Agenda, decisions 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 none.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 October 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting on 10 October 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting on 10 October 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair reminded the meeting that Cabinet members had already had an opportunity to review the reports before the meeting.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet noted the recommendations, thanked the task and finish group and resolved to consider a report setting out a response to the recommendations at a future meeting.

REASONS RESOLVED:  The recommendations resulting from the scrutiny review are intended to contribute to the development of effective services supporting independent living for frail older people in West Northamptonshire. This reflects the Overview and Scrutiny function’s role for the development and review of policy.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The recommendations will be the subject of consideration and a further report to a future meeting.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Herring addressed the Cabinet and thanked everyone for their efforts, particularly Councillor Roberts who had chaired the panel.  She put forward the recommendations from the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Integrated Care across Northamptonshire (iCAN) Scrutiny Review.  iCAN was a collaborative between the council and the NHS set up in 2019.  The Task and Finish Group had met 4 times to review the transformation programme.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       The report was welcomed.

·       What was the cost to the Council of the iCAN programme?

·       Merging information with the LAPs was important.

·       How many people had returned to hospital after being discharged?

Councillor Golby responded as follows:

·       The committee were thanked for their work.

·       Cabinet would consider the recommendations and report back.

·       The numbers returning to hospital after discharge was difficult to establish due to Covid issues.

·       WNC had contributed £360k to the iCAN programme, with over £8m from health sources.

·       The involvement of Newton Europe in delivering the programme had been positive.

The Executive Director, People advised that the iCAN programme had been delivered through the pandemic which had given challenges.  However, this had enabled a more integrated response during the latter stages of Covid.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet noted the recommendations, thanked the task and finish group and resolved to consider a report setting out a response to the recommendations at a future meeting.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Adopted and agreed the recommended model of care for redesigning our service, improving access to NHS Health Checks for early detection of CVD diseases and preventing premature mortality due to CVD and its complications.

b)    Agreed to initiate the commissioning process of the recommended service delivery model for the NHS Health Check programme in West Northamptonshire for its implementation for five-years (2+2+1).

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         The existing NHS Health Check programme does not meet national expectations. The CVD prevalence across West Northamptonshire has risen and continues to rise, and CVD related mortality in the area is higher than the national average.

·         The recommended model of service delivery will:

o   provide capacity to deliver a tailored service aimed at improving CVD related health outcomes.

o   focus on targeting inequalities in accessing the NHS Health Check service, supporting improvements to the quality of life in groups experiencing inequalities and inequity.

o   improve service delivery by aligning community providers with General Practices and increasing resident’s opportunities of receiving Health Checks and thereby uptake.

o   better aligned service delivery with the prevention strategy, helping to reduce delays in treatment and increase referrals to community behavioural interventions that will reduce the risks of developing CVD diseases. This will result in a reduced demand on primary healthcare systems and have a reduction in the number of CVD complications, and CVD related admissions to the hospitals.

o   offer providers an enhanced payment package, which supports process improvements and performance outcomes.

o   provide an improved training package for providers that enhances the quality of Health Check delivery and incorporates Basic Life Support, Mental Health First Aid and Making Every Contact Count(MECC). Community providers will also be offered condensed IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) training.

o   enable enhanced collaboration in primary care between General Practices, community providers and independent providers.

o   provide a model that is financially and clinically effective at achieving health benefits of the NHS Health Check screening programme.

o   provide a service that aligns to: o statutory requirement under the Local Authorities Regulation Act 13.

o   NHS Ambition Core 20PLUS5 to support in reducing healthcare inequalities by increasing hypertension case finding.

o   the ‘All our Health’ framework, ensuring the NHS Health Check programme reaches high-risk and vulnerable communities.

o   the objectives of the West Northamptonshire Local Area Partnerships (LAP) who aim to make a difference of those who live in the area through tailored and targeted support.

o   to the West Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy ambitions three (opportunities to be fit, well and independent) and nine (access to health and social care).

o   the Integrated Care Network’s Live your Best Life Strategy ambitions three (opportunities to be fit, well and independent) and nine (access to health and social care).

o   the three levels of the recommended preventative approach (primary, secondary, and tertiary).

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The recommended model is detailed in section 5.4.3 of the report, as one of the most cost and clinically effective model of care in achieving health benefits of  ...  view the full decision text for item 72.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Golby presented the report seeking approval of the recommended care pathway for the delivery of the NHS Health Check programme.  Officers were thanked for their work.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       The report was welcomed.

·       How would engagement with hard-to-reach groups be carried out?

·       Why had health checks not previously been carried out effectively?

·       Could workplace checks be undertaken, for example, in large warehouses?

Councillor Golby responded as follows:

·       Past performance had not been what it should have been, but the issue would be coming to Cabinet regularly and future performance could therefore be challenged.

·       Hard-to-reach groups would be targeted, for example using workplace checks, mobile vans, promotional material in welcome spaces.

The Director of Public Health advised that the budget would be monitored by the Public Health team.  Payment would be made by results so there would be tight control of the budget.  Performance would be monitored using the corporate score card.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Adopted and agreed the recommended model of care for redesigning our service, improving access to NHS Health Checks for early detection of CVD diseases and preventing premature mortality due to CVD and its complications.

b)    Agreed to initiate the commissioning process of the recommended service delivery model for the NHS Health Check programme in West Northamptonshire for its implementation for five-years (2+2+1).

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Approved the final West Northants Housing Allocation Scheme for West Northamptonshire contained in Appendix A to this report

b)    Approved delegated authority to Portfolio Holder for any minor amendments to the Scheme prior to operational commencement on the 1 April 2024

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To accord with legislation and which requires a harmonised Housing Allocations Scheme to be published by 1 April 2024.

·         Aligning three existing housing allocation schemes into one Scheme, which will create equality of opportunity to access social rented housing across West Northamptonshire.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

It is a legal requirement under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) that Local Authorities have a Housing Allocation Scheme.

West Northamptonshire Council is required to have a harmonised housing allocation scheme by 1 April 2024 as set in the Local Government (Structural Changes) Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulation 2008, (regulation 12) (as amended coronavirus amendment regulation).

It is recommended that the final draft West Northants Housing Allocation Scheme is approved and adopted for publication.

The Council may be at risk of legal challenge if we do not have an adopted Housing Allocation Scheme within the timescales set out.

At the Chair’s invitation, Councillor Brown presented the report and advised that the Structural Changes Order required WNC to create a Housing Allocation Scheme by 1 April 2024.  A consultation had been carried out with 732 responses, a quarter of which were from social housing tenants.  The responses had been broadly positive and had resulted in some changes to the bands and qualification criteria.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       Officers were thanked for their excellent work.

·       Choice-based lettings were a good idea.

·       Penalties should be introduced for those deliberately damaging homes.

·       Concern was expressed at the tight schedule between now and 1 April 2024.

·       The needs and rights of existing tenants and leaseholders needed to be considered when allocating properties.

·       There was no point in having a good Housing Allocations policy if there were no houses to allocate.  There was one resident who had been in temporary accommodation with 4 children for 12 months and who had to take the children to school on the other side of town. 

Councillor Brown responded as follows:

·       Homeless households were allocated to Band A.

·       There were penalties for inappropriate behaviour within the accommodation.

·       Contingency plans had been put in place with NPH in case the schedule slipped.

·       The Housing Allocations team took care to offer appropriate accommodation where possible.

·       The resident mentioned by a Councillor above would move from Band B to Band A under the new scheme.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Approved the final West Northants Housing Allocation Scheme for West Northamptonshire contained in Appendix A to this report

b)    Approved delegated authority to Portfolio Holder for any minor amendments to the Scheme prior to operational commencement on the 1 April 2024

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted the content of the Northamptonshire Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report that gives an overview of the Corporate Parenting Board and its oversight, challenges and activities.

b)    Noted that The NCT Corporate Parenting Strategy 2021-25 sets out four key priorities including updates on each area’s progress.

c)    Recommended that the report was taken to the Councils’ Full Council meetings for consideration.

REASONS RESOLVED:

•      To promote and monitor the Trust’s corporate parenting strategy.

•      To encourage all members and employees to recognise their role as corporate parents.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

NCT produce an Annual Report and an Annual Review which gives an overview of the whole service including Corporate Parenting. The Annual Report will give further overview of any issues.

At the Chair’s invitation, Councillor Baker presented the Corporate Parenting Board annual report for 2022/23 which covered both West and North Northamptonshire.  In April 2023 the Corporate Parenting Board separated and WNC now have their own board focussing on West Northants children. 

Councillors made the following comments:

·       More information was needed on the services being provided.

·       More evidence-based information was needed, not just reports from social workers.

·       The WN Corporate Parenting Board was welcomed as it would enable better integration of the work of NCT with WNC.

·       Work with foster carers needed to be improved.

·       The issue of exclusions was a challenge.

·       Concern was expressed about health assessments and access of children to dentistry.

Councillor Baker responded as follows:

·       Separating the Corporate Parenting Boards had been a big piece of work, with substantial challenges and opposition.

·       Young people were holding several events which corporate parents were welcome to attend.  Details would be provided.

·       She shared the concerns expressed by Councillors – particularly regarding exclusions and excluded children were vulnerable and more likely to end up in gangs.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted the content of the Northamptonshire Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report that gives an overview of the Corporate Parenting Board and its oversight, challenges and activities.

b)    Noted that The NCT Corporate Parenting Strategy 2021-25 sets out four key priorities including updates on each area’s progress.

c)     Recommended that the report was taken to the Councils’ Full Council meetings for consideration.

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RESOLVED: that Cabinet approved the Resources and Waste Strategy.

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         It is essential for the Council to have a ‘vision for waste services’ which will ensure that as existing arrangements for West Northamptonshire’s waste and street cleansing expire, the new arrangements are consistent with the vision. The Strategy will provide a set of principles to guide decisions regarding replacement arrangements which will help facilitate sustainable and efficient waste services.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The Council could have decided not to develop a Resources and Waste Strategy at this time, especially given the continued uncertainty about national requirements for waste services. However, without the Strategy, the Council may not have been able to take consistent decisions about replacement arrangements as current contracts expire.

The Council may have decided to take a different approach to developing the Resources and Waste Strategy, and attempted to include solutions for all waste related issues within the document. For example, whether the waste fleet of vehicles should switch to an alternate fuel, or whether 3 weekly collections should be implemented across West Northamptonshire. However, taking this approach would have taken much longer to develop the Strategy, which is required as soon as possible to inform decisions about replacement arrangements.

The approach that has been taken, to develop a vision for waste services and a set of 10 principles allows the Council to make service decisions about, which will help implement the vision in a gradual way as existing arrangements end. As noted earlier, where significant changes are proposed, these will be the subject of a separate Cabinet paper.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Larratt presented the report.  The Resources and Waste Strategy had been developed by officers working with a cross-party members’ working group with input from independent experts.  There had been public consultation on the vision which had been used to tailor the strategy to ensure it reflected residents’ priorities.  The strategy provided a set of 10 principles which would be used to guide the development of the Council’s waste services over the next 15 years. This would allow the council to remain compliant with any statutory guidance issued by DEFRA.  The action plan would be reviewed annually and any significant changes to service delivery would be the subject of a future consultation.

Councillors made the following comments:

·         It would have been helpful for this to have been brought to the Sustainability Group.

·         On the council climate action scorecard, WN scored very well on waste.

·         It was positive that the strategy referred to prioritising waste reduction, reuse and recycling and the circular economy.  Momentum needed to be maintained.

·         Repurposing and repair needed to be included in the strategy.

·         A library system for borrowing items when needed rather than everyone owning their own could be considered.

·         Incorporating disposal of materials such as soft plastics, blister packs and ink jet cartridges within Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) would be helpful.

·         Item 5.8.9 on page 258 referred to carbon emissions.  Should this be CO2 equivalent?  It would be helpful if this were included in a glossary for clarification.

·         Transparency around disposal of waste was key.

·         The focus on minimising landfill was good.

·         When would services across the former districts be harmonised? 

Councillor Larratt responded as follows:

·         A request would be made for the Sustainability Group to look at the strategy.

·         Work had begun on procuring a new HWRC contract.  The working group would continue and help to inform the procurement process.

·         In respect of harmonisation across West Northants, the council would need to be compliant with DEFRA who were minded to require fortnightly collections.  Money would be allocated to accommodate the cost, but this was not likely to be until 2026.

The Executive Director Place made the following comments:

·         The performance of West Northamptonshire was over and above many of its neighbours.

·         Re-use, repurpose and repair were included in the action plan.

·         Members’ workshops would be repeated on a regular basis.

·         Business cases for harmonisation of waste and types of fuel in vehicles would be built going forward.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet approved the Resources and Waste Strategy.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Approved the Estate Climate Strategy, as set out at Appendix A.

b)    Approved the Construction & Maintenance Climate Strategy, as set out at Appendix B.

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To enable the Council to deliver on its policy of achieving net zero carbon by 2030, in respect of the operation of its estate and construction and maintenance activities.

·         To provide clear direction for the Council’s staff and supply chain.

·         To maximise benefits, including financial benefits, and minimise costs.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The Council could choose to adopt the strategies, or one of them, or neither of them. It could also pursue different approaches to various aspects; for example, it could focus on technological solutions for carbon removal.

Each strategy has been designed to maximise the benefits, including financial benefits, and minimise costs. They are therefore suggested to be pragmatic ways of meeting the Council’s policy goals.

Other options, such as the Council investing in technological solutions for carbon removal from the atmosphere, appear unlikely to be viable at scale by 2030, and in any event to be costly and offer little in the way of collateral benefits.

Alternatively, the Council could focus on buying ‘carbon credits’ from suitable sources. However, whilst these do exist the supply is finite and, as with technological solutions, represents a pure cost rather than an opportunity for collateral benefits.

It is therefore recommended that the two strategies are adopted.

The Chair presented the report setting out the Council’s approach to delivering net zero in the operation of its estate and in construction and maintenance activities by 2030.  This was not presented as a detailed business case but sought to provide clear direction.  The focus was on reducing emissions and saving/making money.  Officers were thanked, particularly the Assistant Director Assets.

Orianne Neyroud, a sixth form student representing Climate Action West Northants addressed the Cabinet and stressed the importance of communicating strategies to the public, putting them into an action plan and breaking it down into steps to achieve the results.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       Orianne Neyroud was thanked for her contribution.

·       The reports were welcomed and it was good that they had been brought to the Sustainability Group.

·       There was no option to do nothing.  If costs were not faced now, they would increase in future.

·       Caution needed to be exercised around biomass and whether it was considered to be green energy.

·       The report did not address how implementation of the suggested strategies would be paid for – they should either be costed or abandoned.

The Chair pointed out that this was a set of principles to outline the future direction.

The Executive Director Place noted that many of the projects were concerned with efficiency and investing to save.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Approved the Estate Climate Strategy, as set out at Appendix A.

b)    Approved the Construction & Maintenance Climate Strategy, as set out at Appendix B.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted the contents of this report.

b)    Recommended to Council the implementation of the proposed Care Leavers discount for 2024/25 and the policy shown at Appendix A of this report.

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         West Northamptonshire Council recognises the vulnerability of people leaving care and its role as the corporate parent. The recommended approach ensures that all eligible care leavers receive the support they are entitled to.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

The proposal is to award a local discount directly to the Council Tax account of Care Leavers aged 18-21 after any other discounts and exemptions have been applied and proportionate to the number of residents liable for Council Tax in the property. For example, a Care leaver sharing with 3 other people would receive a 25% discount. The discount will apply until the Care Leaver turns 21. From this date no discount will apply but the Care Leaver can apply for Council Tax Reduction so preventing that ‘cliff edge’ at 21.

Under the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme West Northamptonshire Council’s Care Leavers can receive help with up to 100% of their Council Tax liability. However, the scheme is means tested based on the income of the household and the current scheme also relies on care leavers making an application and providing all the required verification to support the claim, this doesn’t always happen, and Care Leavers do not get the support they are therefore potentially entitled to.

At the Chair’s invitation, Councillor Baker presented the report which sought approval to introduce a discretionary council tax discount for care leavers.  The original scheme had been too difficult for care leavers to access, and the new scheme would put this right.  Thanks were expressed to the Assistant Director Revenues and Benefits for her work in implementing the scheme.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       The report was welcomed as it simplified the process.

·       Reassurance was needed that the council tax was not carried forward until care leavers were able to pay.

Councillor Baker advised that the policy was that the council tax would not be payable.  It would not be carried forward.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted the contents of this report.

b)    Recommended to Council the implementation of the proposed Care Leavers discount for 2024/25 and the policy shown at Appendix A of this report.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a) Noted the contents of the report

b) Approved the proposed LCTRS for 2024-2025 as outlined in the report

c) Recommended to Council a no change LCTRS for 2024-2025

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To enable a Council Tax Reduction Scheme to be agreed for West Northants Council for the financial year 2024-25 to be in place by 31 January 2024.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

1 As of June 2022, the total number of people in receipt of LCTRS was 19,294, 11,531 of which are of working age. As of September 2023, the total number of people in receipt of LCTRS is 18,584 with 10,8991 being of working age. The estimated cost of the scheme for 2023-2024 is £19.8m.

Council Tax collection rate for West Northants for 2022-2023 is 96.97% which is an improvement on 2021-2022 collection rate of 96.48%. It also compares well to the national average collection rate of 96.02% and a national average for unitary councils of 96.20%. We continue to monitor the collection rates each month and as of September 2023 the profiled collection rates are 56.92% against a target of 57.74%.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Longley presented the report updating members on the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and proposing no changes for next financial year.

A Councillor made the following comments:

·       Maintaining the scheme at the same level was endorsed.

·       Could further provision be made from the separate hardship fund?

Councillor Longley advised that the budget had not yet been set for next year.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a) Noted the contents of the report

b) Approved the proposed LCTRS for 2024-2025 as outlined in the report

c) Recommended to Council a no change LCTRS for 2024-2025

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Authorised the Executive Director Place and Economy to make a PSPO to restrict public access to the walkway known as Emporium Way in accordance with the results of the consultation as detailed in Appendix 3 and to carry out any outstanding legal requirements prior to it coming into force.

b)    Approved that the PSPO is brought into force once the gates and hoardings restricting access to Emporium Way have been installed, which cannot be arranged until the decision whether to make the Order has been made.

REASONS RESOLVED:

A decision to approve the proposal will support the priorities of the Community Safety Partnership. The recommendation is the preferred option of both partners and majority of members of the public responding to the consultation.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Crime Data provided by Northants Police shows 20 recorded crimes from September 2021 to August 2023, increasing from 4 crimes between Sept. 2021 – Aug 2022 to 16 crimes in the same period the following year.

In addition, during the same two-year period 19 incidents were also recorded. Again, there has been an increase from 6 incidents between Sept 2021 – Aug 2022 to 13 incidents for the same period.

Northants Police Solar Team have reported 3 recent serious sexual offences in the alleyway; one guilty plea for an offence taking place in 2021 and two crimes currently under investigation from 2022 and 2023.

Issues witnessed by CCTV operators on a regular basis include; groups of young people causing criminal damage and Anti-Social behaviour, people buying, selling and using drugs and as a cut through for shoplifters, street drinkers and addicts to go from the town over to Oasis House and the Mounts area. In addition, the area is regularly used as a toilet, attracts vermin has been the location of numerous assaults

At the Chair’s invitation, Councillor Smith presented the report seeking to restrict access to Emporium Way.  The walkway had attracted illicit activity and police presence had been needed.  It was proposed to close the walkway for a period whilst the Market Square was being redeveloped.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       Could the access be retained but closed at night?  It was used as a walk through to the car park.

·       The area should be looked after and not left to become overgrown.  If it were made nicer, anti-social behaviour might be reduced.

Councillor Smith responded as follows:

• It was not practical to open and close the access daily.  Some assaults had happened during the day.
• 58% of those responding to the consultation were in favour of closure.
• Towns Fund money had been available to improve the area, but the public had prioritised Market Way.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Authorised the Executive Director Place and Economy to make a PSPO to restrict public access to the walkway known as Emporium Way in accordance with the results of the consultation as detailed in Appendix 3 and to carry out any outstanding legal requirements prior to it coming into force.

b)    Approved that the PSPO is brought into force once the gates and hoardings restricting access to Emporium Way have been installed, which cannot be arranged until the decision whether to make the Order has been made.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted and accepted the ATF4 funding to deliver the Connecting the Active Quarter – Access for All scheme, Northampton

b)    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place, Economy and the Environment in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the active travel scheme at Delapre Abbey as outlined in 1.6 above.

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To ensure the ATF4 grant award is spent within the award timescales and for the permitted purposes.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

6.1 A key requirement for ATF4 was that the funding be used to construct schemes that were at detailed design stage and ‘shovel ready’ with a requirement that funding must be committed by March 2024 (either construction by this date or contract in place with construction following as soon as possible).

The Council had previously been successful in securing funding for feasibility design for the Connecting the Active Quarter - Access for All scheme, and so design work was well advanced.

There were no alternative schemes that were considered to be at a sufficient level of design to meet the funding criteria.

The cost estimates for the Connecting the Active Quarter – Access for All scheme closely aligned with the indicative allocation from Active Travel England.

An Equality Screening Assessment has been completed. No negative impacts on protected groups were identified, so there is no requirement to complete a full Equality Impacts Assessment.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Larratt presented the report which noted the Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 funding and delegated authority to implement the scheme which would provide a new traffic-free route connecting the town centre and Far Cotton to Brackmills.

Councillors made the following comments:

·       The report was welcomed.

·       The area was already within a traffic-free route.  Ensuring safety for people on mainstream routes also needed to be tackled.

·       There was a clear connection with the health and wellbeing strategy and air quality issues.

·       There had been delays in bringing forward active travel work.

Councillor Larratt responded as follows:

• A transport plan was being worked up and active travel would feature in that.  Progress had been slow but was getting up to strength.
• Work was being done with residents to establish what local people wanted.
• Connections between Silverstone and Brackley and Towcester were being worked on but the A43 overbridge of HS2 needed to be completed first.
• The Abington active travel scheme was a legacy one from NCC.
• Active travel schemes were planned to join up disconnected employment areas around Northampton.

Councillor Brown noted that the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust were excited about the scheme passing through Delapre Abbey.

Councillor Golby noted that the Health and Wellbeing Strategy included active travel as part of healthy ageing.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet:

a)    Noted and accepted the ATF4 funding to deliver the Connecting the Active Quarter – Access for All scheme, Northampton

b)    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place, Economy and the Environment in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the active travel scheme at Delapre Abbey as outlined in 1.6 above.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet noted the decisions taken by the Deputy Leader of the Council set out at Appendix A and Appendix B.

REASONS RESOLVED:

Where decisions that would otherwise be taken by the Leader and Cabinet have been taken by the Leader alone, in the interests of transparency, the decision is reported to the next available meeting of the Council.

The decision taken provided the authority for the Council to:

a) establish a capital budget of £3.3m for the purchase of the Former Bus Depot land and buildings at St James, Northampton

b) approve the acquisition of the Former Bus Depot for the delivery of a regeneration scheme.

Full reasons for the decision taken are set out in the decision records appended to this report.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Alternative decision to not proceed with the acquisition would mean that the site would be likely sold to a developer who could land bank the site or could bring forward low-grade uses. Given the challenges of the site, it is also possible that the site could continue to sit vacant adding to the negative perception of the town centre and beyond.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Lister presented the report notifying Cabinet of the decision taken by the Leader to approve the acquisition of the former bus depot for regeneration.  The decision had not been taken lightly.  The site had been empty for 10 years and there were others wanting to develop the site for less suitable uses.  The site would be used for housing and was a positive step forward for regeneration. 

Councillors made the following comments:

·       Members had been kept informed during the process, which had been appreciated.

·       The report was welcomed because new housing was needed – particularly social and affordable housing.

·       Architecture should be preserved where possible to maintain the history of the site.

·       Problems had been caused by poor process of the previous council and lessons needed to be learned.  A clawback clause should have been in place.

·       Had WNC overpaid for the site?

·       Would problems arise from a Homes England covenant on the site?

The Chair responded as follows:

·       Social and affordable housing was desired, but a viable scheme would need to be put forward.

·       Lessons had been learned regarding clawback.

·       The architecture would preserve and reflect the heritage of the site where possible.

·       WNC had not overpaid for the site.

The Executive Director Place advised that the Homes England covenant was not a barrier because the site would be used for housing.  Timescales for delivery of the project would depend on grants/processes and planning procedures.

RESOLVED: that Cabinet noted the decisions taken by the Deputy Leader of the Council set out at Appendix A and Appendix B.