RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 25TH JANUARY 2010

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

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

 

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr M. Johns, Cllr A. Maycock

 

2.           Declarations of Interest

Cllr Allen declared an Interest in Item 6a – cheque number 009378.  Cllr Allen 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/2009/1136/FUL           7 Cooper Close, Towcester

                                        Conversion of garage to habitable room

 

b)           Amendments

No amended applications had been received.

 

c)           Applications

S/2010/055/ADV            The Olde Bakehouse, 156 Watling Street East, Towcester

                                        One non-illuminated fascia sign

                                        The committee made observations that the sign is oversized.

 

S/2010/0054/FUL           23 Magpie Road, Towcester

                                        Ground floor rear extension

                                        No observations

 

5.           Moat Lane

              The Regeneration of Moat Lane

              Relocation of South Northants Council Offices from Springfields to Moat Lane

 

The meeting of the Moat Lane Consultative Group on 20th January was attended by the Clerk, Cllr Allen, Cllr Johns, Cllr Lofts and Cllr Lynch; members of SNC, representatives from local bodies and also members of the public.

Consultants for SNC, Urban Design, outlined the most recent proposals for the site; in particular the relocation of SNC offices to Moat Lane and alterations to the car parking provision.

Members of the public had expressed their concern at the proposals for a multi-storey car park.  The revised plan highlighted the scale of the building on one of the main routes into Towcester.  Opposition to the car parking proposals was acknowledged by the consultants; however, the objective is to provide 180 additional spaces for the town.  It was pointed out that the majority of these would be utilised by SNC employees (150) rather than benefit visitors to the town.  The impact on surrounding residents was also of great concern.

The Clerk has circulated details of an additional meeting on 1st February to provide TC members with an opportunity to discuss the plans with the consultants, SNC Officers and SNC Councillors; and is awaiting confirmation on who is available to attend.  Members of the public have been informed that there will be an opportunity to raise their concerns at the Annual Meeting of the Town on 1st March.  Preliminary notice is to be sent to the SNC

Officers and District Councillors for Towcester, WNDC and Urban Design to attend..

 

Cllr Allen stressed the importance of securing the attendance of SNC members.  Cllr Lofts confirmed that only 22 of 42 District Councillors attended the meeting at which the decision to relocate was made; 20 voted in favour.

Cllr Linney would like to hear the facts from SNC on alternative car parking and what will happen with the buildings vacated by SNC, Towcester Library and the Regsitrars Office.

Cllr Mills considered the relocation of SNC offices to be completely irresponsible in a time of economic depression.  The Clerk advised that members of the public consider SNC offices to be a relatively new building and they question whether the energy efficiency of the building is adequate grounds.  SNC also considers its move will attract investment to develop the remainder of the site.

Cllr Allen considered all the points made to be valid but we face losing the last opportunity to enhance the town centre by taking over a large proportion of the site with something that works fine elsewhere.

Cllr Wardle suspected SNC motives for relocating and considered the proposals very bad for the town.

 

6.           Allotments to the rear of Malthouse Court

 

Details on the funding options to secure the land to the rear of Malthouse Court were forwarded to committee members prior to the meeting.  The 3 options were outlined as:-

  • Transfer the £40,000 required from the reserve account and precept to repay these funds from the 2011/2012 budget.  The Clerk outlined a number of one-off projects scheduled for 2010/11 for approximately £40,000 that will not be a consideration in the following financial year.  Also, the interest currently being earned on the TC reserves is very poor.
  • Fund this requisition from a Public Works Loan.  The Clerk reminded the committee that the Council has just agreed on £37,000 from the Public Works Loan Account for works to the chapel.
  • Make enquiries with Knight Frank on how long the lease offer will be available.  The TC can then decide whether it will precept to purchase the lease from the 2011/12 budget,

 

Members discussed the options.  Cllr Wardle advised the cost of repairs to the wall and tree surgery works should be factored into the cost.  Cllr Blake felt the TC should ask for repairs to the wall to be carried out prior to taking the lease. 

 

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed to Full Council that the TC transfers monies from its reserve account to secure the 999 year lease of the allotment land to the rear of Malthouse Court and sets its precept for 2011/12 to repay the reserve account; seconded by Cllr Allen; all in favour.

 

7.           West Northants Joint Planning Unit

              Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

 

The link to the WNJPU report was forwarded to committee members prior to the meeting.  It categorises the land available for development in Towcester into discounted sites, potential sites and definite sites.  Cllr Hart confirmed that the number of residences detailed on the list of potential sites equals 2,188.  The number of residences detailed on the list of definite sites equals 4,010 (the application from Persimmon/Bloor proposed approximately 3,000 residences for Towcester).  It was agreed for committee members to forward their observations to the Clerk prior to the next Resources/Planning Meeting on 8th February for inclusion on the agenda.  The consultation period on the report ends on 11th February.

 

8.           Finance

a)           Cheques Issued

A copy of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009347 to 009396) was distributed to all committee members.  The Clerk highlighted the following cheques:-

009360 / £328.00 to Monster Play Supplies – supply of play equipment part

009375 / £673.85 to Silverstone Garden Machines – new hand mower, service and repairs

009377 / £212.22 to Allianz Insurance – additional premium for inclusion of new equipment

009378 / £199.36 to Cllr Peter Allen – reimbursement for computer equipment

009379 / £138.00 to Millennium Glazing – repair of broken window at Community Centre

009382 / £48.89 to D. Isaacs – reimbursement for McAfee virus protection

009384 / £135.00 to Bartram & Co – reimbursement for vandalised window equipment

009386 / £125.00 to Sigma Internet Services – annual fee for website hosting

 

Proposal

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

seconded by Cllr Lofts; all in favour.

 

b)           Natwest Bank – Auto Transfer Facility

The Clerk referred to correspondence from Natwest confirming its intention to raise a charge of £125.00 per quarter on each of the two TC accounts where an auto-transfer facility is in operation.  To avoid incurring these charges, the TC must raise the minimum balance held in each account to £10,000 from the current £1,000 (Town Hall account) and £4,000 (Town Council account).  The Clerk has arranged a meeting for 5th February with a representative of the bank to discuss this matter further and will report back at the next Resources/Planning Committee Meeting on 8th February.

 

c)           Telephone Expenses

The Clerk confirmed the TC budgets £160.00 per annum for the Clerk’s telephone expenses.  The Clerk has forgotten to claim for telephone expenses and has asked that these be transferred to a mobile phone allowance as she now frequently uses her mobile phone during the course of business.

 

Proposal

Cllr Linney proposed that the budget of £160 for 2009/10 for the Clerk’s telephone expenses be transferred to Clerk’s mobile phone expenses; seconded by Cllr Stanger; all in favour.

 

9.           N. C. C. The Local Government Pension Scheme

              Triennial Valuation of the Fund

 

The Clerk outlined correspondence from Northamptonshire County Council regarding the Triennial Valuation of the Fund.

 

10.         N. C. C. Adoption Certificate

              Development at Old Tiffield Road, Towcester

 

Correspondence from N. C. C. states that under the Highways Act 1980 (Adoption of Private Streets) the following site has been completed to the satisfaction of the County Council and effective from 13th January 2010 will become Highway maintainable at public expense:-

Old Tiffield Road (part)                                                                         70m

Old Tiffield Road (bellmouth)                                                                14m

Footpath/Cyclepath to Tiffield Road                                                    111m

Footpath/Cycleway over Tiffield Brook including 2 headwalls                  4m

 

11.         Adoption of Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Risk Assessments

The Clerk outlined the Council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Risk Assessments. 

Cllr Hart advised of a case she had encountered in her role on the Standards Committee where a member of a parish council had instructed a contractor to carry out works contrary to the Council’s Standing Orders.  She noted the Town Council’s Standing Orders do not outline the course of action to be taken in the event of an emergency.  In previous situations, when a meeting could not be arranged, a decision has been taken between the Clerk, Chair of Committee and Town Mayor: Cllr Hart suggested this arrangement be formalised in TC Standing Orders.  Cllr Lofts considered a limit of £10,000 should be set for these delegated powers.

 

Proposal

Cllr Allen proposed that the TC Standing Orders be amended to allow a decision to be taken by the Clerk, Town Mayor and Chair of Committee in the event of an emergency to a limit of £10,000; seconded by Cllr Lofts; all in favour.

 

Proposal

Cllr Mills proposed that TC Standing Orders (as amended), Financial Regulations and Financial Risk Assessments be adopted; seconded by Cllr Linney; all in favour.

 

The Clerk confirmed that the Internal Audit Control will be carried out by the Chair of the Resources/Planning Committee before the next meeting.