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TOWN
COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY,
13TH JULY 2009
Present
: Cllr J. Hart (Chair), Cllr D. Bain, Cllr M. Blake,
Cllr C. Dryden,
Cllr
J. Godwin, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr C.
Stanger,
Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates
1.
Apologies for Absence
Cllr
C. Lofts, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle
2.
Declarations of Interest
None.
3.
Open to the Public
Mr
Dale of Magpie Road confirmed he reports to the Towcester Partnership
on issues relating to cycle paths. He asked if the TC were aware
that Northamptonshire County Council had allocated £250,000
for new cycle paths in Towcester. Mr Dale outlined a number of proposed
routes for the cycle paths. The Clerk confirmed that N.C.C. had
forwarded proposals to introduce a new cycle path from Docklewell
Close through to Alchester Court . Concerns over 2 areas on the
floodplain to the rear of Tennyson Close will need to be addressed
by N.C.C. when planning the works.
Cllr
Bromwich confirmed she has just received a report from the Highways
Agency regarding proposals to alter the A43 crossing at Tiffield,
following concerns from residents. She will report back on this
item at the next Full Council meeting.
4.
Report back from :-
Cllr
R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council
Cllr
Bromwich confirmed she is no longer the N.C.C. Cabinet Member for
Adult Services; her new position is Vice-Chair of N.C.C. and she
will sit on the board of the Police Authority. Cllr Bromwich gave
statistics relating to the responsibilities of N.C.C., i.e.
•
cares for 1300 people with learning difficulties
•
supports 2500 carers
•
provides support for 7000 adults enabling them to remain in their
own home
•
manages 2500 miles of county roads
•
is responsible for 22 fire stations
Cllr
Bromwich referred to residential care homes in Northants; confirming
that homes in the North of the County have been outsourced. These
have subsequently been refurbished to provide much-improved, modern
facilities for the residents. Homes in the south of the county,
including Ridgeway House, are still under the direct control of
N.C.C. and require a programme of refurbishment to bring them up
to standard. Consultations to decide on the best option for care
homes in South Northants will start on 14th July and the outcome
will be decided by N.C.C. Cabinet in November. The TC will be forwarded
details to put forward its views on this issue.
Cllr
Godwin put forward a number of questions to Cllr Bromwich particularly
referring to what he considered was the County Council's decimation
of the Youth Service in Northamptonshire. Cllr Bromwich disagreed
with this view and pointed out a number of youth activities taking
place but conceded that there may be gaps in the provision which
need to be addressed. Cllr Johns added that, whatever your views
were on the current provision, N.C.C. had certainly redirected the
money for youth provision elsewhere.
Cllr
A. Grant, South Northamptonshire Council
Cllr
Grant confirmed that works on the South Northants Homes offices
on Burcote Road will be completed in the next fortnight. He is pleased
that this is providing employment opportunities for the town.
There
was positive news regarding the adoption of the sewers at the Shires
Development on Northampton Road.
Cllr
Grants referred to the document produced by West Northants Joint
Planning Unit on the proposed growth for the region. He was particularly
concerned about the huge growth planned for the Grange Park area
and the potential of requiring a new road system to replace the
A43 at a cost of £100 million+. He confirmed that consultation
on the document is ongoing until November 2009.
Cllr
D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council
Cllr
Dallyn referred to the WNDC consultation on design codes which ends
on 17th July. She has read the part of the document relating to
Towcester and is keen to ensure that the code for new homes is suitable
for a rural area and reflects the nature of the town. Cllr Dallyn
is concerned the document opposes wide tree-lined streets with front
gardens in favour of narrow streets with no frontage and she will
be making observations on this point. She encouraged members to
make individual responses to the consultation. Cllr Lynch confirmed
the document is riddled with inaccuracies; the Towcester Partnership
has made a 3 page response to it.
Cllr
Dallyn confirmed that no decision was made on the Youth Bus at the
last meeting of SNC Cabinet. This item is to be bought before Cabinet
again this evening.
Cllr
J. Lynch, Towcester Partnership
Copies
of the progress report from Towcester Partnership were circulated
at the meeting.
Cllr
Lynch confirmed the progress of the Bury Mount development and informed
members that £100,000 grant has been obtained from the WNDC
to provide pathways at the Watermeadows.
5.
Minutes of Meetings
Resources/Planning
Committee 8th June 2009
Town
Council
8th
June 2009
Cemetery
Committee
6th July 2009
Proposal
Cllr
Allen proposed that the Minutes of Meetings be signed by the Chair
as a true record;
seconded
by Cllr Linney, all in favour.
6.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
Pg
09/06/079 The Clerk and Cllr Wright will be meeting with
representatives of N.C.C. Sure Start and their architect on 15th
July to discuss proposals for the Community Centre. A full report
will be given at the Recreation/Leisure Committee Meeting next week.
7.
Report back from the Chair of the :-
Resources
/ Planning Committee
Cllr
Hart confirmed that this evening's Resources/Planning Meeting was
cancelled as it was not quorate. The planning applications would
need to be discussed as there would be no further opportunities.
No
observations in respect of:-
S/2009/0519/P
1 Magpie Road, Towcester
Two storey rear
extension
S/2009/0582/P
15 Beech Close, Towcester
Single storey rear
extension (retrospective)
S/2009/0553/P
27 Belle Baulk, Towcester
Conversion of garage
to living accommodation
Appeal
against refusal of planning permission :-
Address:
9 Coulthard Close
Proposed
development: Change of use of amenity land
to residential garden
Appeal
reference number APP/Z2830/A/09/2107222/WF
Correspondence
from SNC confirms the appeal document can be inspected at the Council
Offices. Any comments must be made to the Planning Inspectorate
before 6th August. Cllr Hart confirmed the R/P Committee had already
objected the proposals and these comments will be taken forward
to the appeal.
Town
Hall Committee
Cllr
Allen had nothing to report.
Recreation
/ Leisure Committee
Cllr
Wright confirmed the Caretaker of Nicholas Hawksmoor School will
be off work during the entire summer holidays. The TC has obtained
a key for the Pocket Park and Cllr Stanger volunteered to open/close
the park for the duration.
Cemetery
Committee
The
last meeting was postponed to 6th July so the tenders for works
to the Cemetery Chapel will not be due for submission until mid-September.
Allotment
Working Group
Cllr
Maycock had given apologies for the meeting.
8.
Report back from Local Bodies
Cllr
Stanger is seeking sponsorship and teams for the Town Mayor's Golf
Day in September.
Cllr
Lynch has received good reports from the Midsummer Music Festival.
Although down in numbers; the artists performing were well received.
The committee is reconsidering its publicity for next year's event
as it considered the loss of advertising from the Herald and Post
was a factor.
Cllr
Linney confirmed the Towcester Youth Coffee Shop is aiming to open
throughout the summer. St Lawrence Church will be closed for the
whole of October for wood treatment to be carried out.
Cllr
Allen confirmed that the Clerk of Sponne & Bickerstaffe Charity,
Sue Joice, has retired. A new Clerk for the charity has been appointed.
Cllr
Blake referred to the Towcester Produce Show taking place on 31st
August. Entrees are welcome from all in the NN12 postcode. Leaflet
stands displaying the entry forms will be placed in all the local
garden centres.
Cllr
Hart confirmed that the Sponne & Bickerstaffe Charity was presented
with a cheque for £395 from the Waitrose green token scheme.
St Lawrence Church Flower Festival will take place on 7th , 8th
& 9th August. Anyone interested in entering a display should
contact Rona Cambray at the Chantry House. The Clerk confirmed that
Rona will be asked to prepare the Town Council's entry as in previous
years.
Cllr
Hart gave details of the events she has recently attended on behalf
of the Town Mayor:-
22/06
Armed Forces Day at South Northants Council offices
24/06
Award Ceremony for St John Ambulance at St Peters Church
, Northampton
03/07
Towcester Scout Hut Pre-school 30th Anniversary Celebrations
08/07
Launch of Caswell Science and Technology Park
9.
The Towcester Masterplan Consultation Draft
Public Consultation
Copies
of the Masterplan have been forwarded to all members. A special
meeting has been arranged with Heidi Antrobus of SNC for 27th July
to discuss the proposals.
10.
East Midlands Regional Assembly
Regional Plan Partial Review Options
Consultation
The
Regional Plan Partial Review will be discussed at the Resource/Planning
Committee Meeting on 27th July. The email link to the document has
been forwarded to all members. The closing date for comments is
6th October.
11.
Northamptonshire County Council
a)
Parish Highway Representative Scheme
Correspondence
from John Robinson confirms his retirement from the Parish Highway
Representative Scheme. N.C.C. has now decided to combine the volunteer
groups under one
co-ordinator;
appointing Miss Courtney Claunch as the new Volunteers Co-ordinator'.
It was agreed that the questionnaire relating to the scheme would
be passed to TC representative, Cllr Wardle, for completion.
b)
Parish Enhancement Gangs
Correspondence
from MGWSP confirms 2 dedicated gangs are to be set up to work with
parish councils to undertake minor improvement / safety works, i.e.
cleaning and repairs of signs, resetting of slabs, isolated pothole
and kerb repairs, clearing of vegetation etc.
c)
Walking & Cycling Routes Silverstone Brook
The
Clerk referred to correspondence from Garry Moore of MGWSP Northamptonshire
Highways regarding its proposals to widen to 2.5m the existing pathways
from Docklewell Close to Alchester Court to provide a shared footpath
/ cycleway. Ownership of the land affected is shared between the
TC and SNC. SNC has given its full support to the scheme which will
see the path passed to N.C.C. for future maintenance, once completed.
Proposal
Cllr
Linney proposed that the TC gives its full support to the cycle
path scheme;
seconded
by Cllr Lynch, all in favour.
12.
Urban Development Corporation
Quinquennial
Review Consultation
The
Quinquennial Review Consultation Review will be discussed at the
Resource/Planning Committee Meeting on 27th July. The email link
to the document has been forwarded to all members. The closing date
for comments is 18 th September.
13.
Correspondence
a)
Highways Agency Summer Getaways 2009 for the South-West
Copy available from the Clerk.
b)
ACRE Village Viewpoint Summer 2009
Copy available from the Clerk.
c)
South Northants Council Summer Activities 2009
Programmes on SNC summer activities for children are
available from the Clerk.
d)
Northants County Council The Pocketeer Spring
/ Summer 2009
Copy available from the Clerk.
e)
South Northants Council Arts News, Issue 32
Copy available from the Clerk.
f)
Carillion WSP Highways Agency Area 8 Service Provider
Change of Area
Correspondence confirms that from 1st July 2009 a new
Area 7 has been established
mirroring the existing Government Office for
the East Midlands Boundaries. A new
Managing Agent Contractor will start on 1st July
when A-one+ will replace Carillion.
Contact details for the new contractor have been
provided.
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