Agenda item

i)                  Councillor Beardsworth to propose and Councillor Meredith to second:

“Over the last three months Council staff have worked hard with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to meet increased demand for services and in particular to give support to the vulnerable and  families in  most need..

There will come a time when we will need to review what has gone well and what could have been done better but I believe now is the time for us as, elected representatives to say thank you to everyone at NBC and  to our contractors and partners, for the job they do on behalf of our community.

Mr Mayor may I ask if you  will lead us as we show our appreciation in the usual way.”

ii)               Councillor Smith to propose and Councillor T Eales to second:

   “The recent resolution at Cabinet to pass the Homelessness Rough Sleeping and Action Plan 2020, represents a huge amount of collaborative work and investigation completed on Homeless in Northampton over the past five years. 

     The resolution also follows a remarkable shift in the challenge of tackling entrenched rough sleeping during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The support made available for rough sleepers and NBC’s quick and robust response transformed the look and approach to rough sleeping in Northampton. Rough sleepers being offered good quality accommodation in line with the principles of Housing First, excellent communication between different agencies and the placement of organisations where people were living created an environment in which people felt supported and empowered to access help allowing them  to move on from rough sleeping.

     As the situation with Covid-19 evolves and changes, it is vital that the excellent progress in the rough sleeping approach seen during it is not lost and that the new strategy is able to meet its full potential.  The Cabinet papers recognise that the continuation of this strategy in its current form requires the continued input of the MHCLG Rough Sleeping Initiative funding created out of the government’s Homelessness Reduction Scheme.  It is vital that the government continue to provide this funding, as its loss or reduction would have a detrimental impact on NBC’s ability to continue to deliver, develop and grow this strategy.

    Therefore:

    This council recognises and applauds the work completed by the NBC Housing Team, its partners from other agencies and the wider voluntary sector, together with the Overview and Scrutiny panels. progressing the new, transformative homelessness strategy. 

     This council resolves to write to the West Northants MPs to ensure that the government continues to fund this vital body of work.”

iii)              Councillor Nunn to propose and Councillor Stone to second:

'That this Council, under, and in pursuance of the powers conferred by virtue of Section 249 Local Government Act, 1972, proposes that the local National Health Service be recommended for admission into the Freedom of the Borough of Northampton, in recognition and appreciation of the outstanding services rendered to the residents of the town during the COVID19 Emergency.

This will be done through the immediate establishment of a cross-party working group and a subsequent report recommending how this honour should to be granted, followed by a Special Meeting of the Council where it will be voted on.'

Councillor Beardsworth proposed and Councillor Meredith seconded:

“Over the last three months Council staff have worked hard with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to meet increased demand for services and in particular to give support to the vulnerable and families in most need.

There will come a time when we will need to review what has gone well and what could have been done better but I believe now is the time for us as, elected representatives to say thank you to everyone at NBC and  to our contractors and partners, for the job they do on behalf of our community.

Mr Mayor may I ask if you will lead us as we show our appreciation in the usual way.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.

The Mayor then asked full Council to join him in a round of applause for the staff.

Councillor Smith proposed and Councillor T Eales seconded:

   “The recent resolution at Cabinet to pass the Homelessness Rough Sleeping and Action Plan 2020, represents a huge amount of collaborative work and investigation completed on Homeless in Northampton over the past five years. 

     The resolution also follows a remarkable shift in the challenge of tackling entrenched rough sleeping during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The support made available for rough sleepers and NBC’s quick and robust response transformed the look and approach to rough sleeping in Northampton. Rough sleepers being offered good quality accommodation in line with the principles of Housing First, excellent communication between different agencies and the placement of organisations where people were living created an environment in which people felt supported and empowered to access help allowing them to move on from rough sleeping.

     As the situation with Covid-19 evolves and changes, it is vital that the excellent progress in the rough sleeping approach seen during it is not lost and that the new strategy is able to meet its full potential.  The Cabinet papers recognise that the continuation of this strategy in its current form requires the continued input of the MHCLG Rough Sleeping Initiative funding created out of the government’s Homelessness Reduction Scheme.  It is vital that the government continue to provide this funding, as its loss or reduction would have a detrimental impact on NBC’s ability to continue to deliver, develop and grow this strategy.

    Therefore:

     This council recognises and applauds the work completed by the NBC Housing Team, its partners from other agencies and the wider voluntary sector, together with the Overview and Scrutiny panels. progressing the new, transformative homelessness strategy. 

     This council resolves to write to the West Northants MPs to ensure that the government continues to fund this vital body of work.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.

Councillor Nunn proposed and Councillor Stone seconded:

'That this Council, under, and in pursuance of the powers conferred by virtue of Section 249 Local Government Act, 1972, proposes that the local National Health Service be recommended for admission into the Freedom of the Borough of Northampton, in recognition and appreciation of the outstanding services rendered to the residents of the town during the COVID19 Emergency.

This will be done through the immediate establishment of a cross-party working group and a subsequent report recommending how this honour should to be granted, followed by a Special Meeting of the Council where it will be voted on.'

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was Carried.