planning on the University site, the Panel heard that there are currently about three vacant plots on site.

Councillor Hadland (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise) and Councillor James Hill (Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning) were thanked for their address.

Councillor Anna King (Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety) and Chair of CSP, presented her response to the core questions, elaborating on the salient points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comments, asked questions and heard:

·          The University is an excellent facility

·         The University is working with the CSP

·         The CCTV improvements in Beckett’s park will commence week commencing 17 September 2018

·         St John’s MSCP car park has reached capacity on numerous days over the past year, the University has not had an impact on this car park at this time.

·         The University will be invited to be involved in the Council’s Forums

·         The fresher students will be been given a tour of Northampton again this year; Officers and Councillors will also go into the University to meet with students

·         The Night’s Out Campaign is being developed with the University and Student’s Union

·         Northampton town centre achieved Purple Flag Status and the University will be working towards Purple Flag

·         The move of the University will have a positive effect on the town, across many sectors including culture, retail, heritage and leisure

Councillor Anna King (Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety) was thanked for her address.

Councillor Stephen Hibbert (Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing) and Debi Waite, Private Sector Housing Manager, presented their response to the core questions, elaborating on the salient points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comments, asked questions and heard:

·         There will be an inevitable impact on the area students move into and the area they leave behind

·         Prices of houses may be driven up by the increased demand

·         Agents are struggling to fill the HIMOs in the area that students have moved away from

·         Enforcement of HIMOs is good. Where there is an Article 4 Direction in place this restricts approved HIMO numbers to 15% of properties in those areas.

·         Multi Agency meetings are held to ensure good property rental properties are promoted

·         The Multi Agency Group will have a stand at the Fresher’s Fayre

·         In answer to a query, it was confirmed there is no evidence whish shows a correlation between beggars and the University moving to Waterside or students numbers in the town centre.

·         There are 950 beds on site for students at Park Campus, and 250 at St George’s Avenue campus, 450 beds at St John’s Halls.  There will be 3,000 new students but not all will chose to live on the Waterside site

Councillor Stephen Hibbert (Cabinet Member for Housing & Wellbeing) and Debi Waite, Private Sector Housing Manager were thanked for their address.

Ruth Austen, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, presented her response to the core questions, elaborating on the salient points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comments, asked questions and heard:

·         Student numbers are similar to previous years just in different locations, they would still have used the town centre, when located out of town

·         There has not been a changed to the number of licensed premises in Kingsthorpe currently but change may occur around use and type rather than the number of licensed premises

Ruth Austen, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager was thanked for her address.

Derrick Simpson, Town Centre Manager, presented his response to the core questions, elaborating on the salient points.

The Scrutiny Panel made comments, asked questions and heard:

·         The Town Centre Manager has been working with the University for the past year regarding safety issues, which includes park and ride, safer routes, CCTV, Lighting etc.

·         It is expected that the daytime economy will change and there will be early evening opportunities for businesses

·         Traffic modelling has been undertaken as part of the planning application and parking levels will be monitored.

·         Taxi marshals will be introduced shortly to assist the night time economy and Street Pastors are already in place.

Derrick Simpson, Town Centre Manager was thanked for his address.