NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL COUNCIL Monday, 15 July 2013 YOU ARE SUMMONED TO ATTEND A MEETING OF NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE GUILDHALL NORTHAMPTON ON MONDAY, 15 JULY 2013 AT 6:30 PM WHEN THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS IS PROPOSED TO BE TRANSACTED 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 2. MINUTES. rd To approve the minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on 3 June 2013. 3. APOLOGIES. 4. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS 6. MEMBER AND PUBLIC QUESTION TIME (Copy herewith) 7. CABINET MEMBER PRESENTATIONS (Copy herewith) 8. OPPOSITION GROUP BUSINESS Councillor Beardsworth to make a statement: “Whether the Conservative administration consulting adequately with residents to ensure that it is properly serving their needs”? 9. OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT 2012/2013 (Copy herewith) 10. APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER (Copy herewith) 11. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION-FILMING AND RECORDING COUNCIL MEETINGS (Copy herewith) 12. NOTICES OF MOTION i) Councillor Markham to propose and Councillor Lynch to second: “Council recognises the problem with rogue landlords targeting vulnerable tenants by placing them in unsafe or overcrowded accommodation. Some have even been placing tenants in converted outbuildings or vacant commercial premises. This behaviour can have a huge impact on neighbourhoods increasing refuse, noise and in some cases antisocial behaviour and also places pressure on local services. The Administration is committed to working to address these problems alongside other agencies and is currently recruiting additional team members to show our commitment to achieving zero tolerance. Council notes the work being done by the housing and homelessness charity, Shelter, and supports Shelter’s Evict Rogue Landlords campaign and commits to doing all we can to stamp out rogue landlords in our local authority”. ii) Councillor Malpas to propose and Councillor Conroy to second: “Ten guide dogs are being attacked by out of control dogs every month, according to a report published (10 Jun 2013). The all-time high figure came on the day MPs debated dog control in Parliament. The report by the charity Guide Dogs shows the trauma these attacks cause guide dog owners and urges the Government to act now to protect the freedom of people who are blind or partially sighted. A total of 240 dog attacks on guide dogs were reported between March 2011 and February 2013. Five guide dogs had to be withdrawn from service in that period, which has cost the charity more than £170,000. The number of reported attacks has risen since Guide Dogs’ last report in 2012, which showed an average of eight attacks a month. Guide Dogs’ Chief Executive Richard Leaman said: “A change in the law can’t come quickly enough for our guide dog owners, who too often have to bear the devastating consequences of these attacks. When a guide dog is attacked, someone with sight loss can completely lose their means of getting out and about independently. The impact on their life is huge and we are calling on the Government to do everything in its power to promote responsible dog ownership, deter these attacks, and ensure this deeply worrying trend does not continue.” The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill would make an attack on an assistance dog an aggravated offence, and will also make it an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control when there is ‘reasonable concern’ that it will injure an assistance dog such as a guide dog. Guide Dogs’ researchers also found evidence that the bond between a person with sight loss and a guide dog is even stronger than an owner and a pet dog, so an attack can be even more detrimental than on a pet dog, and they can both lose vital confidence and trust - in some cases, never wanting to go out again. Mr Leaman said: “We have fought long and hard on this issue and while we are delighted these measures are being proposed, there is no time to lose. Only when irresponsible owners are held accountable for their dogs, and heavily punished for their aggression, do we believe the number of attacks on guide dogs will come down.” For the reasons stated above it is proposed that, 1. This Council requests that the Chief Executive immediately writes to all three Members of Parliament urging them to support the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill in its entirety, whilst at the same time highlight the concerns that have been highlighted regarding attacks on all assistance dogs especially Guide Dogs 2. During National Guide Dog Week (week commencing 05/10/2013), this authority actively promotes the organisation and it’s works through the media, its website and community forums”. iii) Councillor Mackintosh to propose and Councillor Wire DL to second: “Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was formed in 1974 following the amalgamation of Northampton Fire Brigade and Northamptonshire Fire Brigade. Northamptonshire is currently served by 22 stations, including Mereway, Moulton and Mounts fire stations in the Borough of Northampton. This Council recognises the valuable role of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service in protecting the life and property of the people of Northampton, and recognises the dedication, professionalism and courage they show whilst carrying out their duties. In recognition of their long and distinguished service to the people of Northampton, this Council resolves to hold a special meeting to award Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service the freedom of the borough”. iv) Councillor Glynane to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second: The Council notes that: • The Sekhemka statue and associated collections were a gift to the people of Northampton • The terms of the gift were to that the collections should be exhibited "freely to the public" of the town. • The administration's failure to properly look into the terms of the gift or to consult with interested local groups has caused confusion, anger and alienation across a broad spectrum of the community, as well as jeopardising the future availability of these important historical pieces to the people of the town. The Council resolves to: • End the speculation resolving the sale of the Sekhemka statue, and reassure the residents of Northampton and other interested parties that the statue will remain on display for people to view and enjoy. The Council further resolves to: • Review its consultation process to ensure that it is working with community groups, friends groups and the general populous rather than alienating them and undermining community involvement. v) Councillor Meredith to propose and Councillor Conroy to second: The council notes that: • The discretionary rate relief withdrawal proposed by the Conservative administration will put substantial further financial strain on essential community groups and charities within Northampton Borough • The Council also notes that the Conservative administration at the County Council has recently cut funding to third sector groups, already endangering potentially essential services. The Council therefore resolves: • To reinstate discretionary rate relief to all hard pressed groups that serve the most vulnerable people and have an essential role in creating a sense of community across the Borough. vi) Councillor Beardsworth to propose and Councillor Conroy to second: The council notes that: • Houses of Multiple Occupation and their residents can be of tremendous value to an area, contributing to the local economy and community and adding valuable diversity through the provision of low cost housing in otherwise high cost areas. • Some landlords don’t face their responsibilities in looking after their properties. • This failure affects community cohesion, causing concern and anger The Council therefore requests that: • The administration apply to government for the 'selective licensing powers' outlined in section 3 of the Housing Act 2004, which would allow smaller houses of multiple occupation to be licensed, including student residences around the two university campus'. • To require the same standards be upheld in these properties as in larger HMOs, for the good of existing local communities, tenants and the cohesion between the two. vii) Councillor Mason to propose and Councillor Stone to second: “This council believes it is in the interests of young families with children under 10 to be housed in ground floor properties wherever feasible and if that’s what they choose. We are resolved that these families will not be offered accommodation in social housing above the ground floor from January 2014. We further resolve that all families currently living in above ground accommodation in social housing will be supported to transfer to ground floor units from April 2014. Families will not be penalized if, because of circumstances, they accept accommodation above the ground floor”. viii) Councillor Stone to propose and Councillor Capstick to second: “This Council recognises that it has an important role in providing training to nurture more community engagement in the town. In order to support groups of local people taking on community and voluntary activity this local authority will offer training and small start-up grants from April 2014. The training will look at how to set up residents associations, running small scale projects and action planning”. ix) Councillor Gowen to propose and Councillor Wire DL to second that: “This Council recognises the importance of Resident Associations and ward councillors disseminating information regarding public events to their residents and believes more can be done to enable this. This Council believes non-executive councillors should be informed as much as possible about ‘events’ taking place in their wards. Therefore this Council resolves that it will inform all ward councillors on a fortnightly basis (by email) about events to which permission has been granted by the Borough Council”. x) Councillor Glynane to propose and Councillor Beardsworth to second: “This Council recognises that Magna Carta was agreed by the Barons in Northampton Castle after some debate.