Issue - meetings

     (Copy herewith)

Cabinet:

2.1       Accepted the final draft Action Plan following the Report in the Public Interest (“the Report”) regarding the Council’s loans to Northampton Town Football Club (NTFC) (accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016), and

2.2       Agreed to forward the final draft Action Plan following this meeting to West Northamptonshire Shadow Authority to allow the successor authority (West Northamptonshire Council) to consider the future actions and how this is managed and reported on, through its own governance processes and determine them as it sees fit.

2.3       Noted that relevant notices will be published and consultations with the external auditor will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

The Leader of the Council presented the report outlining the final draft Action Plan relating to the Council’s loans to Northampton Town Football Club.  The report took in full the recommendations made by KPMG and put a response and confirmed accountability for each of the ongoing next steps. The recommendations were to accept the final action plan and forward it to the Shadow Authority to allow the new West Northamptonshire Council to proceed with the actions.

Councillor Stone questioned how much information had been given to the new authority and how Councillors and residents would be able to monitor the implementation and impact of the Action Plan.  Councillor Stone also asked about the Council’s relationship with the Football Club and the Supporters’ Trust.  The Leader stated that as a Public Interest Report, it would be taken very seriously and Members kept informed. Relations with the club and supporters were generally good.

Councillor Beardsworth expressed the view that the problems had occurred because due diligence had not been followed, and asked how a similar situation could be prevented in future.  The Leader advised that these issues had been discussed previously, and it was important that appropriate governance was in place.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet:

2.1       Accepted the final draft Action Plan following the Report in the Public Interest (“the Report”) regarding the Council’s loans to Northampton Town Football Club (NTFC) (accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016), and

2.2       Agreed to forward the final draft Action Plan following this meeting to West Northamptonshire Shadow Authority to allow the successor authority (West Northamptonshire Council) to consider the future actions and how this is managed and reported on, through its own governance processes and determine them as it sees fit.

2.3       Noted that relevant notices will be published and consultations with the external auditor will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Audit and Accountability Act 2014.