Agenda item

i)             Councillor McCutcheon to propose and Councillor Birch to second:

 

“This Council notes that the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy has not worked out entirely to the benefit of Northampton.

 

This Council notes that much development will be placed just outside the Borough Boundary.

 

This Council further notes this means Northampton will have the challenges that come with large scale housing development. However, South Northamptonshire District Council and Daventry District Council will keep the additional Council Tax income and New Homes Bonus that will come from this new development on Northampton’s doorstep.

 

This Council believes the Borough Boundary, in the longer-term, should be extended to incorporate SUEs, as outlined in the Joint Core Strategy, which are immediately outside Northampton and also other very close developments such as Grange Park. So this Council believes there should be a limited expansion of the Northampton Borough Boundary.

 

This Council further believes if there is a review of the borough boundary it must be done with full public consultation”

 

 

ii)            Councillor G Eales to propose and Councillor Stone to second:

 

“This Council recognises that in order to provide confidence to the staff at all levels, the senior leadership of the Council must work in close partnership with the Trade Unions who represent our employees.  Northampton Borough Council will only deliver excellent public services when Trade Unions, councillors and senior management work together.

 

So this Council believes that it is important to develop a reputation as a good employer and to build a relationship with staff and their representatives based on mutual trust.

 

To this end the Council agrees the following:-

 

1.    The Trade Unions have an important role to play in a democratic and accountable public authority.

 

2.    To have regular local joint meetings with all the recognised staff Trade Unions.

 

3.    To guarantee sufficient facility time and resources in order that the Trade Unions can properly represent all their members.

 

4.    To re-enter national pay bargaining for local government”.

 

 

iii)           Councillor Cali to propose and Councillor Haque to second:

 

“This Council notes that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that makes some young girls in our local communities very vulnerable.  It is often referred to as ‘cutting’ and is a form of child abuse. It happens to young girls in our county and in our town.

 

This Council believes we can act together to stop it happening in our town.

 

This Council will do the following:-

• Work with the Police and other agencies so that we understand the scale of the problem.

• Ensure all relevant front line staff through training are aware of this issue, how to support victims and how to support campaigners against the practice

 

This Council resolves to identify the groups that are campaigning against this practice in order to

• Sign post vulnerable girls and their families to them

• Support the campaigns by disseminating any appropriate literature

• Ensure the relevant local campaign groups are aware they have the support of this Council”.

 

iv)         Councillor Bottwood to propose and Councillor Ansell to second:

“A Green Flag flying above a public open space recognises that the space meets the highest possible standards, is maintained beautifully and has excellent facilities. This Council welcomes with pride the award of Green Flag status to Abington Park and Delapre Park.

This Council recognises the hard work of the staff, Friends groups and volunteers who have worked throughout the year to make these awards possible.

This council recognises the wealth of green and open spaces that Northampton has to offer, is rightly proud of these spaces and commits to protecting them and maintaining them to a high standard”.

 

 

 

 

i)             Councillor McCutcheon proposed and Councillor Birch seconded:

 

“This Council notes that the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy has not worked out entirely to the benefit of Northampton.

 

This Council notes that much development will be placed just outside the Borough Boundary.

 

This Council further notes this means Northampton will have the challenges that come with large scale housing development. However, South Northamptonshire District Council and Daventry District Council will keep the additional Council Tax income and New Homes Bonus that will come from this new development on Northampton’s doorstep.

 

This Council believes the Borough Boundary, in the longer-term, should be extended to incorporate SUEs, as outlined in the Joint Core Strategy, which are immediately outside Northampton and also other very close developments such as Grange Park. So this Council believes there should be a limited expansion of the Northampton Borough Boundary.

 

This Council further believes if there is a review of the borough boundary it must be done with full public consultation”

 

Council debated the motion.

 

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.

 

Mr R Mendell addressed Motion ii) and commented that he supported the Motion. He commented that as a Union member, he had thought it necessary to strike 7 times in 23 years and stated that the Trade Unions didn’t always favour disruption and industrial action but that it was considered a necessity in certain cases. He also stated that Trade Unions offered day to day assistance with employees and also developed and shaped policies and their value should not be diminished.

 

 

ii)            Councillor G Eales proposed and Councillor Stone seconded:

 

“This Council recognises that in order to provide confidence to the staff at all levels, the senior leadership of the Council must work in close partnership with the Trade Unions who represent our employees.  Northampton Borough Council will only deliver excellent public services when Trade Unions, councillors and senior management work together.

 

So this Council believes that it is important to develop a reputation as a good employer and to build a relationship with staff and their representatives based on mutual trust.

 

To this end the Council agrees the following:-

 

1.    The Trade Unions have an important role to play in a democratic and accountable public authority.

 

2.    To have regular local joint meetings with all the recognised staff Trade Unions.

 

3.    To guarantee sufficient facility time and resources in order that the Trade Unions can properly represent all their members.

 

4.    To re-enter national pay bargaining for local government”.

 

Councillor Markham proposed and Councillor Hallam seconded an amendment:

 

Amended motion read:

 

“This Council recognises that Northampton Borough Council has undergone fundamental change over the last few years, and that in order to provide confidence to the staff at all levels the senior leadership of the Council must work in close partnership with its employees and their representatives. Northampton Borough Council will only deliver excellent public services when staff, councillors and senior management work together.

 

So this Council believes that it is important to develop a reputation as a good employer and to build a relationship with staff and their representatives based on mutual trust.

 

To this end the Council agrees the following:-

 

1. To commit to undertaking a full and transparent review of the current culture at Northampton borough Council and work to develop a climate where people can excel and are trusted to deliver the range of services residents across the borough expect.
2. That Trade Unions have a role to play in a democratic and accountable public authority”.

Council debated the amendment.

 

Upon a vote, the amendment was carried and became the substantive motion.

 

Council debated the substantive motion.

 

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

 

 

 

 

 

iii)           Councillor Cali proposed and Councillor Haque seconded:

 

“This Council notes that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that makes some young girls in our local communities very vulnerable.  It is often referred to as ‘cutting’ and is a form of child abuse. It happens to young girls in our county and in our town.

 

This Council believes we can act together to stop it happening in our town.

 

This Council will do the following:-

• Work with the Police and other agencies so that we understand the scale of the problem.

• Ensure all relevant front line staff through training are aware of this issue, how to support victims and how to support campaigners against the practice

 

This Council resolves to identify the groups that are campaigning against this practice in order to

• Sign post vulnerable girls and their families to them

• Support the campaigns by disseminating any appropriate literature

• Ensure the relevant local campaign groups are aware they have the support of this Council”.

 

Councillor King proposed and Councillor Patel seconded an amendment:

 

Amended motion to read:

 

“This Council notes that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice that makes some young girls in our local communities very vulnerable.  It is often referred to as ‘cutting’ and is a form of child abuse. It happens to young girls in our county and in our town.

 

This Council believes we can act together to stop it happening in our town.

This Council will do the following:-

• Continue to work with the Police and other agencies so that we understand the scale of the problem.
• Ensure all relevant front line staff through training are aware of this issue and how to support victims.
• Continue to work with groups such as the Women’s Forum and to support events such as International Women’s Day in order to raise awareness of these issues.
• Acknowledge the work of the Scrutiny Panel into Interpersonal Violence, and the contribution to this work of groups such as the Women’s Forum, BME SRP, Northampton Women’s Aid

 

This Council resolves to identify the groups that are campaigning against this practice in order to

• Sign post vulnerable girls and their families to them
• Support the campaigns by disseminating any appropriate literature
• Ensure the relevant local campaign groups are aware they have the support of this Council”.

 

Council debated the amendment.

 

Upon a vote, the amendment was carried and became the substantive motion.

 

Council debated the substantive motion.

 

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

 

Mr Hufferdine-Smith addressed Council on Motion iv) and congratulated the parks on being given their Green Flag status, but questioned what was being done about the other parks in the Borough. Amey and Enterprise, had not, in his opinion, undertaken a thorough job and there had been poor mowing and strimming and asked that more resources be given to Parish Councils to service the parks they are responsible for.

 

 

iv)         Councillor Bottwood proposed and Councillor Ansell seconded:

“A Green Flag flying above a public open space recognises that the space meets the highest possible standards, is maintained beautifully and has excellent facilities. This Council welcomes with pride the award of Green Flag status to Abington Park and Delapre Park.

This Council recognises the hard work of the staff, Friends groups and volunteers who have worked throughout the year to make these awards possible.

This council recognises the wealth of green and open spaces that Northampton has to offer, is rightly proud of these spaces and commits to protecting them and maintaining them to a high standard”.

 

Council debated the motion.

 

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.