Agenda item

That Council:-

a)    Approves the General Fund Capital Programme 2024-28 and HRA Capital Programme 2024-28.

b)    Delegates authority to the Executive Member for Finance and Transformation in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Performance (Section 151 Officer) to agree any necessary variations to the capital budget prior to 1^st April 2024.

Reason for Decision:-

To ensure that the Council complies with its Constitution and legislative requirements in setting the budget for North Northamptonshire Council for 2024-25.

Alternative Options Considered:-

Any comments from the consultation have been considered as part of this process.

Council considered a report setting out the baseline Capital Programme for 2024-25 and the indicative Medium-Term Financial Plan which identified the key factors and challenges influencing the development of North Northamptonshire Council’s for 2024/25 and beyond. A copy of the report is filed with the agenda for the meeting, marked as item 8.

The motion to approve the Capital Programme 2024 to 2028 was moved by Councillor Lloyd Bunday and seconded by Councillor David Brackenbury.

In introducing the Capital Programme, the key principles underpinning a total capital programme of £171.8m (General Fund £113.1m, HRA £58.7m) over the four-year period 2024-28 were conveyed:-

i)             A General Fund Baseline Programme totalling £113.1m including key projects such as highways, disabled adaptations, school improvements and extensions, and various property and environmental projects across North Northamptonshire, together with significant investment in the highway’s infrastructure network over and above the integrated transport grant funding;

ii)            A Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Baseline Programme totalling £58.7m across Kettering and Corby housing stock, together with significant investment of £20.2m proposed for the Housing Development and New Build Programmes.

A development pool of £169.m was also proposed, projects within it being an indicative area of future investment, which would be subject to completing a satisfactory business case prior to Executive consideration for approval and inclusion within the formal programme.

A capital programme budget amendment on behalf of the Labour Group was moved by Councillor William Colquhoun and seconded by Cllr Anne Lee, in the following terms:-

i)             A one-off capital provision of £150k in 2024/25, offset by revenue in future years, to procure a traffic camera in Newland Street, Kettering, to enforce the existing prohibition on private cars driving through, to make Newland Street safer for pedestrians;

ii)            A further one-off capital provision of £200k in 2024/25, offset by unallocated HRA funding, for the Corby Neighbourhood Account’s sheltered housing scheme improvement fund - which would double the funding for this programme during 2024/25.

Following debate, the Labour Group amendment was voted upon, with 15 members voting in favour, 0 abstaining and 35 against. The amendment was lost.

A budget amendment was then moved on behalf of the Green Alliance Group by Councillor Emily Fedorowycz in the following terms:-

i)             Removal of the proposed budget funding of £164k in 2024/25 and £1.136m in 2025/26 to fund the Temporary Travellers Stopping Place, the effect of which was to allow both permanent and temporary to be considered as part of the published timescale for the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan Policy.

Following debate, a recorded vote was requested on the Green Alliance Group amendment. With the requisite number of councillors standing, the vote was recorded as follows:-

In favour (16)

Councillors Ross Armour, Jean Addison, Cedwien Brown, Leanne Buckingham, William Colquhoun, Dez Dell, Matt Keane, Jim Hakewill, Anne Lee, John McGhee, Zoe McGhee, Mark Pengelly, Joseph Smyth, Sarah Tubbs, Valerie Anslow, and Keli Watts.

Abstaining (2)

Councillors Tim Allebone and Lyn Buckingham

Against (32)

Councillors Matt Binley, Jennie Bone, David Brackenbury, Wendy Brackenbury, Lloyd Bunday, Jon-Paul Carr, Robin Carter, Melanie Coleman, David Howes, Bert Jackson, Scott Edwards, Jonathan Ekins, Clive Hallam, Larry Henson, Helen Howell, Graham Lawman, Lora Lawman, Dorothy Maxwell, Paul Marks, Andy Mercer, Gill Mercer, Macaulay Nichol, Steven North, Anup Pandey, Tom Partridge-Underwood, Harriet Pentland, Elliot Prentice, Russell Roberts, Mark Rowley, Jason Smithers, Malcolm Ward, and Lee Wilkes

The amendment was lost.

Following subsequent debate on the main motion, it was voted upon, with 34 councillors in favour, 3 abstaining and 11 against.

The motion was carried.

Resolved:-

That Council:

a)    Approves the General Fund Capital Programme 2024-28 and HRA Capital Programme 2024-28.

b)    Delegates authority to the Executive Member for Finance and Transformation in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance and Performance (Section 151 Officer) to agree any necessary variations to the capital budget prior to 1^st April 2024.

Reason for Decision:-

To ensure that the Council complies with its Constitution and legislative requirements in setting the budget for North Northamptonshire Council for 2024-25.

Alternative Options Considered:-

Any comments from the consultation have been considered as part of this process.