RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2009

Present :-   Cllr C. Lofts (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr D. Linney,

                 Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr D. Yates

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr M. Johns, Cllr A. Wardle

2.    Declarations of Interest

Cllr Stanger declared an Interest in Item 6a – Cheques Issued, cheque number 009069. Cllr Stanger signed the Declarations of Interest Register accordingly.

3.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.    PLANNING

a)    Decisions

Permission for Development in respect of:-

S/2008/1702/P     19 Cappenham Close, Towcester

                           Conversion of part of existing garage to habitable room and

                           extension of garage to front.

S/2009/0087/PT     Bury Mount, Moat Lane, Towcester

                            Removal of twelve trees and stump grinding of remnant root bole.

b)    Amendments

No amended applications were received.

c)    Applications

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

                           Extension and alterations to existing store, extension of car park

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

The committee discussed the application at length and agreed the following observations:-

i.     Store delivery times should to be isolated from peak shopping times in view of the shared entrance point.

ii.    Adequate parking must be provided for the disabled / elderly.   

iii)   The Clerk will investigate the potential to achieve some community benefits from   the extension to the store.

No observations in respect of:-

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

                             Removal of two existing partition 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 doors and the

                             removal of an external door on the rear elevation and alterations

                             to the door opening to create a window.

S/2009/0179/P     The Plough Inn, 96 Watling Street East, Towcester

                           Alterations to outbuilding to create a smoking shelter.

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

                           Alterations to existing barns and loose boxes (amendment to

                           S/2006/0304/P).

S/2009/0213/P     6 Cappenham Close, Towcester

                          Front extension to garage.

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

                          Single storey front extension.

d)    Notice of Withdrawn Application

S/2009/0030/P     120 Watling Street, Towcester

                           Change of use from A1 retail to D1 dental surgery.

5.    O2 UK LTD

Proposed removal of 6no. antennas and installation of 3no. 3G antennas onto existing tower headframe and a replacement equipment cabinet at Towcester ATE, Watling Street West, Towcester, NN12 6DD .

No observations.

6.    Finance

a)    Cheques Issued

The Clerk distributed copies of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009037 to 009079). Most items were ongoing, the following cheques were noted:-

009039 / £283.43 to D. Isaacs – reimbursement for the purchase of a new fridge and cooker for the Community Centre

009051 / £545.72 to British Gas – payment of account for the Community Centre

009060 / £545.72 to British Gas – cheque 009060 is a duplication of 009051. The Clerk will report back on this item at the next meeting.

009059 / £1000.00 – to Towcester Youth & Community Centre – the Clerk previously reported the temporary transfer of £1000.00 to the Community Centre account. The loss adjuster has confirmed a cheque for approximately £1500.00 will be forwarded this week in respect of lost income. Once this has been received the £1000.00 will be transferred back to the Town Council.

009069 / £1543.97 to Julie Turnham Catering – Cllr Stanger has reimbursed the TC accordingly.

009076 / £4125.00 to Kompan – purchase of the new slide for the Recreation Ground.

009077 / £4080.00 to J. R. Murray Construction – installation of the new slide on the Recreation Ground. The Clerk confirmed the cost for installation was £1500.00 less that the quotation from the supplier.

009079 / £396.50 to Play Safety Ltd – annual inspection of the TC play equipment.

The committee agreed for the Cheques Issued List to be signed off by the Chairman and R. F. O.

b)    Credit Control

The Clerk reported that the main invoices outstanding at the last meeting had been settled. There are currently 5 invoices outstanding 3 – 6 months totalling £135.00 and 6 invoices outstanding 0 – 3 months totalling £140.00. The Clerk does not anticipate there will be any problems in receiving settlement of these invoices.   

7.    Cariliion WSP

       A43 Trunk Road Street Lighting Maintenance

Correspondence from Carillion WSP confirms the Highways Agency will be commencing essential minor electrical repairs at approximately 20 locations on the A43 between Towcester and the M40 Junction 10. The works will commence on Monday 23 rd March and will be completed by 29th April. The works will be carried out overnight and will require single lane closures to the east and westbound carriageways. Noted.

8.    Silverstone Development Brief

Correspondence confirms the approval of the Silverstone Development Brief by South Northants Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council. Cllr Lofts advised that the brief was revised to remove the proposed housing sites north of the A43 on the edge of Silverstone village. The master plan area boundary to the south of the A43 has been redrawn. The brief can be viewed in full on the S. N. C. website.

9.    Northamptonshire County Council

       Building Community Resilience – Parish Emergency Seminars 2009

Cllr Lofts confirmed that the N. C. C. Seminar – Building Community Resilience will take place on at 6.30pm on 7th July 2009 at the Council Offices, Daventry. The aim of the event is to provide information on the parish emergency plan template which will make communities more resilient to emergencies, i.e. bad weather. Members of the Council interested in attending should notify the Clerk.

10.    Campaign to Protect Rural England

         2009 Planning Roadshow

The CPRE Northants 2009 Planning Roadshow this year covers:-

•  Local planning and an update on the Planning Act 2008

•  Wind turbines

It will take place at 6.30pm on 21st April at the Parsons Memorial Hall, Great Houghton. Members of the Council interested in attending should notify the Clerk.

11.    Northamptonshire Primary Care Commissioning and Contracting

         Consultation on the proposed reduction in hours at Silverstone Surgery

Cllr Lofts gave details of the revised opening times which will allow the surgery to open during the morning from Monday to Friday. Patient appointments will be prioritised to those who would find it most difficult to travel to the new Brook Surgery in Towcester. The committee fully supported the revised opening times and agreed it was a good compromise from the original proposal to close the surgery.

12.    ASHTAV News

A copy of ASHTAV News Issue 1, 2009 is available from the Clerk.