West Northamptonshire Council's Cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including housing management, budget adjustments for the Market Square project, and several annual reports related to safeguarding and education. The Cabinet approved a phased approach to bring housing services management back into the council, an increase to the Market Square capital budget, and the adoption of a policy statement for supporting children unable to attend school.

Housing Services Management

The Cabinet approved a phased approach to bring the management of housing services from Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) back into the council. This phased approach, referred to as Option 3 in the Options Appraisal of the future management of the Councils housings stock - update, will see some corporate and back office services transition in April 2026, with the remaining services following by April 2027. The decision aims to balance service continuity, regulatory compliance, and organisational stability.

The council allocated a budget of £490,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Reserves to cover the costs of this transition. The decision was made in order to allow for a structured and planned transition, minimise disruption to services, and ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities. It also allows the council to incorporate learnings from inspections and commissioned reports into the housing services before taking over direct management.

Other options considered but rejected included:

• Retaining the Arm's Length Management Organisation¹ (ALMO) and continuing to work alongside NPH to improve services.
• Ceasing operation of the ALMO and immediately transferring services managed by NPH into the council by April 2026.

Market Square Budget

The Cabinet recommended to the council that the Market Square capital budget be increased by £1 million, bringing the overall budget to £13.518 million. This increase is intended to cover the overall project outturn costs, including additional construction costs aligned to a negotiated confidential settlement agreement with Stepnell, the construction company involved in the project. The Market Square Final Budget Position was approved, subject to full council approval, and delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place to sign the confidential settlement agreement.

The council's legal advisors, Sharpe Pritchard, advised that there was a risk on both sides, but there would be higher legal and other professional costs for the council if the matter was not settled in line with the alternative dispute resolution provisions in the Construction Contract.

Buckton Fields Affordable Housing

The Cabinet approved the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Budget and Viability Appraisal for the Buckton Fields Affordable Housing Opportunity. The decision enables the acquisition of 36 flats, with 29 to be let on a social rent tenure and a further 7 to be used for temporary accommodation. The Director of Communities and Opportunities was delegated authority to negotiate and enter into a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Taylor Wimpey, subject to due diligence and independent valuations.

The acquisition of these units aligns with the council’s Housing Strategy, which commits to delivering the homes people need and can afford, and the Affordable Homes Delivery Plan, which aims to accelerate the supply of new Council homes .

Safeguarding and Education

The Cabinet received and noted the annual reports from the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Partnership and the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NSAB). These reports provide assurance to the council regarding the activities undertaken to safeguard children and adults across West Northamptonshire.

The Cabinet also approved the Section 19 Policy Statement, which outlines the council's approach to supporting children unable to attend their education setting under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996². Additionally, the Cabinet noted the contents of the Northamptonshire SACRE Annual Report 2024/2025 and approved the adoption of the SACRE Model Code of Conduct.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review

The Cabinet considered the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review 2024-25 and approved its recommendations. The recommendations focus on encouraging local resolution at an earlier stage in the complaints process and empowering managers to resolve complaints at a local level, with the aim of increasing the satisfaction rate of cases remedied before they reach the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

New Public Mortuary

The Cabinet recommended to the council an increase in the capital budget for the completion of the build and fit out of the new public mortuary. This decision will enable the council to make best use of the facilities at the proposed new mortuary to meet the needs of local residents. It will also ensure the council can meet its obligations under the construction contract and support the delivery of the contract with University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) for body storage and transport service from the agreed start date.