This meeting was to make a decision on whether to approve the findings of a recent peer challenge report. The meeting was also scheduled to consider a number of new policies, budgets, strategies and reports, and there were a number of motions on notice from councillors.

Corporate Peer Challenge

The meeting was to be asked to accept the findings of a recent Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge that took place in September 2024. The peer challenge team found that a lot has been achieved by the council since it was formed in April 2021. However they also said that there was an urgent need for prioritisation and detailed plans to underpin the council’s various strategies.

The report also identified that the council's financial governance framework needs to be improved. Specifically they said that the transformation and project workstreams needed to be consolidated, quantified and demonstrably linked into the Medium-Term Financial Plan .

Motions on Notice

Four motions had been submitted by councillors.

Motion 1

Councillor Jim Hakewill’s motion was about a delay to the adoption of the council’s Local Development Scheme. This scheme sets out the timetable for producing the council's local plan. Councillor Hakewill said that the council has failed to meet the deadlines previously set out in the November 2023 report to the Executive about the scheme. He therefore requested that the council remove the £1.3 million allocated to the Gypsy & Traveller Local Plan capital programme from the 2024-28 budget. This, he said, will prevent development on Rothwell Green Space. He proposed that the evaluation of the need for Temporary Traveller Stopping Places take place during the next review of the NNC-wide local plan.

Motion 2

Councillor Alex Evelyn’s motion was about the future of Kettering General Hospital. He said that on 7th August 2024, the leader of the council wrote to the chancellor of the exchequer to raise concerns that the New Hospital Programme had not yet considered or approved the Standard of Care and Outline Business Case for the hospital that was submitted in 2021.

Councillor Evelyn said that the government’s decision to review the New Hospital Programme had put the development of the hospital under threat and could see the £620 million earmarked for investment going back to the treasury. Councillor Evelyn said that the hospital needed to be able to cope with the tens of thousands of people who are expected to move to North Northamptonshire over the coming years. He requested that the leader of the council write to the secretary of state for health to ask them to prioritise the assessment of the Standard of Care and Outline Business Case and make an urgent commitment to fund the works.

Motion 3

Councillor Alex Evelyn’s motion was about the possible impact of the government's decision to impose inheritance tax on agricultural assets on farmers and food security in North Northamptonshire. He said that the decision to tax agricultural assets may lead to many farmers being forced to sell their land to pay inheritance tax bills. This, he said, could have a detrimental impact on food security in the UK.

Councillor Evelyn said that:

The decision to levy this charge on hardworking farmers who work more than 15 hours a day, earn modest incomes (some less than the average wage) and can sometimes work well into their 70s and 80s, highlights an out of touch Labour government that is intent on class warfare.

Councillor Evelyn asked that the Leader of the Council and his Executive produce data that showed the impact of this policy on North Northamptonshire’s farmers and the effects of this policy on food security, local businesses, and employment.

Motion 4

Councillor Anne Lee’s motion was about the reporting of the activities of the Community Safety Partnership to the council. She said that NNC's key commitments included making sure its communities are safe. Councillor Lee said that annual reports detailing the work of the partnership were not currently being made available to councillors or the public. She requested that the chair of the Community Safety Partnership produce an annual report and quarterly updates to councillors on the outcomes and achievements of the partnership. She also asked that the chair consider focussing on domestic violence prevention in the next version of the partnership’s plan.

Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26

The council was scheduled to consider whether to change its Local Council Tax Support Scheme. This scheme allows working age people who are on low incomes to pay a reduced amount of council tax.

The council currently requires working age people to pay a minimum of 25% of their council tax bill, regardless of their income. This had been a cause for concern from some councillors previously. The meeting was to be asked to endorse a proposal to maintain the current scheme for the 2025/26 financial year.

Statement of Licensing Principles 2025-2028 under the Gambling Act 2005

The council was to be asked to approve a new Statement of Licensing Principles for gambling. Councils have to publish these statements at least every three years and they are used to guide decisions on applications for licences for gambling premises such as betting shops, adult gaming centres and bingo halls.

The new statement is largely the same as the previous one, but it includes some minor changes to align with updated guidance issued by the Gambling Commission.

The council was also to be asked to decide whether it wants to make a ‘no-casino’ resolution. If it did, this would mean that it will not issue any new casino licences.

Progress Report - Planning Improvement Board

The council was to receive a progress update from the Planning Improvement Board (PIB). The PIB was set up in April 2024 to oversee the transformation of the planning service. The board has been looking at how to improve the performance of the service, and how to make it more customer-focussed.

The board said that it had:

• Reviewed the performance of the planning service and found that it was performing better than other councils.
• Conducted a survey of councillors to get their views on how the planning service could be improved.
• Started to create a Development Management Procedural Manual, which will be used to provide guidance to planning officers.
• Provided feedback on proposals to restructure the planning service.
• Started to develop a list of ‘quick wins’, which are small changes to the planning service that can be made to improve performance and make it more customer focussed.

The board said that it planned to continue its work and that it would present a new Planning Improvement Plan (PIP) to the council in December 2024.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023-2024

The council was to receive the annual report from the Director of Public Health. The report focuses on the progress made in establishing the new public health team that was created in October 2022.

The report also sets out the progress that has been made in delivering the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy. It focuses on five priorities set out in the strategy:

• Smoking and vaping
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Children and young people
• Keeping active
• Financial resilience

Appointment of co-opted Town and Parish representatives to the Democracy and Standards Committee

The meeting was to be asked to consider the appointment of three co-opted town and parish councillors to the Democracy and Standards Committee. These representatives will assist the council in its obligations to deal with allegations of breaches of the Code of Conduct.

The three candidates recommended for appointment by the Democracy and Standards Committee are:

• Councillor Beth Ring of Weekley Parish Council
• Councillor Paul Davis of Oundle Town Council
• Councillor Keith Gautrey-Prue of Deene and Deenethorpe Council

Their appointments are due to be for a term of office ending in May 2025, although the council will be asked to extend these appointments to May 2029 if the councillors are re-elected at the May 2025 local elections.