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Agenda Item No: C2 Appendix 2 Democratic Support Service PO Box 136 County Hall Northampton NN1 1AT CABINET Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2007 Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall (Meeting held in public) PRESENT: Councillor Jim Harker (Chairman and Leader) Councillor Brian Binley Councillor Rosemary Bromwich Councillor Andre Gonzalez De Savage Councillor Bill Parker Councillor Bob Seery Councillor Ben Smith Councillor Liz Tavener Also Present: (for all or part of the meeting) Councillor Sally Beardsworth Councillor George Blackwell Councillor Robin Brown Councillor Mark Bullock Councillor Richard Church Councillor Stan Heggs Councillor Michael Hill Councillor Brian Hoare Councillor David Hugheston-Roberts Councillor Bernard Ingram Councillor Christopher Lamb Councillor Roy Mayhew Councillor Steve Osborne Councillor Rupert Reichhold Councillor Judith Shephard Councillor Maureen Shram Councillor Gina Ogden Councillor Jonathan West Councillor Terry Wire Councillor John Yates Also in attendance: (for all or part of the meeting) Rory Borealis Director for Customers and Strategy Danny Brennan Director for Community Leadership Mark Charters Director for Community Services Vivienne Farrell Committee Assistant (Customers and Strategy) (minutes) Peter Gould Chief Executive Paul Hanson Committee Manager (Customers and Strategy) Graham Mabbutt Liberal Democrat Political Assistant (Customers and Strategy) Mick O’Leary Labour Group Political Assistant (Customers and Strategy) There were 5 members of the public in attendance. 35/07 Apologies for non attendance Councillor Joan Kirkbride 36/07 Notification of request from members of the public to address the meeting None 37/07 Minutes of the meetings held in public and private on 25 January 2007 and 12 February 2007 Following questions from Councillor Binley, the Monitoring Officer confirmed: The Constitution makes provision for urgent meetings of the Cabinet; and The meeting of 25 January had been convened by the Deputy Leader, with his advice. RESOLVED: Cabinet agreed the minutes of the meetings held in public and private on 25 January 2007 and 12 February 2007. 38/07 Declarations of Interest by Councillors Item Councillor Type Nature B1 Binley Personal Shareholder, Northampton Town Football Club and Northampton Town Football Club Supporters Trust* B1 Mayhew Personal Member, North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Committee B1 Seery Personal Member and former Chairman, North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Committee A1 Smith Personal Member, West Northamptonshire Development Company Member, Anglian Regional Flood Defence Committee (Northern) A1 Wire Personal Wife works for a company that has tendered for the and contract prejudicial * Councillor Binley explained that it was his understanding that both the Sixfields Stadium and its environs were not owned by either of these bodies and he therefore had no financial interest in any planning matters relating to them. 39/07 Announcements An official welcome was made to Councillor Osborne, who had just been elected to serve the Long Buckby Division. 40/07 Sandy Lane Improvement North, Northampton SUBMITTED by: the Director for Community Leadership Councillor Seery introduced the report and appendices (copies of which had been circulated at the meeting) and made the following points: The report was of a technical nature and the improvements to Sandy Lane were necessary; Substantial consultation was undertaken before the report was produced and the next stage of the process would be to purchase the land and negotiations were already underway with the relevant landowners; and The urgency of the project was highlighted as the funding was ring-fenced and needed to be spent within the time limit. There could also be the possibility of developer contributions. The following points were raised by Councillors: The accuracy of the traffic flow figures in the report was questioned; It was asked if there was the possibility of a dual carriageway road; Attention was drawn to the section that stated there would be an increased risk of flooding, and that the project should be carefully managed from a drainage point of view; The traffic flow numbers and flooding projections that were presented were correct and that a sustainable drainage system would be put in place; The purpose of enlarging the road was so that houses could be built on either side; The speed limit of the road was questioned as at the time planning permission was granted the report stated 60mph however the limit was reduced to 40mph; and The Environment Agency had increased powers to call in a decision that was in contravention to its advice. With this knowledge it would be reasonable to suggest that the flood mitigation measures were adequate. Councillor Seery stated that there may be the possibility that some parts of the road could accommodate a dual carriageway. However, due to the urgency of the project these possibilities could not be incorporated at present. He also confirmed that the speed limit was set at 40mph. RESOLVED: Cabinet 1. Agreed to give authority to acquire 12.965 hectares (32.03 acres) comprising 5 plots of land as required for the construction of the Sandy Lane Improvement North, Northampton, on terms to be approved by the Head of Property, or such further revision as may be agreed by the Cabinet Members for Highways and Transportation, on terms to be approved by the Head of Property. 2. Agreed that the conditions contained in the planning permission, granted on 19th February 2007, be suitably addressed. 41/07 Countywide Parking Contract SUBMITTED by: the Director for Community Leadership Councillor Seery introduced the report (copies of which had been previously circulated) and made the following points: The Parking Strategy was approved in principle in 2004; The decision would approve the framework for residents parking charges but not decide what charges would be put in place; There have been county parking meetings and all but 2 districts and boroughs agreed with the proposals; It was important that this would not be seen as a way of making more money but as a way of maximising the use of highways in a safe, congestion free way; It was proposed that the contract would be for a five year period which could then be renewed for a further five years; There had been some publicity surrounding the charging for different sizes of vehicles, and this would be consulted upon; and After an initial small deficit there would be a surplus of approximately £500,000. The following points were raised by Councillors Residents’ parking was supported by some residents who were unable to park outside their own homes. However, many of the homes that faced directly onto the street were in areas of deprivation, residents would therefore not be able to afford an increase in prices. It was hoped that there would be good consultation with all concerned; The issue of roads being made more effective was linked with the wider council strategies. It would be unfortunate to see National Car Parks Limited profits increase as people paid for permits; South Northamptonshire Council had expressed their some concern as they did not wish to be included as they felt that parking charges would affect the business in areas such as Stoke Bruerne, Towcester and Brackley; The report was welcomed in that it followed the London Borough of Richmond in considering the introduction of a ‘green tax’. It was suggested that there should be a lower tax, or no tax for the first vehicle and then a much higher tax for any additional vehicles. Also that everyone, including Councillors, who park at County Hall, should be subject to charges; The issue of enforcement would have to be addressed, for example there was not sufficient parking activity in Corby town centre to raise enough revenue to cover the cost of enforcement in that area. It was suggested that if individuals spent money in shops in the local area, they could be given discounts for parking and The issue of vehicle size should not be seen in isolation but in a wider context as an individual may have a larger car but may also be heavily involved in recycling. Councillor Seery said that he was encouraged by the responses he received and raised the following points: That the charging policy would be determined in the future and that proper consultation would be involved; South Northamptonshire Council was present at the meeting when the paper was discussed and that the only two councils who did not want to be included were Daventry and Kettering, he agreed to look into this further; No new charges were to be implemented until August 5th 2007; The awarding of the contract was not a money making scheme; The cost of enforcement would be looked at against applications; and Ideas of lower charges for the first vehicle would be investigated. RESOLVED: Cabinet 1. Approved the award of the Parking services Contract to National Car Parks Limited. 2. Approved the framework for residents parking charges. 42/07 Extending the Empowering Councillors Scheme SUBMITTED by: the Head of Democratic Support Service Councillor Harker introduced the report (copies of which had been previously circulated) and made the following points: The pilot scheme had been warmly welcomed and was very successful; He proposed that the Cabinet agree the advice with the exception of points 1iii, 1iv and appendix 3 as they did not cover what was wanted to be achieved locally; and It was important that the scheme is uncomplicated and un-bureaucratic as then more money could go to the community.

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