The Executive of North Northamptonshire Council met to discuss and make decisions on a range of issues, including the procurement of bunker fuel, transformation of specialist support services, housing funds, and the establishment of a local plan advisory group. The Executive authorised the procurement of a supply contract for bunker fuel, endorsed the transformation of the Specialist Support Service Younger Adults (SSYA), approved the acceptance of grant funding for the Local Authority Housing Fund – Round 3 (LAHF 3), and approved the establishment of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan Advisory Group.

Finance Activity Report - Quarter 1

The Executive reviewed the council's forecast outturn position for 2025/26, as detailed in the Finance Activity Report - Quarter 1. The report, presented by Claire Edwards, Executive Director of Finance, highlighted a General Fund overspend of £9.421m, a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) underspend of £978k, and a Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit of £18.668m. The Executive noted the provisional capital outturn position and approved budget re-profiling across the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Capital Programme, as detailed in Appendix C of the report. They also approved the 2025/26 budget consolidations, as set out in Appendix D, and noted the Capital Prudential Indicators for Quarter 1, as detailed in Appendix E. The council's treasury management activities and performance for the quarter were also noted, as detailed in Appendix F. The deliverability of the 2025/26 General Fund savings proposals was also assessed.

The report highlighted several variances across the funds, which are detailed in Appendix A. These included:

• Children's Trust: A contract pressure of £5.635m, plus an additional £112k relating to 2024/25.
• Educational Psychology Service: An income pressure of £989k.
• Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing: A forecast net pressure of £2.700m, including pressures related to third party payments, staffing, and social care transport.
• Place and Economy: Net pressures of £1.854m, primarily relating to Home to School Transport.
• Enabling Services: Net pressures of £845k, mainly due to staffing pressures in the Revenues & Benefits Service.

The council had previously been notified that it would receive £6.652m for the Extended Produce Responsibility Scheme (EPR). They received notification on 11 July that they would receive £8.715m, which is an increase of £2.063m.

Transformation of Specialist Support Service for Younger Adults (SSYA)

The Executive endorsed the implementation of Phase 2 of the Transformation of Provider Services, which involves commissioning external providers to deliver longer-term Specialist Support Services for Younger Adults (SSYA). They also endorsed the creation of a new in-house enablement service. The Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing was delegated to undertake any required consultation with people currently supported by SSYA, with staff, and to carry out the procurement and commissioning exercises required to commission this support from the external market. They were also delegated to take any further decisions and / or actions required to support the implementation of the recommended proposal.

The decision was made because the majority of people supported by SSYA have been receiving support from the service for more than 2 years and their care and support needs are stable and can be met by an external provider, and do not require the specialist intervention from the Council’s in house provider services. It was noted that as of 1 April 2025, 41 people are supported in the longer-term settings with 1,117 hours of care and supported provided during the day and 321 hours of care at night across these settings each week. A further 16 people are supported in their individual homes within the community and 51 staff work across the 5 longer term settings providing care and support.

It was also noted that the in-house unit costs are approximately 50% more expensive than the independent market. By commissioning the care and support for the people currently supported by SSYA externally, there is the potential to mitigate the current overspend within the service and generate additional savings. Transferring staff to external providers will also ensure that people using the service benefit from continuity of service, delivered by the same familiar staff members.

It was also noted that externally commissioning SSYA services would create an opportunity to accelerate the creation of a new in-house enablement service, with some SSYA staff being reassigned to an enablement service.

Local Authority Housing Fund - Round 3 (LAHF 3)

The Executive approved the acceptance of £0.528m in grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the Local Authority Housing Fund – Round 3 (LAHF 3) to purchase four properties. The Executive also approved budget expenditure of £0.878m, with £636k allocated to the General Fund and £242k to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The Executive Director for Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing was delegated authority to take any further decisions and/or actions required to purchase the properties and appoint appropriate contractors to undertake refurbishment works if required.

The decision was made to alleviate increasing demand on homelessness and temporary accommodation services by increasing the supply of suitable council-owned temporary accommodation, to provide stable accommodation for one Afghan family in the Resettlement Cohort, and to increase the council’s housing stock at a cost to the council of approximately 40% of the market value cost to purchase the properties, due to the award of LAHF 3 grant.

Supported Living Services for Individuals with Learning Disabilities

The Executive approved the procurement of a new contract arrangement for care and support for individuals with a learning disability to ensure North Northamptonshire remains compliant in its statutory responsibilities¹. The Executive Director for Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing (DASS) was delegated to take any decisions and/or actions over the life of the contract, in consultation with the Executive Member of Adults and Health Partnerships.

The decision was made to ensure the council continues to meet its statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, to build on outcomes-based commissioning and further enhance the quality of the services and outcomes for individuals in the future, to ensure a consistent and more equitable approach to pricing across supported living services in North Northamptonshire, to enable the council to consider future accommodation requirements based on a housing needs analysis and the wider Housing Strategy (2025-30), to ensure commissioning plans will be informed by the Adult Social Care Strategy (2024-29) and the vision for strength-based approaches and more specifically Co-production[^3], and to ensure building on strengths, supporting progression and independence will maximise outcomes and value for money.

Procurement of Compliance Contractor 2025 – 2028 plus extension

The Executive confirmed the recommended procurement route, using both established framework agreements and the open market for contract(s) using multiple providers for a Statutory Compliance service. The Assistant Director of Assets and Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Highways, Transport and Assets, was delegated authority to enter into the necessary contractual arrangements to secure best value for delivering the Statutory Compliance Service.

The decision was made to widen the tender process allowing current local providers to bid, where local building knowledge may be beneficial, to provide the most cost effective and efficient solution, which can be deployed to suit the changes in service need and delivery throughout the contract period, to access a reliable statutory compliance service provision enabling a robust process to monitor contractor performance, providing quality services for North Northamptonshire residents, and to allow flexibility to add and remove the buildings covered by the contract as the Council’s estate evolves and the Corporate Landlord Model is implemented.

Local Plan Member Advisory Group

The Executive approved the establishment of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan Advisory Group and its draft terms of reference as set out in Appendix A. The Advisory Group will be a non-decision-making body and will operate in an advisory capacity to the Executive and other relevant committees or forums as necessary. The proposed Advisory Group membership will be maintained on political balance principles. The Executive Director for Place and Economy, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth, was delegated to make minor amendments to the terms of reference as may be required from time to time.

The decision was made to provide a consultative forum with Members to support the progression of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan through to its adoption, and because the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led and succinct and up-to-date plans should provide a positive vision for the future of each area and a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social, and environmental priorities.

Performance Indicator Report 2025/26 (Period 3 – June / Q1)

The Executive noted the performance of the Council as measured by the available indicators as at Period 3 (June / Q1) 2025/26, set out within Appendices A, B and C of the report. The reason for the recommendation was to understand and track the Council’s performance as measured by KPIs as at Period 3 (June / Q1) 2025/26 so that performance can be managed as necessary.

Bunker Fuel Procurement

The Executive authorised the procurement of a supply contract to ensure uninterrupted provision of fuel, to service the requirements of the Council’s fleet operations. They also delegated authority to procure, enter into a contract with the chosen procured supplier and sign the necessary contracts to the Assistant Director for Assets and Environment in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets, Waste and Environmental Services.

The decision was made because the cost-effective supply of bulk fuel requirements will ensure continuity of service provision across multiple service areas, mitigating risks to the supply and availability of fuel for key Council activities, providing fuel for emergency situations and the servicing of Council buildings in times of need, and the completion of a full procurement exercise will further ensure the Authority is compliant with its obligations under the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement.