Agenda item

Councillor Larratt presented a report to Council which sought to report the recommended suggestions for a first-year base budget from the Cross-Party Working Group held on the 9 December 2020. He explained that the report had been amended and circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

Councillor Nunn seconded the report.

Councillor Stone commented that whilst this was not the preferred option, it was in everybody’s interest to set the new town and parish councils up to succeed for the benefit of the residents. She noted that areas within the new town and parish councils were those with previously mentioned “hidden needs” and hoped that the new councils would find a way to work with the unitary authority in a way that benefitted both, as well as residents.

Councillor Birch noted that the unitary authority may not fully understand the pressures that residents of a large urban area dealt with and that the new town and parish councils would be better equipped to deal with these issues, and that residents would have more say in how money collected through precepts was spent in their local areas.

Councillor Davenport voiced her concern around the cost of precepts in addition to increased council tax; she felt that she had betrayed residents because she had been advised, and in turn advised residents, that local government reform would save them money.

Councillor B Markham commented that he anticipated the cost of town and parish council precepts to increase in the coming years.

Councillor Roberts commented that previous reports to the Cross-Party Working Group were lacking in some respects (costings, background information etc.) and she did not feel able to support the recommendations if this was still the case.

Councillor G Eales stated that he was opposed to Town Council Member allowances or proposed council tax increase and precepts, and that no councillors had a mandate to make decisions on behalf of residents since local elections had been postponed, apart from Councillor Roberts who had been elected in a by-election.

Councillor T Eales noted that many public sector workers would not see a pay rise and noted the increase in food bank use nationally and felt that Member Allowances were distasteful given the circumstances.

Councillor Meredith commented that many residents in his ward relied on food banks and many would struggle to pay for the new precept and increase in council tax.

Councillor Nunn commented that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme in Northampton would increase as rates were harmonised across the different areas in the West. He noted that it was for the individual councils to set their own budgets and that the report was merely a recommendation. He further noted that Councillor Allowances were included to ensure that childcare could be paid for in instances of single parents wishing to become councillors.

Councillor Larratt highlighted the importance of Northampton residents having a strong voice within the unitary authority and believed that town and parish councils were an effective way of making those voices be heard.

Upon a requisition of a recorded vote:

There voted for the recommendation:

Councillors Ashraf, Ansell, Aziz, Birch, Bottwood, Duffy, Eldred, Flavell, Golby, Graystone, Hadland, Hallam, Haque, Hibbert, Hill, Kilbride, King, Lane, Larratt, Malpas, Marriott, Nunn, Oldham, Parekh, Patel, Kilby-Shaw, Smith, Stone, Walker.

There voted against the recommendation:

Councillors Cali, G Eales, T Eales, Joyce, Meredith, Roberts.

There abstained the Mayor, Davenport, B Markham, Russell.

RESOLVED:

1.     Council accepted the suggested base budgets for Northampton Town Council, Kingsthorpe Parish Council and Far Cotton & Delapre Community Council, as set out at paragraph 4.3 of the report, and in turn suggested to the Northampton Town Council, the Kingsthorpe Parish Council and the Far Cotton & Delapre Community Council to set these budgets for their respective Councils for 2021/22 to ensure their safe and legal operation.