The West Northamptonshire Council Cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including financial monitoring, public space protection, and affordable housing. The cabinet approved recommendations regarding the Ecton Brook Affordable Housing Development, insurance procurement, home to school transport, community equipment services, and the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

• Ecton Brook Affordable Housing Development
• St James Park
• Unit 1 Gravel Pits

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026-2027

The Cabinet approved the proposed Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) for 2026-2027 and recommended to the Council a no-change LCTRS for 2026-2027. This decision allows West Northamptonshire Council to agree on a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2026-2027. The LCTRS applies to working-age claimants, while the government prescribes the scheme for those of pension age.

Renewal of Public Spaces Protection Order

The Cabinet approved the renewal of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the West Northamptonshire Council administrative area until October 2028. The Cabinet also approved the variation of the PSPO to include a new requirement that dogs must be on leads at all times at a defined lakeside area of St James Park, Brackley and Unit 1 Gravel Pits.

The decision to renew and vary the PSPO aims to address dog control and smoking-related antisocial behaviour. The move follows a public consultation that showed support for the measures. The renewal and variation are considered an appropriate and proportionate response to dog control and smoking issues in the locality, and will allow for consistent messaging, improve education and compliance, thereby reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour in the locality.

Ecton Brook Affordable Housing Development

The Cabinet approved recommendations to enable the construction of 18 affordable homes at the site of the former Ecton Brook Care Home. The recommendations included noting the work to date, approving the Housing Revenue Account Capital Budget and Development Appraisal, and delegating authority to the Director of Communities and Opportunities to appoint a Principal Contractor.

To deliver a viable scheme that includes social rent properties, the council agreed in principle to accept a reduced land value for the site when appropriating from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account. The Assistant Director for Assets and Environment was delegated authority to transfer the land, assuming a reduced land value.

The reasons for the decision included addressing the acute need for affordable housing in West Northamptonshire and delivering on the objectives of the Council’s Housing Strategy and Affordable Homes Delivery Plan.

Procurement and Contract Renewal of Insurance Services

The Cabinet approved the extension of the council’s existing insurance policies for 12 months to 31 March 2027. It also approved the disaggregation of listed insurances from the main programme to ensure appropriate arrangements to procure these policies separately, effective from 1 April 2026, and approved the tender of the extended insurance contracts to take effect from 1 April 2027.

The decision ensures uninterrupted insurance cover and protection for the council. The extension will enable further development of the council’s asset information in preparation for the 2027 tender.

Home to School Transport Procurement Framework

The Cabinet approved the implementation of an Open Framework for home to school transport procurement. It also provided delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place to update and amend the terms and conditions of the Open Framework to ensure compliance with legislation and to meet the aims and objectives of the council.

The decision was made in light of changes in procurement legislation, with Dynamic Purchasing Systems being replaced by Dynamic Markets. The Open Framework will improve flexibility and help facilitate a more competitive market, providing suppliers with multiple opportunities to join during its lifetime.

Integrated Community Equipment Services

The Cabinet approved a contract variation of eight months to allow time for development of a new model for re-procurement of integrated community equipment services. It also approved re-procuring the contract and continuing the lead commissioner role with North Northamptonshire Council and the Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board over a period of 5 years, with the option to extend by a further 3 years (5+1+1+1).

The Cabinet delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health & Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Executive Director of People and the Chief Finance Officer, to take any further decisions to conclude this procurement and award the contract.

The recommendations aim to improve the model by putting in place a self-assessment model, exploring the possibility of calling off a procurement-led framework, creating a model where care homes can buy from the community equipment catalogue, offering a longer contract, extending the current service model to cover Saturday mornings and bank holidays, and renaming the service to the Integrated Community Equipment Loan Service (ICELS).

Revenue Monitoring Period 4 - Financial Year 2025-26

The Cabinet noted the forecast outturn position for 2025-26 and associated risks, as well as the deliverability assessment of West Northamptonshire Council savings requirement for 2025-26. It delegated authority to the Executive Director, Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to apply any budget virements¹ required to effectively manage the overall budget, and noted the Treasury Management update.

The forecast outturn position for 2025-26 is an overspend of £9.6m after the use of £11.4m of general budget contingencies.

Period 4 General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Monitoring Report 2025-26

The Cabinet noted the latest capital monitoring position for the General Fund and HRA, as well as the new capital schemes and changes to the Capital Programme since the approved budget position considered by Council in February 2025. It approved the Capital Budget requests outlined in appendix B of the Public Reports Pack.

One West Northamptonshire Plan - Performance Report Q1 2025-26

The Cabinet noted the content of the One West Northamptonshire Plan – Performance Report Q1 2025-26. The report provided an overview of performance for West Northamptonshire Council for the period of April to the end of June 2025, set against the priorities set out in the One West Northamptonshire Plan.

Report of the Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Cabinet agreed to consider the report and recommendations of the Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutiny review of support for foster carers in West Northamptonshire. It also agreed to give its formal response to the report and recommendations at a subsequent Cabinet meeting.