Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Janice Duffy, Nilesh Parekh and  Zoe Smith.

The Chair to note public address requests.

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.  You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

Councillor Brian Markham addressed the Call-In Hearing.  He commented he was mindful that the call-in was in respect of the sum of £500,000 in relation to the recovery of the Sixfields loan money.  He felt that the actual loan was an issue of public concern and how the tax payers money was being used.  He referred to the original decision in respect of the loan commenting that he was surprised this had not been called-in at that time.   Councillor Markham welcomed the call-in because in his opinion it gave the opportunity for wider discussion.  He asked the Committee to consider if £500,000 had not been available from reserves to pursue the loan, how the money could be pursued and the issue was not just about the recovery of the money but the process.

Councillor Markham was thanked for his address.

There were none.

Called in by Councillors Danielle Stone and Arthur McCutcheon (copy attached).

Item 7, decision taken on Wednesday, 13 July 2016:

Decision:

“Cabinet approved to transfer up to £500,000 from the Future Pressures Earmarked Reserve for professional fees to continue the recovery of monies lent to Northampton Town Football Club (NTFC).”

Procedure for the Call-In Hearing

Public speakers will be asked to address the Committee; a maximum of three minutes is given to each to make comment.

The Call-In Authors, Councillors Danielle Stone and Arthur McCutcheon, will be invited to expand upon their reasons for concern, following which the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will question the Call-In Authors.

Councillor Mary Markham, Leader of the Council, and Councillor Brandon Eldred, Cabinet Member for Finance, will be invited to make a presentation outlining their main reasons for the decision.  The Committee will then put questions to the Cabinet Members and Officers. 

Officers will be invited to give evidence and respond to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s questions.  The Officers will be asked to give their reasons for any recommendations or advice to Members. A question and answer session will follow.

The Call-In Authors will then be given the opportunity to add any points of clarification before any resolution or recommendation is moved.

The Chair will then sum up the findings regarding the Cabinet decision. If there are still concerns, the Chair will lead in the determination of the recommendation with reasons for consideration by Cabinet. At the conclusion of the debate and following response to all matters raised, the Chair will ask the Committee to vote to determine whether or not it upholds the decision of the Cabinet.

The Chair advised the reasons for the Call In Hearing.

The Chair to Move:

“that the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there is likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12a to such act.”

It was moved that the Press and Public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there is likely to to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to paragraphs 3,5, and 7 of schedule 12a to such act.