Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

1.      The response to the Northamptonshire County Council consultation on the Partnership Protocol as detailed in Section 3.3 in the report is endorsed.

2.      The Leader of the Council is to respond to the consultation on behalf of the Council by the 19th October 2009 putting forward proposals for a common protocol.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet stating that, as the report had not been sent out with the agenda and as there was no explanation on the website of the report’s intent, he was at a loss as to the decision that Cabinet was being asked to make.

As the appropriate Portfolio Holder, Councillor Woods presented the report to Cabinet.  The purpose of the report was to ratify a response on behalf of Northampton Borough Council to the NCC’s partnership protocol.  Councillor Woods was of the opinion that the document showed a weakness in it being ‘NCC-centric’. There needed to be a level of trust so that different authorities could take a lead where appropriate.

Councillor B Hoare referred to paragraph 3.3.2 of the report, which set out a reply out the questions asked within the consultation and made proposals for a common protocol based on a number of key points. He wanted confirmation that a joint protocol could be drawn up relevant to all participating authorities and not just a modification of NCC’s internal protocol.

Councillor Church questioned NCC’s commitment to partnership working following their withdrawal from the Area and Neighbourhood Partnership initiatives. He called for a more consistent approach and favoured a joint protocol agreement. Councillor PD Varnsverry, who cited the good partnership working to achieve Camp Hill MUGA, backed the call for consistency.

RESOLVED

1.      That Cabinet endorse the response to the Northamptonshire County Council consultation on the Partnership Protocol as detailed in Section 3.3 in the report.

2.      That the Leader of the Council respond to the consultation on behalf of the Council by the 19th October 2009 putting forward proposals for a common protocol.