Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashraf, Clarke, Cooper, G Eales, T Eales, Eastwood, Matten and Parker. Councillors Grant, Herring, Hill and Sharps would be arriving late.

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.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23^rd September 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd September 2021 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chair of the Council.

The Chairman announced the passing of Alderman Michael Hill who was a member of Northampton Borough Council from 1999 until 2017 and a member of Northamptonshire County Council from 2005 to 2009. He served as Mayor of Northampton from 2009 to 2010 and was serving as Mayor of Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, at the time of his death.

The Chairman announced the passing of Alderman Barry Massey, former Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire County Council member. He served as Ward Member for St Crispin’s from 1979, for St. George’s from 1983 to 1991 and for Park from 1999 to 2007. Alderman Massey served as a County Councillor from 1977 to 1981, and again from 2001 to 2005. He was the Mayor of Northampton from 2004 to 2005 and is survived by 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

The Chairman led Council in a minute’s silence to remember Alderman Hill and Alderman Massey.

The Chairman reminded Council of the upcoming Carol Service on 12^th December and asked members to RSVP if they had not already done so.

(1)  Receipt of Petitions (if any) from Local Government Electors for the District

(2)  Questions (if any) from the Public

(1)  There had been 1 request to submit a petition from Councillor Harris on behalf of a member of the public in relation to Item 19, motion 3. Councillor Harris would submit the petition at the end of the meeting and refer to it when he seconded the motion.

(2)  The Chairman advised of 7 requests to address the Council.

Patrick Cross, resident of Spring Park and Whitehills, addressed Council in support of Item 19, motion 2 and stated that Northampton’s roads could not currently support the anticipated increase in homes and traffic over the next 30 years.

John Crick, on behalf of Living to Breathe Northampton, addressed Council in respect of Item 7 and highlighted the importance of carbon-free travel.

Pel Ahmed, a student at Northampton University, addressed Council in support of Item 19, motion 5.

Crystal Liu, a student at Northampton University, addressed Council in support of Item 19, motion 5.

Clare Robertson-Marriott addressed Council in support of Item 19, motion 3 and noted that investors were moving away from fossil fuels in favour of more sustainable sources.

Tom Low addressed Council in support of Item 19, motion 4.

Lizzy on behalf of Northampton Youth Summit, addressed Council and expressed the need for a Youth Hub in Northampton where safety, opportunities and support for young people would be a priority.

There were 3 written questions from members of the public. Written responses were circulated at the meeting.

To receive any written questions and answers which have been submitted with advance notice in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

Questions of which prior notice have been given may be asked of the Chair, Leader, Portfolio Holder or the Chair of a Committee.

21 questions had been received from Councillors and the answers had been tabled in accordance with the Constitution.

Question and answers were given as tabled unless where stated, supplementary questions were asked as detailed below.

In response to a supplementary question relating to question 4, it was explained that Veolia staff resources were being managed; KPIs were closely monitored in regular Cabinet reports.

In response to a supplementary question relating to question 6, Council was informed that accurate figures regarding recycling would be available in due course. A recycling promotion was also upcoming.

In response to a supplementary question relating to question 14, it was explained that 6-month and yearly check-ups took place for home-schooled children, however they fell under the jurisdiction of the schools.

In response to a supplementary question relating to question 21, it was advised that baby changing facilities would be looked at as part of a wider property review.

Councillor Nunn presented his report as Leader of the Council and highlighted the salient points. In response to questions, the Leader advised that at a recent Transformation briefing, a workstream log was provided which updated Members of progress made. In relation to budget setting, priority areas had been identified and would continue to receive the necessary funding.

Councillor Brown presented his report as Deputy Leader and highlighted the salient points. In response to questions, The Deputy Leader agreed to review underspends relating to the Disabled Facilities Grant and the underlying reasons. With regard to carbon-neutral homes, it was confirmed that NPH were looking into passive housing options.

Councillor Golby noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting next week would be discussing the Disabled Facilities Grant process.

Councillor Larratt presented his report as Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste and highlighted the salient points. In response to questions, Councillor Larratt commented that West Northamptonshire would still benefit from HS2 with the recent cancellation of the northern arm. With regard to bus services, it was unfortunate that some services in West Northamptonshire were not yet running at full capacity, but efforts were being made to remedy this. Councillor Larratt confirmed that he was liaising with officers with regard to delayed EV charging points in several villages and that these would be installed as soon as possible, notwithstanding power supply challenges.

Due to the time limit applicable to this item, the remaining reports were noted.

RESOLVED:

Council noted the Cabinet Member reports and the decision records from 14^th September, 12^th October and 9^th November 2021 Cabinet meetings.

Councillor Nunn presented a report which sought Council’s endorsement for the bid of Northampton City Status.

The Chairman invited Chris Normington and Alex Paulley, Graduate Trainees, to speak on the report and show a short video in support of the bid.

Councillor M Brown seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

Council endorsed the bid for Northampton City Status.

Councillor Hallam presented a report which summarised the steps the Council had taken to ensure Members were aware of their personal safety and were able to access appropriate advice and resources, as well as steps being taken by the Council to ensure the safety of Members.

Councillor Chauhan seconded the report.

Council discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

Council:

1.     Noted the Personal Safety Guide for Councillors, attached at Appendix 1 of the report; and

2.     Noted action being taken by the Council in a few areas related to the safety of Members, as set out in Section 6 of the report.

Councillor A Brown presented a report which sought to report on the work undertaken by the Democracy & Standards Committee to review the Constitution, report the results of the consultation exercise during the summer and to seek agreement to formally approve the draft revised Constitution. Council was advised that the recommendations had been altered and now read:

3.1     It is recommended that Council:

a)    Acknowledges the work of the Democracy & Standards Committee;

b)    Agrees the additional proposals which were agreed by the Democracy & Standards Committee at its meeting on 23^rd November 2021 be accepted with the exception of (h), which proposed changing the word “impracticable” to “not possible”. Instead, a definition should be added to the glossary as follows:

Impracticable - not possible without changes current resourcing or staffing levels

c)     Council formally approves the draft revised Constitution to come into effect at the close of this meeting.

Councillor Patel seconded the report.

Council discussed the report. Whilst Members were concerned around restrictions in relation to questions to Cabinet Members and motions, it was noted that Cabinet Members were contactable all the time. A further review would come back to Council in 6 months.

RESOLVED:

Council:

a)    Acknowledged the work of the Democracy & Standards Committee;

b)    Agreed the additional proposals which were agreed by the Democracy & Standards Committee at its meeting on 23^rd November 2021 be accepted with the exception of (h), which proposed changing the word “impracticable” to “not possible”. Instead, a definition should be added to the glossary as follows:

Impracticable - not possible without changes current resourcing or staffing levels

c)     Formally approved the draft revised Constitution to come into effect at the close of this meeting.

Councillor Longley presented the Annual Report of the Pensions Committee which sought to report on the work of the Pension Fund Committee over the previous year.

Councillor Morton seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

Council noted the contents of the report.

Councillor Longley presented the Annual Report of the Local Pension Board which reported on the Board’s activities for the year.

Councillor Morton seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

Council noted the contents of the report.

Councillor Baker presented the Annual Report of the Northamptonshire Corporate Parenting Board for 2020-21.

Councillor Fowler seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

Council noted the contents of the report.

Councillor Hallam presented a report which sought Council’s agreement to participate in a joint health overview and scrutiny committee concerning the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and to agree the terms of reference for the committee and to appoint a councillor as a member.

Councillor Bowen seconded the report.

RESOLVED:

Council:

a)    Agreed to participate in the Horton Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee with Oxfordshire and Warwickshire county councils.

b)    Agreed the terms of reference for the Horton Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee set out at Appendix A of the report.

c)     Agreed to delegate the Council’s statutory health scrutiny functions to the Horton Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee solely in relation to scrutiny of those matters within the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s terms of reference.

d)    Appointed Councillor Rosie Herring as a member of the Horton Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2021/22.

Councillor Longley presented the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2022/2023 which provided Members with an update on the proposed LCTRS for West Northamptonshire Council for the financial year 2022-2023, including the results from the recent consultation process. There were several additions to the recommendations, detailed below:

1.     Additional support for care leavers

2.     100% disregard for war widows and war disabled pensions

Councillor Hughes seconded the report.

Council discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

Council:

a)    Noted the contents of the report.

b)    Approved the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) for the financial year 2022-2023 as set out in the report including amending the LCTRS Regulations for pensioners in line with the uprating announced by DLUHC and uprating the working age Regulations in line with those announced by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

c)     Give delegated authority to the Executive Director Finance to make any changes to the LCTRS up to and including 31 January 2022 in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Councillor Hallam presented the annual Pay Policy Statement in accordance with the requirements of Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011. The Pay Policy Statement must be updated annually and sets out pay for the directly employed workforce (excluding schools). The current policy covers the year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Councillor Chauhan seconded the report.

Council discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

Council approved the revised Pay Policy Statement.

Councillor Hallam presented the report which sought to advise Council of the decision of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services exercising delegated powers in relation to the appointment of members to Middleton Cheney Parish Council.

Councillor Chauhan seconded the report.

Council discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

Council noted the exercise of power delegated to the Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

Councillor Baker presented a report to Council which sought members’ approval to change the structure to include a single Director for Children’s Services for West Northamptonshire and to note that the selection and appointment process for the Statutory Director of Children’s Services role would be undertaken by the Senior Appointments Committee with the Chief Executive.

Councillor Fowler seconded the report.

Members offered their thanks to the current Director for Children’s Services (DCS) for her efforts in bringing the Children’s Trust was in a better and more stable place than it had been for a number of years.

Council discussed the report.

RESOLVED:

Council:

(a)  Agreed that the senior leadership structure of the Council be amended to include a Director of Children’s Services (DCS) role for West?Northamptonshire?Council with effect from February 2022.

(b)  Delegated authority to the Executive Director – Finance in consultation with the Finance Portfolio holder to release one off funds to meet any costs over and above the provision included in the base budget to meet the costs associated with the proposal.

(c)   Noted the intention to include a growth item within the draft budget proposals for 2022-23 to meet the ongoing increased costs associated with the proposals.

(d)  Noted that in accordance with the Staff Employment Procedure Rules the Senior Appointments Committee and the Chief Executive would take all necessary actions to complete the permanent recruitment process.

(e)  Noted that the Head of Paid Service would make an interim appointment in accordance with the Staff Employment Procedure Rules.

To debate any motions which have been submitted with advance notice, in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.

Motion 1

Proposed by: Cllr Julie Davenport

Seconded by: Cllr Dennis Meredith

This council understands the huge negative impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on local businesses and in particular the Town Centre retail and hospitality sectors.

West Northamptonshire Council aims to continue to support its local businesses.  Our residents and council ask the executive to investigate continuing the free car parking periods that are due to start on 20th November 2021 past the proposed 1st January 2022 end date. This will be for car parking in all council owned car parks. This Council will continue looking at other initiatives to improve and stimulate our town centres.

Motion 2

Proposed by: Cllr Michael Brown

Seconded by: Cllr Sam Rumens

This Council agrees, in principle, with the creation of a new Dual Carriageway / Grade Separated Northern Orbital Road around the north of Northampton to reduce pollution and traffic through the town, especially residential areas, whilst supporting and safeguarding jobs, and providing infrastructure for future growth.

Motion 3

Proposed by: Cllr Rosie Humphreys

Seconded by: Cllr Jonathan Harris

West Northamptonshire Council notes:

·       West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire Councils have around £59 million invested in fossil fuels via the Local Government Pension Scheme.[1]

·       The United Nations Paris 2015 Agreement commits our governments to keep the global temperature increase to under 2ºC and aim for 1.5ºC. Carbon budgets produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations and the International Energy Agency show that preventing two degrees of warming relies on not burning 60-80% of all proven fossil fuels.

·       With COP26 taking place in Glasgow in November 2021, there is increased emphasis by the UK government on showing global climate leadership, especially in relation to finance. Divesting our pension fund is a clear and meaningful action that can be taken at a local government level.

·       Fossil fuel investments are financially risky as a result of both the Covid19 pandemic and the global transition to a more sustainable economic and environmental model. They are now being consistently outperformed by renewables.[2]

·       Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned in December 2019 that fossil fuel investments risk becoming “stranded assets” (i.e., worthless) as investors exit the sector. He asked,"A question for every company, every financial institution, every asset manager, pension fund or insurer – what’s your plan?”

·       As continued investments in fossil fuels pose material financial risks to portfolios, funds have fiduciary duties to consider the benefits of decarbonising as part of their investment strategies. Fiduciary duty is defined by the Law Commission as “ensuring that pensions can be paid, ensuring that this is undertaken at the best possible value”.

·       Pension funds have a legal duty to treat members “fairly as between them”. That means taking seriously the longer-term interests of younger members who may well be affected more by the climate transition.

This Council therefore commits to:

1.     Reviewing its Investment Strategy  ...  view the full agenda text for item 62.

Motion 1

Motion 1 was withdrawn from the agenda prior to the start of the meeting.

Motion 2

Councillor M Brown proposed and Councillor Rumens seconded:

“This Council agrees, in principle, with the creation of a new Dual Carriageway / Grade Separated Northern Orbital Road around the north of Northampton to reduce pollution and traffic through the town, especially residential areas, whilst supporting and safeguarding jobs, and providing infrastructure for future growth.”

Councillor Harris proposed and Councillor Beardsworth seconded an amendment:

“This Council agrees, in principle, with the creation of a new Dual Carriageway / Grade Separated Northern Orbital Road around the north of Northampton, subject to having explored all other options to reduce pollution and traffic through the town, which could include extending park and ride schemes, the introduction of a form of  emission charging for heavily polluting vehicles and the impact that an orbital road will have on the environment and embodied carbon.  Any such scheme should be beneficial to all residential areas, rural and urban alike, whilst supporting and safeguarding jobs, providing infrastructure for future growth, and minimising further damage to the environment and pollution levels.”

Council debated the amendment.

Upon a vote, the amendment Fell.

Council debated the original motion.

Upon a vote, the original motion was Carried.

Motion 3

Councillor Humphreys proposed and Councillor Harris seconded:

“West Northamptonshire Council notes:

·       West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire Councils have around £59 million invested in fossil fuels via the Local Government Pension Scheme.[1]

·       The United Nations Paris 2015 Agreement commits our governments to keep the global temperature increase to under 2ºC and aim for 1.5ºC. Carbon budgets produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations and the International Energy Agency show that preventing two degrees of warming relies on not burning 60-80% of all proven fossil fuels.

·       With COP26 taking place in Glasgow in November 2021, there is increased emphasis by the UK government on showing global climate leadership, especially in relation to finance. Divesting our pension fund is a clear and meaningful action that can be taken at a local government level.

·       Fossil fuel investments are financially risky as a result of both the Covid19 pandemic and the global transition to a more sustainable economic and environmental model. They are now being consistently outperformed by renewables.[2]

·       Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned in December 2019 that fossil fuel investments risk becoming “stranded assets” (i.e., worthless) as investors exit the sector. He asked,"A question for every company, every financial institution, every asset manager, pension fund or insurer – what’s your plan?”

·       As continued investments in fossil fuels pose material financial risks to portfolios, funds have fiduciary duties to consider the benefits of decarbonising as part of their investment strategies. Fiduciary duty is defined by the Law Commission as “ensuring that pensions can be paid, ensuring that this is undertaken at the best possible value”.

·       Pension funds have a legal duty to treat members “fairly as between them”. That means taking seriously the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

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

There was no urgent business on this occasion.