Agenda item

Cabinet Member Presentations

Minutes:

Councillor Nunn submitted his report as Leader of the Council and provided an update on the unitary status.  The costs were being considered.  There was a need to find the right balance between getting additional staff in for the project, which would drive costs up and asking existing employees to do additional work which could put a strain on day to day operations.

 

In response to questions the Leader responded that they were trying to find the right site to locate an alternative park and ride scheme whilst promoting the existing scheme.  In terms of funding the position of project officer, he confirmed that all costs were being funded equally from all eight local authorities.

 

Councillor Larratt submitted his Cabinet Member report and thanked Mr Lee for attending, Thorplands 81 did a great job.  The importance of the club was recognised and a report would be submitted to Cabinet in due course to propose a lease for Thorplands 81 which would enable them to access other funding sources.

 

In response to questions the Deputy Leader clarified that the Councillor Development Group had meet and asked officers to complete a proposal for Antisemitism and Islamophobia training.  It was agreed to be added and delivered by Northamptonshire Police.  If that session was not appropriate then others could be considered.

 

The Deputy Leader explained that the market traders remained keen to know more about the Future High Streets fund and the Council would keep them engaged in the process.  The town needed the market and other good retail facilities.  There was no proposal to change the heritage lights on the Racecourse but they kept getting broken therefore the fixtures may change to make them unbreakable. 

 

The Deputy Leader indicated that he would continue to raise the rail issues at every opportunity.

 

Councillor Hibbert submitted his Cabinet Member report explaining it was the second successful year of the emergency night shelter with volunteers donating more than 14,300 hours.  The hospital discharge scheme was working well.  July marked the 100th anniversary of council housing.  A series of events would be planned to mark this milestone and more details would follow.  Lakeview House had now been completed.  It was a wonderful, light and airy building.

 

In response to questions Councillor Hibbert explained that people attending the shelters did have personalised plans and knew what help they could receive.  He believed that residents should be involved in the council housing anniversary celebrations.  Regarding the hospital discharge scheme he confirmed that officers met on a weekly basis.

 

Following a query the Monitoring Officer explained that restricting the number of members asking questions had been agreed at the pre-meet.  The time limit on the item was forty five minutes with three minutes for each portfolio holder.  Usually there was not enough time to hear from them all.  The constitution allowed the Mayor to manage the meeting in this way.

 

Councillor Hill submitted his Cabinet Member report indicating that work on the Queen Eleanor Cross would begin on 1st April 2019.  In response to questions Councillor Hill clarified that planning processes would be followed with regards to the new pathway from the University to Hardingstone.

 

Councillor King submitted her Cabinet Member report explained the boards for the guided walks had been erected with a new tour taking place each month relating to a person or place in the town. 

 

In response to questions Councillor King said that she would consider putting boards displaying LGBT events into the main hall at the Guildhall in the future.  The Youth Forum was very well attended with all schools bar one being represented including the cadets.  She would want to see this continue following the move to unitary status.

 

Councillor Hallam submitted his Cabinet Member report saying the Kangaroo run was very successful and he would speak to the ward councillors separately. 

 

In response to questions Councillor Hallam said they would try to influence the owners to maintain the grass verges at Sixfields.  The air quality outside of schools was monitored with none indicating levels of air pollution to be concerned over.

 

Councillor Eldred submitted his Cabinet Member report explaining all collection rates were on target.  Events were being booked in the Great Hall.  In response to questions Councillor Eldred confirmed that if needed additional staff could be brought in to manage the close down of the accounts.

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