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. The tourism brochure will be distributed to tourist information centres within a two hour radius of Northampton.
February also marked the first anniversary of Love Northampton, which has to date helped promote numerous events and has become the number one place to go to see what is happening in our town.
We have put together another fantastic list of events for 2013 to attract visitors, support local businesses and make our town a vibrant and exciting place this summer. New events include Alive@Delapre , with top artists Paul Weller, James Morrison and The Wanted. All tickets for Paul Weller have now been sold and tickets for the remaining two days are selling fast.
This summer will also see the first Waterside Festival, which we hope will become a permanent fixture in Northampton’s annual events calendar and help revitalise Beckets Park and the Marina area. 1
In February we received the disappointing news that CAMRA would not be holding the Delapre Abbey Beer Festival, but I am delighted that we were able to step in to save this much loved event, which does so much to support local breweries and attract thousands of people to Delapre Abbey each year.
On 25 th February the Borough Council’s annual budget was passed. The difficult economic climate means that all local authorities are faced with tough decisions when setting their budgets. By implementing a programme of internal cost cutting and restructuring we have passed a budget that will help hard pressed families by freezing Council Tax, invest in a number of schemes to improve community safety, and continue to help and support our most vulnerable residents.
Plans to create a Community Covenant with the military in Northampton have moved to the next stage with the creation of an action plan of measures that will show local support for serving and former members of the Armed Forces. The Borough Council agreed to move forward and set up a Community Covenant with the military last October, and an action plan went to Cabinet on 12 th February.
The action plan includes proposals that the Borough Council:
• Give a higher priority to Armed Forces personnel who are in housing need after leaving. • Work with voluntary and other groups to encourage ex-service and service personnel to take up any benefits and discounts they are entitled to. • Ensure veterans are made aware of the disability adaptation grants and advice available to them.
As well as the ceremonies planned for Remembrance Day in November, this year the Borough Council is working with The Royal British Legion on plans to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War in July and on events to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014.
On 1st February Cllr Markham and I took part in this year’s Big Sleepout in St Giles Churchyard to help raise money for the Hope Centre. The centre is a local charity based at Oasis House in the Town Centre that provides day services for the homeless. This includes hot food, meals, drinks, showers and recycled clothing. The centre also runs a programme of education, training and development projects to help clients move forward with their lives. The Big Sleepout takes place during Poverty and Homelessness Action Week and is the centre’s biggest fundraising event. Organisers hope to raise over £25,000.
In January I was honoured to plant a Royal Oak sapling donated by the Woodland Trust in the grounds of Delapre Abbey to replace a 250 year old oak that fell as a result of the bad weather last June. The replacement oak was grown from a seed gathered from one of the royal estates as part of the Woodland Trust’s celebration of the queen’s jubilee. As well as the Royal Oak, the Woodland Trust donated a number of other woodland trees to the borough which have been distributed to community groups for planting in publicly accessible parks and green spaces.
Community Safety
2 Overall crime continues to show a reduction for 2012/13 by 1.4% from the March 2013 baseline. Priority location work in relation to serious acquisitive crime and target hardening for victims of burglary in hot spot locations continues, with specific focus on Spencer, St James and Spring Boroughs.
One council tenant has been given an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction and had the terms of their tenancy changed after causing distress to neighbours in Kingsthorpe. The Demotion Order means that the tenant no longer has a secure tenancy for a period of twelve months. If during that time there are any further breaches of the tenancy conditions then an application can be made to the courts for a Possession Order for the property and the tenancy will be terminated.
Community Governance Review
Following the agreement by Full Council on 3rd December of all Community Governance Review recommendations, formal publication of these recommendations and notification to all households affected has been made. Work has started on the setting-up of new Parish Councils in West Hunsbury and in Hunsbury Meadows as from 1st April 2013, and on the arrangements for Parish Elections in these two new parishes in May. Minor boundary changes to five existing parishes, Upton, Wootton & East Hunsbury, Collingtree, Great Houghton and Hardingstone will all come into effect on 1st April 2013. The splitting of Wootton & East Hunsbury parish into two new parishes will be implemented on 1st April 2015.
Legal Services
The Council obtained a Planning Injunction to prevent a change of use of land from allotment use to storage of containers.
One property has been peaceably re-entered due to rent arrears of approximately £4,500, and we are currently pursuing the amount owed via the County Court.
One Possession Order has been served due to Anti-Social Behaviour, plus £475 legal costs.
Three cases of benefit fraud have been successfully prosecuted resulting in 100hours unpaid work and £500 costs, a 24 month Conditional Discharge and £500 costs, and 120 hours unpaid work and £250 costs plus £1,800 Compensation order.
Councillor David Mackintosh Leader of the Council
3 Cabinet Member Report for Environment
Northampton Borough Council
Monday 11 th March 2013
Environmental Services
Enterprise have taken the decision to change the management team that governs its contract with Northampton Borough Council. This team is working with both councils to carry out a comprehensive improvement plan intended to bring about a step change improvement in the service over the next six months. Ferrovial Services, the parent company of public services provider Amey are in the process of acquiring Enterprise plc.
Environmental Health
Four new Neighbourhood Wardens and two Park Rangers are undergoing a period of training and shadowing colleagues and started work on their Wards and Parks under supervision during February.
Our Environmental Crime Officers have been undertaking inspection and enforcement work across the Borough. Statutory Notices have been issued to two Town Centre businesses for failure to provide adequate waste storage capacity. The operator of one business received a caution and another operator was fined £80 for failing to comply with the requirements of the Notice. In the Kingsthorpe area another business operator received a £300 fine for not controlling their waste correctly and for failure to keep the correct documentation.
This Administration takes a zero tolerance approach to fly tipping, and a number of prosecution cases for fly tipping are currently being prepared.
Licensing
On 11 th February the Licensing Committee supported proposals to introduce Early Morning Alcohol Restriction Orders (EMROs) for licensed premises to help tackle problems associated with late night drinking. The proposals have now been referred for further consultation with all interested parties. A more in-depth assessment of evidence will also need to be undertaken before any final decisions can be made by the licensing committee.
4 Carbon Management
Northampton Borough Council has been ranked 24th out of 2,097 organisations in the UK for the work it has done to successfully reduce its carbon emissions. The 2011/12 performance league table was published on 26 th February by the Environment Agency, which has been logging the carbon emissions of all large non energy intensive organisations in the UK’s public and private sectors.
By the end of 2012 the Borough council had cut its carbon emissions by 38 per cent and was one of only a few local authorities in the country to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for a second time. In addition to reducing our own carbon emissions, we have improved the energy efficiency of our housing stock and been actively promoting a number of energy saving schemes to local businesses and households to help them save energy and money on fuel bills.
Councillor John Caswell Cabinet Member for Environment
5 Cabinet Member Report for Regeneration, Enterprise & Planning
Northampton Borough Council
Monday 11th March 2013
Town Centre Operations
For the fifth year Northampton Borough Council has been awarded the Park Mark Award for the quality of our car parks. The Park Mark assessment scores against criteria including management practice, staff training, incident reporting and complaints, cleaning and maintenance, crime, access and egress, pedestrian access, parking areas, surveillance, lighting and signage. The Borough Council holds one the highest number of Park Marks in the Region.
Northampton Town Centre Limited
Sue Roberts has been elected as the new Chair of the Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District. The election was called after Stephen Chown, who has chaired the BID for two years, stepped down. Sue Roberts has been a member of the BID board since it was established. She is landlady of The Mailcoach in Derngate, Northampton and lives in the Town Centre with her family.
Regeneration
Work began on 25 th February to start the decommissioning of the office space above the Greyfriars Bus Station ahead of its eventual closure. Work is also on track at the site of the new Bus Interchange to demolish the old Fishmarket to allow for construction of the brand new facility. Demolition of the old Fishmarket is progressing well, and construction of the new Bus Interchange on the site is imminent. It is possible to follow progress through the new webcam installed on the Mayorhold Car Park at: http://www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200218/northampton_alive/1733/northampton_bus_ interchange
Whitbread, Premier Inn’s parent company, has announced plans for a new 104- bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant at Albion Place in Northampton. The site, which sits within the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, is an important development for the town’s Cultural Quarter given its proximity to nearby theatres, cinema and shops and will contribute to the regeneration of the area.
The new hotel and restaurant will be developed on Council owned land and will create approximately 50 new jobs on opening. It will be situated close to the Royal & Derngate theatres and the new independent cinema is currently under construction. A planning application will be submitted in due course. If the application is approved by the council’s Planning Committee, work will start on-site in the autumn with the hotel expected to open a year later in autumn 2014.
6 The Council has given the go ahead to improve our town’s popular Skatepark ahead of the summer holidays. £150,000 will be invested in improving Radlands Plaza, creating a new café including toilets. Construction is expected to be completed in late July, with the Council putting the management of the café out to tender.
Detailed plans to restore parts of Delapre Abbey and bring it back into wider public use have been prepared and will shortly be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as part of a second round bid for around £3.6 million to help preserve Delapre Abbey for future generations. In October last year, the Borough Council was awarded more than £250,000 of development funding by HLF. The plans would see parts of the main Abbey building restored for use as spaces for functions and public events. The 18th century stable block and 19th century stable yard would be transformed into lively and exciting areas to attract visitors and raise revenue to support the future sustainability of Delapre Abbey. The plans have been developed in conjunction with partners Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust and other key organisations. They will be discussed with other stakeholders, including local residents’ groups.
Refurbishment of the toilets near the tennis courts and bowling greens in Abington Park began last month. The work is needed to update the toilets to modern standards and make them more energy efficient and to improve access for disabled users. Work on the toilets is due to be completed around the end of March. Whilst the work is going on park visitors can use the toilets located near the playground on the other side of the park.
Work began last month at St. Crispin Park to create three football pitches and one adaptable sports space.
Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone
On 25 th February the Government invited Enterprise Zones to apply for £59 million- worth of investment so that key infrastructure projects can be completed more quickly. The funding is part of the Local Infrastructure Fund launched in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which provides £474 million to support infrastructure investment and other site preparation works. The Borough Council will be bidding for some of the money to support infrastructure projects in Enterprise Zones and we will be carefully considering the proposals we want to put forward to help us improve the offer of Northampton Waterside. Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone is in the top eight performing Enterprise Zones in the country.
We have contacted businesses based in the town’s Enterprise Zone to make sure they are receiving the full benefit of being part of one of the country’s largest Enterprise Zones. So far almost 100 businesses have applied, and over £1,200,000 has been claimed. However, there are still more businesses who are yet to apply for a Business Rates discount.
There are approximately 200 businesses already based within the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone. Each business that occupies premises in the Enterprise Zone and pays Business Rates is potentially entitled to claim back up to £55,000 per year for 5 years.
The response to marketing the first new site in the Enterprise Zone has been very encouraging, offering the prospect of a range of new jobs very soon.
7
Planning
Our Chairmanship of the West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee continues until the summer, and will cover the public examination of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy which starts on 16 th April. The pre-hearing meeting took place on 4 th March.
Councillor Tim Hadland Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise & Planning
8 Cabinet Member Report for Community Engagement
Northampton Borough Council
Monday 11th March 2013
Events
The 2013 Events Calendar has been published and has built on last year’s fantastic schedule of events. There is a great variety of events taking place this year in Northampton which will bring communities together, enhance the town’s profile and attract more visitors to the town. Alive at Delapre, our new centrepiece event for 2013 will bring international music artists and people from across the country to Northampton and will really put the town on the map. Tickets for Paul Weller have now sold out, and tickets for the James Morrison and The Wanted are selling well.
The Waterside Festival in Becket’s Park, with activities along the Nene celebrating the town centre riverside, will also provide lots of family fun over two days. Favourite events like Bands in the Park at Abington Park, Northampton Carnival, the Umbrella Fair, the Race for Life and Northampton Music Festival will return. A little bit of the seaside will come to our town in August when there will be a beach in the Market Square, and St Crispin’s Fair will also fill the Town Centre with rides and attractions in October.
Love Northampton has celebrated its first anniversary, and local businesses and partner organisations were invited to the Guildhall on the 12th February when we also launched the new Tourist Guide for the town and Events Sponsorship Pack. In just under a year Love Northampton has helped to promote over 1,600 events at 90 venues. We have also supported over 250 shops, businesses and restaurants across the town. Making the website the perfect place for anyone looking for something to do or see in Northampton.
On Monday 28th January two events were held at The Guildhall to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The first event was held at the Holocaust Memorial Stone in the Courtyard at The Guildhall, where The Mayor and guests joined by representatives from the Jewish Community laid flowers by the stone and observed a moment of quiet reflection. The second event included pupils from two local schools and members of the Northampton Youth Forum.
Following the announcement from CAMRA that it would not be running the popular Delapre Abbey Beer Festival in 2013, the Administration has stepped in to ensure that this popular event continues. The annual Beer Festival is one of the highlights of the events calendar, drawing people to Northampton from across the region. This year’s Delapre Beer Festival will be held on the weekend of 30th May and 1st June.
9 One of Britain’s biggest pop bands The Wanted have announced they will be playing at the Alive@Delapre season in Northampton this summer. The Wanted, recently People’s Choice Award Winners in LA and also previously Brit nominated for best single are riding high on a wave of international success and they will touch down at Delapre Park in Northampton on 20th July. The Wanted and their special guests are the final act to be announced as part of the three-gig Alive @Delapre 2013.
Culture & Heritage
External funding from the Arts Council has enabled a refurbishment of the meeting room and a first floor gallery during January. The refurbished facilities will improve our ability to work, widen our public programming and generate significantly greater income.
The Friends of Northampton Museums & Art Gallery have generously offered £5000 sponsorship towards a pre-Raphaelite exhibition which is planned for the autumn of 2013.
Publicity has been released for the World at your Feet Conference on 20th & 21st March 2013, at which eighteen academics will giving presentations over the two day conference. The conference is funded by the Stories of the World project, a national project backed by the Arts Council.
As part of its 2013 centenary celebrations the Northampton Town & County Art Society will be holding a major exhibition at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in March. The society was set up in 1913 by a group of local artists and every year since they have exhibited their finest and most recent artworks, including through both world wars. ‘All the Presidents ’ will be showing at the museum from 23rd March until 12th May.
Nine paintings by celebrated artist Chris Fiddes are to be displayed together for the first time since the 1980s in Northampton. All nine paintings, which were gifted to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in 1977, are online for the world to see on the BBC’s Your Paintings 2013 website, which was officially launched on 8th February. The display of the paintings at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is timed to coincide with the Your Paintings 2013 launch and gives people the chance to see them up close and in detail. They will be on display from 8th February until 7th July.
Rainbows, the youngest group of the girl guiding movement were first introduced in 1987, and to celebrate their 25th anniversary a bright and colourful exhibition was held in the People’s Gallery at Northampton Museum. ‘Celebrating 25 years of Rainbows’ ran until 24th February.
Councillor Community Fund
To date a total of 109 applications have been received for Councillor Community Fund money, amounting to £45,409.19 being put directly into local community groups and good causes.
10
Partnership Support
Currently, the Borough Council’s Partnership Fund Grant Scheme provides £550,000 to local good causes, charities and community groups. Each application must be for a minimum of £2000. The deadline for applications for 2013/14 has recently passed, and a total of 53 applications have been submitted for consideration. The Borough Council is working in partnership with the Northampton Volunteering Centre to support applicants, who will be informed of the decision in early March 2013.
The Borough Council has also provided a Small Grants Fund for local good causes and projects, providing grants of up to £2,000 per application. This fund is being managed by Northamptonshire Community Foundation on behalf of the Borough Council, and since April 2012, over twenty local organisations have been allocated funding under this scheme.
Councillor Brandon Eldred Cabinet Member for Community Engagement
11 Cabinet Member Report for Housing
Northampton Borough Council
Monday 11 th March 2013
In my January report to Council I reported on the changes to the Housing Allocations Scheme, and below are details of the effect of these changes on the housing register.
• There are now 3736 customers on the housing register • Direct lettings are taking place as soon as a customer who is homeless reaches the 6 week rule. • 633 statutory review requests have been received. • 139 of the 633 statutory review requests have been completed, and 39 have been upheld. • The number of new housing applications being received and assessed has reduced from 500 per month to 250 per month as predicted.
Kier Services Ltd, Lovell Partnership Ltd and Mears Ltd have been awarded the contracts worth £58.2 million to carry out the next phase of Decent Homes improvements. This will be the third phase of Decent Homes improvements in Northampton and the work taking place will include rewiring, heating and the installation of new kitchens and bathrooms.
Weekly wellbeing and advice drop-ins have been set up in Kings Heath to provide residents with information about a variety of issues including health, benefits, housing and debt. The drop- ins ran until 26 th February as a trial, and further drop-ins could be introduced in other areas across Northampton.
As part of the review of housing for older people a number of concerns were identified in relation to access and mobility issues at Eleonore House. Refurbishment works will result in all the flats being re-modelled and refurbished to provide more space and make them suitable for wheelchair users. An extension to the rear of the building will provide a communal storage facility for mobility scooters and two new patio areas have been created in the rear garden.
A new counter-fraud initiative has recovered fifteen council properties in Northampton in under a year. Over £2m of council properties were returned, and the Council saved tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees and benefit overpayments. Northampton Borough Council is leading the way in tackling tenancy fraud in the East Midlands, with local authorities across the country looking at how the Council has been identifying fraud and recovering properties. This comes ahead of new legislation that will make tenancy fraud a criminal offence from April 2013. A recent information sharing initiative has allowed the Borough Council access a huge amount of information stored in different locations. An initial search identified 65 properties that needed further investigation. Officers at the Guildhall have spent the last few months investigating these addresses, and the Council was able to take action against fifteen individuals who were involved in some type of tenancy fraud.
12
By the end of this financial year works will have been completed on 385 individual garages over 41 garage sites at a total cost of £48,000. Each site was inspected and works include new doors, fencing, tarmac repairs, guttering/downpipe replacements, soffits renewal, brickwork repairs and roofing repairs/renewal. A further seventeen garage sites have been identified for works in the next financial year with works required to 250 garages at an estimated cost of £40,000.
Councillor Mary Markham Cabinet Member for Housing
13 Cabinet Member Report for Finance
Northampton Borough Council
Monday 11 th March 2013
Finance
The capital and revenue budgets for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account were agreed at Full Council on 26 th February, including a freeze in Council Tax for 2013/14. The development of the new budget management process is proceeding well and will commence following testing being completed during the last part of the 2012/13 financial year. Service specifications and service level agreements have been completed in draft form as part of the proposed move to Local Government Shared Services (LGSS).
Revenue and Benefits Following the completion of the Local Council Tax Support Scheme the local scheme regulations are in the process of being drafted. This is alongside staff training and wider communication of the new scheme, which replaces Council Tax Benefit from April 2013.
Facilities Management The kitchen facilities within The Guildhall are in the process of being upgraded. The upgraded facilities will ensure that The Guildhall can deliver existing and future events and increase the income it generates for the Council.
HR Human Resources has been negotiating the terms and conditions changes proposed in the budget with trade unions and this has now been concluded and will achieve the £300k savings target proposed.
Councillor Alan Bottwood Cabinet Member for Finance
14 Agenda Item 8
Appendices : 0
COUNCIL 11 March 2013
Agenda Status: Public Directorate: Chief Executive’s
Report Northampton Municipal Church Charity: Reappointment of Title Trustee
1. Purpose
1.1 To seek Council’s approval to the reappointment of Mr Tony Sanderson as a Trustee to Northampton Municipal Church Charity.
2. Recommendations
2.1 That Mr Tony Sanderson be reappointed to Northampton Municipal Church Charity as a Trustee for four years.
3. Issues and Choices
3.1 Report Background
3.1.1 Wilson Browne Solicitors, who is the clerk to the Northampton Municipal Church Charity has notified the Council that Mr Tony Sanderson’s appointment as a trustee has now come to an end. Mr Sanderson is willing to be reappointed.
3.1.2 Trustees do not have to be Councillors and appointments are for four years.
3.1.3 The Northampton Municipal Church Charity provides “for the relief in need either generally or of individual persons resident in Northampton who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress by making grants of money or providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need or hardship of such persons.”
15 4. Implications (including financial implications)
4.1 Policy
4.1.1 n/a
4.2 Resources and Risk
4.2.1 None.
4.3 Legal
4.3.1 None.
4.4 Equality
None.
4.5 Other Implications
4.5.1 None
5. Background Papers
5.1 None.
Frazer McGown, Democratic Services Manager (0300 330 7000) [email protected]
16 Agenda Item 9
Appendices: 1
COUNCIL 11 March 2013
Agenda Status: Public Directorate: Chief Executive’s
Report Meeting Cycle 2013/14 Title
1. Purpose
1.1 To seek the approval of Council to the Meeting Cycle for 2013/14
2. Recommendations
2.1 That the Meeting Cycle for 2013/14 be approved.
3. Issues and Choices
The Meetings Cycle for 2013/14 is attached. The cycle follows established practice and reflects comments made during consultation with Councillors, Directors and Heads of Service so that:
• Adjustments have been made to Scrutiny Panel meeting dates in July 2013; • Cabinet has been moved from 10 July 2013 to 17 July 2013; • There are no main Committee meetings on the Tuesday evening following Council; and • The commencement time of meetings remain as for the existing cycle.
4. Implications (including financial implications)
4.1 Policy
4.1.1 The report continues existing policy.
4.2 Resources and Risk
There are no particular implications arising from the Meetings Cycle.
17
4.3 Legal
4.3.1 None
4.4 Equality
None
4.5 Other Implications
4.5.1 None
5. Background Papers
5.1 None
Frazer McGown, Democratic Services Manager (0300 330 7000) [email protected]
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Agenda Item 10
Appendices
1
COUNCIL 11 March 2013
Agenda Status: Public Directorate: Customers & Communities
Report The Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant Title
1. Purpose
1.1 To seek the support of all elected members for the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant.
2. Recommendations
2.1 That Council supports the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant attached at Appendix 1 and endorses the Action Plan contained within.
3. Issues and Choices
3.1 Report Background
3.1.1 In May 2011 the Secretary of State for Defence published the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is intended to be a moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces. A key element of it is the Community Covenant which is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. The aim of the Covenant is to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces in their area and to promote understanding and awareness amongst the public of the issues that they face.
3.1.2 For the purposes of the Armed Forces Covenant, Armed forces personnel means a person who is serving in the regular forces or a person who has served in the regular forces within five years of the date of their application for an allocation of social housing under Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996, and within five years of discharge. It also refers to bereaved spouses and civil 34 partners leaving Services Family Accommodation following the death of their spouse or partner. It also covers serving former members of the Reserve Forces who need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service.
3.1.3 The principle behind the Covenant is that the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage because of its military service. In some cases, such as the sick, injured or bereaved this means giving consideration to enabling access to public, voluntary or commercial services that civilians do not receive.
3.1.4 The Covenant covers issues such as housing, education and welfare support after military service has ended.
3.1.5 Although there is not a large military presence in Northampton or the wider county, the council has strong civic links with C Company, The Royal Anglian Regiment (the successors to the Northamptonshire Regiment) and with the 9th/12th Royal Lancers. Both regiments recruit locally and it is likely that such recruits will resettle here once their service has ended.
3.1.6 On 3rd October 2012, Cabinet agreed to support the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant. The 3rd October report instructed officers to develop proposals indicating what actions the Council could take to give effect to the principles of the Covenant in Northampton.
3.1.7 On 13 th February 2013, a report providing the response to that instruction was presented to Cabinet and was duly approved. The report contained the proposed Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant and this is attached at Appendix 1.
3.1.8 The Community Covenant was developed around the five themes set out in the Government’s Covenant guidelines (encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces communities in their areas and vice versa; nurture public understanding and public awareness amongst the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces Community; recognise and remember the sacrifices faced by the Armed Forces; encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces Community into local life; encourage the Armed Forces Community to help and support the wider community).
3.1.9 The proposed Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant aims to encourage charities, public agencies, businesses, communities and individuals to work together with the military to offer support in Northampton to service personnel, service families, reservists and veterans.
3.1.10 Many of the Council’s public, community, voluntary and private sector partners have been contacted and asked to consider how they can provide assistance to the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant.
3.1.11 In order to deliver the desired outcomes of the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant, local agencies have considered which of their activities could contribute to achieving these outcomes. In many cases existing policies and services already contribute to supporting the Armed Forces in
35 Northampton and the key issue is ensuring that the availability of those services is communicated effectively to the local Armed Forces and agencies that work with them.
3.1.12 In other cases, services have been amended to ensure that they effectively meet the needs of the Armed Forces. For example the Council has already drafted amendments to its Housing Allocation’s policy to ensure that Armed Forces personnel are not disadvantaged on residency grounds.
3.1.13 Key components that have been used in determining relevant actions for the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant are:
• Identifying the key issues for ex service personnel in Northampton
• Identifying the effectiveness of existing services in addressing those issues
• Communication / awareness of existing services
• Potential amendment of services to achieve better outcomes
3.1.14 The type of issues experienced by the Armed Forces are many and varied, and include issues relating to:
• Housing
• Health and wellbeing
• Employment and skills
• Education, children and young people
• Community involvement and integration
3.1.15 Inevitably these issues fall under the responsibility of a wide range of organisations and many will need partners to work together to address them.
3.1.16 The organisations that have agreed to support our Covenant have signed the Covenant in a ceremony held on 4 March. Other organisations can sign the Covenant Pledge, which outlines the principles of what the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant seeks to achieve in Northampton, by going to the Council’s website at http://www.northampton.gov.uk/communitycovenant .
3.1.17 The proposed actions and initiatives arising from the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant, which will be implemented by the Council and its partners in the coming year in support of the Armed Forces in Northampton, have been incorporated into a 12 month action plan (contained in Appendix 1).
36 3.1.18 A steering group has been established to keep the action plan under regular review, to manage and monitor its delivery and to add new actions as they are identified and agreed.
3.1.19 Northamptonshire County Council approved a Northamptonshire community covenant at its Full Council meeting on 21 st February 2013. Partner agencies, including borough and district councils, have given support to it.
3.1.20 Many key services are delivered at borough level and in the interest of speed and effectiveness it is considered that it makes good sense to have a Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant. However it is also recognised that other key services operate at county level and it therefore also makes good sense for the Council to actively support the county-wide covenant.
4. Implications (including financial implications)
4.1 Policy
4.1.1 The Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant, if supported by Council, will set out the Council’s policy on support and assistance to the Armed Forces in Northampton.
4.2 Resources and Risk
4.2.1 Resource implications arising from the action plan in Appendix 1 will be met from within existing budgets.
4.2.2 A national grant scheme has been established which enables local projects to bid for funding as part of local Community Covenant arrangements.
4.2.3 Bids for funding need to be considered by local signatories to a Community Covenant, before then being submitted to the Ministry Of Defence for consideration by their Community Covenant Grant Panel.
4.2.4 The stated aim of the Community Covenant Grant Scheme is to ‘financially support projects, at the local level, which strengthen the ties or the mutual understanding between members of the Armed Forces Community and the wider community in which they live’.
4.2.5 The local Citizens Advice Bureau with support from the Borough and from the local Armed Forces has submitted an application for grant funding to support their Community Covenant activities. Consideration is currently being given to how the national grant scheme can be used to further advance the Northampton Armed Forces Covenant.
4.2.6 All actions in the action plan (contained in Appendix 1) have been individually risk assessed.
37
4.3 Legal
4.3.1 There are no legal implications directly arising from this report.
4.3.2 Legal advice has been sought in relation to specific actions to ensure what is proposed is in accordance with relevant statutory provisions.
4.4 Equality
4.4.1 The Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant, if supported by Council, will make a positive contribution to the equalities agenda in Northampton for the Armed Forces.
4.4.2 All proposed actions and initiatives have been appropriately screened to achieve maximum positive impact for the Armed Forces community and to ensure there are no unintended negative consequences.
4.5 Other Implications
4.5.1 The military and their key community representatives, SSAFA and the Royal British Legion, have been consulted on the Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant.
4.5.2 The Council’s key public, community, voluntary and private sector partners have also been consulted.
5. Background Papers
5.1 The Armed Forces Covenant – MOD May 2011
5.2 Cabinet Report, 3 October 2012 – The Armed Forces Covenant
5.3 Cabinet Report, 13 February 2013 – The Northampton Armed Forces Community Covenant
Julie Seddon, Director of Customers and Communities
38 Appendix 1
AN ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT
BETWEEN
NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL , REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHARITABLE AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS, THE CIVILIAN COMMUNITY OF NORTHAMPTON
AND
THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY IN NORTHAMPTON
We, the undersigned, agree to work and act together to honour the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
39
Signatories
(This page gives examples of the parties who may sign the Community Covenant. This is an example only and is not limited to the examples given)
Signed: Signed:
Name: Name:
Position Held: Position Held: Leader
Signed on behalf of the Armed Forces Signed on behalf of Northampton Borough Council Community
Date: Date:
Signed: Signed:
Name: Name:
Position Held: Position Held: Chief Executive
Signed on behalf of Armed Forces Signed on behalf of Northampton Community Borough Council
Date: Date:
Signed: Signed:
Name: Name:
Position Held: Position Held:
Signed on behalf of the Armed Signed on behalf of the Voluntary Forces Charities Sector
Date: Date:
40
Signed: Signed:
Name: Name:
Position Held: Position Held:
Signed on behalf of the Armed Signed on behalf of the Voluntary Forces Charities Sector
Date: Date:
Signed: Signed:
Name: Name:
Position Held: Position Held:
Signed on behalf of the Business Signed on behalf of the Business And Commercial Sector And Commercial Sector
Date: Date:
41 SECTION 1: PARTICIPANTS
1.1 This Armed Forces Community Covenant is made between:
The serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families working and residing in Northampton
And
Northampton Borough Council
And
The Charitable and Voluntary Sector
And
Other members of the civilian community
SECTION 2: PRINCIPLES OF THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT
2.1 The Armed Forces Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. It is intended to complement the Armed Forces Covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces, at the local level.
2.2 The purpose of this Community Covenant is to encourage support for the Armed Forces Community working and residing in Northampton and to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by members of this Armed Forces Community, particularly those who have given the most. This includes in-Service and ex-Service personnel their families and widow(er)s in Northampton.
2.3 For Northampton Borough Council and partner organisations, the Community Covenant presents an opportunity to bring their knowledge, experience and expertise to bear on the provision of help and advice to members of the Armed Forces Community. It also presents an opportunity to build upon existing good work on other initiatives such as the Welfare Pathway.
2.4 For the Armed Forces community, the Community Covenant encourages the integration of Service life into civilian life and encourages members of the Armed Forces community to help their local community.
SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL INTENTIONS
Aims of the Community Covenant
3.1 The Armed Forces Community Covenant complements the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant which defines the enduring, general principles that should govern the relationship between the Nation, the Government and the Armed Forces community
42 3.2 It aims to encourage all parties within a community to offer support to the local Armed Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from the MOD, from statutory providers and from the Charitable and Voluntary Sector. These organisations already work together in partnership at local level.
3.3 The scheme is intended to be a two-way arrangement and the Armed Forces community are encouraged to do as much as they can to support their community and promote activity which integrates the Service community into civilian life.
SECTION 4: Measures
4.1 The Community Covenant provides the opportunity to work more strategically and collaboratively with the armed forces community. This will be driven through the Community Covenant action plan (appended to this document) which will be monitored through the Covenant Steering group.
4.2 The action plan has been drawn up around the themes within the Community Covenant and details the actions that organisations within Northampton intend to take to support the Armed Forces community within the town. The signatories of this covenant and their representatives agree to take a joint and collaborative approach to achieve the general aims identified in the Community Covenant action plan.
4.3 The action plan will focus initially on actions to deliver against the six themes in the Community Covenant, outlined below, but will be regularly reviewed to include any new or emerging issues identified at a local or national level.
• Housing • Health and Wellbeing • Employment • Recognition and Assistance • Education • Leisure and culture
43 CONTACT PERSONNEL AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
MOD DCDS (Pers&Trg) Covenant Team
Email address: [email protected] Address: DCDS (Pers) Covenant Team Zone D, 6 th Floor Ministry of Defence Main Building Whitehall London SW1A 2HB
In-Service representative(s)
Contact Name: Title: Telephone: Address:
Northampton Borough Council
Contact Name: Title: Telephone: Fax: Address:
Charities
Contact Name: Title: Telephone: Address:
44 THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT
An Enduring Covenant Between
The People of the United Kingdom Her Majesty’s Government
– and –
All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown
And their Families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
45 NORTHAMPTON ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT ACTION PLAN
Ref Activity/Action Measure of Effect Responsibility Current Status ACCESS TO COUNCIL SERVICES & SUPPORT A1 Train all Customer Services staff in the support Staff are knowledgeable Head of Customer & Training planned for early for ex-service personnel that’s available – include when questioned Cultural Services February Armed Forces in development & delivery of training A2 Include consideration of Armed Forces personnel Staff are considerate Head of Business requirements in training of all frontline staff when questioned Change A3 Add links to all available support and information Links are available and for Armed Forces onto the intranet for staff and targetted effectively - Head of Customer & Once Covenant finalised website for the public links are accessed Cultural Services links will be added A4 Create a page on the website for members of the Website views and links Head of Customer & Page is in design and will be 46 Armed Forces to access which advertises the Cultural Services populated once final availability of support and services covenant and all information agreed A5 Promote the Covenant to the Public and to Poster, leaflets, Head of Customer & service personnel advertising available Cultural Services Leaflets and display started - Develop poster to promote the new covenant and signpost to information on website Display well attended Display will be erected and - Erect a display in the One Stop Shop to promote leaflets available in the One the covenant Stop Shop once launch date - Develop leaflet providing guidance on support is agreed and will be in place available to the Armed Forces for a minimum of one month - Make guidance leaflets and advertising and then reviewed available in the OSS - Contact local organisations directly to promote the covenant and enlist support, including local sports clubs
A6 Promote the Covenant within NBC by informing Presentations held Director of Customers Presentation and workshop senior officers who will cascade information to and Communities planned at Managers' their staff Meeting on 19 February BENEFITS & TAX B1 Encourage the take up of eligible benefits and Take up of eligible Head of Finance & In progress discounts through routine benefit take up benefits and discounts Resources campaigns, including the serving and retired increases Armed Forces population. B2 In 2013/14 the council’s local council tax Protection is offered Head of Finance & In place for 13/14 reduction scheme will protect income disregards Resources relating to those in receipt of war pensions, alongside disregarding any compensation payments. The Council will again aim to afford the same protection in future years schemes B3 Ensure that ex-service personnel access Speed of processing Head of Finance & Partners and staff will be 47 arrangements for advice and support for benefits requests Resources/ Head of briefed fully during January and discounts are in place and services can be Customer & Cultural and February obtained quickly and without delay. Services COMMERCIAL SECTOR C1 Encourage BID to consider whether any local Promotional schemes Head of Customer promotional schemes may apply e.g. discount considered and Cultural Services schemes EDUCATION & TRAINING E1 Work to provide opportunities for ex-service Training support Chief Executive personnel to gain skills to facilitate employment, schemes considered in the council’s capacity both as an employer and as an enabler E2 Provide support to ex-service personnel when Application support Head of Business completing the application process for provided Change appropriate positions where they meet the criteria for the role – include young ex-service personnel (apprenticeships) and those made redundant
HOUSING H1 Amend Housing Allocations Policy to include Number of new housing Head of Strategic Completed additional priority for ex-armed forces personnel. applications 2013/2014 Housing H2 Promotion of Low Cost Home Ownership Scheme Take up of scheme Head of Strategic Started to Armed Forces Housing H3 'No Second Night Out' - Introduce new initiatives Numbers of ex-Armed Head of Strategic Started to tackle rough sleeping amongst ex-Armed Forces housed from the Housing Forces personnel streets H4 Provide adaptations and disabled facilities grants Number of grants Head of Strategic Started to disabled war veterans approved Housing H5 Access for ex-Armed Forces personnel to Advice delivered to ex- Head of Strategic Started information and advice through extension of the Armed Forces Housing Housing Options Toolkit H6 Identify a single point of contact (SPOC) for Person identified Head of Strategic Started
48 service personnel with Housing enquiries Housing H7 Specialist training for front line staff to identify Numbers of staff trained Head of Strategic Not started PTSD and issues affecting transition to civilian life Housing H8 Investigate the feasibility of low interest loans for N/K Head of Strategic Not started ex-service personnel for housing deposits Housing H9 Work with Health to support the health and Numbers supported Head of Strategic Started wellbeing of war veterans through joint advice Housing surgeries PARTICIPATION AS CITIZENS P1 Understand impact of work being carried out by Consider impact Borough Secretary MOD to improve participation in democratic processes
RECOGNITION & ASSISTANCE R1 Civic support for commemorations and Remembrance Sunday Chief Executive celebrations, including Freedom and arrangements made homecoming parades, annual Armed Forces Day, Attendance at other Remembrance Sunday, etc. events R2 Mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Event held Chief Executive First World War in 2014
R3 Encourage specific input from Armed Services Armed Forces Director of Customers community in local public events e.g. discount attendance and Communities tickets R4 Ensure Armed Forces incorporated within Hate Policy inclusion Director of Customers Crime and discrimination policies and Communities R5 Include compliance with Covenant in grant Grant process inclusion Director of Customers
49 funding process for delivery of services to ex- and Communities service personnel. Also, include a priority around projects/services which support the Armed Services community R6 Explore how we can work with the Defence Discussion held Director of Customers Discount Service. and Communities R7 Develop a joint bid for a share of the £30M Grant bid submitted Director of Customers Community Grant funding with the Citizens and Communities Advice Bureau R8 Ensure that war memorials are properly Memorials in good order Head of Regeneration maintained each year R9 Run Welfare Surgeries for service personnel from Surgeries well attended Royal British Legion the One Stop Shop R10 Identify a single point of contact for service Contact point identified Citizens Advice personnel in Northampton who can sign-post to and promoted Bureau all available services and contacts in the town R11 Provide an information and guidance pack to Pack available CAB/RBL/ Director of service personnel before they leave the service Customers and Communities
R12 Consider what support is available to provide Support identified Director of Customers household furniture and equipment for service and Communities personnel R13 Ensure that the Book Of Memory is maintained as Book maintained Royal British Legion an ongoing record of local people killed in service R14 Commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of Event arranged RBL/Chief Executive the Korean War in 2013 Maintain a collection of local military items within Military collection in the Head of Customer & R15 the collections of the council’s museum service museum Cultural Services HEALTH & WELLBEING W1 Regularly consider the Armed Forces Covenant Monitor agenda Chief Executive at Health & Wellbeing Forum meetings
50
Agenda Item 11
Appendices 1
COUNCIL 11 March 2013
Agenda Status: PUBLIC Directorate: RESOURCES
Report Northampton Borough Council’s Pay Policy Statement 2013/14 Title
1. Purpose 1.1 The Localism Act 2011 required every local authority to publish a pay policy statement for the financial year 2012 – 2013 and each subsequent financial year. This report includes details of the information, which must be included in the statement and provides a statement for approval for the year 2013/2014. The attached report is a statement of existing policy.
2. Recommendations
2.1 Members approve the policy statement for the financial year 2013/2014 attached at appendix a.
3. Issues and Choices
3.1 Report Background 3.1 The Localism Act 2011 introduced a requirement for every local authority, to prepare and publish an annual pay policy statement setting out the authority’s policy for the financial year relating to the remuneration of its lowest paid employees and the relationship between the pay of Chief Officers and other employees. 3.2 This provision has been introduced in order to: a) Increase the accountability, transparency and fairness of setting local pay. b) To give local people access to information to allow them to determine whether pay is appropriate. c) To ensure that the pay of senior staff is fair in the context of the pay of the rest of the workforce.
51 3.3 Elected Members are now required to take a greater role in determining pay, ensuring that these decisions are taken by those who are directly accountable to local people. The Pay Policy statement now specifically requires Full Council approval of salary packages of £100,000 or more for new appointments. The Statement must include the policies relating to: a) Level and elements of remuneration for each Chief Officer, including salary, bonuses and benefits in kind. b) Remuneration of Chief Officers on recruitment. c) Increases and additions to remuneration for each Chief Officer. d) The use of performance related pay for Chief Officers. e) The use of bonuses for Chief Officers. f) The approach to the payment of Chief Officers on their ceasing to be employed by the authority. g) The publication of and access to information relating to remuneration of Chief Officers. h) Processes in place to deal with tax avoidance
3.4 The Council must have the pay policy statement for 2013/2014 in place by 31 March 2013. It must be approved by full Council. The guidance makes clear that the Secretary of State does not consider that any of the grounds for exclusion of the public would be met when members are considering the pay policy statement. Once approved the pay policy statement must be published in such a manner as the Authority thinks fit, which must include publication on the Authority’s website. Each subsequent statement must be prepared and approved before 31 March immediately preceding the financial year to which it relates.
4. Implications (including financial implications)
4.1 Policy The report continues existing policy.
4.2 Resources and Risk The pay policy statement must be prepared for the financial year 2013 – 2014 and each subsequent financial year. Once in place it will provide the public with a clear rationale to explain the Authority’s approach to pay.
4.2 Legal The requirements under the Localism Act to produce and publish the pay policy statement supplement all the existing duties and responsibilities of the Authority as an employer, particularly its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to avoid discrimination and provide equal pay. Since the statement contains policies concerned with remuneration rather than information relating to individuals, the provisions of the Data Protection Act do not apply. Where the salary of senior post holders is published, outside the pay policy statement, it is done so in order to comply with the Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency.
52
4.3 Other Implications The pay policy statement will assist the Authority to monitor remuneration across the service and provide a fair system of remuneration, which avoids discrimination.
4.4 Equality No direct impact on equality context as this a statement of existing policy.
4.5 Policy The report continues existing policy.
5. Background Papers
None
5. Background Papers
5.1 None
David Kennedy, Chief Executive
53
Pay Policy Statement 2012/2013
1. Introduction
1.1. Northampton Borough Council recognises that, in the context of managing scarce public resources, remuneration at all levels needs to be adequate to secure and retain high quality employees dedicated to the service of the public, but at the same time needs to avoid being unnecessarily generous or otherwise excessive.
1.2. It is important that local authorities are able to determine their own pay structures in order to address local priorities and to compete in the local labour market.
1.3. In particular, it is recognised that senior management roles in local government are complex and diverse functions in a highly politicised environment where often national and local pressures conflict. The Council’s ability to continue to attract and retain high calibre managers capable of delivering this complex agenda, particularly during times of financial challenge, is crucial if the Council is to retain its current high performance levels.
2. Legislation
2.1. Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires English and Welsh local authorities to produce a pay policy statement for 2012/13 and for each financial year after that.
2.2. This document comprises the Pay Policy Statement being recommended for adoption by Northampton Borough Council.
2.3. The Act and supporting statutory guidance provides details of matters that must be included in the statutory pay policy but also emphasises that each local authority has the autonomy to make its own decisions on pay and pay policies. The Pay Policy Statement must be approved formally by full Council by the end of March each year, can be amended in the year and must be published on the Council’s website and must be complied with when setting the terms and conditions of Chief Officer employees.
3. Scope
3.1. This Pay Policy Statement includes a policy on:- (a) The level and elements of remuneration for each Chief Officer; (b) The remuneration of the lowest paid employees; (c) The relationship between remuneration of Chief Officers and other officers and (d) Other specific aspects of Chief Officer remuneration, fees and charges and other discretionary payments.
3.2. Remuneration in this context is defined widely to include not just pay but also charges, fees, allowances, benefits in kind, increases in enhancements of pension entitlements and termination payments.
54 Appendix 1
4. Senior Pay
4.1. In this policy the senior pay group covers posts in the top three tiers of the organisation. These include the Chief Executive, Directors and Heads of Service.
4.2. The Council has the following number of posts at this level, 1 x Chief Executive, 4 Corporate Directors and 11 Heads of Service (including the Head of the JPU).
4.3. The management structure of the organisation can be found at the attached link on the Council’s website.
4.4. The policy for each group is as follows:-
4.5. Chief Executive Officer
(a) The salary for this post is £138,310. This is a local grade, following an analysis of the degree of responsibility of the role, the size of the Borough, market rates and benchmarking with other comparators.
(b) This salary was approved by the authority’s full Council on 6 August 2007. There are no additional bonus, honoraria or ex gratia payments.
(c) There is a Chief Executive Performance Related Pay (PRP) scheme. The annual value of the PRP element is determined by the percentage cost of living award provided each year by the JNC for Chief Executives. As there has been no cost of living for the last 4 financial years, there has been no PRP payable to the Chief Executive. No cost of living or thereby PRP element is expected to be applied in 2012/13.
(d) Other conditions of service are as prescribed by the Joint National Council (JNC) for Local Authority Chief Executives national conditions.
4.6. Corporate Directors and Heads of Service
(a) The salaries for these posts are based on a Senior Management grading structure comprising of 5 Grades. The breakdowns of these grades are 4 Senior Management grades (SMG1, SMG2, SMG3 and SMG4 for Heads of Service) and a Director grade. These posts are evaluated using the Hay job evaluation scheme and are currently within the following ranges:
Senior Management Pay Grades Grade Salary Range (£) SMG1 44,505 – 51,593 SMG2 53,141 – 61,605 SMG3 63,453 – 73.570 SMG4 75,768 – 87,832
55
Director Pay Grade Grade Salary Range (£) Director 93,180 – 114,602
(b) Use of the Hay scheme ensures that the relative “weight” of these roles can be objectively measured using consistent and robust criteria.
(c) Progression through the relevant grade is linked to performance and is based on and related to improvements in service, corporate improvements and supporting the Team Northampton ethos. The senior management PRP procedure can be found at the attached link on the Council’s website.
(d) There are no other additional elements of remuneration in respect of overtime, flexi-time, bank holiday working, stand-by payments etc. paid to these senior staff as they are expected to undertake outside their contractual hours and working patterns without additional payment.
(e) Other terms and conditions are as prescribed by Joint Negotiating Committee for Chief Officers of Local Authorities (as applied by Northampton Borough Council).
4.7 Additional Fees
Special fees are paid for Returning Officer duties, which are not part of the post holder’s substantive role. These fees are payable as required and can be made to any senior officer appointed to fulfil the statutory duties of this role. The Returning Officer is an officer of the Borough Council who is appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983. Whilst appointed by the Borough Council, the role of Returning Officer is one, which involves and incurs personal responsibility and accountability and is statutorily separate from his/her duties as an employee of the Borough Council. As Returning Officer he/she is paid a separate allowance for each election for which he/she is responsible. A scale of election fees was agreed by the Council and increases in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
5. Pay Structure
5.1. The pay structure for all employees other than the Senior Management Team (Chief Executive, Directors and Heads of Service) falls under two national terms and conditions, either National Joint Committee (NJC) Local Authorities Services or Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Local Authority Craft and Associated Employees.
National Joint Committee (NJC) Local Authorities Services
5.2. The pay structure for the staff covered by the NJC was implemented on 1 January 2011. The spinal column points within the grading structure are based on the NJC Local Authorities Services National Pay Spine. The lowest paid employee within the Council is currently paid at spinal column point 6, at
56 Appendix 1 a full time equivalent basic pay rate of £12,849 per annum. This is within the pay and grading pay structure, which ranges from grade 1 to 11.
5.3. All posts under the NJC are evaluated using the Local Government Single Status Job Evaluation Scheme, which is recognised by employers and trades unions nationally. This scheme allows for robust measurement against set criteria resulting in fair and objective evaluations and satisfies equal pay requirements.
5.4. Performance within the grade for all staff is subject to satisfactory performance, which is assessed annually in accordance with the Council’s agreed Performance Progression Policy for NJC employees. The scheme is being phased in as follows:-
Grade 6 and above 1 April 2012 Grade 5 and below 1 April 2013
5.5. The Performance Progression Policy provides with the following adjustment within the prescribed grade:-
For those staff that are linked to organisational and individual performance rating (Grades 6 and above), the progression structure to be paid to employees will be based on the following matrix (numbers reflect the number of incremental rises within the grade that can be awarded):
Individual Performance Rating
Fails to meet Meets some Meets Exceeds
expectations expectations expectations expectations Under 0 0 1 1 Performing
Performing 0 1 1 2
Highly 0 1 2 2
Organisational Organisational Assessment Performing
For those staff that are linked to individual performance rating (Grade 5 and below) the progression structure to be paid to employees will be based on the following matrix (numbers reflect the number of incremental rises within the grade that can be awarded):
Individual Performance Rating Fails to meet Meets some Meets Exceeds expectations expectations expectations expectations 0 1 1 2
57
Allowances and benefits in kind
5.6 Allowances and benefits were renegotiated as part of the pay and grading review, which was implemented on 1 January 2011. The full terms and conditions document can be found in the “Terms and Conditions in full” document which can be found on the attached link on the Council’s website.
Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Local Authority Craft and Associated Employees
5.7 The pay structure for the staff covered by the JNC was established on 31 March 2008. The lowest paid employee within the Council is currently paid at a full time equivalent basic pay rate of £22,725 per annum.
6 Payment/charges and contributions
6.1 All staff who are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme make individual contributions to the scheme in accordance with the following table:
Contribution Band Range Rate % 1 £0 - £12,900 5.5 2 £12,900.01 - £15,100 5.8 3 £15,100.01 - £19,400 5.9 4 £19,400.01 - £32,400 6.5 5 £32,400.01 - £43,300 6.8 6 £43,300.01 - £81,100 7.2 7 £81,100 + 7.5
6.2 The Council makes employer’s contributions into the scheme, which are reviewed every 3 years by the actuary. The current rate for the Council is 13.3%.
7 Multipliers
7.1 The idea of publishing the ratio of the pay of an organisation’s top earner to that of its median earner has been recommended in order to support the principles of Fair Pay (Will Hutton 2011) and transparency.
7.2 The Council’s current ratio in this respect is 5.3:1 i.e. the Chief Executive (top earner) earns 5 times more than the Council’s median earner (£26,314). When measured against the mean, the ratio is 4.9:1.
7.3 These multipliers will be monitored each year within the pay policy statement.
8 Discretionary Payments
The policy for the award of any discretionary payments is the same for all staff regardless of their pay level. The following arrangements apply:
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8.1 Redundancy payments under regulation 5 of the Local Government (Early Termination of Employment) (Discretionary Compensation) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006. The Council has decided to use actual pay instead of the statutory maximum when calculating redundancy payments.
8.2 Additional membership for revision purposes under regulation 12 of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Memberships & Contributions) Regulations 2007.
None awarded.
8.3 Additional Pension under regulation 13 of the same legislation.
None awarded.
8.4 Any discretionary payments arising through the termination of the employment contract will be made using delegated powers and will be based on a full written, legal risk assessment and written legal advice.
9 Use of consultants, contractors and temporary staff through personal service companies
The Council is acutely aware of its obligation to secure value for money in the employment of its employees and those who carry our work on its behalf. Ordinarily employees will be employed directly by the Council but on an exceptional basis, where particular circumstances deem it necessary, people may be employed through personal service companies. In the first instance the Council’s will use a managed service provider (this contract is currently run by Carlisle Managed Solutions). When this situation arises the Council will give detailed consideration to the benefit of doing so and that the overriding need to ensure value for money is achieved. Such arrangements will require prior approval by Chief Executive or Director (depending upon whether the post is part of the establishment).
10 Re-Engagement
Any former NBC Council employee who is in receipt of an early retirement pension on the grounds of efficiency, redundancy or at their own request, should not normally be immediately re-employed by the Council either on the basis of a contract of employment or a contract for service with the Council. If there is any doubt about the continuing need for an employee’s services then early retirement should not be agreed.
However, it is recognised that there are some, very limited, circumstances when re-employment would be in the interests of the Council. In these cases a report should be submitted to the Corporate Director or his or her nominated senior management representative seeking approval to re-employ for a specified limited period.
Where an employee has been made redundant and receives a severance payment (and therefore without a pension) there should be no re-employment
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until the expiry of the period for which the number of weeks’ severance payment has been given, e.g. if the employee has received a severance payment equal to 16 weeks pay, the earliest re-employment could be considered would be 16 weeks after the date of termination.
11 Decision making
Decisions on remuneration are made as follows:
(a) Chief Executive Officer local pay level approved by Full Council; (b) Director local pay level approved by Appointments and Appeals Committee; (c) Pay structure for all other posts approved by General Purposes Committee (d) Performance Progression Scheme in accordance with the locally agreed schemes and as approved by officers under existing delegated powers. The Performance Progression Scheme can be found at the attached link on the Council’s website. (e) Not with standing “a” to “d” above any salary packages of £100,000k or more require Full Council approval.
12 Disclosure
This Pay Policy Statement will be published on the Council’s website. In addition, details of staff paid above £50,000 are disclosed in the attached link on the Council’s website.
13 Considerations
Council is requested to provide a steer on the level of disclosure
For further information please contact:- Catherine Wilson, Head of Business Change, Telephone (01604) 837377 or by email [email protected]
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