Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17^th October 2024 to be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at the meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Chair.

To receive any announcements from the Leader of the Council.

(i)            Public Statements To consider public statements received in accordance with public meeting procedure rule 15.

(ii)          Public Questions To consider public questions received in accordance with public meeting procedure rule 16.

(iii)         Petitions To receive petitions qualifying for full Council in accordance with the council’s petition scheme.

To receive any presentations from the Executive in accordance with meeting procedure rule 3.1 (vi).

To seek acceptance of the findings of the Local Government Association Peer Challenge and note the Action Plan.

To seek approval of the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26

To seek adoption of the draft Statement of Licensing Principles 2025-2028.

To receive a progress update in relation to the activities of the Planning Improvement Board

To receive the Annual Report from the Director of Public Health for 2023-2024

To update full Council on the progress for the nomination and selection of the appointment of co-opted town and parish council representatives to the Democracy and Standards Committee.

To consider motions received in accordance with Meeting Procedure Rule 18 as follows: -

Motion 1

To be proposed by Cllr Jim Hakewill and seconded by Cllr Cedwien Brown: –

“On the 16^th November 2023 the Executive received a report setting out a timetable for the adoption of its Local Development Scheme and setting out adoption of the Gypsy & Traveller Local Plan in March 2026.  The timetable set out clear timescales for pertinent documents to be finalised.  In particular, consultations in March/April and November/December 2024, Submission to the Secretary of State in February 2025, and Examination in September 2025.

It has been necessary to revise the timeline because of this Council’s failure to meet the timetable set out in the report received by the Executive on 16^th November 2023.  If the Council had met that timetable as it resolved, to the local plan would have been the subject of two consultations presented to Council for adoption at the December 2024 meeting of full Council. As a result of the delay this Council will not now submit its local plan to the Secretary of State as was the intention in February 2025.

As a result of the failure to meet the deadlines that underpinned the resolution of the Executive on 16^th November 2023, this council directs the removal of the budget of £1.3 million from the capital program 2024-28 approved by Full Council on the 22^nd February 2024.

This will remove the threat of development on Rothwell Green Space (Junction 3 A14) and therefore place the need for, and possible identification of, Temporary Traveller Stopping places provision into the NNC-wide Local Plan evaluation of Traveller accommodation as and when it restarts."

Motion 2

To be proposed by Cllr Alex Evelyn and seconded by Cllr Anup Pandey: –

On 7 August the Leader of this Council wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer raising concerns that “Despite submitting the Standard of Care and Outline Business Case in early 2021 and summer 2022 respectively, these have yet to be considered or approved by the New Hospital Programme”. The Leader further raised the “need to ensure that we have the services and infrastructure for our local population both now and in the future”.

The Labour Government’s decision to review the New Hospital Programme by the previous Conservative Government has put the development of Kettering General Hospital under threat, with the £620 million ear marked for investment going back to the Chancellor. This will impact the health and wellbeing of residents across North Northamptonshire and outcomes for patients.

Given North Northamptonshire is expected to grow by tens of thousands over the coming years, and the elderly population with increased co-morbidities is on the rise,  we need a hospital that is fit for purpose and has the capacity to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly elderly population.

Furthermore, having state of the art facilities will reduce the time spent by patients in acute settings through a reduction in infection rates,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 14.

To receive questions from members in accordance with meeting procedure rule 17.

To consider any items of business of which notice has been given to the Proper Officer and the Chair considers to be urgent, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972.