Agenda and minutes

Councillor Oldham declared a personal, non-pecuniary interest as a Council tenant.

Councillors Kilbride, Bottwood and Caswell declared personal non- pecuniary interests as board members of Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH)

To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on 25^th January 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 25^th January 2016 were agreed and signed by the Mayor.

Apologies were received from Councillors King, Hadland, Culbard, Cali, Duffy, Davenport and McCutcheon.

The Mayor announced that on the 6^th March 2016 she would be attending the Clean for the Queen Spring Clean in Lings and Lumbertubs. The Mayor commented that this was part of a campaign to clear up Britain in time for the Queens 90^th Birthday, to be officially celebrated in June and urged Members to get involved in making Britain tidier.

The Mayor to proposed a suspension of standing orders under Rule 25 to enable the mover and seconders the opportunity to speak for a maximum of 10 minutes and that no other speech exceeds 5 minutes in relation budget reports, was agreed.  

It was also noted that in accordance with the principles of the 2014 regulations, recorded votes would be held on all matters relating to the budget items 6,7,8,9, and 10 of the agenda.

There were no public comments or petitions.

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Councillor Markham submitted a report that sought approval for the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2016 to 2020 and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council the authority to finalise the Corporate Plan and associated action plan in line with budget decisions, service plans and any other consequent changes.

Councillor Hallam seconded the report.

Councillor Stone proposed and Councillor Birch seconded an amendment to the Corporate Plan, on the attached supplementary document to the minutes.

There voted for the amendment; Councillors Ashraf, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There voted against the amendments: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Meredith, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor and Councillor Beardsworth.

The amendment was lost.

Council debated the recommendations within the report.

There voted for the recommendations: Councillors Ansell, Ashraf, Aziz, Birch, Bottwood, Caswell, Choudary, G Eales, T Eales, Eldred, Golby, Gowen, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Marriott, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Russell, Sargeant, Shaw, Smith, Stone and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations Councillor Meredith.

There abstained the Mayor and Councillor Beardsworth.

The recommendations in the report were agreed:

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Corporate Plan (2016 to 2020) attached to the report be approved.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to finalise the Corporate Plan and associated action plan in line with the budget decisions, service plans and any other consequent changes.

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Councillor Hallam submitted a report that advised Council of the robustness of the estimates in the budget and adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.

Councillor Patel seconded the recommendations.

There voted for the recommendations: Councillors Ansell, Ashraf, Aziz, Birch, Bottwood, Caswell, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Eldred, Golby, Gowen, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Marriott, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Russell, Sargeant, Shaw, Smith, Stone and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor and Councillors Beardsworth and Meredith.

RESOLVED:

That careful consideration be given to the content of the report with regards to the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account prior to recommending the approval of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan 2016/21, the Revenue Budget for 2016/16, Capital Programme 2016/21 and Treasury Management Strategy 2016/17.

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Councillor Hallam submitted a report which reported the outcome report the outcome of the consultation process on the 2016/17 General Fund budget and the final formula grant settlement for 2016/17 and to agree the Cabinet’s recommendations for the General Fund revenue and capital budgets, the level of Council Tax increase for 2016/17 and indicative levels for 2017/18 to 2020/21. It also sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy attached to the report.

Councillor Markham seconded the report.

Councillor Gowen proposed and Councillor Stone seconded amendments, on the attached supplementary document to the minutes.

There voted for the amendments Councillors Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Meredith, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There voted against the amendments: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor.

The amendment was lost.

Councillor Beardsworth proposed and Councillor Meredith seconded amendments on the attached supplementary documents to the minutes.

There voted for the amendments: Councillors Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Meredith, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There voted against the motion: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor

The amendment was lost.

Council debated the recommendations contained within the report.

There voted for the recommendations: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations: Councillors Ashraf, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There abstained the Mayor and Councillors Beardsworth and Meredith.

The recommendations in the report were agreed:

RESOLVED:

2.1         That the feedback from consultation with the public, organisations and the Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committees be considered and welcomed (detailed at Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of attached Cabinet report).

2.2         That the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2016/17 of £29.6m (excluding parishes) be approved (detailed in Appendices 4, 5 and 6 of attached Cabinet report).

2.3         That Council does not increase the Council Tax for its own purposes, i.e. excluding County, Police and Parish Precepts, for 2016/17.

2.4         That Council approved the General Fund Capital Programme and proposed financing for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix 7 of attached Cabinet report.

2.5         That Council confirmed the aim of maintaining a minimum level of General Fund reserves of £5.3m for 2016/17, having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment.

2.6         That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Cabinet Member to:

·           Transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·           Update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators Report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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Councillor Hallam submitted a report that sought the approval of the HRA 2016/17 budget and the HRA forecasts for 2017/18 to 2020/21, rent increases, service charges and other charges for 2016/17, including the Total Fee proposed for Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) to deliver the services in scope for 2016/17.

Councillor Hibbert seconded the report.

There voted for the recommendations: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations: Councillors Ashraf, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There abstained the Mayor.

The recommendations in the report were agreed:

RESOLVED:

2.1   That Council approved:

a)      An average rent decrease of -1% per dwelling, in line with the Government’s national rent policy and proposed legislation, to take effect from 4^th April 2016.

b)      The HRA budget for 2016/17 of £53.7m expenditure including options detailed in Appendix 1.

c)      The HRA capital programme for 2016/17, including future year commitments, and proposed financing as set out in Appendix 3.

d)      The proposed service charges listed in Appendix 4.

e)      That Cabinet be authorised, once the capital programme has been set, to approve new capital schemes and variations to existing schemes during 2016/17, subject to the funding being available and the schemes being in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the Council.

f)       The Total Fees proposed for NPH to deliver the services in scope for 2016/17 detailed in Appendix 5.

2.2      That the Council acknowledged the issues and risks detailed in the Chief Finance Officer’s report on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.  

2.4      That the Council be recommended to confirm the reserves strategy of protecting balances wherever possible to allow the option of supporting future years’ budgets, aiming for a minimum level of unallocated Housing Revenue Account balances of at least £5m for 2016/17 having regard to the outcome of the financial risk assessment and remaining at this level over the medium term.

2.5      That Council delegated authority to the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer to implement any retained HRA budget options and restructures.

2.6      That authority be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, and where appropriate the relevant Director and Cabinet Member to:

·         transfer monies to/from earmarked reserves should that become necessary during the financial year.

·         transfer monies to /from HRA working balances between the Council and NPH  for cash flow purposes should that become necessary during the financial year.

·         update the budget tables and appendices, prior to Council should any further changes be necessary.

·         update prudential indicators in both the Prudential Indicators report and Treasury Strategy report, for Council for any budget changes that impact on these.

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Councillor Hallam submitted a report that set out the final precept determinations from the major precepting authorities (Northamptonshire County Council and Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner), parish councils, and the budget setting decision of the Council.

Councillor Markham seconded adoption of the report.

There voted for the recommendations: Councillors Ansell, Bottwood, Caswell, Eldred, Golby, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, M Hill, Kilbride, Lane, Larratt, Lynch, Malpas, Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Shaw and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations: Councillors Ashraf, Birch, Choudary, Chunga, G Eales, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, Marriott, Russell, Smith and Stone.

There abstained the Mayor.

The recommendations in the report were agreed:

RESOLVED:

There were none.