Decisions

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.

Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.

Earlier - Later

Decisions published

21/06/2022 - Minutes ref: 514    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the minutes of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 25 April 2022.


21/06/2022 - Changes to provision of NHS dialysis services in Northamptonshire ref: 520    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)     Supported the need to relocate the Outpatient Renal Dialysis at Riverside House, Northampton, from its current site.

b)     Recommended that the Cabinet looks into issues arising from the change of use of Riverside House from office space to housing that have affected its continued suitability as a site for Outpatient Renal Dialysis, in order to support effective partnership working.      


21/06/2022 - Children's Services Performance ref: 515    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)     Recommended that West Northamptonshire Council recognise the need to improve performance from the current position of 47% of children in care receiving an initial health assessment within 28 days of entering care.

b)     Requested that Northamptonshire Children’s Trust develop the content of future performance updates to the Committee to provide more comparative data.


21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2021/22 ref: 517    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the Annual Report to Council, subject to the addition to the Looking Ahead section of an acknowledgement that the Committee aimed to make more recommendations in future.


21/06/2022 - Debt and Money Advice Transformation Project ref: 513    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)    Agreed that the points raised in discussion would be fed into the transformation of debt and money advice services.

b)    Agreed that the debt and money advice transformation project would be added to the Committee work programme to allow further scrutiny in future.


21/06/2022 - Integrated Care across Northamptonshire (iCAN) Scrutiny Review - Update ref: 516    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED that: the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the update on the iCAN Scrutiny Review.


21/06/2022 - Review of Committee Work Programme ref: 518    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)    Agreed to seek more regular information on performance against key performance indicators for the Council service areas within the Committee’s remit.

b)    Agreed to include in its work programme potential items of business on the Council’s Housing Solutions Transformation Plan and Housing Allocation Policy.

c)    Agreed the following items of business for the Committee meeting on 15 September 2022:

·         Adult Social worker recruitment and retention, including use of Workforce Recruitment and Retention funding

·         Special educational needs and disability support

·         Housing Solutions Transformation Plan

d)    Requested to receive further information about a potential item of business on Communities & Opportunities Directorate key contracts and delivery plans to enable the Committee to confirm at its next meeting whether to proceed with scrutiny.

e)    Agreed to hold a remote workshop-style meeting at the end of July 2022 on the Household Support Fund Scheme 2.

 


21/06/2022 - Chair's Announcements ref: 519    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Made at meeting: 21/06/2022 - People Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Decision published: 24/06/2022

Effective from: 21/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: that the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that the Chair should again contact the Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to encourage that committee to scrutinise the issue of land ownership and responsibility for maintenance affecting Northampton Partnership Homes properties.


14/06/2022 - UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Multiply Funding ref: 510    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: Cabinet;

a)    Noted UK Government had advised WNC as the Lead Authority for UKSPF (£5,426,224.00) and Multiply (£1,901,176.15) for a three-year provisional maximum allocation of £7,327,400.15 and the requirement to develop both a UKSPF Investment Plan and a Multiply Investment Plan

b)    Endorsed the approach to develop both Investment Plans by sourcing evidence and liaising with internal and external stakeholders

c)    Noted that under existing delegated powers, officers would submit a WNC Multiply Investment Plan by 30th June 2022 to the DfE and update Cabinet in July

d)    A further report would be submitted to Cabinet in July to address the submission of the UKSPF Investment Plan by the deadline of August 2022

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

a)    To ensure West Northamptonshire benefits from this grant funding to enhance the community, boost the economy and support local residents and businesses.

b)    To maintain ongoing economic growth within the area, particular with the impending loss of EU funding and the need to utilise UKSPF to deliver positive economic development within the community.

c)    Would enable the Council to submit the Multiply Investment Plan by 30th June 2022.

d)    To secure the maximum level of investment to enhance local skill levels, benefiting the community and economy.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

·         To not develop and submit an Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund would result in a loss of major potential investment into the area, which would be used to support the community and place, business support and people and skills.

·         To not develop and submit an Investment Plan for Multiply Funding by the deadline would result in a loss of major potential investment into local skill levels, addressing existing and potential anti-poverty, impacting the local quality of life, local employment and future of West

Northamptonshire residents.


14/06/2022 - Sponne Arcade Short Stay Car Park ref: 512    For Determination

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

a)    Noted the work to date in securing the land, gaining necessary planning approval and bringing the project to the on-site delivery stage.

b)    Authorised the appointment of Jeakins Weir Limited as principal contractor to undertake the construction works as defined by the construction information that has been developed by the Regeneration Team (a summary of the works is in this report). The contractor had already completed pre-construction services to the council including design, feasibility, and pricing to date, and are being procured through the Scape construction Framework.

c)    Noted the saving to the revenue budget of approximately £29,500. This saving was made mainly due to the reduction in National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR or known as ‘business rates’) that will be liable across the site with the demolition of the former Co-op unit.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

The recommendations establish financial and requisite authorities so that the Sponne Arcade short stay car park redevelopment could proceed.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

To leave the area as it currently stands, incur the annual charges and do nothing – this could have a reputational impact on the council through investing in the site and not delivering on its vision to improve the area as referred in the design and access statement of the approved planning

application.


14/06/2022 - Decision taken by the Leader under urgency procedures ref: 511    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet noted the decisions taken by the Leader of the Council set out at Appendix A.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

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

2.    The decision taken provided the authority for the Council to exchange and complete on the above property which was subject to a short timescale.

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

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

None


14/06/2022 - Household Support Fund: Scheme 2 Recommendations ref: 505    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED:

a)    Noted that the Council had wide discretion in the allocation of the Household Support Fund (2);

b)    Approved the allocation of funds set out in the chart in paragraph 6 of the report;

c)    Approved the control and oversight approach set out at paragraph 8.1.1 of the report; and

d)    Noted that depending on take up of the proposed scheme it might have to be adjusted in order to ensure the full allocation is not under or over allocated. Any adjustment will be managed within the terms of existing DWP guidelines.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To underpin the West Northamptonshire Anti-Poverty Strategy and ensure residents most in need receive support

·         To ensure that the distribution of funds met the wider communities’ financial needs, where other grants and funding were not available

·         To ensure the level of duplication of grants for the same purpose was minimised

·         To ensure that the maximum assistance was provided to residents in greatest need and that the allocation of funding is fully utilised to meet the needs of residents.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

 

None


14/06/2022 - Commissioning residential and nursing care services for older people ref: 506    For Determination

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: Cabinet;

a)    Noted legislative and policy requirements introduced by Government in relation to the Social Care Charging Reforms and Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund.

b)    Delegated to the Executive Director for Adults Communities and Wellbeing the decision (subject to the Contract Procedure Rules) to extend the current Care Home Service DPS framework for a period of 8-months.

c)    Noted that a formal engagement and consultation exercise would be conducted with the provider market on the findings of the care home cost review.

d)    Noted that a further report would come to Cabinet in September 2022, which will set out the proposed commissioning intentions for securing future residential and nursing care service supply.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         To enable West Northamptonshire Council’s to meet the latest changes to the statutory requirements originally set out in the Care Act 2014.

·         To support the development of a sustainable care market as required by the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund.

·         To maintain purchasing arrangements for the supply of residential and nursing care services for older people.

·         To meet the needs and demands of residents in relation to care and support including people who self-fund their care.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

·         Option 1 (recommended) – Extend the current contract to enable alignment of commissioning strategy and activity with requirements of the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund including market-wide engagement and consultation on how to develop the care market in response to the social care reforms.

·         Option 2 (Not recommended) – Proceed with commissioning and procurement activity to put new contract arrangements in place by September 2022 and respond separately to the social care reforms including assessment of care costs and sustainability planning through existing provider engagement activities.


14/06/2022 - UK Levelling Up Fund Round Two ref: 507    For Determination

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

a)    Noted the activity made to date, timescales and next steps for the Levelling Up Fund applications.

b)    Delegated Authority to the Executive Director of Place, Economy and Environment in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth and approved the final two bids being made to the LUF round two, subject to any Council funding contribution also being in place before submission.

c)    Recommended to Council Subject that, subject to the business case, and the capital and revenue implications stemming from it, being endorsed by the Chief Finance Officer and the relevant portfolio holders, that it approves the additional £21m.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

The recommendation was made to enable West Northamptonshire Council to make 2 submissions of up to £20m (up to £40m in total) of Government funding to improve infrastructure across the area for the communities that the council serves.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

To not approve the submission of bids into the LUF. This would mean that the council would miss out on the opportunity to receive funding from round two of the LUF. There is no guarantee that there will be a third round of LUF and this would mean that WNC would receive no grant funding.


14/06/2022 - Northamptonshire's Integrated Care System ref: 504    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED:

a)    Noted that the nomination process for West Northamptonshire Council’s representative on the Integrated Care Board (ICB) is subject to strict legal requirements and that the nomination would be made by the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

b)    Noted the West Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference for the Integrated Care System from the 1st July 2022 which would be put forward for approval at full council on the 30th June 2022

c)    Noted the proposed governance structure for the Integrated Care Partnership (West Place) which were put forward for approval at the Integrated Care Partnership Shadow Board on the 31st May 2022 and the West Health and Wellbeing Board on the 7th June 2022

d)    Cabinet noted the chairing arrangements for the Integrated Care Partnership Board.

e)    Approved the proposed Local Area Partnerships (LAP’s) for the West Place as part of the ICP following consultation with stakeholders

f)     Approved the proposal for one elected member per unitary ward to sit on each of the nine Local Area Partnerships.

g)    Further updates would be presented to Cabinet, Full Council and People Scrutiny as the ICS develops to ensure the Council has appropriate oversight.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         As set out in the Act the local authority needed to have a representative on the Integrated Care Board and a process for the nomination.

·         The Act set out new statutory responsibilities for the Health and Wellbeing Board and as the board is a statutory function of the local authority these changes needed to be approved by full council as per West Northamptonshire’s Council Constitution.

·         West Northamptonshire Council had a significant role in the development and delivery of the Integrated Care Partnership and this paper sets out the areas where the council has shaped key proposals in line with the legislation and guidance.

 

ALTENATIVE OPTIONS:

 

None


14/06/2022 - Proposal to establish a 'School Minor Works' budget for 22/23 ref: 508    For Determination

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED:

a)    Approved the 2022/23 ‘School Minor Works’ budget to rectify condition issues in WNC maintained schools, ensuring the Council continues to fulfil its statutory obligation of maintaining its school estate;

b)    Noted that WNC’s allocation of ‘School Condition Allocation’ funding had been confirmed by the DfE at £1,732,900 and that this grant funding will be utilised as WNC’s ‘School Minor Works’ budget for 2022/23;

c)    Noted that any works undertaken under the ‘Schools Minor Works’ budget would be delivered as part of a rolling programme of conditions surveys at maintained schools in the Local Authority;

d)    Delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, to authorise all necessary legal, property and financial agreements to ensure effective delivery of condition schemes.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         WNC would continue to fulfil its statutory obligation of maintaining its school estate;

·         The recommended course of action was the most effective and prevents delays in procuring essential works;

·         Consistency with previous decisions. This is the third year of the ‘School Minor Works’ programme.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

None


14/06/2022 - Annual Report & Quarter 4 Performance Report 2021-22 ref: 503    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet noted the content of the appendix covering the annual review of WNCs 1st year (2021-22).

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

·         This report was for information purposes and discussion only, there were no direct decisions to be made following the report

·         The council was required as part of Local Government Act 1972 to report performance of the council to members.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

 

None


14/06/2022 - Proposal to establish a new 250 place, ‘all-through’ Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) School for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) at Tiffield St John’s site, Tiffield, West Northamptonshire ref: 509    For Determination

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Made at meeting: 14/06/2022 - Cabinet

Decision published: 14/06/2022

Effective from: 14/06/2022

Decision:

RESOLVED: Cabinet;

a)    Noted the current deficit of SEND places that was being experienced across West Northamptonshire and the projected demand for places in coming academic years set out in paragraph 5.10-5.12.

b)    Agreed to the ‘free school presumption’ process being progressed to identify an academy trust to operate the new ‘all-through’ special school.

c)    Delegated responsibility to the Interim Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Education to take any necessary decisions to progress the ‘free school presumption’ process and to confer ‘preferred bidder’ status upon the academy trust that is selected (subject to DfE approval) to operate the new school.

d)    Noted that all matters relating to the capital cost required to deliver the required new school will be subject to further reports to Cabinet once the expenditure required to deliver the new school has been finalised.

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

The proposal:

·         Helped to ensure that the council was able to fulfil its statutory obligation of providing a sufficiency of SEND places within West Northamptonshire in future academic years;

·         Provided an increased number of SEND places and would help ensure that children with additional needs were able to access education in a provision that is best placed to meet their needs; and

·         Establish a new ‘all-through’ special school, which could be considered a benefit all West Northamptonshire’s mainstream primary and secondary schools as it would reduce the need for mainstream school settings to provide places to children with additional needs where that provision was not best placed to meet very high-level, low incidence needs;

 

REASONS RESOLVED:

The recommended course of action was the most cost-effective and would reduce pressure on the high needs block (HNB) element of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) via a reduction in the number of children being required to be placed in more expensive out of county and independent provisions to meet their individual needs.

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

·         Do nothing: this option would result in the failure of WNC fulfilling its statutory obligation of providing a sufficiency of SEND places in West Northamptonshire in future academic years. It would also result in the requirement to utilise places in increasingly distant and more expensive places within the independent sector, which would place a further strain on the HNB of the DSG and revenue general fund home to school transport budget. If WNC cannot demonstrate that it is able to manage its DSG allocation in a balanced position (or have plans to do so) this

would result in intervention by the DfE.

This option would have also prevented WNC from addressing issues relating to the timely provision of places in an appropriate setting for pupils in receipt of an EHC plan. This option was discounted for these reasons.

Ø  Identify alternative site as the prospective location for the proposed new school: Tiffield is located approximately eight miles from Northampton town (from where the majority of the demand for SEND places arises). However, the site has excellent transport links to the south and west of Northampton town, Towcester, Silverstone and Brackley. There is a clear lack of SEND provision that caters to pupils with a primary need of ASC, SLCN or SLD in the former South Northamptonshire area and the Tiffield StJohn’s site would resolve this issue, reducing journey times to and from school for children and young people who reside in the area and also reducing home to school transport costs for WNC.

Ø  Accordingly, the Tiffield site was an appropriate one for the location of the school. It is part of the ‘free school presumption’ process that any LA seeking to establish new school must identify a proposed location for that school as part of the associated ‘school specification’. However, while a location must be identified the location specified is not legally binding and should any bid received as part of the process identify a suitable alternative site for the new school, the process allows for alternative sites to be identified, considered and progressed. As such, although the Tiffield St John’s site has been identified, the process allows for other the school to be located elsewhere if appropriate.

Lead officer: Chris Kiernan