RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 18TH MAY 2009

Present :-   Cllr C. Lofts (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr M. Blake, Cllr J. Hart,

                 Cllr M. Johns, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr D. Yates

 

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr D. Linney, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle

 

2.    Election of Chair

Cllr Johns proposed that Cllr J. Hart be elected as Chair of the Resources/Planning Committee for the ensuing year; seconded by Cllr Maycock, all in favour.

 

Cllr Hart took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

 

Election of Vice-Chair

Cllr Allen proposed that Cllr M. Johns be elected as Vice-Chair of the Resources/Planning Committee for the ensuing year; seconded by Cllr Maycock, all in favour.

 

3.    Declarations of Interest

None.

 

4.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

 

5.    PLANNING

a)    Decisions

Permission for Development in respect of:-

 

S/2009/0184/P     Springhill Farm, Handley Park, Towcester

                           Alterations to existing barns and loose boxes (amendment to S/2006/0304/P).

 

S/2009/0190/P     55 Belle Baulk, Towcester

                          Single storey front extension.

 

S/2009/0199/P     No.s 1 – 12 Hulcote Village

                          Twenty residential parking places, two refurbished residential places

                          and 12 visitor parking places.

 

Listed Building Consent in respect of:-

 

S/2009/0177/LB     183 Watling Street West, Towcester

                             Removal of two existing partitions walls on the ground floor, the

                             erection of a new partition wall and internal door to form an  

                             entrance lobby. The replacement of two timber floors and the

                             removal of an external door on the rear elevation and alterations

                             to the door opening to create a window.

 

b)    Amendments

S/2009/0305/P           Baptist Chapel Site, Watling Street, Towcester

Proposal:                   Two detached dwellings (amendments to approved application

                                 S/2006/1115/P).

Amendment details:    Submission of layout plan.

S/2009/0156/P           Tesco Store, Old Tiffield Road, Towcester

Proposal:                   Extension and alterations to existing store, extension of car park

                                 and service yard and creation of new vehicular access and bus shelter.

Amendment details:    Additional information including; further details of CHP plant including

                                 boiler stack, amended site layout to include cycle or motorcycle

                                 parking and recycling centre, swept path analysis re new roundabout.

 

Noted.

 

c)    Applications

S/2009/0381/P     Tesco Store, Old Tiffield Road, Towcester

                           New wind lobby and sliding doors to existing entrance. Re-siting of

                           trolley bays and two parking bays.

                           No observations.

 

S/2009/0357/P     Meeting Hall, Northampton Road, Towcester

                           Alteration and extension to Masonic meeting room.

                          The committee agreed to support to observations made by

                          TDLHS that no development should take place until the

                          applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of

                          archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme

                          of investigation approved in writing by the Local Planning

                          Authority.

 

S/2009/0343/P    73 Brackley Road, Towcester

                          Lych gate to front.

                          No observations.

 

S/2009/0376/P   23 Brackley Road, Towcester

                         Part change of use from A1 retail to A5 hot food takeaway. Installation

                         of extractor fan.

                         The committee objected on the following grounds:-

                         i. Lack of parking

                         ii. The proposals are likely to cause disturbance to

                         neighbouring residents

 

S/2009/0339/P   120 Watling Street, Towcester

                         Change of use from retail (A1) to Coffee Shop (mixed use A1/A3).

                         Cllr Johns proposed that the application be objected on the

                         grounds that the change of use will adversely affect the balance

                         of retail/non-retail units in the town centre.

 

6.    Accounts to 31st March 2009

a)    Report from the Internal Auditor

A copy of the report from the internal auditor was forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting. The auditor was satisfied that effective systems of control are in place and signed off Statement 4 on the Annual Return. The external auditor has referred to the Fidelity Guarantee; members previously discussed this issue and proposed to maintain the insurance at its current level. The Clerk had included investments in Box 8 as recommended by the Auditor.

b)    Financial Statement for 2008/09

A full set of accounts for the 2008/09 financial year were forwarded to all members of the Council prior to the meeting. The Clerk referred to the covering financial statement, in particular the large balance held in the general account at year end. She itemised the earmarked funds and stated £49273 would be transferred to the investment account in April 2009. Each committee has reviewed its income/expenditure for the 2008/09 year.

c)   A copy of Statement 1 and 2 of the Annual Return was forwarded to members of the Council prior to the meeting. It was agreed for the Clerk to answer ‘Yes' to all statements in Section 2.

Proposal

Cllr Allen proposed that the Chair sign Statements 1 & 2 of the Annual Return for 2008/09;

seconded by Cllr Stanger, all in favour.

7.    Highways Agency

       A5 Trunk Road – Unauthorised Sign

 

The meeting was closed to begin the Town Council Meeting. This item was deferred to Report back from the Chair of the Resources/Planning Committee of the Town Council Meeting.