Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

None advised.

To receive communications from the Chairman of the Council.

The Chairman announced the passing of 2 former councillors.

Former Councillor Wendy Amos passed away recently. Wendy was a member of Daventry District Council from 1996 until 2012, representing the Flore Ward and also serving as Chairman of the Council. Her husband Richard was a member of Northamptonshire County Council until his death in 2006. Together they ran the Crossroads Hotel and Restaurant in Weedon. They were dedicated to supporting the local community and were part of the successful campaign to construct the Flore Bypass, which opened in 2018.

Councillor A Brown paid tribute to former councillor Amos and praised her dedication and selflessness. He noted that she continued to serve residents even after she left politics.

Former Councillor William Alfred (Alf) Goodridge also passed away recently. He was a member of Daventry District Council from 1979 to 2003, mainly representing the Drayton Ward. He was also a member of Northamptonshire County Council from 1981 to 1993, representing the Daventry West Division. Alf was awarded an MBE for services to the community and served as mayor of Daventry on five occasions. He successfully campaigned with others for a new build Danetre Hospital and in his later years was an active member of Friends of Danetre Hospital.

The Chairman led Council in a minute’s applause in honour of former councillors Amos and Goodridge.

Jean Lineker addressed Council and commented that there were currently 4,000 people on the Council’s waiting list and questioned why the Council was not prioritising local people. She also voiced concern around checks being carried out on people living in hotels.

Kim Fuller addressed Council and questioned how much money was being paid to Palintir and its associates. She commented that the company held UK residents’ personal data and questioned why this information had not been shared with local residents by the Council.

Councillor A Brown presented the report which sought approval to increase the capital programme in the Housing Revenue Account for additional acquisitions, for the Council to directly procure properties in Local Authority Housing Fund Round 1 and participate in Round 2.

Councillor D Smith seconded the report.

Members discussed the report and made the following comments:

·       It was right that WNC should play its part in housing refugees.

·       This money was ring-fenced and not being taken away from people on council’s waiting list.

·       The Labour group broadly supported the recommendations and encouraged the administration to move forward with the programme at speed.

·       The cost of temporary accommodation was noted; a question was asked around where refugees may have to go if they had to leave hotels before the new homes were acquired.

·       Sympathy was expressed for families living in hotels.

·       A question was asked as to whether the new houses would be subject to Right to Buy in the future.

·       The DLUHC had recently handed back £1.9bn to the Treasury after struggling to find projects to spend it on; this was puzzling as there was a nationwide lack of housing.

·       It was hoped that the new homes met the required standards for insulation.

·       It was confirmed that the homes would remain in council circulation; Right to Buy would not automatically apply to them due to the tenure types involved.

·       The implications of families leaving hotels were being closely examined by the Communities and Housing teams; each family was being monitored and advised appropriately and would continue to be looked after until their housing needs were satisfied.

·       Clarity was sought regarding the purchase ceilings calculated which would deliver a breakeven point over the 40-year period.

RESOLVED:

1.     Council agreed to the recommendation of Cabinet to approve an increase in the capital programme of £10.907m additional funding/borrowing in the Housing Revenue Account to deliver the LAHF R1 and R2 programmes.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

None advised.