Agenda item

i)             Councillor Meredith to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second:

“This council makes the following commitment to all tenants living in Council buildings

All council residential blocks of 5 or more storeys, with enclosed stairwells, will be fitted with fire sprinkler systems as soon as possible and by the 31^st July 2018 at the latest”.

ii)            Councillor Haque to propose and Councillor Smith to second:

“This Council notes the proposed large scale housing growth as outlined in the West Northants Joint Core Strategy.

This Council also notes the need for additional school places to meet this population growth.

We note the damaging impact of air pollution on human health as outlined in the Low Emissions Strategy and note that Northampton has air pollution levels above the national average.

We therefore propose:

a)    To do what we can as a local authority to lower air pollution near schools.  

b)    That Air quality testing is regularly conducted around Northampton schools.”

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

“This Council notes there is a growing and serious problem with social overcrowding in council houses.

This Council believes that the national statutory overcrowding regulations are insufficient. Children in particular are affected as there is a lack of space to study, store their clothes and toys, play with siblings, and invite friends over.

This Council will therefore determine a local standard to include the right to a minimum floor space, storage for clothes and personal effects.

We further ask the Cabinet to investigate ways to help families living in socially overcrowded conditions to move on to appropriate accommodation as their family needs develop.

iv)           Councillor King to propose and Councillor Nunn to second:

“There are 5,000 people at any one time in the UK with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), it can affect any adult of any age and nearly 2,200 people die from this rare but fatal neurological disease each year.

MND describes a group of diseases that affect the nerves (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. With MND, messages from these nerves gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and waste.

Motor Neurone Disease is a devastating condition. Progress has been made through research but much more needs to be done.

This motion, therefore, calls for this Council to adopt the MND Charter and thereby support achieving quality of life, dignity and respect for people with MND and their carers.

The Charter:

1)    People with MND have the right to an early diagnosis and information.

2)    People with MND have the right to access quality care and treatments.

3)    People with MND have the right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect.

4)    People with MND have the right to maximise their quality of life.

5)    Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well supported.”

v)            Councillor Larratt to propose and Councillor Nunn to second:

“This Council welcomes the development of plans for the Northern Orbital Road around Northampton, from the A43 at Moulton to the A4500 near Harpole.  We also welcome the consultation on the emerging plans.

This Council confirms its support for the provision of this road for many reasons, not least to alleviate traffic congestion in the Kingsthorpe area, and wishes to see its construction as soon as possible.

To provide the road at the earliest opportunity, while recognising that its provision is dependent on developer contributions, this Council requires that all further development sites, not currently included within the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy, but attributed to the growth of Northampton, are concentrated in the vicinity of the proposed road so that they can contribute to the delivery of this much needed infrastructure and secure its early delivery”.

vi)           Councillor Hibbert to propose and Councillor Hadland to second:

“In light of recent events, Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) have already instructed the installation of sprinklers in their only high-rise Council building, St Katherine’s Court. The Council will continue a review of the other 10 buildings in conjunction with the Fire Service and any further Government guidance.

To ensure those in private buildings are also suitably protected, this Council resolves to undertake an urgent review of the planning policy with regard to residential developments and provisions for sprinkler systems in all new residential buildings of 5 storeys or above”.

The Mayor advised that an altered motion, combining motion i) and vi) had been accepted as an alteration and had been circulated to Members. Council agreed to accept the alteration. The Council agreed with the consent of the original seconder, Councillor Beardsworth, that the seconder would be Councillor Hibbert.

i)             Councillor Meredith proposed and Councillor Hibbert seconded:

This council makes the following commitment to all tenants living in Council buildings

To feel safe in their homes and have the right fire protections as provided by the Fire Service.

In light of recent events, Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) have already instructed the installation of sprinklers in their only high-rise Council building, St Katherine’s Court.

The Council will continue a review of the other 10 buildings in conjunction with the Fire Service and any further Government guidance.

To ensure those in private buildings are also suitably protected, this Council resolves to undertake an urgent review of the planning policy with regard to residential developments and provisions for sprinkler systems in all new residential buildings of 5 storeys or above. The Council will also review the possible need for two separate stair cases to exit tower blocks. NPH to be asked to provide tenants of tower blocks fire safety training”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

The Mayor noted that within accordance to Part 4 (4.2) of the Constitution, motion ii) had been withdrawn.

iii)   Councillor Birch proposed and Councillor Duffy seconded:

“This Council notes there is a growing and serious problem with social overcrowding in council houses.

This Council believes that the national statutory overcrowding regulations are insufficient. Children in particular are affected as there is a lack of space to study, store their clothes and toys, play with siblings, and invite friends over.

This Council will therefore determine a local standard to include the right to a minimum floor space, storage for clothes and personal effects.

We further ask the Cabinet to investigate ways to help families living in socially overcrowded conditions to move on to appropriate accommodation as their family needs develop.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a requisition for a recorded vote:

There voted for the motion: Councillors Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Choudary, Culbard, Davenport, Duffy, T Eales, Gowen, Haque, B Markham, Marriot, Meredith, Smith and Stone

There voted against the motion: Councillors Ansell, Aziz, Bottwood, Eldred, Flavell, Golby, Hadland, Hallam, Hibbert, J Hill, Kilbride, Kilby-Shaw, King, Lane, Larratt, M Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Patel, Sargeant and Walker.

There abstained the Mayor.

The motion was lost.

iv)           Councillor King proposed and Councillor Nunn seconded:

“There are 5,000 people at any one time in the UK with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), it can affect any adult of any age and nearly 2,200 people die from this rare but fatal neurological disease each year.

MND describes a group of diseases that affect the nerves (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. With MND, messages from these nerves gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and waste.

Motor Neurone Disease is a devastating condition. Progress has been made through research but much more needs to be done.

This motion, therefore, calls for this Council to adopt the MND Charter and thereby support achieving quality of life, dignity and respect for people with MND and their carers.

The Charter:

1)    People with MND have the right to an early diagnosis and information.

2)    People with MND have the right to access quality care and treatments.

3)    People with MND have the right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect.

4)    People with MND have the right to maximise their quality of life.

5)    Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well supported.”

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

v)            Councillor Larratt proposed and Councillor Nunn seconded:

“This Council welcomes the development of plans for the Northern Orbital Road around Northampton, from the A43 at Moulton to the A4500 near Harpole.  We also welcome the consultation on the emerging plans.

This Council confirms its support for the provision of this road for many reasons, not least to alleviate traffic congestion in the Kingsthorpe area, and wishes to see its construction as soon as possible.

To provide the road at the earliest opportunity, while recognising that its provision is dependent on developer contributions, this Council requires that all further development sites, not currently included within the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy, but attributed to the growth of Northampton, are concentrated in the vicinity of the proposed road so that they can contribute to the delivery of this much needed infrastructure and secure its early delivery”.

Council debated the motion.

Upon a vote, the motion was carried.

The Mayor noted that motion vi) would not be moved and as agreed earlier in motion iv) would therefore be treated as a withdrawn motion.