Agenda item

(Copy herewith)

Councillor Nunn proposed a report which updated Members on the current situation with regards to the potential Local Government reorganisation within Northampton. It sought Council’s approval to work with the other county, district and borough Councils on a draft unitary proposal for consultation and for an agreed budget to finance the work.

Councillor Stone commented that Councils were being put under pressure by the Government and being starved of resources; she questioned how a new unitary authority would manage when starting out with a budget deficit. 

Councillor Beardsworth stated that she was not in support of the recommendations and was displeased with the Government’s decision to pursue the limited options and noted that the creation of a unitary authority would be with a number of difficulties including a lack of commonality. She emphasised the need for a consultation to involve, collaborate with and empower members of the public

Councillor B Markham commented that he considered the recommendations would pre-empt the proposed consultation with businesses and residents.

Councillor Duffy reported that her ward bordered that of Daventry District Council and noted her concerns that there had been a lack of cohesion with them over matters affecting both areas. Councillor Meredith stated that the proposal was motivated by the 7 Conservative MPs for the area and to agree to the report would be an extension of the MPs approach.

Members raised concerns about asset stripping and called the Council to establish a register in order to preserve the Towns assets. Further concerns were raised about the litter, the cuts to public services and issues with the recovery of loan money to NTFC, which was currently decaying the Council and the Town.

Councillor Golby offered his support for the recommendations and stated that the move to a Unitary Authority was encourage by the Government as they could see the overall benefits that it would bring.

Councillor Oldham reported that he had initially been in support of a Unitary Northampton but as this concept had been dismissed by the Government it was considered a necessity to work with their proposals.

The Deputy Leader commented that he had serious reservations about joining South Northants and Daventry but noted that they had been to the Government with the proposal for a Unitary Northampton on a number of occasions and this had not been fruitful; therefore it was necessary to reconsider the options offered. He explained that the assets of the Borough were of great importance and every effort would be made to protect them.

Upon a requisition for a recorded vote, there voted for the recommendations:

Councillors Aziz, Bottwood, Choudary, Eldred, Flavell, Golby, Graystone, Hallam, Hibbert, Hill, Kilbride, King, Lane, Larratt, Malpas, M Markham, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Sargeant, Kilby-Shaw and Walker.

There voted against the recommendations:

Councillors Ashraf, Beardsworth, Birch, Chunga, Culbard, Davenport, Duffy, G Eales, T Eales, Joyce, B Markham, McCutcheon, Meredith, Russel and Stone

There abstained the Mayor:

RESOLVED:

2.1       That Northampton Borough Council (NBC) acknowledge the recent invitation from the Secretary of State to submit a proposal for a single tier of Local Government in Northamptonshire

2.2       That the Council continue to work with the other county, districts and borough councils on a draft unitary proposal for consultation, suitable for submission to the Secretary of State, set against the criteria as detailed in the formal invitation letter and attached schedule, to submit a proposal for a single tier of local government in Northamptonshire

2.3       That it be agreed to a working budget of up to £100,000 (in addition to any internal resources consumed within existing budgets) with delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, that would fund any necessary work required in relation to local government reorganisation.

2.4       That a further report be received on the 29^th August 2018 which will detail the final proposal to be submitted to the Secretary of State and the outcomes from the consultation, prior to the final submission deadline of 31^st August 2018

2.5       That Council’s resolution on the motion on Unitary Government dated 23^rd January 2017 has been superseded following the later resolution of Council dated 14^th May 2018 be noted and affirmed