Agenda item

i)             Councillor Stone to propose and Councillor Mason to second:

“This Council recognises that living in a flat for families with children can be very difficult. It often inhibits play, and isolates families that rely on neighbourhood social networks. In particular many parents struggle to access their flat with pushchair, shopping, toddlers and children.

Even where there is a lift available the lift can be out of order making life difficult.

This Council therefore resolves to work towards a situation where families with children under 5 are not put in flats above the 1st floor”.

ii)            Councillor Ashraf to propose and Councillor Marriott to second:

“This Council notes that Cabinet gave authority to enter into contractually binding arrangements that may lead to the disposal of land and buildings at Westbridge Depot for use in connection with a ‘waste to energy’ installation.

This Council is concerned that detailed and informative consultation (as set out in the ‘Consultation Toolkit’) has not been adequate. Also there was not sufficient information about the proposal and plans in the cabinet report.

This Council therefore asks to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to set up a Panel of councillors, which includes representatives from all political groups, to investigate the proposal more thoroughly and how public consultation on this issue can be improved”.

iii)           Councillor Beardsworth to propose and Councillor Glynane to second:

“Council notes cabinet's decision to enter into legally binding contracts with a waste company proposing to build a power plant in the urban heart of Northampton town, and that no consultation has taken place with the people of St. James, Far Cotton, or the other areas where residents lives will be impacted by this dangerous proposition.

Council further notes that the St. James’ area in particular suffers terrible traffic problems, with roads already overloaded by local businesses - and that other plants of this type have a waste lorry coming or going once every 3 minutes. Contrary to statements made by this administration, Council also notes that plants of this type have not been shown to produce

any net power whatsoever, and while there are environmental benefits compared to landfill, these would be undermined by an urban location.

Council recognises the significant problems plants of these types have had around the Country and the world with spillage and leaks of toxic substances into the local area.

Council therefore resolves that a full consultation must be taken out regarding all and any further decisions about the possibility of this power plant, and that no further steps will be taken without:

1.  A full business case

2.  A clear, evidence based understanding of environmental benefits, risks and problems associated with developments of this type.

3.  The full and informed consent of the people of St. James, Far Cotton and the surrounding areas.

Council further resolves that to ensure that these conditions are met in an open and transparent way, all further moves towards the proposed development must be ratified both at Cabinet and Full Council”.

iv)           Councillor Meredith to propose and Councillor Glynane to second:

Council recognises the need for Northampton's road system to be dramatically improved. However, Council also notes with regret the frustration caused to motorists, residents, shoppers and businesses by the extreme amount of work being done simultaneously around the town centre over the past few months.

Given the already fragile position of many of Northampton's businesses following 4 disastrous years of a Conservative administration, Council recognises that something must be done to mitigate some of the damage caused.

Council therefore resolves to work more closely with the County Council to ensure that works in Northampton are planned and scheduled more effectively in future, and further resolves to reduce the business rates of Northampton town centre businesses by 5% in each of the months where work has been going on in Abington Street, the Victoria Promenade/ Cheyne Walk junction, the Carlsberg Roundabout or the Drapery. This discount will apply to the last year and until the end of these works”.

v)            Councillor Glynane to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second:

The Councils are in fact assets belonging to the town and to the communities surrounding them.

Often, the sale of assets happens because of pressures on the Council, rather than because of the needs of the local community.

As such, the capital receipts generated by the sale of assets should, where possible, be spent on improving facilities in the local area. Even where this is not possible, communities should have clear information of where money generated by the disposal of assets from their community is being reinvested by the Council.

Council therefore resolves to publish this information”.

Mr Craig Ryan addressed Council – Motion i) and commented that he lived with his wife and two small children in a first floor flat. He spoke of the struggle that he and his wife endured having to get two small children, shopping and pushchairs upstairs without access to lifts. He noted that the flat provided by the Council, had no garden and the nearest play area was a twenty minute walk away. He commented that he was concerned when his children played in the limited space within the flat that they may receive complaint from his neighbours and said that it would be logical to prioritise families with Housing needs. He reminded Council that since the motion related to children they should be aware that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that it applied to all children under the age of 18 and included their right to play.

i)             Councillor Stone proposed and Councillor Mason seconded:

“This Council recognises that living in a flat for families with children can be very difficult. It often inhibits play, and isolates families that rely on neighbourhood social networks. In particular many parents struggle to access their flat with pushchair, shopping, toddlers and children.

Even where there is a lift available the lift can be out of order making life difficult.

This Council therefore resolves to work towards a situation where families with children under 5 are not put in flats above the 1st floor”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.

Councillor Ashraf declared that under the relevant constitutional procedure Motion 2 had been amended to the motion below, which had amalgamated Motions 2 and 3.

ii)            Councillor Ashraf proposed and Councillor Beardsworth seconded:

“This Council notes that Cabinet gave authority to enter into contractually binding arrangements that may lead to the disposal of land and buildings at Westbridge Depot for use in connection with a ‘waste to energy’ installation.

This Council is concerned that detailed and informative consultation (as set out in the ‘Consultation Toolkit’) has not been adequate. Also there was not sufficient information about the proposal and plans in the cabinet report.

Council further notes that the St. James’ area in particular suffers terrible traffic problems, with roads already overloaded by local businesses - and that other plants of this type have a waste lorry coming or going once every 3 minutes. Contrary to statements made by this administration, Council also notes that plants of this type have not been shown to produce any net power whatsoever, and while there are environmental benefits compared to landfill, these would be undermined by an urban location.

Council recognises the significant problems plants of these types have had around the Country and the world with spillage and leaks of toxic substances into the local area.

Council further notes that the St. James’ area in particular suffers terrible traffic problems, with roads already overloaded by local businesses - and that other plants of this type have a waste lorry coming or going once every 3 minutes. Contrary to statements made by this administration, Council also notes that plants of this type have not been shown to produce any net power whatsoever, and while there are environmental benefits compared to landfill, these would be undermined by an urban location.

Council recognises the significant problems plants of these types have had around the Country and the world with spillage and leaks of toxic substances into the local area.

Council therefore resolves that a full consultation must be taken out regarding all and any further decisions about the possibility of this power plant, and that no further steps will be taken without:

1.  A full business case

2.  A clear, evidence based understanding of environmental benefits, risks and problems associated with developments of this type.

3.  The full and informed consent of the people of St. James, Far Cotton and the surrounding areas.

Council further resolves that to ensure that these conditions are met in an open and transparent way, all further moves towards the proposed development must be ratified both at Cabinet and Full Council.

Council also asks to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to set up a Panel of councillors, which includes representatives from all political groups, to investigate the proposal more thoroughly and how public consultation on this issue can be improved”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.

Having written to the Chief Executive, the proposers and seconders of the remaining motions were changed from the originals (printed on the agenda) to below.

iv)           Councillor Beardsworth  proposed and Councillor Glynane seconded:

Council recognises the need for Northampton's road system to be dramatically improved. However, Council also notes with regret the frustration caused to motorists, residents, shoppers and businesses by the extreme amount of work being done simultaneously around the town centre over the past few months.

Given the already fragile position of many of Northampton's businesses following 4 disastrous years of a Conservative administration, Council recognises that something must be done to mitigate some of the damage caused.

Council therefore resolves to work more closely with the County Council to ensure that works in Northampton are planned and scheduled more effectively in future, and further resolves to reduce the business rates of Northampton town centre businesses by 5% in each of the months where work has been going on in Abington Street, the Victoria Promenade/ Cheyne Walk junction, the Carlsberg Roundabout or the Drapery. This discount will apply to the last year and until the end of these works”.

Councillor Mackintosh proposed and Councillor Hadland seconded an amendment.

The amended motion read:

“Council recognises the need for Northampton's road system to be dramatically improved. However, Council also notes with regret the frustration caused to motorists, residents, shoppers and businesses by the amount of work necessary around the town centre over the past few months for the regeneration of the town.

Council recognises that the businesses need support and resolves to continue the already established practice of asking the Valuation Office to consider the business rates of Northampton town centre businesses in each of the months where work has been going on in Abington Street, the Victoria Promenade/Cheyne Walk junction, the Carlsberg Roundabout or the Drapery where this has not already been considered”.

The proposed amendments were accepted and became the substantive motion:

Council debated the substantive motive.

Upon a vote, the substantive motion was carried.

v)            Councillor Meredith proposed and Councillor Beardsworth seconded:

The Councils are in fact assets belonging to the town and to the communities surrounding them.

Often, the sale of assets happens because of pressures on the Council, rather than because of the needs of the local community.

As such, the capital receipts generated by the sale of assets should, where possible, be spent on improving facilities in the local area. Even where this is not possible, communities should have clear information of where money generated by the disposal of assets from their community is being reinvested by the Council.

Council therefore resolves to publish this information”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.