Decisions

RESOLVED:

That Schools Forum considered and supported the proposed growth fund for inclusion in the Schools Funding Consultation.

RESOLVED:

·         That Schools Forum considered and supported the proposed Split Site Policy for inclusion in the Schools Funding Consultation.

·         That Schools Forum supported the officer suggested change in the way permanent exclusion claw backs were calculated.

RESOLVED:

That Paul Wheeler be elected as vice-chair of West Northamptonshire Schools Forum for the forthcoming year.

RESOLVED:

That Schools Forum noted the forward plan.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2021 were agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED:

·         That Schools Forum members supported these reports and the officer suggested de-delegations and proposed rates and were aware that a vote would be required by Maintained School Members in December’s forum meeting.

·         That Schools Forum members agreed to the consultation proposals and questions.

RESOLVED:

·         That Schools Forum agreed the Central Expenditure on Education Functions proposals for 2022-23 funded from the CSSB as per Table 2 of the report be included in the Schools Funding Consultation.

·         That the Maintained Schools Forum members agreed to the proposals for de-delegation as per Table 5 and the associated appendices to this report be included in the Schools Funding Consultation.

RESOLVED:

That Schools Forum agreed the second option for inclusion in the Schools Funding Consultation, as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report – to top-slice £2.1m, on the understanding that if it does so, the council will not ask for the 0.5% top-slice allowed by funding regulations.

RESOLVED:

·         That Schools Forum noted the provisional funding settlement for 2022-23.

·         That Schools Forum agreed the Schools Funding Consultation document for 2022-23.

RESOLVED:

That Schools Forum noted the forecast outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th July 2021 be agreed subject to the amendment on page number 7 of the document pack to read ‘Martin Henry noted that at the moment’

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes.

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes.

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes.

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes.

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes.

Refused, reasons to be set out in the Minutes.

To bring into effect the provisions of the Council’s Constitution set out at Part 4, Paragraph 4.3.5, which provide for the establishment of a Planning Policy Committee with the following responsibilities:

·         Review of and the development of proposals for development framework polices, for approval;

·         Approval of proposals that support the development framework policies such as development briefs.

To consider matters of local importance within the area such as:

·         The designation and amendment of conservation areas;

·         Village design statements and parish plans where Council approval is required for them to be considered as material considerations in dealing with planning applications.

1.    To approve the terms of reference of the Planning Policy Committee as a sub-committee of Cabinet;

2.    To approve the appointment of members of the committee as follows:

Decision making members:

·         Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Built Environment & Rural Affairs: Cllr Rebecca Breese

·         Deputy Leader of the Council: Cllr Adam Brown

·         Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Wellbeing, and Health Integration: Cllr Matt Golby

Non-Decision making members:

·         Chair of Daventry Area Planning Committee: Cllr Kevin Parker

·         Chair of Northampton Area Planning Committee: Cllr Jamie Lane

·         Chair of South Northants Area Planning Committee: Cllr Stephen Clarke

·         Chair of Strategic Planning Committee: Cllr Phil Bignell

·         Labour Councillor: to be determined by the Leader of the Labour Group

·         Labour Councillor: to be determined by the Leader of the Labour Group

·         Liberal Democrat Councillor: to be determined by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

Resolutions: That Cabinet;

a)    Approved the proposed interim Community Funding Grant Policy for West Northants Council 2021 to end of March 2023.

b)    Approved delegated authority to Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing (DASS) for awarding community funding as set out in the new policy.  Where appropriate to adjust the policy in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.  

c)    Approved the Councillor Covid Support Fund of £232,500 for 2021/22 to aid Covid recovery of our local communities, note the use of Covid Recovery Fund to finance this scheme in 2021/22 and agree that officers complete a review of the scheme and its funding source prior to 2022/23.

Reason for Resolutions;

Community Funding Grant Policy:

a)    WNC acknowledged there has been a six-month gap (since Vesting Day) in the council awarding small grants to our local community and voluntary organisations (CVS).  This presents a risk to the continuation of essential local support and services.  Therefore, Cabinet approval is sought to enable WNC to launch the interim Community Funding Grant Policy. 

b)    The recommendation to produce one interim policy with one community funding scheme for West Northants provides a consistent approach to community funding grant awards across West Northants.

c)    The policy enables the council to take a more strategic approach to investment into CVS organisations, aligned to meet identified needs and the councils adopted corporate priorities.

d)    Approval of the policy enables the application and award for grants process, in turn benefiting our local communities through funding that helps sustain and invent new activity to address the local needs.

e)    WNC has an increased Scheme of Delegation limits for officers, and with grant awards capped at maximum £15,000 no grant award will be classified as a Key Decision of the Council. The Cabinet will set the strategic direction of community funding through its decision to approve the proposed community grant funding policy and the policies alignment to the council’s corporate priorities.  However, there will be cross-party oversight of the implementation of the Community Funding Grant Policy to ensure adherence to the new policy, that grant awards are allocated to meet identified local needs, and that community funding is distributed in a fair and equitable manner. 

f)     The recommendation for delegated authority to officers will ensure applicants receive funding awards in the most expedient timescale. 

Councillor Covid Support Fund 2021-22:

a)    To support our local communities to recover from the impact of Covid during the remainder of the 2021-22 financial year.

b)    To provide WNC Councillors with a consistent and expedient mechanism for making local grant awards to community and voluntary groups.

c)    To draw upon the local knowledge of Councillors best placed to identify local groups, organisations and/or communities at most risk due to Covid impact and in most need for grant awards.  

Alternative Options

a)    Continuing the model of sovereign council community funding.  This model would see decision making and awarding of community funding implemented on a locality basis (Northampton; Daventry; South Northants). This option is not recommended for reasons including: requirement for three different funding policies and principles; the risk of challenge due to inconsistencies of decision making; risk of duplicating funding to organisations and/or projects; inconsistency of having three different thresholds for min/max grant awards. 

b)    The decision to have a Councillor Covid Support Fund for the remainder of 2021-22.  To further enhance and expediate the recovery of local community and voluntary groups in West Northants the recommendation is for WNC to have a Councillor Covid Support Fund.  This fund enables Councillors to make local decisions on grant funding awards for the benefit of the communities they represent. 

c)    Assign an allocation (£232,500) of the councils Covid Recovery budget to the Councillor Covid Support Fund.  This option protects the current Community Funding Grants budget of £433,401 helping to stretch community funding grant awards further. 

d)    Not to approve the proposed community funding approach as interim to cover 2021/22 and 2022/23.  This would lead to the council having no mechanism to deliver community funding grant awards therefore having a detrimental effect on community and voluntary organisations and residents of West Northants.               

Resolutions: That Cabinet

a)    Noted the work to date undertaken in the development and delivery of the bike park project

b)    Approved the revised budget in line with appendix 1 of this report

c)    Delegated Authority to the Assistant Director Economic Growth and Regeneration to enter the SE (Places to Ride) grant agreement, subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

d)    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director Housing and Communities to agree the terms of the operation and maintenance agreement (OMA) with the bike park operator (which shall include back-to-back requirements of the SE Grant condition), subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

e)    Delegated Authority to the Assistant Director Assets & Environment to grant a lease to the proposed operator of the bike park for 25 years on terms acceptable to the Council, subject to being satisfied with financial and legal due diligence

f)     Received a further report in the event any issues arise with the financial and legal due diligence exercise where the risks listed in paragraphs 5.15.1 to 5.15.6 materially impact on the delivery of the project and/or the grant funding conditions

Reason for Recommendations

The recommendations establish financial and requisite delegated authorities to proceed with the project. Whilst there are a number of outstanding risks and interdependencies on this project, these approvals are necessary to enable the project to continue.

Alternative Options

None

Resolutions; Cabinet;

a.     Noted the work done to date by WNC officers and Northampton Arts Collective Limited on securing the £1.15m of GBF funding for the refurbishment of 24 Guildhall Road, the design development and procurement that has been undertaken to date and the next steps that are required to take forward this project.

b.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning, Economic Growth and Regeneration to enter into a partnership agreement between the Council and Northampton Arts Collective Limited. This will include, for example (but is not limited to), the establishment of the governance and project arrangements on the refurbishment project and the working relationship beyond completion as referenced in the cabinet report dated 9th September 2020.

c.    Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Assets and Environment to agree heads of terms for a lease and enter a 25-year lease on the lower ground, upper ground and first floors at a peppercorn rent. This is subject to a service charge to Northampton Arts Collective and all documentation related to the project will be completed on simultaneous basis.

d.    Delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects and Regeneration to approve the final design for phase one of the refurbishment project. Page 363

e.    Accepted further reports on any matters generally or risks pursuant to paragraphs 6.23 to 6.30 that arise that are different to what is proposed in this report.

 Reason for Resolutions

a.    The refurbishment project will make use of a WNC building, the former NCC offices, that has no other use.

b.    The recommendations above are required to progress this important cultural regeneration

Alternative Options

None

Resolutions; It was agreed that Cabinet

a.    Noted the work undertaken on developing a draft Bus Service Improvement Plan and the outline BSIP in Appendix A;

b.    Agreed delegated authority to the Executive Directors for Place, Economy and Transport and for Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Members with responsibility for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste and for Finance, to agree the final Bus Service Improvement Plan (in consultation with a cross party working group of up to 6 members) prior to submission to the Department for Transport and publication on the Council’s website by 31 October 2021.

c.    Asked Scrutiny to facilitate the establishment of a task and finish group to input to and review progress on the establishment of the Enhanced Partnership.

Reason for Resolutions

a.    To improve bus services in West Northamptonshire and minimise the risk of any communities losing their bus service;

b.    To facilitate climate and environmental benefits through increasing bus use and the operation of more low emission buses;

c.    To contribute to the implementation of the Northamptonshire Transportation Plan (the Local Transport Plan);

d.    To enable the Council to access the funding being made available by Government to support the National Bus Strategy

e.    To meet the deadlines set by the Department for Transport

Alternative Options

None

Resolutions: It was agreed that Cabinet:

Hackleton

a) Noted and welcomes the significant progress in making the neighbourhood development plan (NDP) by the Hackleton community.

b) Accepted the examiner’s recommended modifications in respect of the Hackleton NDP.

c) Accepted the examiner’s recommendation that the Hackleton NDP, as modified in accordance with recommendation (b) above, should proceed to a referendum of voters within Hackleton Parish.

d) Approved the proposed decision statement set out in Appendix 1, subject to recommendations (b) and (c) above and any necessary factual alterations.

e) Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy to make further minor editorial changes to the NDP to address any factual and typographical errors and to reflect the fact that the document will be in its intended final form.

f) Agreed that the costs of the referendum be met from the existing budget for

neighbourhood planning.

 Reason for Resolutions

In order for a Neighbourhood Development Plan (“NDP”) to be ‘made’ (adopted) the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012 No. 637) require the Council to make a decision regarding the examiner’s recommendations before agreeing to subject the NDP to a referendum.

Alternative Options

None

Resolutions: It was agreed that Cabinet:

Overstone

a)    Noted and welcomed the significant progress in making the neighbourhood development plan (NDP) by the Overstone community

b)     Agreed the Examiner’s recommended modifications in respect of the Overstone NDP with the exception of the recommendation relating to important view V6

c)    Considered the responses to the consultation on proposed deletion of important view V6 and confirms deletion of the view

d)     Agreed the Examiner’s recommendation that the NDP, as modified in accordance with recommendation b) and c), should proceed to a referendum of voters within Overstone Parish

e)    Approved the proposed decision statement set out in appendix 1, subject to recommendations b) and d)

f)     Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy to make further minor editorial changes to the NDP to address any factual and typographical errors and to reflect the fact that the document will be in its intended final form

g)    Agreed that the costs of the referendum be met from the earmarked reserve for neighbourhood planning.

Reason for Resolutions

In order for a NDP to be “made” (adopted) the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 ((SI 2012 No. 637) require the council to make a decision on the Examiner’s recommendations before agreeing to send it to referendum. In this case, the council was required to decide whether it is appropriate to make a different decision to the examiner in respect of one issue

Alternative Options

None

Resolutions: It was agreed that Cabinet:

Clipston

a)    Noted and welcomed the significant progress in making the NDP by the Clipston community.

b)    Agreed the Examiner’s recommended modifications in respect of the Clipston NDP are accepted and further minor modifications as set out in appendix 1 are also made

c)    Agreed that the NDP, as modified in accordance with recommendation (b), shall proceed to a referendum of voters within the Clipston neighbourhood area

d)    Approved subject to items (b) and (c) above, the proposed decision statement set out in appendix 1, subject to any necessary factual alterations

e)    Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Interim Head of Planning and Climate Change Policy to make further minor editorial changes to the NDP to address any factual and typographical errors and to reflect the fact that the document will be in its intended final form

f)     Agreed that the costs of the referendum be met from the earmarked reserve for neighbourhood planning.

Reason for Resolutions

In order for a NDP to be “made” (adopted) the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 ((SI 2012 No. 637) require the council to make a decision on the Examiner’s recommendations before agreeing to send it to referendum. In this case, the council is required to decide whether it is appropriate to make a different decision to the Examiner in respect of one issue.

Alternative Options;

None

Resolutions:  It agreed that Cabinet:

a) Approved the business case for the Old Black Lion and St Peter’s Church project to draw down

on £315,000 of Towns Funding

b) Delegated authority to the Head of Major Projects and Regeneration to finalise the Grant

Funding Agreement with The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT)

c) Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Assets and the Environment to agree terms of

the lease on the Old Black Lion Pub.

 Reason for Resolutions

The recommendation was made so the regeneration of Northampton Town Centre can take place as set within the Town Investment Plan.

Alternative Options

None