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RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2010
Present: Cllr J. Hart (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr M. Blake, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr A. Maycock,
Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr D. Yates
1. Apologies for Absence
Cllr M. Johns, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle
2. Declarations of Interest
Cllr Lofts declared an interest in Item 6a cheque number 009403. Cllr Lofts signed the Declarations of Interest Register accordingly.
3. Open to the Public
No members of the public were present.
Committee members agreed to bring forward Item 8 on the Agenda.
8. Towcester Partnership
A report on the current status of the Towcester Partnership was forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting. It confirms that SNC has declined to provide any further funding to the Towcester Partnership.
Cllr Lynch, Chair of the TP, was in attendance to ask the TC, via the RP Committee, to write to SNC supporting the TP request for emergency financial support. Cllr Lynch referred to the documentation circulated which details the worth of the TP and a list of projects ran with SNC. Now, in the 11th month of the financial year, the TP has no foreseeable funding to continue due to delays from SNC in moving projects forward.
An emergency meeting of the TP Board has been arranged for Thursday 25th March, following which, redundancy notices will be served on the Project Manager and Clerk.
Cllr Lynch referred to SNC initial review on Town Centre Management and said the TP could fulfil this function. The Clerk confirmed SNC will be issuing a paper for consultation on future Town Centre Management Scheme and interested bodies will need to tender a bid for this function.
Cllr Lynch referred to the South Northants Youth Bus, a project successfully completed by the TP. The bus has many future bookings but he has concerns over its future if the TP Project Manager is made redundant.
Cllr Lynch advised that if the TP could get support in principle it may be able to secure a loan from SNC. The TP needs £43,000 per annum to operate but has £6,000 of funding guaranteed. If SNC were to resurrect the projects that have been commenced the TP may be able to secure a £15,000 bridging loan to progress these.
Cllr Hart said there was no doubt the TP had been revitalised by its current Project Manager. She queried why SNC representatives on the TP Board had no been more helpful. Cllr Lynch confirmed that SNC representatives had been excluded from meetings where funding issues had been discussed.
Cllr Lofts supported the comments by Cllr Lynch saying the TP projects had not been given the support needed. He added that there was no point in the TP existing without support from its Partners. He stressed that it was important to get to the crux of SNC decision not to provide further funding.
Cllr Allen advised caution; he was concerned that SNC may not appreciate being told what to do by another local authority and this may strengthen its resolve not to fund the TP.
Cllr Lynch left the meeting.
To clarify the position, Cllr Hart reminded members that the TC has been asked to write a letter of support for the TP to receive emergency funding from SNC. Without the support of SNC the TP will fold.
Cllr Lofts said the TP needs to be a Partnership. He questioned whether the TP is set up in the right way or tries to be too independent; like its own body rather than a partnership.
The Clerk confirmed the TP was set up as a separate body to access funding streams not available to others. In the past it has been funded by a number of organisations i.e. the Countryside Agency/SNC/TC but this has not worked. Most funding is capital, not revenue, so there will always be a problem meeting the staff salaries.
Proposal
Cllr Linney proposed that the TC write a letter to SNC supporting the TP request for emergency funding; seconded by Cllr Stanger; 6 in favour, 1 abstention.
4. PLANNING
a) Decisions
S/2009/1280/FUL 6 Park Street, Towcester
Change of use of ground floor from retail (use class A1) to financial
and professional services (use class A2).
b) Amendments
No amended applications were received.
c) Applications
The Clerk confirmed that application S/2010/0140/AGD listed on the agenda had been forwarded by SNC in error.
S/2010/0168/FUL 24 Kipling Drive, Towcester
Conservatory to rear.
No observations.
5. Internal Audit Report for 2010
The TC internal audit was carried out on 10th February. A copy of the Internal Auditor’s report was forwarded to committee members prior to the meeting. The Internal Auditor concludes ‘Overall, I am satisfied that effective systems of control are in place’. The Internal Audit Report for 2010 was accepted by the RP Committee.
6. Finance
a) Cheques Issued
The Clerk distributed a copy of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009396 to 009429). Most items were ongoing, the following were highlighted:-
009406 / £6472.50 to Ravensthorpe Construction for supply and erection of Christmas trees.
Proposal
Cllr Stanger proposed that the Cheques Issued List be signed by the Chair and R.F.O.;
seconded by Cllr Yates; all in favour.
b) Natwest Bank
Auto Transfer Facility and Investment
The Clerk reported back from her meeting with a representative of Natwest Bank to discuss the implementation of charges on the TC accounts. It was agreed that the quarterly charge on the Town Hall Account would not be implemented. It was noted the balance held in the Town Council Account has never been below £10,000 and, as such, the charges would not be applicable.
The Clerk referred to the TC balances held in National Savings and Investments Accounts. The interest earned on the accounts is very poor, currently 0.25%. The Clerk suggested the TC may wish to invest £100,000 in a Natwest bond which pays 1.52% on a 12 months investment (equalling £1500.00) and 2.16% for a 24 month investment. Cllr Allen suggested the TC could shop around for a better interest rate. The committee agreed to the investment of £100,000 at a favourable interest rate.
7. Moat Lane Consultative Group Meeting
Plans for the launch of the Bury Mount and the Watermeadows
The email from Moat Lane consultants, Urban Delivery, was forwarded to committee members prior to the meeting. It confirms the next meeting of the Moat Lane Consultative Group will take place on Wednesday 24th February at 5.30pm where plans will be discussed for the launch of the Bury Mount and the Watermeadows. Members attending were asking to bring ideas for the launch.
9. South Northamptonshire Council
Interim Rural Housing Policy Presentation
Correspondence from SNC invites representatives of the TC to attend the Interim Rural Housing Policy Presentation on Thursday 4th March from 6 – 7.30pm. Members interested in attending were asked to notify the Clerk.
10. Northamptonshire County Council
Section 38 Agreement – Old Tiffield Road, Towcester
Correspondence from NCC confirms that under the Highways Act 1980 (Adoption of Provate Streets) the following site has been adopted and Highway maintainable a public expense effective from 16th February 2010:-
Site: Phase 10, Northampton Road, Towcester
Developer: Persimmon Homes (Midlands) Ltd / Charles Church Ltd
Herbert Gardens 145m
Cycleway link from Herbert Gardens to Coulthard Close 18m
Acessway off Northampton Road 27m
Cycleway link to Coulthard Close 34m
11. ASHTAV Magazine
A copy of the latest issue of the ASHTAV Magazine is available from the Clerk.
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