Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair opened the meeting and advised that an urgent item “Leader’s Announcements - Child Sexual Exploitation” had been accepted onto the agenda following consultation with the Monitoring Officer as proper officer, and in accordance with meeting procedure rule 11.

The urgent item had been accepted as the Chair was satisfied that a position needed to be taken prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Council.

The Chair expressed her sincere condolences at the passing of George Blackwell and extended condolences on behalf of everybody at the Council to George’s family and friends. Mr Blackwell had been a former long-serving Councillor for the Borough of Wellingborough and an Honorary Freeman of the Borough.

The Chair opened the floor to receive tributes from councillors, with Councillors Matt Keane, John McGhee, Martin Griffiths, Tim Allebone and the Leader of the Council, Jason Smithers speaking warmly to acknowledge Mr Blackwell’s dedicated service to Earls Barton, Wellingborough and Northamptonshire as a parish, borough and county councillor over a 40 year period.

A minute’s silence in memory of Mr Blackwell was then observed by all those in attendance at the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Bell, Jon-Paul Carr, Mark Dearing, Emily Fedorowycz, Kirk Harrison, Richard Levell, Paul Marks, Steven North, Anup Pandey, David Sims, Joseph Smyth, Sarah Tubbs, Michael Tye and Malcolm Ward.

The Chair asked those members who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Chair invited the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jason Smithers to make an announcement in relation to Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Leader stated that the Council noted the deep concerns raised across Northamptonshire and the wider country regarding the failures of all governments to address the crimes of child sexual exploitation, particularly those associated with grooming gangs. It recognised the devastating and long-lasting impact on victims, their families and communities and acknowledged the bravery of those who have come forward to expose such exploitation.

The Leader stated that the Council further recognised that those affected deserved justice and only a thorough independent and wide-ranging national investigation across all agencies could address the systemic failures in identifying, preventing and prosecuting crimes throughout the United Kingdom and to understand the impact in Northamptonshire.

The Leader sought member support in writing to the Prime Minister urging the government to launch a comprehensive national inquiry into grooming gangs with assurances that the findings and recommendations be made public in the interest of transparency, justice and to prevent such horrific crimes in the future.

All members were asked to briefly be upstanding as a mark of unity with victims, demonstrating empathy and a shared sense of justice and as an offer of unwavering support and commitment to ensuring that all victims had the chance to receive the justice and compassion that they so deserved.

RESOLVED

That Council

a) Welcomed the publication of the English Devolution White Paper and intent to devolve powers from Government and agrees that it wished to continue to be included in discussions on the creation of a Strategic Authority for the South Midlands.

b) Agreed that it wants to join the Devolution Priority Programme as a Principal Local Authority of the South Midlands Authorities.

c) Delegated authority to the Leader of the Council to submit an Expression of Interest to confirm North Northamptonshire Councils agreement to join the Devolution Priority Programme to explore the creation of a South Midlands Strategic Authority.

d) Delegated authority to the Leader of the Council (in consultation with Group Leaders) to progress negotiations for the creation of a South Midlands Strategic Authority on behalf of the Council through the Devolution Priority Programme or otherwise.

e) Agreed that, following these discussions, consultation and the development of specific proposals (including allied responsibilities, powers, governance and resources), a further report be considered by Council in 2025 to enable a decision to be taken on the creation of a Strategic Authority for the South Midlands.

Reason for Recommendations: To provide the opportunity for the Council together with the other South Midlands principal authorities to engage in the Devolution Priority Programme to explore the additional opportunities, benefits, and risks, for the area associated with the establishment of a Strategic Authority so that a more informed decision can be taken at a later date in 2025. This report is presented to allow a response to Government to meet the deadline of 10^th January 2025.

Alternative Options Considered: The Council could choose not to engage with Government and the other South Midlands local authorities on the devolution proposals. This could result in the Council losing an opportunity to realise potential opportunities to deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses of our area. It may also lead to Government mandating change without the same ability of the Council to influence proposals.

The Chair called upon the Leader of the Council, Cllr Jason Smithers to introduce a report that provided an outline of the Government’s devolution proposals contained within the English Devolution White Paper published on 16^th December 2024 and sought the agreement of Full Council as to the next steps that should be taken.

The recommendations in the report were proposed by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Jason Smithers, and seconded by Cllr Scott Edwards.

The Leader noted that English Devolution White Paper confirmed the Government’s aim for coverage of combined authorities in the form of “strategic authorities” in the following hierarchy:

·       Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities

·       Mayoral Strategic Authorities

·       Foundation Strategic Authorities

It was reported that the scope of devolution available included integrated settlements to fund local priorities covering housing, regeneration, local growth, local transport, skills, retrofit and employment support with the intention that this would enable strategic authorities to move funding between policy areas resulting in better value for money and improved outcomes.

The Leader provided details of the powers, funding and responsibilities for each of the three tiers of strategic authorities, noting that the most far-reaching and flexible powers would be for Established Mayoral and Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

The meeting heard that the government had been clear that where progress was slow in the creation of such authorities, Government would have the power to mandate them by ministerial directive to enter into arrangements

The Leader made specific reference to devolution in the South Midlands and the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), with it being noted that in September 2024, North Northamptonshire Council along with Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton and West Northamptonshire councils, had submitted an expression of interest for creating a non-mayoral combined authority based on the South Midlands geography. This expression of interest had been considered by government and passed its initial test for devolution.

It was heard that the Government had indicated that for those areas where there was significant scale, a functional economic area and a desire for the area to explore the possibility of having a strategic authority, there was the option to join the Devolution Priority Programme. These areas that formed part of the DPP would be the focus in the immediate term for devolution.

It was understood that Government would be providing significant resources to these DPP areas, including secondary resourcing and capacity funding. Principal local authorities and groupings wanting to be considered as potential strategic authorities were required to confirm this position to Government by 10^th January 2025.

The Leader confirmed that joining the DPP did not commit North Northamptonshire Council to supporting the creation of a strategic authority or its specific form, with formal decisions to taken later in 2025. The six South Midlands councils were required to make a decision as to whether to explore the potential benefits of a strategic authority, however, all six authorities needed to agree to join the DPP for discussions to progress on the creation of a strategic authority for  ...  view the full minutes text for item C/410

RESOLVED

That Council approved the recommendations set out in Appendix A of the report inclusive of the revised allocation of seats for the committees to the recognised political groups, in accordance with statutory proportionality requirements and the Constitution.

Consideration was given to a report of the Monitoring Officer, which set out the revised political balance of the Council as a result of the following changes:

·       Cllr Ken Harrington moving from the Conservative Group to Reform UK.

·       The disbanding of the Independent Alliance Group, with Cllr Cedwien Brown moving to the Conservative Group, Cllr Martin Griffiths joining Reform UK and Cllrs Jim Hakewill and Joseph Smyth becoming unaligned independents

·       Cllr Ross Armour (previously unaligned) and Cllr Charlie Best (previously Green Alliance) ceasing to be members of the Council

The report also proposed the apportionment of seats on committees in accordance with the application of the political balance calculations, as required by statute.

Cllr Jason Smithers moved, and Cllr Helen Howell seconded the motion setting out the recommendations in the report.

The motion was voted on, with 57 councillors in favour, 0 abstaining and 0 against.

RESOLVED

That Council approved the recommendations set out in Appendix A of the report inclusive of the revised allocation of seats for the committees to the recognised political groups, in accordance with statutory proportionality requirements and the Constitution.