The North Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to meet on 11 December 2025 to discuss and formally adopt the Corporate Plan, review the Corporate Parenting Board's annual report, and consider the Youth Justice Plan. Councillors will also discuss council tax support schemes, premiums for empty properties, and a community governance review.

Corporate Plan: Our Plan for the Future

The council is expected to formally adopt the new Corporate Plan, known as Our Plan for the Future, which sets out the council's objectives up to 2029. The plan focuses on four priority themes:

• Family
• Community
• Prosperity
• Smarter, faster, fairer public services

The report pack includes the draft Corporate Plan as Appendix A, and notes that it has been developed taking into account the results of a residents' satisfaction survey and a public consultation. According to the report pack, the consultation showed strong support for the priorities and commitments outlined in the plan.

The report pack states that the Corporate Plan will be supported by strategies and action plans, including the Budget and Financial Strategy, Workforce Strategy, Technology and Digital Strategy, Annual Delivery Plan and Service Plans.

The report pack notes that the Executive Councillor Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council, was keen to take on board the recommendations of external assessments and opinion when developing the plan, such as the outcome of Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge.

The report pack also notes that the Executive were keen for the plan to be shaped by the needs of residents and local communities.

North Northamptonshire Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2024-25

The council is scheduled to consider the North Northamptonshire Council Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2024-25. The report provides an overview of the Corporate Parenting Board's activities and how it is fulfilling its corporate parenting responsibilities.

The report pack notes that the annual report is structured to include an introduction, an executive summary, governance and statutory context, the board's approach, board activity, young people's participation and successes, how foster carers are celebrated, next steps, and a conclusion.

The report pack also notes that the Corporate Parenting Board considered the draft report at its meeting held on 7th October 2025, as did the Children's Trust Joint Committee at its meeting held on 12th November 2025.

Northamptonshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26

The council is scheduled to approve the Northamptonshire Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 and note the Youth Offending Service's priorities for 2025-26.

The report pack notes that the Youth Justice Plan must be submitted to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales and published in accordance with the directions of the Secretary of State.

The report pack also notes that the Children's Trust Joint Committee considered the draft Northamptonshire Youth Justice Plan 2025/26 at its meeting held on 12th November 2025, recommending its approval to full Council.

The report pack states that the Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service has identified the following priorities for 2025 - 2026:

• Strengthen support for victims, with a special focus on young victims, and the continuous improvement of restorative justice delivery.
• Actively tackle disproportionality, particularly for Black and Mixed children and young people, and care-experienced children and young people, ensuring equity and belonging.
• Prevent serious youth violence through place-based, communityinformed strategies and a commitment to contextual safeguarding.
• Address poor educational engagement, where over 40% of Northamptonshire Youth Justice Service (NYJS) engagement involved children who were missing education for more than half the allotted time.
• Expand the Voice4Change youth forum, develop new mentoring schemes, and identity-based interventions to support personal development and inclusion.

Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27

The council is scheduled to discuss the Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) for 2025/26 and propose a scheme for 2026/27.

The report pack notes that from 1st April 2013, each Local Authority has been required to determine a Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS), which replaced the national Council Tax Benefit Scheme.

The report pack also notes that the scheme applies to working age claimants only as the government prescribes the scheme for pensionable age claimants.

The report pack states that the Executive recommends that the council endorse a proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27 that maintains the current 2025/26 scheme, allowing the changes required to reflect the annual uprating of allowances and premiums and statutory base legislation changes which are required to be made to the scheme.

Council Tax Premiums – Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties

The council is scheduled to discuss proposals to introduce a premium for Long Term Empty Properties once they have been empty for one year (currently two years) and to introduce a premium for Second Homes.

The report pack notes that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 contains provision to amend the definition of long-term empty homes so that from 1st April 2024 unfurnished properties that have been empty for one year or more can be charged a premium. The Act also contains a provision to introduce a second homes premium from 1st April 2025.

The report pack states that the Executive recommends that the council endorse the proposals to introduce a premium for Long Term Empty Properties once they have been empty for one year (currently two years) effective from 1st April 2026 and to introduce a premium for Second Homes effective from 1st April 2027, giving Council Taxpayers the required 12 months' notice of intention to introduce this premium.

Council Tax Base 2026/27

The council is scheduled to set the Council Tax Base for 2026/27 as required by Section 33 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012.

Community Governance Review 2025/26

The council is scheduled to consider and adopt the terms of reference for a Community Governance Review of the parish arrangements for North Northamptonshire Council area.

The report pack notes that under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (LGPIHA 2007), North Northamptonshire Council is responsible for carrying out Community Governance Reviews (CGRs) in its area.

The report pack also notes that at its meeting on 13th November 2025, Democracy and Standards Committee resolved to recommend the Terms of Reference to Council for adoption.

The report pack states that the proposed timetable, as included in the draft Terms of Reference facilitates two 10-week periods of consultation that enables Members and local communities sufficient opportunity to consider proposals and prepare representations.