The Council meeting on 05 March 2026 saw the approval of changes to political balance on committees, ensuring representation aligns with the council's current makeup following recent member changes. Key decisions also included the approval of the Corporate Parenting Strategy, a vital framework for supporting children in care and care-experienced young people, and the adoption of the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, a statutory requirement for transparency in council remuneration.

Political Balance

The Council approved changes to the political balance of its committees, reflecting recent shifts in party membership. Following the resignation of Councillor Jack Goncalvez from the Reform UK Group and the subsequent reinstatement of Councillor Darren Rance to the same group, the Reform UK group now has 40 members, and the number of unaligned members has increased to two. This adjustment means that Reform UK will have 61 seats on ordinary committees, a reduction of two from the previous allocation, while unaligned members will nominally see an increase from one to three seats, though they cannot take these up without unanimous council support. The Conservative, Green, and Labour groups remain unchanged in their seat allocations.

Corporate Parenting Strategy

The Council approved the Corporate Parenting Strategy, a comprehensive framework designed to ensure the authority fulfils its statutory duties towards children in care and care-experienced young people. The strategy, developed in co-production with young people and partners, is built around four strategic pillars: Belonging and Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, Support to Fulfil Potential, and Feeling Safe and Secure. The Council also agreed to incorporate this strategy into its Policy Framework for enhanced political prominence and oversight, delegating authority to the Director of Law and Governance to update the Constitution accordingly. An implementation plan, including resource considerations, is currently being developed.

Northamptonshire Children's Trust Annual Report

The Council noted the 2024/25 Annual Review of the Service Delivery Contract (SDC) between Northamptonshire Children's Trust (NCT) and West and North Northamptonshire Councils, which included the 2024/25 Annual Report. This review is a contractual requirement to assess NCT's performance in delivering its functions and to consider any necessary changes to the SDC. The report highlighted that while statutory responsibilities remain with the Councils, oversight arrangements are active, with regular monitoring of performance, finance, and governance. Key areas of focus include safeguarding, placement stability, financial robustness, and early identification of risk. Members acknowledged the ongoing national and local pressures within Children's Services but also recognised the progress made and the commitment to further improvements.

Northamptonshire Children's Trust Business Plan

The Council noted the Northamptonshire Children's Trust Business Plan for 2026/27 to 2028/29. This plan outlines the Trust's vision, strategic objectives, and financial strategy, building upon the outcomes of the October 2022 ILACS inspection which saw both West and North Northamptonshire Councils move from an 'inadequate' to a 'requires improvement to be good' rating. The Business Plan details shared commitments between NCT and the two unitary councils, focusing on seven key areas: supporting families to live together well, keeping children safe, supporting children in care and care leavers, listening to those supported, recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce, delivering quality services, and ensuring effective use of resources. The plan aligns with updates to the Social Care Improvement Plan and has been developed through extensive consultation.

Pay Policy Statement 2026/27

The Council approved its Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27. This statutory document, required by the Localism Act 2011, outlines the Council's approach to staff remuneration, including chief officer salaries, the lowest-paid employees, and pay ratios. The statement confirms that the Council is committed to fair, transparent, and competitive pay practices. It was noted that there were no significant changes from the previous year's statement, and that 85% of the workforce are now employed on North Northamptonshire Council's pay terms and conditions following a successful implementation project. The Council also delegated authority to the Chief Executive to make any necessary in-year amendments to the statement, particularly concerning national pay awards.

Political Balance

The Council approved changes to the political balance of its committees, reflecting recent shifts in party membership. Following the resignation of Councillor Jack Goncalvez from the Reform UK Group and the subsequent reinstatement of Councillor Darren Rance to the same group, the Reform UK group now has 40 members, and the number of unaligned members has increased to two. This adjustment means that Reform UK will have 61 seats on ordinary committees, a reduction of two from the previous allocation, while unaligned members will nominally see an increase from one to three seats, though they cannot take these up without unanimous council support. The Conservative, Green, and Labour groups remain unchanged in their seat allocations. The Council also noted that these political balance provisions do not apply to the Executive or certain other bodies where appointments are made by the Leader of the Council.

Motions on Notice

A motion proposing formal support for Zane's Law – the Clean Land (Human Rights) Bill was debated and ultimately rejected by the Council. The motion, proposed by Councillor Ben Williams and seconded by Councillor James Towns, highlighted concerns about the UK's regulatory framework for contaminated land and landfill sites, referencing the Corby toxic waste scandal and the tragic case of Zane Gbangbola. The proposed bill aimed to establish registers of contaminated land, mandate inspections and remediation, and secure government funding for local authorities. The motion sought to urge the government to bring forward the bill, ensure adequate funding, and reaffirm the Council's commitment to protecting residents from risks associated with contaminated land. Following a recorded vote, the motion was rejected with 29 votes against, 24 in favour, and 4 abstentions.

Councillor Questions

The Council received one councillor question, which was taken as read. Councillor Jon Humberstone asked a supplementary question of Councillor Chris McGiffen, with an answer to be supplied outside of the meeting.

The meeting concluded at 8:36 pm.