Agenda item

Motions on Notice   To consider motions received in accordance with Meeting Procedure Rule 18 as follows: -   Motion 1   To be proposed by Cllr Scott Brown and seconded by Cllr Elliott Prentice-   “North Northants Council is committed to supporting local farmers. Britain has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and N.N.C should engage and work in partnership with our arable and livestock farmers to ensure their ability to enhance our magnificent countryside. We need to strive to support them by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities, including the promotion of local produce.   Elected Members will be vocal in opposing excessive regulation by central government, enabling them to prosper. Keeping in mind our commitment to the climate emergency, NNC should, wherever possible, encourage people to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based, thus reducing the “food miles” on our plates.”   Motion 2   To be proposed by Cllr Jim Hakewill and seconded by Cllr Keli Watts- “This council values all the opportunities provided, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of residents’ health and well-being across North Northamptonshire.  In particular this council welcomes the economic benefits for Kettering and the wider regional area of having a premier national conference centre, combined with public sporting and theatrical venues (commonly known as the Kettering Leisure Village, the KLV). The KLV's continued public and private availability on a long-term, sustainable, basis is critical to the well-being of all residents along with the wider economic prosperity of North Northamptonshire. We call upon this Council to take similar action to its predecessor authority (Kettering Borough Council) and to step in to keep the KLV open, whilst a sustainable, long-term, future is secured with the help of local people and organisations, for their benefit and the wider economy of North Northamptonshire.  A viable business case needs to be urgently created and a budget agreed, prior to the advised closure date of the 3rd July 2023”   Motion 3   To be proposed by Cllr Valerie Anslow and seconded by Cllr Lyn Buckingham- “It is clear that the country as a whole is in the midst of a real and continuing housing crisis, we acknowledge the enormous challenge and pressure faced by our members of Staff on homeless presentations in recent years.  Whilst we acknowledge the pressures, we also feel much more should be being done by this council to put housing and homelessness on top of the agenda. There are blockages and delays in our house building/development programmes which although could be perceived as down to external forces, also see us prepared to be selling off surplus land instead of finding constructive ways to build. We have seen over the past two years, massive delays in processing housing applications, far in excess of the time needed to prevent homelessness effectively, which although reported that the backlog being cleared, the backlog is again growing to an unacceptable over three months wait for applications being processed. We have seen homeless families be moved away from support and education networks because of lack of temporary accommodation, bringing disruption and chaos for families already facing hardship. Despite this Council putting forward resources to assist with rough sleeping programmes, (building on the successes of finding bed spaces during the height of the Covid pandemic) it seems that very little progress is being made in this area also partnering with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise. This motion asks that North Northamptonshire Council develop its vision and strategy for the building and development of social housing and prevention of homelessness including, if appropriate, a review of the allocations strategy to support programmes that prioritise our duty under the armed forces covenant, the growing need for homeless provision for single women and young care leavers, in North Northamptonshire. Acting quickly and decisively ensures that right to buy receipts are not swallowed by raising build costs and that North Northamptonshire Council also commit further investment in housing.”

 

[Note:- The order of business was changed to provide for motion 2 to be considered prior to motion1 on the meeting agenda.]

 

Motion 2

 

That the following motion, as amended, be approved:-

 

“This council values all the opportunities provided, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of residents’ health and well-being across North Northamptonshire. In particular this council welcomes the economic benefits for Kettering and the wider regional area of having a premier national conference centre, combined with public sporting and theatrical venues (commonly known as the Kettering Leisure Village, the KLV).

The KLV's continued public and private availability on a long-term, sustainable, basis is critical to the well-being of all residents along with the wider economic prosperity of North Northamptonshire.

A business and legal case which considers the viability of stepping in needs to be urgently created and scrutinised through the formal scrutiny process before being considered by the Executive. Following which (if required) a budget should be agreed by the 3^rd July 2023.”

 

Motion 1

 

That the following motion be approved:-

 

“North Northants Council is committed to supporting local farmers. Britain has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and N.N.C should engage and work in partnership with our arable and livestock farmers to ensure their ability to enhance our magnificent countryside. We need to strive to support them by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities, including the promotion of local produce.

 

Elected Members will be vocal in opposing excessive regulation by central government, enabling them to prosper. Keeping in mind our commitment to the climate emergency, NNC should, wherever possible, encourage people to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based, thus reducing the “food miles” on our plates.”

 

Motion 3

 

“That consideration of the motion be deferred until the next ordinary meeting of Council, where it will be placed on the agenda as the first motion on notice for consideration.”

The Chair confirmed that three motions on notice had been received. With the consent of Council, the Chair re-ordered the item of business to allow for motion 2 to be considered prior to motion 1, noting the keen public interest.

 

 

Motion 2 – Kettering Leisure Village

 

Cllr Jim Hakewill moved and Cllr Keli Watts seconded the motion to Council, as set on the agenda for the meeting.

 

In debating the motion, all councillors were in favour of keeping KLV open, but the manner in which this was achieved was the subject of varying viewpoints.

 

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Cllr Helen Howell and seconded by Cllr Anup Pandey to delete the final sentence which had stated ‘A viable business case needs to be urgently created and a budget agreed, prior to the advised closure date of the 3rd July 2023. [additional wording to that which was originally published, approved by Council meeting of 31 August 2023] in its entirety and replace it as follows:-

 

“A business and legal case which considers the viability of stepping in needs to be urgently created and scrutinised through the formal scrutiny process before being considered by the Executive. Following which (if required) a budget should be agreed by the 3^rd July 2023.”

 

The meeting was adjourned for a short period prior to debate on the amendment, in order to allow it to be displayed on screen.

 

During the debate on the amendment the suggested involvement of Scrutiny and the Executive was welcomed, although some concern was expressed that the amendment would no longer require a budget to be agreed. Clarification was provided that the meaning of a budget may or may not being required was contingent on the outcome of discussions between the Council and KLV operators, but the clear intent of the amendment was to provide for a viable deal.

 

At the end of the amendment debate a recorded vote was requested and accepted, which was as follows:-

 

In favour (32)

Cllrs Matt Binley, Jennie Bone, David Brackenbury, Wendy Brackenbury, Cedwien Brown, Scott Brown, Lyn Buckingham, Robin Carter,
Melanie Coleman, John Currall, David Howes, Helen Harrison, Kevin Watt, Philip Irwin, Ian Jelley, King Lawal, Clive Hallam, Helen Howell,
Graham Lawman, Dorothy Maxwell, Paul Marks, Andy Mercer, Gill Mercer, Anup Pandey, Harriet Pentland, Eliot Prentice, Mark Rowley,
Geoff Shacklock, Jason Smithers, Mike Tebbutt, Malcolm Ward, and
Lee Wilkes.

 

Against (15)

Cllrs Jean Addison, Valerie Anslow,  Ross Armour, Leanne Buckingham, William Colquhoun, Alison Dalziel, Emily Fedorowycz, Dez Dell,
Martin Griffiths, Matt Keane, Jim Hakewill, Anne Lee, Peter McEwan,
John McGhee, and Keli Watts.

 

Abstentions (0)

 

The amendment was carried.

 

At the conclusion of debate on the now substantive motion, a recorded vote was requested and accepted, as follows:-

 

In favour (36)

Cllrs Tim Allebone, Ross Armour, Matt Binley, Jennie Bone,
David Brackenbury, Wendy Brackenbury, Cedwien Brown, Scott Brown, Robin Carter, Melanie Coleman, John Currall, Clive Hallam, David Howes, Helen Harrison, Kevin Watt, Philip Irwin, Ian Jelley, King Lawal,
Emily Fedorowycz, Dez Dell, Matt Keane, Helen Howell, Graham Lawman, Dorothy Maxwell, Paul Marks, Andy Mercer, Gill Mercer, Anup Pandey, Harriet Pentland, Elliot Prentice, Mark Rowley, Geoff Shacklock,
Jason Smithers, Mike Tebbutt, Malcolm Ward, and Lee Wilkes.

 

Against (11)

Cllrs Jean Addison, Valerie Anslow, Leanne Buckingham, William Colquhoun, Alison Dalziel, Martin Griffiths, Jim Hakewill, Anne Lee, Peter McEwan,
John McGhee, and Keli Watts.

 

Abstentions (0)

 

The substantive motion was APPROVED, as follows:-

 

“This Council values all the opportunities provided, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of residents’ health and well-being across North Northamptonshire. In particular this council welcomes the economic benefits for Kettering and the wider regional area of having a premier national conference centre, combined with public sporting and theatrical venues (commonly known as the Kettering Leisure Village, the KLV).

The KLV's continued public and private availability on a long-term, sustainable, basis is critical to the well-being of all residents along with the wider economic prosperity of North Northamptonshire.

A business and legal case which considers the viability of stepping in needs to be urgently created and scrutinised through the formal scrutiny process before being considered by the Executive. Following which (if required) a budget should be agreed by the 3^rd July 2023.”

 

 

Motion 1 – Supporting Local Farmers

 

Cllr Scott Brown moved and Cllr Elliot Prentice seconded the motion to Council, as set out on the agenda.

 

Before debate commenced on the motion, the Chair notified councillors that one amendment had been received prior to the meeting. The amendment was proposed by Cllr Emily Fedorowycz and seconded by Cllr Dez Dell in the following terms:-

 

‘To delete the following words in the fourth line of the first paragraph ‘…ensure their ability to enhance our magnificent countryside’, replacing them with the words ‘support, promote, and encourage their move towards creating more sustainable produce…’

 

… to delete the following words in the first line of the second paragraph ‘Elected members will be vocal in opposing excessive regulation by central government enabling them to prosper.’

 

… and to delete the fourth and fifth line of the second paragraph:- ‘…both plant and meat based…’.’

During debate on the amendment, a guillotine motion was moved by Cllr Matt Keane and seconded by Cllr Helen Harrison that the business of the meeting be continued to a conclusion.

 

The guillotine motion was carried, 31councillors voting in favour and 17 against, with no abstentions.

During the debate, all councillors participating spoke in support of engaging and working in partnership with arable and livestock farmers. A number of councillors spoke both in favour of and against the amendment in respect of adding an emphasis on more sustainable produce.

 

The amendment was voted upon and lost, with 14 councillors voting in favour, 34 against and 1 abstention.

 

The original motion was then voted upon, with 35 councillors voting in favour, 9 against and 2 abstentions.

 

The motion was duly APPROVED, as follows:-

 

“North Northants Council is committed to supporting local farmers. Britain has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and N.N.C should engage and work in partnership with our arable and livestock farmers to ensure their ability to enhance our magnificent countryside. We need to strive to support them by being sympathetic to diversification opportunities, including the promotion of local produce.

 

Elected Members will be vocal in opposing excessive regulation by central government, enabling them to prosper. Keeping in mind our commitment to the climate emergency, NNC should, wherever possible, encourage people to shop locally, taking advantage of home-grown, affordable and nutritious food, both plant and meat based, thus reducing the “food miles” on our plates.”

 

 

Motion 3 – Housing and Homelessness

 

It was proposed by Cllr Valerie Anslow and seconded by Cllr Lyn Buckingham that to allow for a full debate on the motion, noting that the meeting had now passed three and a half hours in duration, that it be deferred for consideration until the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

 

The motion to defer consideration was voted upon, with 42 councillors voting in favour, 4 against and 1 abstention.

 

The motion was duly APPROVED, as follows:-

 

“That consideration of the motion be deferred until the next ordinary meeting of Council, where it will be placed on the agenda as the first motion on notice for consideration.”