RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 25TH JULY 2011

Present:              Cllr D. Linney (Chair), Cllr D. Bain, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr N. Holder, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr C. Lofts,

                          Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr D. Wardle, Cllr D. Yates

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr M. Blake, Cllr N. Hastings

2.           Declarations of Interest

Cllr Linney declared an interest in Item 5 – Cheques Issued – cheque number 009921.  Cllr Linney 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 granted in respect of:-

S/2011/0394/FUL           38 Hesketh Crescent, Towcester

                                        Two storey side extension

S/2011/0460/FUL           12 Tyrell Way, Towcester

                                        Single storey rear extension

Listed Building Consent granted in respect of:-

S/2011/0397/LBC           Towcester Museum, White Horse Yard, Towcester

                                        Alterations to S/2008/0640/LB to create first floor

S/2011/0543/LBC           Chantry House, Chantry Lane, Towcester

                                        Removal of staircase, timber balustrade to stairwell window, new floor in stairwell

b)           Amendments

No amended applications had been received.

c)           Applications

S/2011/0855/FUL           1 Queens Road, Towcester

                                        Two storey building to provide two one-bedroom flats

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed that the application be objected on the grounds of over-intensification of the site;

seconded by Cllr Johns; 8 votes in favour; 1 vote against; I abstention – proposal carried

S/2011/0865/FUL           The Old Chapel, 186 Watling Street East, Towcester

                                        Installation of solar photovoltaic panels to the roof of the building

                                        The committee agreed to support the application

S/2011/0907/FUL           48 St Lawrence Road South, Towcester

                                        First floor dormer extension in addition to ground floor rear extension permitted

                                        by S/2010/1571/FUL

                                        No observations

S/2011/0877/FUL           34 Caernarvon Close, Towcester

                                        Two storey side extension

                                        No observations

5.           Cheques Issued

The Clerk distributed copies of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009886 to 009921).  Most items were ongoing, the following cheque numbers were highlighted:-

009888 / £310.00 to Toye & Kenning – new case for the Town Mayor’s Chain of Office

009891 / £106.19 to E.on – Town Council street lighting

009901 / £422.00 to Livewire Security Systems – to repair vandalised security camera at TYCC.  The Clerk confirmed that 50% of the cost will be recharged to NCC.  The Clerk reported that the shutters at TYCC were vandalised on Friday 22nd July following the Vision Soundbox Event.  The police will be looking at the CCTV images to try to identify the culprits.

009915 / £589.05 to Trustees of the Third Baron Hesketh – annual rent for the Malthouse Court allotments.  The Clerk confirmed that the annual rent is index-linked and has risen from £500 to £589.05 accordingly.

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed that the Cheques Issued List be signed be the Chair and R.F.O.;

seconded by Cllr Hart; all in favour

6.           Northamptonshire County Council

a)           Parking Bays – Richmond Road, Towcester

Correspondence from NCC confirms that, following objections and concerns raised under its recent waiting review proposals, it has made the decision to reduce the number of parking spaces on Richmond Road to 3.  The decision is a compromise to all of the different positions and will allow parking to remain whilst also ensuring motorists have better visibility when exiting the adjoining accesses/car park.

b)           Building a New Approach to Prevention

Correspondence from NCC confirms it is running discussion groups across the county to ensure that views and feedback on its proposed new approach to prevention services is considered.  NCC currently spends £44 million on services delivered by multiple agencies across the county which focus on preventing problems arising in people’s and communities’ lives or to stop current issues deteriorating further.  With increasing demands on services and reductions in government funding, NCC is launching a consultation to help find a way to help more people to help themselves and ultimately become less reliant on specialist services.  The consultation will run from 7th July to 29th September 2011.  The Towcester discussion group will be held on 4th August from 9.45am – 12.10pm at the offices of South Northants Homes.  Anyone interested in attending should notify the Clerk as soon as possible