Decisions

Mr Lakin addressed Cabinet on Item 9 Local Plan and expressed concern that a 2 acre site of green space, originally owned by Nene College and now part of Northampton University was coloured brown on the plan and designated residential land.  If sold to a developer, there would be very little protection for the land.  The site has ponds, trees, hedgerows, 32 species of bird and is a green oasis.  Mr Lakin would like this area to be protected and designated green space.

Mr Adams addressed Cabinet on Item 11 Reducing the Use and Cost of Temporary Accommodation and expressed concern that NBC were paying private landlords for accommodation, whilst a number of properties used for temporary accommodation remained empty.  He had no problem with extending the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing provided that the money was spent on social housing in the town and not returned to the Government.

2.1

(a) Cabinet approved the Temporary Accommodation Action Plan (attached to this report as Appendix 1);

(b) Cabinet approved the submission to Full Council of a request for supplementary funding in respect of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to extend HRA borrowing by up to £25m in order to enable the acquisition of affordable housing under s106 / development agreements via developers;

(c) Cabinet agreed to receive a further report in October 2019, providing details of the progress that the Council and Northampton Partnership Homes have made in implementing the Action Plan and what impact this has had on the use and cost of temporary accommodation; and

(d) Cabinet noted that, although the implementation of the Action Plan should result in costs being controlled, reduced and avoided, an unforeseen increase in demand may create a further cost pressure.

2.1 Cabinet approved the adoption of the Barrack Road Conservation Area Re-appraisal and Management Plan (Appendix B),

2.2 Cabinet approved the re-drafting of the existing Barrack Road Conservation Area Article 4 Direction to include all properties within the Conservation Area.

2.1       Cabinet approved the Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan Part 2, Policies Map and Sustainability Appraisal for publication under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended.

2.2      The Head of Planning was given delegated authority in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning to make minor non-material spelling, formatting, mapping and other amendments to the consultation documents where they do not alter the intent of the plan.

2.1 Cabinet delegated authority to the Head of Economy, Assets and Culture, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, the Head of Customers and Communities and the Cabinet Members for Regeneration and Environment to finalise the contract terms and to appoint the main construction contractor for the Upton Country Park project.

2.2 Cabinet delegated authority to the Head of Economy, Assets and Culture, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, the Head of Customers and Communities, and the Cabinet Members for Regeneration and Environment to undertake any further land acquisitions, transfers of land, easements etc.

2.1         Cabinet approved the new Northampton Borough Local Development Scheme and brought it into immediate effect.