Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Flavell and Miah.

There were no minutes for signing.

Councillor Hadland declared an interest in item 15 “Options for New Lease of Royal and Derngate Theatres to Northampton Theatres Trust” as Trustee which he regarded as being both personal and prejudicial and left the meeting during consideration of it.

Report of Public Engagement and Communications Task and Finish Group (copy herewith)

Councillor Malpas submitted a report from an Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group in respect of Public Engagement and Communications.  He noted that the focus group sessions held at the Guildhall on 20 and 21 April 2006 had been particularly valuable.  He referred to the recommendations set out on pages 15 and 16 of the report and the fact that the Communications Manager was already taking steps to implement them.  He also referred to the consultation protocol set out as Appendix J.

Councillor Hadland thanked Councillor Malpas and his colleagues for their work and commented that consultation should be a part of every day working and should not be seen as a kind of optional extra.  He commented that the report was very thorough and recommendations were realistic.  Councillor Larratt endorsed this point of view adding that the protocol set out in Appendix J needed to be adhered to.

Report of Corporate Manager (Finance and Asset Management) (copy herewith)

Councillor Hadland submitted a report that set out the background to the 2006/7 Capital Programme process; the proposed programme for 2006/7; the outturn for 2005/6; and Treasury Management and Prudential Borrowing Limits for 2006/7.  He commented that recommendation 2 was to be amended to read “That any capital receipts achieved in excess of the target level are used to reduce borrowing and that corporate maintenance schemes to the level of the Prudential Borrowing are delayed until an asset disposal programme is agreed to that level”.  It was noted that the programme recommended by the Corporate Assets Board was focussed on the need to address most urgent maintenance backlogs to keep key buildings operational and to address health and safety implications.

The Corporate Manager (Finance and Asset Management) referred to the Treasury Management of Policy attached to the report.

Councillor Palethorpe noted that in order to complete the Gas Appliance Renewal Scheme in Council houses, which was being undertaken on health and safety grounds, the Council would use its legal right of entry, if necessary, to gain access to properties so that the work could be undertaken.

Report of Corporate Manager (Finance and Asset Management) (copy herewith)

Councillor Hadland submitted a Revenue Budget Monitoring Report for the period ending May 2006 commenting that it was too early in the financial year to be able to make predictions from the figures.  The Corporate Manager (Finance and Asset Management) commented that the purpose of the report at this stage was to introduce the monitoring format to the Cabinet with the concept of Portfolio Statements and that in future the profiling of budgets would be made more sophisticated.

This item has been combined with the following one.

This item was taken in conjunction with item 9.

Report of Corporate Director (Human Resources) (copy herewith)

Councillor Palethorpe submitted a report which set out a Pay and Grading Review Project that the Council was required to undertake under a Joint National Agreement on Single Status and which would come into effect on 31 March 2007.  The project would also support the Recovery Plan by providing a pay and grading framework that would reward employees appropriately and to ensure their retention and motivation to deliver the Council’s services to the required standards.  He thanked the Trades Unions for their support during the restructuring and for this review.

Item withdrawn.

Report of Community Safety Manager (copy herewith)

Mr Winder commented that the report and strategy was very positive and that he was pleased with the emphasis on Section 17 and working with the community.  He highlighted an apparent gap in respect of private sector registered social landlords and referred to a protocol devised by the London Borough of Hillingdon that set up on a voluntary basis, minimum standards for private sector registered social landlords to comply with Section 17.  He suggested that the Cabinet may wish to consider this.

Mr Winder was thanked for his address.

Councillor Palethorpe submitted a report which drew together a number of policies into one strategy document.  He was particularly pleased to see that the strategy strengthened support for both victims and witnesses and that crack house closures and dispersal orders were also highlighted.  He also welcomed the inclusion of introductory tenancies within the strategy.

Councillor Hadland commented that it was welcome that the strategy highlighted issues that people were interested in.

Report of Corporate Manager (Citizen Engagement) (copy herewith)

Mr Swinn, with the agreement of the Chair circulated some notes in respect of CASPAR 3+ (Spring Boroughs) and commented upon the Spring Boroughs extended area; the lack of inputs, outputs and funding; the lack of clear focus and commenting on the County Council and Police’s ability to resource this project in light of their budget reductions.  He was pleased that Councillors would have greater involvement and commented that in his view the report needed to be reviewed and perhaps considered by Overview and Scrutiny.  Mr Swinn was thanked for his address.

Mr Winder commented on the extended Spring Boroughs area which had locally caused confusion whether the resources would be dominated by CASPAR and the effect of new developments which themselves would not be hotspots of deprivation.  Mr Winder was thanked for his address.

Councillor Glynane commented that he had been unable to get the Councillors briefing but commented that the strategy appeared to lack a community champion and suggested that recommendation 1.4 should be amended to include Councillors.

The Corporate Manager (Citizen Engagement) commented that this scheme was very important and took account of Government Guidance and Best Practice and included the Council’s partners.  A Government Consultant was advising the Council on national path finding projects and their experiences.  He noted that there was some additional funding for the Spring Boroughs area but not for the rest of the Borough.  The project was mainly about the realignment of existing Borough Council, County Council, Police and PCT resources.  He commented that outcomes and outputs had not been defined deliberately as this needed to be done at a local level recognising local needs and issues.

Councillor Hadland commented that paragraph 5.2 of the report set out the Council’s commitment and that this Cabinet meeting was the first in a series of meetings by the partner agencies to approve resourcing.

The Community Development Manager commented that local people and Councillors would be brought into centre stage and the concept of neighbourhood management was about a wider partnership to make things better.  The schemes would eventually cover the whole of the town but initially sixteen hotspots of deprivation had been identified and agreed and an attempt to bring them together and he referred to the plan displayed at the meeting.

Councillor Palethorpe commented that he agreed with the idea of community champions but did not think it appropriate that Councillors took over these projects, but rather, should help to support and service the management arrangements.

THE CHAIR TO MOVE:

“THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE DISCLOSURE TO THEM OF SUCH CATEGORIES OF EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED BY SECTION 100(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS LISTED AGAINST SUCH ITEMS OF BUSINESS BY REFERENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PARAGRAPH OF SCHEDULE 12A TO SUCH ACT.”

The Chair moved that the public and Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that there was likely to be disclosure to them of such categories of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 as listed against such items of business by reference to the appropriate paragraph of Schedule 12A to such Act.

The Motion was Carried.

Report of Asset Manager (copy herewith)

Councillor Hadland submitted a report that sought approval to the freehold disposal of an area of land on terms to be agreed at the rear of 20-22 Station Road.

Report of Asset Manager (copy herewith)

Cabinet examined the available options for the future leasing of the Royal and Derngate Theatres to the present tenant, Northampton Theatres Trust Limited.