Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: The Jeffrey Room, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE.

Contact: Emma Powley 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Hallam.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9th May 2018 were agreed and signed by the Leader.

3.

Intention to Hold Part of the Meeting in Private if necessary

It is the intention that part of this meeting be held in private as it is likely that exempt information as defined in local government act 1972:

 

Consideration of the information in public would give rise to the disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph [1, 2 3, 5 & 7] of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 –

 

·         Information relating to any individual.

·         Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

·         Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

·         Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

·         Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

Notice was not given 28 days in advance and therefore permission was granted by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulation 2012 (part 2, para 3)

NTFC - https://www.northampton.gov.uk/downloads/file/10339/intention-to-hold-meeting-in-private---ntfc---13th-june-2018

 

Delapre - https://www.northampton.gov.uk/downloads/file/10340/delapre-abbey-restoration-project---cabinet---13th-june-2018

 

 

Minutes:

The Leader confirmed that there was an intention that part of the meeting would be held in private as set out in the agenda.

 

4.

Deputations/Public Addresses

Minutes:

There were none.

5.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Hadland declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 13- “Delapre Abbey Restoration Project” as a Council nominated member of Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust.

6.

Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees

6a

Report of the O&S Committee - Dementia Friendly Town pdf icon PDF 132 KB

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

Cabinet noted the report.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted his report and elaborated thereon thanking the Scrutiny Officer and the Panel members, specifically the Chair, for their hard work. He noted that Councillor King was already a dementia champion for the Council and commented that the report provided key considerations for a way forwards.

 

The Deputy Leader congratulated the Scrutiny Panel for their work and noted the extensive amount of expert advisors and witnesses involved, demonstrated the affects that the illness had on people.

 

RESOLVED:  

 

That the report be noted.

6b

Report of the O&S Committee - Cemeteries pdf icon PDF 133 KB

(Copy herewith)

 

Decision:

Cabinet noted the report.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted his report and elaborated thereon thanking the Scrutiny Officer and panel Chair.

 

Councillor Culbard commented that as a member of the panel, she had observed a number of cemeteries in good order but that the maintenance of some had been below standard. She noted that she considered there was a lack of toilet facilities in cemeteries and wondered if consideration could be given to ways of rectifying the issue.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be noted.

6c

Report of the O&S Committee - Culture and Tourism pdf icon PDF 176 KB

(Copy herewith)

 

Decision:

Cabinet noted the report.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted his report and elaborated thereon and noted that promotion of the Town could see the installation of blue or claret plaques around places of interest. He suggested that the Town needed to emphasis and promote its heritage and culture and stated that there was a need to engage with partners to promote the town.

 

Councillor Culbard commented that Northampton was underselling itself and this was evidenced by the lack of promotional information in the Towns’ hotels and retail outlets and noted that there was a need for a person to be appointed to drive culture and tourism forward.

 

The Leader stated that it was an excellent piece of work and noted that there was a need to retain civic pride.

 

Councillor King commented that tour guides were in place and a number of tourist activities were being extended in the future. Councillor Eldred stated that the need to promote the leisure and heritage experience and Councillor Hadland commented that there could be more use of digital media.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be noted.

6d

Report of the O&S Committee - Reprovision of the Environmental Services Contract Working Group pdf icon PDF 119 KB

(Copy herewith)

 

Decision:

Cabinet noted the report.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee submitted his report and elaborated thereon and noted that it was widely felt that the award of contract had been robustly conducted. He commented that in future, it would be of benefit if the Scrutiny Committee were given more input and noted that they would like to monitor the Veolia contract.

 

The Leader commented that he would welcome ongoing scrutiny of the contract.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be noted.

7.

Negotiation to draft a Growth Deal for Northampton Borough, Daventry District and South Northants District Councils pdf icon PDF 98 KB

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

2.1      Cabinet approved negotiations on the Heads of Terms as part of developing a Growth Deal, and delegated the negotiations of details to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise;

 

The Council committing to accelerated housing and employment delivery;

 

The Government committing to a comprehensive funding package to support upfront infrastructure investment, affordable housing delivery and additional resource capacity;

 

Agreement of various Planning freedoms, including (amongst others) those relating to five year land supply, the Planning Delivery Test, 5 year review of Strategic Plans and Duty to Co-Operate; and

 

Agreement of a timescale for delivery and milestones, including agreeing a statutory Strategic Plan.

Minutes:

Councillor Hadland, submitted a report and thanked officers for the succinct and informative report. He commented that there was an opportunity to negotiate a growth deal, in partnership with two other councils which would be committed to accelerated delivery in return for a package of support and planning freedoms. He explained that there would be a need get the infrastructure in place which would be a positive way forwards.

 

Councillor Beardsworth commented that the report demonstrated work being undertaken alongside other authorities and noted that anyone who did not want accelerated housing would be lacking in insight and there was a real need to build more affordable housing with infrastructure in place.

 

Councillor McCutcheon that the proposal would require careful scrutiny and noted that the need for Northampton to determine its own future and commented that he would welcome a growth deal and the planning strengths.

 

Councillor Hadland report that lessons had been learned from the experience of Joint Planning with other authorities and that discussions were ongoing to ensure that the correct governance would be in place.

 

RESOLVED:

 

 

2.1      That the negotiations on the Heads of Terms as part of developing a Growth Deal be approved and authority be delegated, in the negotiations of details, to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise;

 

The Council committing to accelerated housing and employment delivery;

 

The Government committing to a comprehensive funding package to support upfront infrastructure investment, affordable housing delivery and additional resource capacity;

 

Agreement of various Planning freedoms, including (amongst others) those relating to five year land supply, the Planning Delivery Test, 5 year review of Strategic Plans and Duty to Co-Operate; and

 

Agreement of a timescale for delivery and milestones, including agreeing a statutory Strategic Plan.

8.

Surrender of Lease on land at Sixfields Stadium, Upton Way, Northampton pdf icon PDF 88 KB

(Copy herewith)

Additional documents:

Decision:

2.1      Cabinet agreed to re-affirm the course of action previously determined, which was that the Borough Secretary enter into an agreement with County Developments Northampton Limited (CDNL) by which CDNL will surrender their leasehold interest in the land to the east of Sixfields Stadium edged in red on the plan attached to the report (“The Red Land”) to the Council.

Minutes:

The Leader submitted a report and explained that it was re-affirming the decision to accept the surrender of lease by County Developments Northampton Ltd (CDNL) of their leasehold interest in a parcel of land at Sixfields stadium and noted that there were no financial implications in the decision making.

 

Councillor Beardsworth questioned how there could have been an oversight in the amount of land that had been surrendered.

 

The Borough Solicitor explained that external advisors were advising on this and it had transpired that it had been the NTFC lease that was being surrendered and that they had given away more than originally anticipated, which had been discovered when CDNL had gone into liquidation.

 

The Deputy leader explained that where the mistake had been discovered, the Council had offered to correct the lease and the report was re-affirming that commitment.

 

Councillor Hadland commented that allegations had been made that the Council had delayed the rebuild of the stand but that this would allow them to progress with the works.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

 

2.1      That it be agreed to re-affirm the course of action previously determined, which was that the Borough Secretary enter into an agreement with County Developments Northampton Limited (CDNL) by which CDNL will surrender their leasehold interest in the land to the east of Sixfields Stadium edged in red on the plan attached to the report (“The Red Land”) to the Council.

9.

New charging arrangements for the provision of temporary accommodation pdf icon PDF 190 KB

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

(a)  Cabinet agreed that, with effect from 2 July 2018, the amount that the Council will charge for temporary accommodation (excluding those homes that are being used as temporary accommodation but form part of the Housing Revenue Account) should be reduced and that, as described in Option 1 in the report, the new charges will be based on Northampton’s Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and will be as follows:

 

·         Households in Bed & Breakfast will be charged a weekly rent that is equivalent to 120% of the April 2018 one-bedroom LHA rate for Northampton, together with a weekly utilities charge of £13.90; and

 

·         Households in self-contained temporary accommodation will be charged a weekly rent that is equivalent to 150% of the relevant April 2018 LHA rate for Northampton

 

(b)  Cabinet approved a supplementary estimate to fund the net cost of temporary accommodation increasing by £156,000 per annum (£117,000 during the remainder of 2018/19) as outlined in Option 1 (see paragraph 3.3.17) and for this to be funded from the ‘MTFP Cashflow’ reserve; and

 

(c)  Cabinet agreed that the impact that the new charging arrangements had on homeless households and the Council will be kept under review and that, if any further changes are needed, the Cabinet will be asked to approve an amended policy that takes into account those changes.

Minutes:

Councillor Hibbert submitted a report and noted that he was extremely pleased to see a reduction in the use of temporary accommodation and noted that there was a need to ensure that that temporary accommodation that was provide, was affordable. It was noted that the proposed charges would be based on Northampton’s Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. He thanked the Housing and Finance Team for their hard work and commitment

 

Councillor Eldred noted that when the budget had been set in February 2018, this had been an area where a budget could not always be set and noted that officers were trying to collect better data to reflect costs.

 

Councillor Beardsworth commented that she welcomed the recommendations and noted that there had been a huge increase in homelessness since 2012 and that stated that more should be done to make the Government aware of the financial costs that had been placed on Councils to address this.

 

Councillor Stone commented it was a very good and much needed report and explained that evictions in private sector housing had increased homelessness. She noted that some land lords were greedy and did not provide adequate accommodation and suggested that the Council needed to look at preventative measures to reduce homelessness.

 

Councillor Hibbert explained that they were currently very effective in dealing with prevention of homelessness.

 

RESOLVED:

 

 

(a)  That, with effect from 2 July 2018, Cabinet agreed to the amount that the Council would charge for temporary accommodation (excluding those homes that are being used as temporary accommodation but form part of the Housing Revenue Account) should be reduced and that, as described in Option 1 in the report, the new charges would be based on Northampton’s Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and would be as follows:

 

·         Households in Bed & Breakfast will be charged a weekly rent that is equivalent to 120% of the April 2018 one-bedroom LHA rate for Northampton, together with a weekly utilities charge of £13.90; and

 

·         Households in self-contained temporary accommodation will be charged a weekly rent that is equivalent to 150% of the relevant April 2018 LHA rate for Northampton

 

(b)  That a supplementary estimate to fund the net cost of temporary accommodation increasing by £156,000 per annum (£117,000 during the remainder of 2018/19) as outlined in Option 1 (see paragraph 3.3.17) and for this to be funded from the ‘MTFP Cashflow’ reserve be approved

 

(c)  That it be agreed that the impact of the new charging arrangements had on homeless households and the Council be kept under review and that, should any further changes be needed, the Cabinet would be asked to approve an amended policy that takes into account those changes.

10.

Finance and Monitoring Outturn 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 119 KB

(Copy herewith)

Additional documents:

Decision:

2.1       Cabinet noted the provisional outturn for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account for the financial year 2017/18 as set out at Appendix 1 and Appendix 5 of the report.

 

2.2       Cabinet approved the proposed revenue budget carry forwards detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

 

2.3       Cabinet approved the use of and contributions to General Fund Revenue Earmarked Reserves as shown in Appendix 3 of the report.

 

2.4       Cabinet approved the net movement in Housing Revenue Account Reserves and working balances as set out at Appendix 6 of the report.

 

2.5       Cabinet noted the outturn for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes for 2017/18 and how the expenditure was financed as set out at Appendix 4 and Appendix 7 of the report.

 

2.6       Cabinet approved the proposed capital carry forwards into 2017/18 set out in Appendix 4 and Appendix 7 of the report.

 

2.7       Cabinet delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer to agree any retention of underspends by NPH.

Minutes:

Councillor Eldred, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted a report and explained that the General Fund outturn for controllable budgets showed a net underspend of £1.024m.

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1       That the provisional outturn for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account for the financial year 2017/18 as set out at Appendix 1 and Appendix 5 of the report be noted.

 

2.2       That the proposed revenue budget carry forwards detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

 

2.3       That the use of and contributions to General Fund Revenue Earmarked Reserves as shown in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

 

2.4       That the net movement in Housing Revenue Account Reserves and working balances as set out at Appendix 6 of the report be approved.

 

2.5       That the outturn for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes for 2017/18 and how the expenditure was financed as set out at Appendix 4 and Appendix 7 of the report be noted

 

2.6       That the proposed capital carry forwards into 2017/18 set out in Appendix 4 and Appendix 7 of the report be approved.

 

2.7       That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer to agree any retention of underspends by NPH.

11.

Exclusion of Public and Press

THE CHAIR TO MOVE:

“THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSURE TO THEM OF SUCH CATEGORIES OF EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 100(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS LISTED AGAINST SUCH ITEMS OF BUSINESS BY REFERENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PARAGRAPH OF SCHEDULE 12A TO SUCH ACT.”

Minutes:

The Chair moved that the public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

 

The Motion was Carried.

12.

Sixfields Litigation Update

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to the recommendations as set out in the private report.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the recommendations as set out in the private report be agreed.

13.

Delapre Abbey Restoration Project

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to the recommendations as set out in the private report.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the recommendations as set out in the private report be agreed.