The Place and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss budget scrutiny, a performance monitoring report, Section 106 agreements¹ and the committee's work programme. The committee was also expected to receive updates on budget monitoring and budget setting, and regeneration and asset management.

Budget Scrutiny

The committee was expected to further agree on the timetable for budget scrutiny.

Budget Monitoring and Setting

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update on budget monitoring for 2025-26 and budget setting for 2026-27.

Performance Monitoring Report

The committee was to consider the Performance Report - 2025-26 Quarter 1 to inform performance management scrutiny. The report included performance metrics from across the council and its partners, as well as project updates. It was broken down into monthly information where available. The metrics were chosen based on the priorities identified within the One West Northamptonshire Plan 2025 – 2030 and in consultation with the Executive Leadership Team and Cabinet members.

The report highlighted performance against the council's seven priorities:

• Productive, Inclusive and Enterprising
• Accessible and Connected
• Thriving Towns and Neighbourhoods
• More and Better Quality Homes
• Best Place to Grow Up
• Best Place to Live & Age Well
• An Efficient & Enabling Council

Productive, Inclusive and Enterprising

As of June 2025, the number of Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) working-age claimants was 9,957, with 7,475 pensioner claims. At the end of June, West Northamptonshire Council had 103 apprentices employed within the authority, which is 3.5% of the current workforce. Across West Northamptonshire, there have been 2,090 apprenticeship starts in the 2024-25 period and a total of 5,070 active apprenticeships.

The report noted that Iain Nicholson, a placemaking expert, had been appointed to support the Town Centre Manager in addressing long-term vacant commercial properties in Brackley and Towcester.

Accessible and Connected

As of July 2025, there were 374 public charging devices for electric vehicles in West Northamptonshire, an increase of 8 since April. Of these, 116 were rapid charging devices. The West Northamptonshire area has 87.2 charging points per 100,000 population, which is higher than the East Midlands average but lower than the England average.

Thriving Towns and Neighbourhoods

The first quarter of the year saw 4,477 incidents of fly-tipping reported to the council. 423 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued for environmental crime. There were 243,929 physical visitors to libraries and 61,341 virtual visitors. Museums saw 46,292 visitors.

More and Better Quality Homes

There were 28 new council homes delivered this quarter, including council homes at New Southbridge Road that experienced delays in the previous quarter. In addition, 63 affordable homes were delivered across the West Northants area. Of 15 major planning applications processed in the first quarter of this year, 14 were processed within the agreed timescales. Of 578 non-major planning applications processed, 546 were processed within the agreed timescales.

Best Place to Grow up

The report stated that 95.3% of new birth visits were completed within 14 days, and 92.5% of 8-week reviews were completed. There were 4,708 children on Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs). The period of April to June this year resulted in 2 primary and 17 secondary exclusions.

The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) received 3,710 contacts in quarter 1, with 24.8% converted to a referral to social care and 20.1% to Early Help.

Best Place to Live & Age Well

For the first quarter of the year, there have been 2.27 people per 100,000 population aged 18-64 admitted to residential or nursing homes, and 123.12 people per 100,000 population aged 65+ admitted to residential or nursing homes. 49.8% of clients who set a quit date have successfully quit at 4 weeks.

An Efficient & Enabling Council

The report stated that 95.8% of calls to Customer Services were unavoidable. Council Tax collection at the end of Q1 was 29.0% against a target of 29.7%. 98.7% of invoices were paid within 30 days of receipt. The current establishment shows 2,870 employees at the end of June 2025.

Section 106 Agreements/CIL

The committee was to consider and approve the Terms of Reference for the Section 106 Agreement/CIL Task and Finish Group, set up the Task and Finish Group, and confirm the meeting schedule. The intention of the review is to improve the processes for identifying suitable mitigation for development. The Draft Terms of Reference - S106 review stated that the review would consider:

• The process for members and parish councils to set out what mitigation they consider is necessary to address the impacts of development.
• The measures officers can take to assist members and parish councils to ensure they are well equipped to identify suitable mitigation.
• Guidance for members and parish councils on how to both object to the principle of development and set out what mitigation would be required should development be allowed.
• How officers brief members and parish/town councils on 106 agreements and the relationship between s106 agreements and CIL.

The review would not consider existing s106 agreements or agreements currently being developed, except insofar as they demonstrate what has worked well or not.

Regeneration and Asset Management

The committee was scheduled to receive feedback from a briefing on the three main housing developments that took place on 30 September 2025.

Review of Committee Work Programme

The committee was to review and note the Committee Work Programme.