Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find
information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the
council’s decision making bodies.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 19/01/2022
Effective from: 18/01/2022
Decision:
RESOLVED: Cabinet approved the
Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2025 for adoption and
implementation by the West Northamptonshire Community Safety
Partnership.
REASONS RESOLVED: Approval of
the strategy would mean the council:
·
Was compliant with the new statutory duty to publish
a strategy.
·
Supported a co-ordinated response to Domestic Abuse
improving services and outcomes for all those affected.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
None
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 19/01/2022
Effective from: 18/01/2022
Decision:
RESOLVED: That
Cabinet.
·
Approved the establishment of a framework which
allowed West Northamptonshire Council to procure a range of
assistive technology goods and services from appointed
suppliers.
·
Given delegated authority to the Executive Director
for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Wellbeing, and Health Integration,
to establish the Assistive Technology framework to procure goods
and services from appointed suppliers where not already
delegated.
·
Supported the implementation of the Assistive
Technology and Remote Support Strategy.
REASONS RESOLVED:
·
Complied with legislation and West Northants
procurement policy
·
Enabled the procurement of assistive technology
equipment so that the service could continue to purchase equipment
which supports people to live more independently and reduces the
need for higher cost care packages.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
None
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 19/01/2022
Effective from: 18/01/2022
Decision:
Note: This decision cannot be
called in.
RESOLVED: That
Cabinet
- Noted the Place
Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s findings following the
call-in hearing of 14 December 2021;
- Thanked the Place
Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the work they had undertaken in
considering the issue;
- Taking into account
the Council’s current financial position, confirmed the
decision previously taken:
- that a charge is made
for kerbside garden waste collection for all residents of West
Northamptonshire who opt into this service of £42 per bin per
year, from 1 April 2022
- that the customer
service and administration of the garden waste collection service
be operated in-house for all residents of West Northamptonshire,
ending the arrangements with West Northamptonshire Norse, in the
Daventry area.
- that the
establishment of a subsidised home composting scheme, be launched
at the same time as the charge 2022/23, to offer residents an
alternative.
- Confirmed that the
free collection of real Christmas trees will continue across West
Northamptonshire;
- Confirmed that
Household Waste Recycling Centre opening times be
unchanged;
- Confirmed the
intention to introduce a scheme for payment by instalments and a
discount scheme to support those on low incomes in the
future.
- That the changes are
agreed without the need to wait for the outcome of the DEFRA
consultation.
REASONS:
In accordance with the Overview
and Scrutiny procedure rules, Cabinet was required to reconsider
the matter, taking into account any concerns and recommendations of
Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee and make a final decision,
amending the decision or not and providing reasons for the
decision.
- The introduction of a
charge for the collection of garden waste would bring the south of
West Northamptonshire into harmony with the rest of the Council
area. The scheme would be run council-wide with the level of
charge, terms and conditions and service standards the same across
west Northamptonshire.
- Cabinet determined
that, given the costs associated with collecting and processing
garden waste, not implementing the original decision would present
a financial risk to the Council, both now and in the
future.
- Cabinet noted the
consultation undertaken by DEFRA in relation to this subject, but
determined that there were no clear timescales for an announcement
on the outcome of the consultation and it would not, therefore, be
prudent to await an announcement, given the need to harmonise the
policy across West Northamptonshire. Cabinet also noted the
LGA’s position on the matter.
- Charging for the
collection of garden waste would ensure that only those who wish to
use the service pay for it and in that way, supports the
‘Polluter Pays’ principle. Therefore, those who home
compost, or who don’t have gardens or who take their garden
waste to the Household Waste Recycling Centre would not pay for the
collection service.
- The Council would be
permitted to levy a ‘reasonable’ charge for the garden
waste service (under the Controlled Waste (England and Wales)
Regulations 2012). The proposed charge would generate income
essential to part fund the waste collection services provided to
the residents of West Northamptonshire. This includes approximately
£800,000 in additional net income to the council in 2022/23
for the south area, where the charge would be newly introduced. It
would also maintain the approximate £2.2 million of annual
income from the areas of the council where there was an existing
charge.
- The £42 charge
recommended for 2022/23 would be the same as was charged in the
Daventry and Northampton areas in 2021/22 and so would represent no
increase for those residents and is identified as average across
the region.
- The proposal to bring
the customer service and administration of the garden waste
collection service in house would enable the Council to have a
direct interface with residents who wish to opt-in to this service,
ensuring they receive the best possible customer
service.
- The subsidised home
composting scheme would provide an alternative option for residents
who do not want to pay the collection fee. It also promotes home
composting, which in waste management terms is a preferred
option.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:
- In reviewing the
council’s garden waste service, several alternative options
were considered for harmonising it across the whole of West
Northamptonshire. The appendix to the original report set out the
considered options, along with the positive and negative
considerations of each option and the financial impact of
each.
- Officers had
considered whether it would be appropriate and possible to offer
discounts, for example in the following circumstances:
- A resident pays by
direct debit; or
- A household has more
than one bin (multi-bin discount); or
- If a household would
like to pay for more than one year in advance; or
- For residents in
receipt of certain benefits.
The council would seek to
establish a single auto payment system across West Northants which
might enable future opportunities for any discounts to be
administered as well as providing evidence of where any discounts
were needed or justified based on usage.
- Therefore, it was
agreed to introduce the scheme using existing payment systems in
April 2022.
18/01/2022 - Minutes ref: 338 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/01/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 19/01/2022
Effective from: 18/01/2022
Decision:
RESOLVED: That the minutes
from the Cabinet meeting of the 7th December were
approved and signed as a true and accurate record.