Agenda item

i)             Councillor Larratt to propose and Councillor Hill to second:

‘This Council notes, welcomes and supports the position of Northamptonshire County Council with regard to a North West bypass for Northampton as expressed in a motion to that Council that was approved at a meeting held on 25th September 2014 calling for the building of a north west bypass to dual carriageway standard, thus completing the Northampton ring road.

‘Furthermore this Council notes, welcomes and supports the strong desire of local residents in and to the north of Northampton for the construction of this road as expressed at a meeting of Northampton Residents Forum held on 4^th November 2014 .

This Council deeply regrets that the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy fails to support and provide for the development of this vital road infrastructure that will greatly assist in relieving the high level of traffic congestion and air pollution that exists in the north of the Borough and beyond.

‘This Council therefore requires the provision of a North West bypass for Northampton to be a major feature of Planning Strategy and Policy for the area, and for it to be delivered to the standard expressed by the County Council within the time span of current development strategies and plans for the area.’

ii)            Councillor Marriott to propose and Councillor Mason to second that:

This Council notes that the Conservative Administration opposed the Labour Group amendment to the “Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16” which would have implemented a living wage for council staff from April 2013. This Council welcomes the recent Conservative Administration ‘U-turn’ by now implementing the living wage for Northampton Borough Council staff.

The Living Wage Foundation says its “good for business, good for the individual and good for society”.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says “paying the Living Wage is not only morally right, but makes good business sense too. There are now over 2,200 employees working for companies with contracts from the GLA who are benefitting from the London Living Wage.”

Local Authorities that have adopted the Living Wage include the Greater London Authority, Ashfield District Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Cherwell District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Oxford City Council, Thurrock Council and Winchester City Council.

This Council is also a major supplier/contractor of public services. Therefore it resolves for 1st April 2015 to:-

1.    Supports the introduction of a Living Wage to all contracted and sub-contracted staff.

2.    Adopt a policy of supporting the Living Wage in procurement on a case by case basis.

3.    Seek accreditation as a Living Wage employer through the Living Wage Foundation.

4.    Use our influence as a major local employer and provider of services to urge other local employers to pay the Living Wage.

Mr Newbury addressed Motion i) and commented that there was a great need for a better road system and stated that he considered the completion of the ring road of utmost importance and noted that it needed to be extended further out past Bucton Fields.

Mr Croucher addressed Motion i) and commented that a North-West bypass would only be beneficial to the West and with an increase in traffic the roads were crumbling as a result. He stated that a bypass would be beneficial for future developments; specifically of a waste to energy plant was created in the St James’ area.

i)             Councillor Larratt proposed and Councillor Hill seconded that:

This Council notes, welcomes and supports the position of Northamptonshire County Council with regard to a North West bypass for Northampton as expressed in a motion to that Council that was approved at a meeting held on 25th September 2014 calling for the building of a north west bypass to dual carriageway standard, thus completing the Northampton ring road.

‘Furthermore this Council notes, welcomes and supports the strong desire of local residents in and to the north of Northampton for the construction of this road as expressed at a meeting of Northampton Residents Forum held on 4^th November 2014 .

This Council deeply regrets that the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy fails to support and provide for the development of this vital road infrastructure that will greatly assist in relieving the high level of traffic congestion and air pollution that exists in the north of the Borough and beyond.

‘This Council therefore requires the provision of a North West bypass for Northampton to be a major feature of Planning Strategy and Policy for the area, and for it to be delivered to the standard expressed by the County Council within the time span of current development strategies and plans for the area’.

Council debated the motion

Upon a vote, the Motion was carried.

Mr Croucher addressed Motion ii) and commented that people needed an increase in wages in order to increase spending and therefore improving the economy and the Living Wage would be more fair and equal for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

ii)            Councillor Marriott to propose and Councillor Mason to second that:

This Council notes that the Conservative Administration opposed the Labour Group amendment to the “Council Wide General Fund Revenue Budget 2013-16” which would have implemented a living wage for council staff from April 2013. This Council welcomes the recent Conservative Administration ‘U-turn’ by now implementing the living wage for Northampton Borough Council staff.

The Living Wage Foundation says its “good for business, good for the individual and good for society”.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says “paying the Living Wage is not only morally right, but makes good business sense too. There are now over 2,200 employees working for companies with contracts from the GLA who are benefitting from the London Living Wage.”

Local Authorities that have adopted the Living Wage include the Greater London Authority, Ashfield District Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Cherwell District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Oxford City Council, Thurrock Council and Winchester City Council.

This Council is also a major supplier/contractor of public services. Therefore it resolves for 1st April 2015 to:-

1.    Supports the introduction of a Living Wage to all contracted and sub-contracted staff.

2.    Adopt a policy of supporting the Living Wage in procurement on a case by case basis.

3.    Seek accreditation as a Living Wage employer through the Living Wage Foundation.

4.    Use our influence as a major local employer and provider of services to urge other local employers to pay the Living Wage.

Councillor Mackintosh proposed and Councillor Bottwood seconded an amendment.

The amended motion read:

This Council notes that the Conservative Administration has brought forward plans to implement a living wage for council staff from April 2014 at a time when the financial position of the authority allows it.

The Living Wage Foundation says its “good for business, good for the individual and good for society”.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says “paying the Living Wage is not only morally right, but makes good business sense too. There are now over 2,200 employees working for companies with contracts from the GLA who are benefitting from the London Living Wage.”

Local Authorities that have adopted the Living Wage include the Greater London Authority, Ashfield District Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Cherwell District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Oxford City Council, Thurrock Council and Winchester City Council.

This Council is also a major supplier/contractor of public services. Therefore it resolves for

1st April 2015 to:-

1.    Consider the introduction of a Living Wage for future contracts.

2.    Consider a policy of supporting the Living Wage in procurement on a case by case basis.

3.    Seek accreditation as a Living Wage employer through the Living Wage Foundation.

4. Use our influence as a major local employer and provider of services to urge other local employers to pay the Living Wage.”

The proposed amendments were accepted and became the substantive motion.

Council debated the substantive motion.

Upon a vote, the substantive motion was carried.