Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Regeneration

The “Agreement” relating to the administration and functioning of the JPU at Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report is approved and agreed, and authorisation is given to the Chief Executive to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Borough Council.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet with concern that the accounting function for the organisation lay with South Northants Council, as Northampton Borough Council was the largest contributor to the budget and was likely to experience the largest development growth.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet calling for a rejection of the document as it did not reflect the views of the whole Council but only the Administration.  He referred to the recent quinquennial review of WNDC and expressed dissatisfaction that NBC has insufficient influence on the sub group considering that it paid for one third of the budget.  He observed that the people of Northampton had been short-changed and that planning powers should be returned to district council level.

Councillor Church, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Cabinet and explained that the legal agreement was in place to formalise arrangements that had already been agreed and were in practice.  The existence of the Joint Planning Unit was a Government-led requirement.  He further explained that the West Northants Joint Strategic Planning Committee was not the West Northants Development Corporation.  The Committee dealt with policy matters and not development control.  Members of the Committee were all elected representatives from across West Northamptonshire.  He felt that it was right and proper that Northampton Borough Council had the important role of managing the Joint Planning Unit.

The Leader, Councillor B Hoare reiterated the important role this Authority had in the organisation and welcomed the formalisation of roles in this legal document.

RESOLVED

That the “Agreement” relating to the administration and functioning of the JPU at Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report be approved and agreed, and authorisation be given to the Chief Executive to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Borough Council.