MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL OF HELD AT SWANSPOOL HOUSE, WELLINGBOROUGH ON TUESDAY, 31 JULY 2012

Present: The Mayor (Councillor K Harrington) and Councillors Allebone, Bailey, Bass, Beirne, Bell, Carr, Dholakia, Emerson, Graves, Griffiths, Hawkes, Henley, Higgins, G Lawman, L Lawman, Maguire, Morrall, B Patel, M Patel, Pursglove, P Raymond, Scarborough, Simmons, Timms, Ward, Warwick, Waters, and Wright.

Officers present: Mr J T Campbell (Chief Executive), Mr R Micklewright (Corporate Director), Ms L Elliott, Mrs B Lawrence, Mr C Pittman and Mr S Wood (Heads of Service),Ms S Lyons (Legal Adviser) and Ms P Lawton (Principal Democratic Services Manager).

Others present: Local Government Boundary Commission for – Mr M Caller (Chairman), Prof C Mellors (Deputy Chairman) and Mr T Bowden (Review Manager), Mr J Casserley (Wellingborough Norse).

The meeting was preceded by prayers, led by the Mayor’s Chaplain.

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

RESOLVED to note that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ainge, Blackwell, Elliott, Hollyman, Partridge-Underwood , J Raymond and Watts.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

RESOLVED to note that in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the council’s code of conduct and the council’s constitution, the under-mentioned councillors declared interests in the following items:

Councillor Committee date and minute no. Reason for declaration

Allebone Resources 11/07/2012 (min 5) Disclosable pecuniary interest – Capital Out-turn Report Board member of Castle Theatre. Graves Community 09/07/12 (min 4) – Disclosable pecuniary interest – Wellingborough Homes: Chief Executive of SERVE, Progress and Monitoring Report. currently in negotiations with Wellingborough Homes for supply of Handyman service. Griffiths Resources 11/07/2012 (min 9) – Disclosable pecuniary interest – Properties in Windsor Road. Owns property in Windsor Road. Higgins Community 09/07/12 (min 4) – Disclosable pecuniary interest – Wellingborough Homes: Council appointed director of Progress and Monitoring Report. Wellingborough Homes. G Lawman Report item 6 – Electoral Review Registerable interest – County Councillor. G Lawman Planning 04/07/12 (min 15) Registerable interest – County County Council application Councillor. G Lawman Audit 28/06/12 (min 6) Registerable interest – County Unaudited Statement of Councillor and Chairman of Accounts Pension Fund. G Lawman Resources 11/07/2012 (min 10) Registerable interest – County Review of LGPS Councillor and Chairman of Pension Board. 137 Council Meeting – 31 July 2012

Morrall Community 09/07/12 (min 8) – Disclosable pecuniary interest – Update on Performance and Director of Wellingborough Progress: Wellingborough Norse Norse. Warwick Development 10/07/12 (min 5) – Disclosable pecuniary interest – Town Centre Redevelopment: Owns property in High Street. RAG progress report. Warwick Resources 11/07/2012 (min 17) Disclosable pecuniary interest – – High Street Developer Owns business premises in High Procurement: Heads of Terms. Street.

3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 June 2012 be confirmed and signed.

4. QUESTIONS, PETITIONS AND REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE MEETING

NOTED that three requests had been received from members of the public to address the meeting. The following speakers were permitted the opportunity to speak for three minutes each in relation to item number 6 on the agenda:

Councillor S Homer – County Councillor for electoral division Mr Webb – Irchester resident Councillor G Swann – Parish Council.

County Councillor Homer adressed the Council in support of the creation of a county division of Irchester, containing the parishes of Irchester, Wollaston, , , and Grendon as recommended by the Boundary Commission. The reasons stated for supporting the proposal were community links between the parishes, direct access and easy communication links via the A509. It was confirmed that the residents of the village communities concerned who had been consulted were in support of the proposal. In terms of numbers of electors, the projection for 2017 fell only slightly short of the recommended average, and Councillor Homer asserted that to consider any alternative proposal would be illogical.

Mr Webb addressed the Council, also in support of the proposal to create a county division of Irchester, containing the parishes of Irchester, Wollaston, Strixton, Bozeat, Easton Maudit and Grendon. He expressed the view that all were similar socially and economically, had good connecting roads such as the A509, and shared good schools and connecting bus services. He confirmed that other residents he had spoken to had also been in support of the Boundary Commission recommendation.

Parish Councillor Swann addressed the Council, speaking as both a Finedon resident and Chairman of Finedon Parish Council, in support of the county council’s submission. He expressed serious concern in relation to the Boundary Commission recommendation that the town of Finedon be included with Castle district ward and part of Hemmingwell district ward, stating that it was not appropriate due to the rural nature of the Finedon division, and the urban nature of Castle and Hemmingwell.

The Mayor thanked the speakers for their comments.

5. ELECTORAL REVIEW: BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH

The annexed circulated report of the Chief Executive was received.

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Representatives from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) delivered a presentation detailing the timetable and approach to an electoral review of the Borough of Wellingborough. Questions were invited from the Chamber.

An overview of issues raised by councillors together with responses provided by the LGBCE representative, are detailed as follows:

• Reason for the review: Statutory obligation to ensure electoral equality where imbalances in representation occur. Wellingborough’s boundaries had not been reviewed for a number of years and were therefore no longer representing equality for the electorate. • Would the Commission listen and take account of local views: No pre- conceived ideas; the Commission wished to receive evidence-based proposals which would stand up to challenge and scrutiny. These could be submitted by the council or other interested parties. • When would the Order of Parliament come into effect: this would be published in 2014 and would come into effect at the 2015 election; • Resourcing of the review process in terms of officer time: Acknowledged that there would be a significant amount of work relating to the review and this would need to be taken into account in order to obtain the best outcome for Wellingborough. The Chief Executive confirmed that the review would be resourced appropriately within the overall Democratic Services work plan, alongside other priorities such as the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. • Single or multiple member wards: Clear guidance exists where councils elect in thirds; no such requirement exists for Wellingborough. No pre-conceived opinions and the decision should be driven by the three criteria relating to local information. The council would have to be explicit if there was a preference for single member wards, so that the Commission could take this into account. • Clarification on numbers: Based on electorate, not population figures. • Councillor workloads: Difficult to quantify; different challenges in urban and rural areas; this is the reason that the review is based on three criteria, not just electorate numbers. Commitments by councillors elected to other bodies (eg. county or parish councils) could not be taken into account.

The Mayor expressed thanks on behalf of the Council to the LGBCE for their interesting and informative presentation.

Councillor Bell moved an amendment to the recommendation that a members’ meeting be scheduled in September 2012 to discuss Council size. This was seconded by Councillor Dholakia and on being put to the vote was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

(i) a members’ meeting be scheduled in September 2012 to discuss council size, (ii) the report in relation to the commencement of an electoral review be noted.

6. ELECTORAL REVIEW: COUNTY COUNCIL

The annexed circulated report of the Chief Executive was received.

Councillor Bailey spoke strongly against the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) proposal that Finedon parish be included in an electoral division with Castle district ward and parts of Hemmingwell district ward. A number of 139 Council Meeting – 31 July 2012

councillors concurred with Councillor Bailey’s comments that Finedon was a rural parish and it was therefore inappropriate to include it in an electoral division with urban wards to the north of Wellingborough. There was also disagreement with the LGBCE view that the A510 provided a significant communication link with Wellingborough town to be credible for these purposes.

A number of councillors addressed the meeting both in support, and against, the Irchester proposal for the creation of a county division of Irchester, containing the parishes of Irchester, Wollaston, Strixton, Bozeat, Easton Maudit and Grendon.

Discussion took place in respect of the differing needs of rural and urban communities and the inflexibility of the proposals, resulting in the council being faced with the choice of the ‘least worst’ option rather than something that would work for all communities concerned. It was suggested that a reduction in the number of county councillors for Wellingborough from eight to six, had made it impossible for Wellingborough to have the two rural electoral divisions that it needed.

It was proposed that this Council support Northamptonshire County Council’s response to the LGBCE as printed in appendix 2 of the report, and suggest that the division be named Wellingborough Rural North.

This was moved by Councillor Bailey, seconded by Councillor Ward and on being put to the vote, the vote was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

(i) this Council support Northamptonshire County Council’s response to the LGBCE as printed in appendix 2 of the report, and suggest that the division be named Wellingborough Rural North, (ii) the detailed wording of the submission to the LGBCE be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

7. PLANNING COMMITTEE – 4 JULY 2012

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee of 4 July 2012 be noted.

8. AUDIT COMMITTEE – 28 JUNE 2012

The minutes of the Audit Committee of 28 June 2012 were received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit Committee of 28 June 2012 be adopted.

9. COMMUNITY COMMITTEE – 9 JULY 2012

The minutes of the Community Committee of 9 July 2012 were received.

Debate ensued in respect of the recommendation that a bid for funding be made to the Department of Communities and Local Government to introduce a weekly food waste collection. Some views were expressed in favour of the recommendation. A significant number of members, however, expressed specific concerns in relation to the sustainability of the scheme, the cost to the council in years four and five, and the potential lack of public support for the initiative, particularly in densely populated urban areas where additional bins were likely to be necessary.

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Councillor Morrall responded by stating that the item had been referred to Council as a recommendation in order to invite debate on the subject. He revealed the outcome of a small ‘straw poll’ which had indicated that 60% of respondents had indicated ‘no’ to the introduction of a food waste bin, and 85% had indicated ‘no’ to the introduction of a ‘kitchen caddy’ type receptacle.

It was proposed that the committee recommendation be moved as written. This was put to the vote and the vote was defeated.

RESOLVED:

(i) to approve the action to compulsorily purchase the long-term empty properties listed in Appendix B of the report, (ii) that there be no bid made to the Department of Communities and Local Government for funding to introduce a weekly food waste collection service, (iii) to adopt the minutes of the Community Committee of 9 July 2012.

10. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – 10 JULY 2012

The minutes of the Development Committee of 10 July 2012 were received.

Specific reference was made to minute 6 – Neighbourhood Planning: Housing Needs Survey in relation to timescales involved for the and Wollaston surveys. It was also requested that the questionnaire template be made available to other parish councils for future use in their own neighbourhood planning initiatives.

Councillor Allebone detailed the timetable for the Earls Barton and Wollaston surveys, and confirmed that the results would be available by the end of September. He also confirmed that the survey template could be made available to parish councils who would like to make future use of it.

RESOLVED that:

(i) Councillor Warwick be appointed to the Market Working Group, (ii) the minutes of the Development Committee of 10 July 2012 be adopted.

11. RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 11 JULY 2012

The minutes of the Resources Committee of 11 July 2012 were received.

Discussion took place in respect of minute 12 – Empty Property, specifically in relation to the accuracy of the empty property list. Members were invited to inform the Director of Resources of any anomalies, in order that an investigation could be instigated for the purpose of recovery of council tax. Members were also requested to inform the Housing team of any empty properties in their wards which were not on the list.

A specific question was raised in relation to the Victoria School site in Castle ward. The Leader of the Council confirmed that the Chief Executive was pursuing this with the County Council.

A number of members indicated that they had not received a copy of the empty property list relating to their ward. It was agreed that members should inform officers if they had not received the list to date. Members requested that the list

141 Council Meeting – 31 July 2012 be updated over the next couple of weeks and be re-issued. Members formally thanked officers for the tremendous amount of work they had put in to get a number of empty properties back into use.

RESOLVED that:

(i) in relation to capital outturn 2011/12: (a) note the capital expenditure totalling £1.927m for the year ending 31 March 2012; (b) agree to carry forward the £0.205m slippage identified in the report; (c) agree to: (i) return £0.018m to reserves due to project under spends; (ii) note the position regarding the £0.056m capital allocation in respect of street lighting in Irchester parish; (iii) put that £0.056m capital allocation on hold pending clarification by Irchester Parish Council as to its intentions; (iv) instruct the Director of Resources to report the outcome regarding Irchester street lighting to the next meeting of the committee. (d) agree to draw funding of £0.024m from 2012/13 for an existing project; (e) agree to release part of the ring fenced funding of £8.3k relating to the heritage lottery project; (f) agree to include the Weavers Project in the 2012/13 capital programme; (g) agree to: (i) note that survey reports indicate a probable maximum cost of £0.091m in respect of the Huxley Close road adoption works; (ii) include that sum as a project in the 2012/13 Capital Programme.

(ii) that a working party of seven members, to include Councillors Allebone, Bell, Graves, G Lawman, Scarborough, Waters and Wright be appointed to lead the review of planning policy and regeneration in the borough.

(iii) that a time limited working party of seven members be formed, with Councillors Bell, Emerson, Graves, Griffiths, G Lawman, Morrall and Watts, to evaluate options for the future location of the Council’s day care services for older people and to develop associated recommendations to be put before Resources Committee by December 2012. (iv) that Compulsory Purchase Orders be made under Section 17 and Part XVII of the Housing Act 1985 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981, for the acquisition of houses identified in Appendix A, together with land associated with them as shown edged in bold in Appendix B, for their renovation and re-occupation for housing purposes;

(v) that the Head of Planning and Local Development be authorised to: (a) take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Compulsory Purchase Orders including the publication and service of all notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any public enquiries;

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(b) acquire and obtain possession of the properties within the Compulsory Purchase Orders either by agreement or compulsorily and in consultation with the Estates Manager, deal with all matters relating to compensation and statutory interest including the institution or defending of proceedings as necessary; (c) suspend the compulsory purchase or other proceedings in relation to any particular property, or withdraw an Order, on being satisfied that the house will be satisfactorily renovated and re-occupied without the need to continue the process; (d) dispose of the properties in accordance with the proposals in this report. (vi) to adopt the minutes of the Resources Committee of 11 July 2012.

12. REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE: NOTABLE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

The annexed circulated report providing details of notable activities relating to the council’s PRIDE objectives was received. Councillors made specific comments as follows:

• Armed forces day: noted that this was to become an annual event, organised by the Royal British Legion. • Olympic torch relay: noted that this was an excellent event which was well attended by the public. Members made reference to the fact that a number of Wellingborough people had been working as volunteers at the Olympics, making specific reference to Wellingborough Swimming Club volunteers being chosen to work on the Olympic poolside. Disappointment was raised, however, that a double-Olympian from Wellingborough had not been chosen as a torchbearer. • Party weekend: disappointment was expressed at the unavoidable cancellation of ‘Party in the Park’ and carnival weekend due to the weather. • Glamis Hall summer ball: noted that this had been an excellent event. It was reported that the manager of the day centre was due to retire in the near future and that Council would like to thank her for all her hard work. • Castle Fields bandstand: satisfaction was expressed that this iconic structure was being brought back into use as a community facility.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

13. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS/MOTIONS

A motion had been submitted in advance of the meeting by Councillor Bell in respect of the recent announcement by the Secretary of State regarding the closure of Wellingborough Prison. This was seconded by Councillor Hawkes.

A number of councillors expressed their anger, astonishment and disappointment at the way in which the announcement had been handled. Considerable debate ensued in respect of the lack of consultation with the Prison Governor, the MP, the Council and the local community prior to the decision being made. Particular reference was made to the excellent rehabilitation work carried out by the prison staff, and the amount of investment which had been put in by central government to make this a modern facility. In addition to the concern about loss of jobs in the

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local economy, specific concern was raised about what might happen to the site following the closure, and what impact this might have on local communities.

An amendment was proposed to strengthen the impact of the motion, given the depth of feeling expressed by many members of the Council, as follows:

This council formally rejects the decision to close HMP Wellingborough by the Secretary of State for Justice. The prison is most certainly not outdated in comparison to prisons built by the Victorians. The hard work of the staff and management in reducing costs and improving performance should not be thrown away. The Borough Council of Wellingborough is proud of its prison and demands a formal re-evaluation of this decision.

This was moved by Councillor Henley and seconded by Councillor Dholakia.

Following further debate, an amalgamation of the motion submitted by Councillor Bell and the amendment submitted by Councillor Henley was suggested. There was general support for this in the Chamber, and this was agreed by Councillors Bell and Henley. It was therefore proposed by Councillor Bell, and seconded by Councillor Henley that the wording of the motion relating to the correspondence to be submitted to the Secretary of State be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Councillors Bell and Henley. This was put to the vote, and the vote was declared carried.

RESOLVED that that the wording of the motion relating to the correspondence to be submitted to the Secretary of State on behalf of Wellingborough Council be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with Councillors Bell and Henley.

14. CORRESPONDENCE, COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS

NOTED that the Mayor would be hosting refreshments for fellow councillors in the Parlour immediately following the meeting.

Mayor The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.

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