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.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26^th January 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th January 2023 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman of the Council.

The Chairman reminded Members of the following upcoming events:

·       Members Information Day, 4^th March

·       International Women’s Day, 8^th March

He also noted that boxes had been placed on Members’ desks with information cards relating to street violence and encouraged Members to disseminate the cards amongst local residents. The Chairman reminded Council that it had been 12 months since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and that a service would be taking place in the Guildhall on Friday. He asked Members to attend

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

(2)  Questions (if any) from the Public

1)    The Chairman advised of 3 requests to present petitions.

Karen Badcock and Sandie Maitland presented a petition in relation to the road surface around Limehurst shops which had deteriorated significantly over the years, causing accessibility issues and injuries to some residents.

Julie Teckman presented a petition in relation to the proposed car parking charges which she stated would affect town centre footfall. She was concerned that the plans were counterproductive as they were pushing people to shop elsewhere.

Martin Gorrod presented a petition in relation to funds for rural transport services, specifically the 59/60 bus route.

2)    The Chairman advised of 6 requests to address Council.

Jean Lineker addressed Council in relation to item 6 and expressed concern around highway disrepair and the lack of disabled access to her property which she needed as a person with limited mobility.

Sandra Moxon of Brixworth Parish Council addressed Council in relation to item 6 and expressed concern around the proposed cuts to public funding for bus transport in rural areas, stating that the cut contradicted the Conservative Party’s own intentions.

John Hunt of Spratton Parish Council addressed Council in relation to item 6 and expressed concern around the loss of the 59/60 bus route. He stated that the need for rural transport was essential. Mr Hunt could not see signs of support from local or central government despite promises from both to support better rural transport.

Anya Willis of Re:Store Northampton addressed Council in relation to item 6 and expressed concern around the proposed increase in car parking charges which she believed would be detrimental to the health and prosperity of Northampton. Increased parking charges would be a hindrance to many needing to access voluntary services such as food banks and community projects.

Daniel Soan of Northampton Town Council addressed Council in relation to item 6 and asked that the Council give consideration to the way that it communicated the pressures it faced in the future, as many residents may not be aware of how an increase in demand and cost could put serious pressures on services such as Children’s and Adults social care.

Mark Mullen, Operations Manager for Northampton BID, addressed Council in relation to item 6 and expressed concern around the proposed increase in parking charges. He noted that parking charge increases in 2017 were followed by a significant reduction in town centre footfall and was worried that the same would happen in 2023.

The Chairman thanked the members of the public for their contributions.

Councillor Longley presented the report which set out the Final Budget for 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan for West Northamptonshire Council. The report incorporated feedback from the budget consultation, relevant public consultations, and the scrutiny process. He gave his thanks to staff who had contributed to the budget and highlighted the salient points within the report.

Councillor Parker seconded the report.

Councillor Stone proposed an amendment to the budget. She said that the Labour Group welcomed the learning that took place during the pandemic and was keen on continuing to work collaboratively with the administration to respond to the needs of the public.

The amendment put forward by the Labour Group would focus on; a radical approach to housing - reducing waiting lists through increased investment in social housing, increased investment in temporary accommodation and supported housing; investment in youth, including a partnership with OnSide to assist with fundraising to build Youth Zones; becoming a centre for local expertise; tackling air pollution – creating no idling zones outside of schools, hospitals and retail areas, running an awareness scheme, training for schools; creating bicycle repair units in each major town in West Northamptonshire, and; the Big Switch – a community project that enabled residents to collectively switch to the cheapest energy tarrif available by inviting providers to underbid each other and provide a collective group of residents with energy.

Councillor Randall seconded the amendment and stated that it was designed to improve lives of residents, drive economic growth, save council money. She asked Members across the floor to put aside their differences and work together to provide hope and positivity for residents.

Members debated the amendment and made the following comments:

·       The administration was already examining the extent to which borrowing was feasible and pushing for additional affordable and social housing wherever possible.

·       Data from studies of community switches in the last 10 years showed success in helping a significant number of households considered “vulnerable consumers”. The Big Community Switch concept supported the sustainable place strategy and the Council’s Anti-Poverty Strategy.

·       The number of households on the Council’s housing waiting list had increased by 1,000 in 12 months; the growth in housing need was increasing faster than the growth in stock.

·       State of the art youth services were imperative to ensure that every young person felt valued, safe and empowered.

·       Whilst there was no money in the budget to fund Youth Zones, the administration was willing to engage with OnSide.

·       Similar projects to the bicycle unit proposal were already funded in Northampton - this could be something a charity could apply for through the Community Fund in other parts of West Northamptonshire.

·       That children were being born and growing up around high levels of air pollution was very concerning - the proposals to engage young people in schools would be key to tackling the issues faced in respect of air pollution.

·       There was currently not enough investment in young people taking place.

·       Many council houses had been lost through the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

Councillor Longley presented a report which set out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Final Budget 2023-24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan for West Northamptonshire Council and sought Council’s approval of the HRA revenue and capital budget 2023-24 and sought to set out the future years’ projections to 2027-28.

Councillor A Brown seconded the report.

Councillors debated the report, and the following comments were made:

·       The inclusion of Ecton Brook Care Home was good to see in the report and included a much-needed community centre.

·       The 7% rent increase was pragmatic; any more would have been unaffordable.

·       The Hardship Fund was welcome; work was needed to ensure it reached those who needed it most.

·       There was concern around the lack of affordable housing that private developers were providing.

·       Members gave thanks to Northampton Partnership Homes who were seen as more than “just” a landlord.

At the conclusion of the debate, there voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Jamal Alwahabi, Bagot-Webb, Baker, Barter, Beardsworth, Bignell, Bowen, Breese, Brown, Clark, Clarke, Clubley, Cole, Connolly, Cooper, Cribbin, Duffy, Dyball, Eastwood, Fowler, Golby, Grant, Hallam, Haque, Harris, Hawes, Herring, Hill, Hinch, Holland-Delamere, Hughes, Irving-Swift, James, Jolley, Joyce, Kilbride, King, Lane          , Larratt, Lister, Longley, Lunn, Matten, McCord, Morton, Nunn, Parker, Patel, Pritchard, Purser, Randall, E Roberts, J Roberts, Rumens, Samiotis, Sargeant, Gonzalez De Savage, Sharps, Shephard, D Smith, Z Smith, Stone, Strachan, Sturges-Alex, Tarasiewicz, Warren.

RESOLVED:

Council approved:

a)    The HRA revenue budget for 2023-24 of £61.19m.

b)    An average maximum rent increase of 7% per dwelling, in line with the legislation and the government’s amended national rent standard, to take effect from 3 April 2023.

c)     An average maximum increase of 10% in garage rents and commuter surcharges to take effect from 3 April 2023.

d)    An average increase of 10% in tenants and leaseholders service charges with effect from 3 April 2023.

e)    The HRA capital programme for 2023-24, noting the future year estimated commitments, and proposed sources of finance.

f)      The total management fee of £32.8m for NPH to deliver the services in scope for 2023-24.

g)    The setting of the minimum working balance at £5m, informed by the outcome of the latest financial risk assessment.

h)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves and the working balance, should that become necessary during the financial year.

i)       That authority be given to the Executive Director of Finance to update the prudential indicators in the Treasury Management Strategy reported to Council.

j)       That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance in consultation with the portfolio holder for Finance to amend the capital programme for 2023-24 going forward so that it accurately reflects issues such as slippage on current year projects that will need to be added to the programme, any amendments made to existing capital programmes, adjustments to accommodate any future use of capital receipts policy, and for any other reason where the capital programme needs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Councillor Longley presented a report which detailed the calculations for the amounts of Council Tax for West Northamptonshire Council for the financial year 2022-2023.

Councillor Parker seconded the report.

Councillors debated the report, and the following comments were made:

·       The Labour Group would not be supporting the report; the Council was overly reliant on council tax as a revenue stream. Council tax should be abolished in favour of a property tax and business rates should be abolished in favour of more progressive means of taxation.

·       Residents were not happy with an increase in council tax when they did not see an improvement in the services the Council provided.

·       There had been a legacy of low council tax in West Northamptonshire which had not helped the Council’s financial situation.

At the conclusion of the debate, there voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Bagot-Webb, Baker, Barter, Chowdhury, Bignell, Bowen, Breese, A Brown, Clark, Clarke, Clubley, Cole, Connolly, Cribbin, Dyball, Eastwood, Fowler, Golby, Grant, Hallam, Hawes, Herring, Hill, Hinch, Hughes, Irving-Swift, James, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lister, Longley, Lunn, Matten, Morton, Nunn, Parker, Patel, Pritchard, J Roberts, Rumens, Sargeant, Gonzalez De Savage, Sharps, Shephard, D Smith, Sturges-Alex, Warren.

There voted against:

Councillors E Roberts, Samiotis. 

There abstained:

Councillors Alwahabi, Beardsworth, Duffy, Haque, Harris, Holland-Delamere, Jolley, Joyce, McCord, Purser, Randall, Z Smith, Stone, Strachan, Tarasiewicz.

RESOLVED:

Council:

a)    Noted that the Cabinet agreed the Council Tax Base for 2023-24 on 20 December 2022:

i)                 For the whole Council area as 142,060.8 (item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1991, as amended (the “Act”) and;

ii)               For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept relates as shown in the attached Appendix B of the report.

b)    Approved the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2023-24 (excluding Parish Precepts but including Special Expenses) as £240,612,639

c)     Approved the additional Council Tax Resolutions as set out in Appendix A of the report.

d)    Noted that Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwelling in the Council’s area as shown in the table at 6.3 of the report.

e)    Approved that, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the amounts shown in Appendix D of the report as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2023-24 for each part of its area and for each category of dwellings.

f)      Noted Appendix E of the report which sets out in detail how the charge is made up for each town and parish council area and by Council Tax band.

g)    Noted that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2023-24 is not deemed to be excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Councillor Longley presented the report which sought approval for the purchase of the long leasehold interest of six residential properties in Brackley, currently used by the Council to provide a residential service to Adult Social Care customers.

Councillor Golby seconded the report.

Upon a vote, the recommendation contained within the report was agreed.

RESOLVED:

a)    That a capital budget of £2.132 million be created to acquire the long leasehold interest in the six residential properties in Brackley referred to in the report and refurbish them.

Councillor Hallam presented the report which sought approval for a proposed remuneration package in excess of £100,000 for an agency worker.

Councillor Nunn seconded the report.

Members debated the report and made the following comments:

·       The Council should develop its own staff instead of relying on temporary staff and agency workers.

·       Highly paid agency staff appointments should go through Council.

·       It was explained that the £100,000 figure contained in the report was cumulative; a person would be recruited to work on a project then another may come along and so the contract would be extended.

Upon a vote, the recommendation contained within the report was agreed.

RESOLVED:

a)    Council approved the proposed remuneration.

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.