Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: The Jeffrey Room, The Guildhall, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE. View directions

Contact: Ed Bostock, ext 7722 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the Borough Secretary.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 December 2019 were agreed and signed by the Leader.

3.

Intention to Hold Part of the Meeting in Private if necessary

Minutes:

There was no intention to hold any part of the meeting in private.

4.

Deputations/Public Addresses

Minutes:

There were none.

5.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The Leader declared an interest in Item 9 (Community Asset Transfer of Cherry Orchard) as the ward Councillor.

6.

Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Minutes:

There were no issues arising from Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

7.

Cityfibre Rollout pdf icon PDF 110 KB

B (Copy herewith)

Decision:

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1Cabinet approved and agreed the delivery of a new fibre network by CityFibre as set out below in the report within the Borough and approved and agreed the arrangements that the Council are putting in place to facilitate this scheme of investment in Northampton  

 

2.2Cabinet delegated to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning the Chief Finance Officer and Borough Secretary the authority to enter  into the following; - a lease with CityFibre for land at Stone Circle Road for a Data Centre Unit supported by a wayleave with CityFibre Metro  Networks Limited and a substation lease with Western Power Distribution Limited to supply electricity to the Data Centre Unit, all of which form part of the scheme of investment in Northampton as set within this report 

 

2.3 Cabinet delegated to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager the authority to negotiate and enter a Master Wayleave Agreement and associated resourcing Service Agreement with CityFibre on appropriate terms to support the scheme of investment in Northampton.  

 

2.4Cabinet delegated to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager the authority to agree a process for approving wayleave applications which will form part of the Master Wayleave Agreement and as noted above forms part of this Scheme of investment.  The applications will be submitted in stages and the routes considered pursuant to this process.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Hadland as the relevant Cabinet Member outlined the report, which agreed the delivery of a new fibre network within Northampton in conjunction with CityFibre, together with related property matters and a master wayleave agreement resourced by the scheme.

 

The Leader stated that he was grateful to all officers who had worked with CityFibre to deliver the project.  Councillor Larratt was pleased to note that the development of the Data Centre at Stone Circle Road allowed continued use of the football pitches by Thorplands 81.  Councillor Hill stated that CityFibre had been commended at a Residents’ Association meeting for their positive engagement with the public.

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1 Cabinet approved and agreed the delivery of a new fibre network by CityFibre as set out below in the report within the Borough and approved and agreed the arrangements that the Council are putting in place to facilitate this scheme of investment in Northampton  

 

2.2 Cabinet delegated to theEconomic Growth and Regeneration Manager in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning the Chief Finance Officer and Borough Secretary the authority to enter  into the following; - a lease with CityFibre for land at Stone Circle Road for a Data Centre Unit supported by a wayleave with CityFibre Metro  Networks Limited and a substation lease with Western Power Distribution Limited to supply electricity to the Data Centre Unit, all of which form part of the scheme of investment in Northampton as set within this report 

 

2.3  Cabinet delegated to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager the authority to negotiate and enter a Master Wayleave Agreement and associated resourcing Service Agreement with CityFibre on appropriate terms to support the scheme of investment in Northampton.  

 

2.4 Cabinet delegated to theEconomic Growth and Regeneration Manager the authority to agree a process for approving wayleave applications which will form part of the Master Wayleave Agreement and as noted above forms part of this Scheme of investment.  The applications will be submitted in stages and the routes considered pursuant to this process.

 

8.

Transfer of Southbridge land to the Council pdf icon PDF 93 KB

(Copy herewith)

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

2.1       Cabinet:

 

(a)   Agreed to the transfer of the parcel of land in Southbridge known as Area E5 (edged in red on the plan in Appendix A, attached to this report) to the Council in accordance with the s106 agreement dated 9 August 2002;

 

(b)   Delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, to complete the transfer to enable the site to be developed for affordable housing.

 

(c)    Agreed to receive a further report in May 2020 that includes details of the affordable housing that is to be built on Area E5 and how the housing development is to be funded.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Hadland as the relevant Cabinet Member outlined the report which allowed the transfer of a parcel of land to the Council, with subsequent development for affordable housing.  A draft scheme for the affordable housing had already been drawn up by Northampton Partnership Homes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1       Cabinet:

 

(a)   Agreed to the transfer of the parcel of land in Southbridge known as Area E5 (edged in red on the plan in Appendix A, attached to this report) to the Council in accordance with the s106 agreement dated 9 August 2002;

 

(b)   Delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, to complete the transfer to enable the site to be developed for affordable housing.

 

(c)    Agreed to receive a further report in May 2020 that includes details of the affordable housing that is to be built on Area E5 and how the housing development is to be funded.

 

9.

Community Asset Transfer of Cherry Orchard pdf icon PDF 135 KB

(Copy herewith)

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED:

 

2.1         Cabinet delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise to complete the transfer of Cherry Orchard to Hardingstone Parish Council on the following terms:-

 

  • That there is a covenant placed on the land to ensure it continues to be used as public open space as the main permitted use for recreational use.
  • Following transfer Northampton Borough Council will continue to cut the grass through its contracted suppliers until 3 June 2028. 
  • The Parish Council will assume responsibility for grass cutting from 4th June 2028.
  • The Parish Council will take on all other responsibilities for the land at completion of the community asset transfer.
  • Northampton Borough Council to retain a right of pre-emption should the Parish no longer require the land for the permitted use.
  • The transfer will be subject to advertisement to adhere to statutory requirements to allow members of the public opportunity to comment.  These comments will be reviewed by the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise and should there be no objections to the proposed disposal the matter will complete.  If there are any objections received to the proposed disposal then the matter will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Hadland as the relevant Cabinet Member outlined the report proposing the transfer of Cherry Orchard Public Open Space to Hardingstone Parish Council.  This was a positive development whereby a local facility for local people would now be controlled by them, and thanks were expressed to officers for facilitating this. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

2.1         Cabinet delegated authority to the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, Chief Finance Officer and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise to complete the transfer of Cherry Orchard to Hardingstone Parish Council on the following terms:-

 

  • That there is a covenant placed on the land to ensure it continues to be used as public open space as the main permitted use for recreational use.
  • Following transfer Northampton Borough Council will continue to cut the grass through its contracted suppliers until 3 June 2028. 
  • The Parish Council will assume responsibility for grass cutting from 4th June 2028.
  • The Parish Council will take on all other responsibilities for the land at completion of the community asset transfer.
  • Northampton Borough Council to retain a right of pre-emption should the Parish no longer require the land for the permitted use.
  • The transfer will be subject to advertisement to adhere to statutory requirements to allow members of the public opportunity to comment.  These comments will be reviewed by the Economic Growth and Regeneration Manager, in consultation with the Borough Secretary, and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise and should there be no objections to the proposed disposal the matter will complete.  If there are any objections received to the proposed disposal then the matter will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

 

10.

Finance Monitoring to November 2019 pdf icon PDF 117 KB

(Copy herewith)

Decision:

RESOLVED:

2.1            That Cabinet noted the contents of the report and noted that future reports will set out the actions being taken by Corporate Management Board (CMB) to address issues arising.

2.2            That Cabinet noted the amendments to the general fund capital programme as set out at paragraph 3.5.1.

2.3            That Cabinet approved a £2.4m virement within the HRA capital programme as set out at paragraph 3.6.2.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Eldred as the relevant Cabinet Member outlined the report forecasting an overspend of £887k.  There had been serious issues with temporary accommodation, but it was hoped that this situation would improve over the next year.  Money was available in reserves if needed.

Councillor Larratt referred to Item 3.5.1 on page 24 and questioned why £1.165m was being invested in the North West Relief Road when the scheme did not have full agreement.  He considered that building on the track-bed of a railway line which was being considered for re-opening was a waste of taxpayers’ money.  The Leader pointed out that there was a need to keep up the supply of housing.  However, the relief from the road would be temporary and delivery of the Northern Orbital Road was the long-term objective.  In the short-term, meetings were being held with Northamptonshire County Council and a formal response to the questions of the roundabout and traffic was being sought.

Councillor Larratt noted that at the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning and Infrastructure Board meeting there had been confusion over the vision for the Northern Orbital Road.  He asked that future consideration be given to defining this.  The Head of Planning stated that he was meeting with the officer drafting the Northamptonshire Strategic Infrastructure Plan next week, and would make the Council’s aspirations clear.

RESOLVED:

2.1            That Cabinet noted the contents of the report and noted that future reports will set out the actions being taken by Corporate Management Board (CMB) to address issues arising.

2.2            That Cabinet noted the amendments to the general fund capital programme as set out at paragraph 3.5.1.

2.3            That Cabinet approved a £2.4m virement within the HRA capital programme as set out at paragraph 3.6.2.