Northampton Borough Council
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NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL COUNCIL Monday, 11 March 2013 YOU ARE SUMMOND TO ATTEND A MEETING OF NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE GUILDHALL NORTHAMPTON ON MONDAY, 11 MARCH 2013 AT 6:30 PM WHEN THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSACTED 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 2. APOLOGIES. 3. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS 5. MEMBER AND PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 6. CABINET MEMBER PRESENTATIONS (Copy herewith) 7. OPPOSITION GROUP BUSINESS Councillor Wire DL to make a statement on “Benefit Changes”. 8. NORTHAMPTON MUNICIPAL CHURCH CHARITY: RE - APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE (Copy herewith) 9. MEETINGS CYCLE 2013/14 (Copy herewith) 10. ARMED FORCES COVENANT (Copy herewith) 11. PAY POLICY STATEMENT 2013/14 (Copy herewith) 12. NOTICES OF MOTION (i) Councillor Mackintosh to propose and Councillor Eldred to second: “Council recognises that 2014 is an important year both nationally and for Northampton with a number of important anniversaries. 2014 marks the 825th anniversary of the charter being granted by Richard I to make Northampton a borough, the 850th anniversary of the trial of Thomas a Becket at Northampton Castle, the 750th anniversary of the first Battle of Northampton, the 100th anniversary of World War One and the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Council welcomes the establishment of a Committee led by Northampton Borough Council with partners including Northamptonshire County Council, the Royal British Legion, the Royal & Derngate theatres, the Friends of Northampton Castle and the University of Northampton to coordinate how to mark these important events in Northampton, and looks forward to celebrating an important milestone in the town's history.” (ii) Councillor Davies to propose and Councillor Mennell to second: “This Council notes that the Women’s Forum has fallen into disuse over the past five years. This Council further note the Women’s Forum was set up by the previous Labour Administration. The Women’s Forum oversaw International Women’s Day, invited guest speakers and arranged public meetings on gender based issues. This Council believes that the Women’s Forum was a useful way for gender issues to be brought to the attention of decision-makers in the Guildhall and allowed women’s issues to be taken into account when policies were being designed and implemented. This Council further believes the need for a women’s forum is even more pressing given that the current economic circumstances are disproportionately affecting women who are generally the main carers within the family and our main service users. Furthermore recent national publicity surrounding EU legislation about the % of female executives, also demonstrates that UK women still face inequality or barriers within the workplace as companies are failing to promote more female executives to senior management roles. This last point is particularly pertinent given that we are developing the Enterprise Zone which could give us an opportunity to help enable more women to enter the local business market. This Council therefore resolves to reinstate the Women’s Forum at its earliest opportunity.” (iii)Councillor Wire DL to propose and Councillor Subbarayan to second: “This Council notes the Coalition Government is pressing ahead with HS2, which was initially announced by the previous Labour Government. This Council believes that HS2 is good for Northampton as it will free up the West Coast Main Line. It will mean faster train services to London/south and Birmingham/north. This Council also believes High Speed Rail is very good for growth, capacity and connectivity. It will close the north-south divide, promote green jobs and cut carbon emissions by reducing the need for domestic flights. HS2 will generate £47 billion in user benefits to businesses when the entire network is completed, as well as between £6 billion and £12 billion in wider economic benefits. Therefore this Council further believes that HS2 is overwhelming in the interests of Northampton and the surrounding region. It will be good for Northampton businesses and our local economy as a whole. This Council therefore resolves to fully support HS2 and write to the town’s MPs, the relevant Government Minister & Leader of Northamptonshire County Council urging them to support this project”. 13. MATTERS OF URGENCY WHICH BY REASON OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE MAYOR IS OF THE OPINION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. The Guildhall Northampton st 1 March 2013 D. Kennedy Chief Executive Public Participation 1. Comments and Petitions 1.1 A member of the public (or an accredited representative of a business ratepayer of the Borough) may make a comment or present a petition on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers. A comment or presentation of a petition shall be for no more than three minutes. No notice of the nature of the comment to be made or of the petition is required except for the need to register to speak by 12 noon on the day of the meeting. (Public comments and petitions will not be taken and the Annual Council Meeting or other civic or ceremonial meetings.) NOTES i. Comments may be on one or more subjects but each person has no longer than three minutes to have their say. ii. The same person may make a comment and present a petition on different subjects. In such instances that person will have three minutes to make their comment and a separate three minutes to present a petition. 2. Member and Public Questions 2.1 A member of the public (or business ratepayer of the Borough) may ask a maximum of two written questions at each meeting, each limited to a maximum of 50 words, on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers. Each question shall: • be submitted in writing and delivered, faxed or e-mailed to Democratic Services no later than 10.00am seven calendar days before the day of the meeting; and • include the name and address of the questioner and the name of the Cabinet member/Committee Chair to whom the question is put. 2.2 At the meeting, copies of all questions and the responses to them from the public and Members will be made available to the public and press. The Mayor may allow one supplementary question, without notice, that arises directly from the original question or response. (Questions will not be taken at the Annual Council Meeting or at civic or ceremonial meetings or meetings called to deal with specific items of business.) NOTES In respect of paragraph 2.1 above, questions may be rejected on certain grounds that are set out on page 4-12 of the Council’s Constitution and which may be viewed at www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?fileID=1919 or by seeking advice using the contact details below. 3. Motions 3.1 A member of the public may register to speak to a motion under the ‘Notices of Motion’ item on the agenda. Registration to speak must be made to Democratic Services by 12 noon on the day to the meeting. Speaking to a motion is restricted to three minutes per person. (The ‘Notices of Motion’ item will not be taken at the Annual Council meeting or meetings called for civic or ceremonial purposes.) 4. General A member of the public may make a comment, present a petition, ask a question or speak to a motion at the same meeting subject to the restrictions set out above. 5. Contacts Democratic Services: e-mail [email protected] Tel 01604 837722 Mail Democratic Services Northampton Borough Council The Guildhall St Giles Square Northampton NN1 1DE Agenda Item 6 Report of the Leader of the Council Northampton Borough Council Monday 11th March 2013 A government think-tank has listed Northampton as making the best recovery from recession in a report published on 21st January. The Centre for Cities monitors the performance of the 63 largest towns and cities in the UK. Their latest annual ‘Cities Outlook Report’ charts the recovery of each town and city since 2008. The report looks at how the recession has affected individuals and businesses by examining job creation, average wages, numbers and size of businesses in the area and house prices. Of all 63 locations, Northampton makes the largest leap as our town recovers from recession. In 2008 Northampton had been among the worst affected places, rated 61 out of 63. But it has now leapt into the top ten, rated as seventh out of 63. This places Northampton above Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham. Of the six towns and cities above our town, each started in a stronger position and none have made the same progress Northampton has since 2008. Business people and community leaders from across Northampton were invited to the Guildhall on 22 nd February for the latest update on Northampton Alive. A huge amount has already been achieved, and further progress has been made in recent months, including the University of Northampton’s planned move the Avon/Nunn Mills site, demolition work beginning at the Fishmarket, and a new hotel at Albion Place. On 25 th February decommissioning work began above the Greyfriars Bus Station, and the Borough Council has pledged to fund the construction of a café with toilets at the new Skatepark. Last month we also launched the Cultural Quarter to recognise and promote Northampton’s vibrant cultural life, and a Heritage Gateway which is under development in the area around the new train station to celebrate our town’s rich history. On 12 th February I was pleased to launch the new Northampton tourism brochure. Promoting our cultural and heritage assets is a key part of attracting more people into our town, which unfortunately has been neglected for some time.