Agenda item

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

This council believes that its best decisions are informed by public consultation.

The council passed the 2019/20 budget in February 2019 but one major saving relating to Car Parking Income has yet to be implemented and this is likely to result in a shortfall in income in the current year.

Whilst consultation was undertaken as part of the budget process this did not include consultation on the specific Car Parking increases.

To ensure that future budgets are implemented as planned, the Council asks Scrutiny to review the 2019/20 consultation process and recommend improvements to ensure that planned changes can be implemented in an effective way.

ii)            Councillor B Markham to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second:

The council is currently consulting on Part 2 of the Local Plan with the view of submitting the draft for public inspection in 2020.

The draft plan has introduced a more detailed categorisation of open space which differentiates between Parks and Gardens and Amenity Green Space.

Many well-known parks have been categorised as Amenity Green Spaces (AGS) which is defined as Informal recreation and green spaces in and around housing, with a primary purpose of providing opportunities for informal activities close to home or work.

The council is concerned that the public would not recognise their local park as complying with this definition and requests that consideration is given to all open spaces, with play equipment supplied and maintained by this council, be classified as Parks and Gardens and not as Amenity Green Spaces.

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

Council welcomes the formation of a Town Centre Masterplan. A bid for funding from the governments Future High Streets Fund can only be a positive thing for Northampton, especially if we are successful. However, it must be noted that until it no longer exists or is replaced, Northampton Borough Council is the current authority with responsibility for the Town Centre and regeneration. Yet this fundamental role is being circumvented during the Town Centre Masterplan process. The formation of 'Northampton Forward' has been undertaken without a mandate from Full Council or indeed the cabinet. This entity is answerable to no-one - as such there is a democratic deficit and no accountability. The board of 'Northampton Forward' is scheduled to be the sole decision maker on any final bid that goes forward and the body that considers any public feedback.

There is of course a role for stakeholders and partners, but it is imperative that Northampton Borough Council and elected members play a role in what should be a positive process, as is our elected responsibilities. The Town Centre Masterplan and the grouping that drives it must operate with openness and not on the basis of cronyism.  This town has suffered enough of that. To ensure the best outcomes, the following is agreed;

1) Full Council shall nominate Councillors from each political grouping to sit on the Northampton Forward board. The numbers should be; Conservative 3, Labour 2 and Lib Dem 1.  These Councillors should play active roles as board members in considering the feedback from the public and shaping any final plan that is submitted for consideration, working in parity with the rest of the board. The nominees from each political group should be established within 48 hours after this meeting and provided to the Chief Executive, who can then advise Northampton Forward.

2) Full Council should formally vote on any final Town Centre plans that are to be part of any bid.  This plan can be pre-agreed by the Northampton Forward board ‘in principle’ and then brought to Full Council for rubber-stamping.

With cross party involvement on this issue and on the Northampton Forward board, it will ensure ‘buy in’ from all political groups and everyone positively focused on the best outcome for the town, whilst still respecting the role and democracy of Northampton Borough Council.

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

This Council recognises the contribution made to the town by the voluntary sector. They will bring local intelligence, energy, commitment and resources to our localities.

We therefore agree;

·         to include the voluntary sector in our forward plans;

·         to ensure robust partnerships are in place as we go into the new Unitary Authority;

·         to work with Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire to provide the Northampton voluntary sector with sound funding and business advice;

·         to work with VIN and CVS to develop back room services for the voluntary sector.

v)            To be proposed by Councillor B Markham to propose and seconded by Councillor Meredith:

At the council meeting on the 3^rd June there was unanimous cross party support for action to be taken to address the “climate emergency”.

Making Northampton carbon neutral by 2030 must be accompanied by conserving and enhancing biodiversity across Northampton and managing its green Infrastructure.

This council adopted a Biodiversity Supplementary Planning document in May 2015 and this will influence new developments but will not affect the general conservation and enhancement of the existing environmental infrastructure that is vital to reducing Northampton’s carbon footprint.

In August 2011 under the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs issued a report entitled:- BIODIVERSITY 2020 : A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services.

The mission for this strategy was to halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well-functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people.

The council requests a report to be presented to the Council meeting in September setting out how this council has responded to the Biodiversity 2020 challenge and highlighting the areas that still need to be addressed that needed to be considered in the preparation of the 2020/21 budget.

     I.        There was no proposer for this motion.

    II.        There was no proposer for this motion.

   III.        Councillor G Eales proposed and Councillor Stone seconded:

“Council welcomes the formation of a Town Centre Masterplan.  A bid for funding from the governments Future High Streets Fund can only be a positive thing for Northampton, especially if we are successful.  However, it must be noted that until it no longer exists for is replaced, Northampton Borough Council, is the current authority with responsibility for the Town Centre and regeneration.  Yet this fundamental role is being circumvented during the Town Centre Masterplan process.  The formation of ‘Northampton Forward’ has been undertaken without a mandate from Full Council or indeed the cabinet.  This entity is answerable to no-one – as such there is a democratic deficit and no accountability.  The board of ‘Northampton Forward’ is scheduled to be the sole decision maker on any final bid that goes forward and the body that considers any public feedback.

There is of course a role for stakeholders and partners, but it is imperative that Northampton Borough Council and elected members play a role in what should be a positive process, as is our elected responsibilities.  The Town Centre Masterplan and the grouping that drives it must operate with openness and not on a basis of cronyism.  This town has suffered enough of that.  To ensure the best outcomes, the following is agree:

·         Full Council shall nominate Councillors from each political grouping to sit on the Northampton Forward board.  The numbers should be: Conservative 3, Labour 2 and Lib Dem 1.  These Councillors should play active roles as board members in considering the feedback from the public and shaping any final plan that is submitted for consideration, working in parity with the rest of the board.  The nominees from each political group should be established within 48 hours after this meeting and provided to the Chief Executive, who can then advise Northampton Forward.

·         Full Council should formally vote on any final Town Centre plans that are to be part of any bid.  This plan can be pre-agreed by the Northampton Forward board ‘in principle’ and then brought to Full Council for rubber-stamping.

With cross party involvement on this issue and on the Northampton Forward board, it will ensure ‘buy in’ from all political groups and everyone positively focused on the best outcome for the town, whilst still respecting the role and democracy of Northampton Borough Council.”

Members debated the motion.

Upon a vote the motion was lost.

  IV.        Councillor Birch proposed and Councillor Russell seconded:

Mr David Ward of Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire addressed Council indicating that 147 organisations had provided support over the last few months.  Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire worked to provide car schemes to take people to appointments and the ‘Happy Home’ scheme which helped to reduce isolation.  They were invested in helping community organisations.  He tried to bring additional funding into the county.  He asked how the voluntary sector could engage with Councillors.  He vocal and passionate about the community sector and promoted organisations engaging in a positive way.  He asked that Council helped to share the same vision and provide continuity for people whilst the government reform changes were being undertaken.

“This Council recognises the contribution made to the town by the voluntary sector.  They will bring local intelligence, energy, commitment and resources to our localities.

We therefore agree:

·         To include the voluntary sector in our forward plans;

·         To ensure robust partnerships are in place as we go into the new Unitary Authority;

·         To work with Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire to provide the Northampton voluntary sector with sound funding and business advice; and

·         To work with VIN and CVS to develop back room services for the voluntary sector.”

Members debated the motion.

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

   V.        There was no proposer for this motion.