Agenda item

i)             Councillor B Markham to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second

“The Council recognises the value of community pharmacies as an important primary healthcare service and the role they play in our local community. Our local pharmacies offer a range of services not only dispensing prescriptions but promoting health and well-being providing advice such as on smoking cessation, flu vaccination and sexual health.

Pharmacies provide help and advice from pre-natal care to support for and advice services to elderly care homes.

This Council is greatly concerned about Central Government cuts to pharmacy support of 12% from December 2016 with a further reduction of 6% in 2017. This could lead to the loss of up to a quarter of our local chemist shops in particular from secondary shopping areas such as Kingsthorpe Front, Wellingborough Road and St James Square.

Service cuts to community pharmacies will put residents at risk and increase pressure on already stretched GPs and A&E Departments leading to an increase in NHS costs.

Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health, NHS England and to our 3 local Members of Parliament calling for an immediate review of the proposed cut to funding for this vital local service.

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

“This council agrees to undertake a review and independent valuation(s) of the Mayoral car's NH1 registration. This process will assist council / cabinet in making an informed decision whether to retain or dispose of this asset subject to a form of public consultation or gauging of public opinion.

Council notes the need for Northampton to improve its air quality and reduce C02 emissions, with that in mind and to be setting the right example, at the appropriate & viable time in the future, the first citizen's vehicle should be considered to be replaced with a fully electric car.

Out of respect for the incumbent Mayor, no action will be taken on the above until the end of the current mayoralty, but the review process can operate in the background”.

iii) Councillor Birch to propose and Councillor Russell to second:

“This Council notes that loan sharks and aggressive pay day loan companies charge exorbitant interest rates. We note the difficulties this often poses to our disadvantaged communities who need to take out loans.

We acknowledge the excellent work of the Credit Union in the One Stop Shop helping people who struggle to budget, save and get affordable loans.

This Council agrees to work with Northamptonshire Credit Union to create locality access for residents who cannot afford to travel to the Guildhall. Everyone should be able to access this excellent scheme.

This Council further agrees to promote the Credit Union in its literature when and wherever it is appropriate to do so”.

iv) Councillor Duffy to propose and Councillor Birch to second:

 “This Council believes it is regrettable that the Thorplands community shop was closed without consultation with the local community.

This Council understands the importance of community amenities. Community amenities help provide much needed local services and support willing and local volunteers who want to support their communities.

This Council understands that the infrastructure for maintaining a community amenity and volunteer support for local communities needs the support of community development staff.

Therefore this Council resolves to do all it can to bring the shop back into community use”.

i)             Councillor B Markham proposed and Councillor Beardsworth to seconded.

“The Council recognises the value of community pharmacies as an important primary healthcare service and the role they play in our local community. Our local pharmacies offer a range of services not only dispensing prescriptions but promoting health and well-being providing advice such as on smoking cessation, flu vaccination and sexual health.

Pharmacies provide help and advice from pre-natal care to support for and advice services to elderly care homes.

This Council is greatly concerned about Central Government cuts to pharmacy support of 12% from December 2016 with a further reduction of 6% in 2017. This could lead to the loss of up to a quarter of our local chemist shops in particular from secondary shopping areas such as Kingsthorpe Front, Wellingborough Road and St James Square.

Service cuts to community pharmacies will put residents at risk and increase pressure on already stretched GPs and A&E Departments leading to an increase in NHS costs.

Council asks the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health, NHS England and to our 3 local Members of Parliament calling for an immediate review of the proposed cut to funding for this vital local service’.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.

Mr Phil Leached addressed Motion ii) and stated that he welcomed the motion and stated that the Council should sell the number plate and the car invest the money from the proceeds in ‘Shopmobility’.

Mr Arthur Newbury stated that he was not in favour of the motion as he considered it to be important to retain the heritage of the town and as the number plate was gifted to the Council, it should be kept as it had cost people nothing.

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

“This council agrees to undertake a review and independent valuation(s) of the Mayoral car's NH1 registration. This process will assist council / cabinet in making an informed decision whether to retain or dispose of this asset subject to a form of public consultation or gauging of public opinion.

Council notes the need for Northampton to improve its air quality and reduce C02 emissions, with that in mind and to be setting the right example, at the appropriate & viable time in the future, the first citizen's vehicle should be considered to be replaced with a fully electric car.

Out of respect for the incumbent Mayor, no action will be taken on the above until the end of the current mayoralty, but the review process can operate in the background”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was lost.

iii) Councillor Birch to propose and Councillor Russell to second:

“This Council notes that loan sharks and aggressive pay day loan companies charge exorbitant interest rates. We note the difficulties this often poses to our disadvantaged communities who need to take out loans.

We acknowledge the excellent work of the Credit Union in the One Stop Shop helping people who struggle to budget, save and get affordable loans.

This Council agrees to work with Northamptonshire Credit Union to create locality access for residents who cannot afford to travel to the Guildhall. Everyone should be able to access this excellent scheme.

This Council further agrees to promote the Credit Union in its literature when and wherever it is appropriate to do so”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

Motion iv) was withdrawn in accordance with the guidance in the Constitution.

iv) Councillor Duffy to propose and Councillor Birch to second:

 “This Council believes it is regrettable that the Thorplands community shop was closed without consultation with the local community.

This Council understands the importance of community amenities. Community amenities help provide much needed local services and support willing and local volunteers who want to support their communities.

This Council understands that the infrastructure for maintaining a community amenity and volunteer support for local communities needs the support of community development staff.

Therefore this Council resolves to do all it can to bring the shop back into community use”.