Agenda item

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

i)             Noted the work undertaken by, and on behalf of, the Scrutiny Working Group as instructed by the Scrutiny Commission

ii)            Noted and considered the feedback from the Scrutiny Commission regarding the final report

iii)           Discussed and provided feedback on the “Levelling Up North Northamptonshire” (June 2022) report attached as Appendix A to the report

iv)           Noted the priority recommendations set out in the report as a potential framework to develop a “Levelling Up plan” for the Council

v)            Noted the difference between scope and intentions of the Council’s Levelling- Up Scrutiny Review and the national programmes of work around the Government’s “Levelling Up” agenda

vi)                Supported the proposal for the Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling up to take forward, with officers, the development of the Council’s Levelling Up plan.

The Chair invited Cllr Anne Lee to address the meeting. Cllr Lee welcomed the report as a member of the Scrutiny Review Working Group that had produced it and sought confirmation that Executive would act on the recommendations contained within the report. Cllr Lee also called for a post to be created to assist in the identification and submission of bids for funding, a post of that nature having previously existed at East Northamptonshire Council.

Cllr John McGhee was then invited to address the Executive. Cllr McGhee noted he was speaking on behalf of Cllr Zoe McGhee and made reference to the need to properly resource the levelling-up agenda as well as provide dedicated teams to assist in bringing “left behind” areas up to the required level.  

The Chair thanked both speakers for their comments and stated that the Executive was absolutely committed to levelling up, with Cllr Binley dedicated to working tirelessly with officers and the community as part of his portfolio.

The Chair then invited Cllr Wendy Brackenbury, the Chair of the Scrutiny Commission to present the report. Cllr Brackenbury offered her thanks to the Executive Director of Adults, Communities and Wellbeing, members of the working group, stakeholders and members of the public who had contributed to findings of the review following a request for a report arising from a motion to Council in July 2021.

The review had sought to:

·         Review and understand the underlying data and report relating to areas highlighted as “left behind”

·         Engage with and explore the views of people within those neighbourhoods to understand the challenges and opportunities

·         Engage with and explore the views of partner agencies and voluntary and charitable organisations to understand the challenges and opportunities

·         Understand and learn from the Big Local programme in Kingswood, identifying both good practice and challenges that can help shape future proposals

·         Make recommendations to Council around a potential plan

Cllr Brackenbury provided a timeline of the work involved between October 2021 and May 2022, including workshop sessions and neighbourhood walkabouts. The final report had been considered by the Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 5th July 2022 with a number of recommendations already being enacted.

Cllr Brackenbury thanked Cllr Matthew Binley for his involvement and invited him to feedback to the Scrutiny Commission on the work being undertaken through his portfolio as part of the levelling-up agenda.

Cllrs Bunday, Harrison, Edwards and David Brackenbury welcomed the report, noting the enormous value of the contents to both the Council and other agencies. It was considered to be a significant piece of work that would allow the Council to put the recommendations contained within the report into action to help create equal, safe and healthy communities.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

i)             Noted the work undertaken by, and on behalf of, the Scrutiny Working Group as instructed by the Scrutiny Commission

ii)            Noted and considered the feedback from the Scrutiny Commission regarding the final report

iii)           Discussed and provided feedback on the “Levelling Up North Northamptonshire” (June 2022) report attached as Appendix A to the report

iv)           Noted the priority recommendations set out in the report as a potential framework to develop a “Levelling Up plan” for the Council

v)            Noted the difference between scope and intentions of the Council’s Levelling- Up Scrutiny Review and the national programmes of work around the Government’s “Levelling Up” agenda

vi)                Supported the proposal for the Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling up to take forward, with officers, the development of the Council’s Levelling Up plan.