RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 27TH APRIL 2009

Present :-   Cllr C. Lofts (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Linney,

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

 

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr J. Hart, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle

 

2.    Declarations of Interest

None.

 

3.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

 

4.    PLANNING

a)    Decisions

 

Permission for Development granted in respect of:-

 

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

                           Alterations to outbuilding for create a smoking shelter.

 

S/2009/0143/P     89 Brackley Road, Towcester

                          Two storey side and part rear extension, part rear single storey

                          extension and detached garage.

 

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

                          Front extension to garage.

 

Listed Building Consent granted in respect of:-

 

S/2009/0178/LB     The Plough Inn, 96 Watling Street East, Towcester

                             Alterations to existing outbuilding to create a smoking shelter.

                             Internal alterations including the removal of a fireplace and internal

                             walls and the installation of a dumb waiter. Other works include the

                             replacement of existing internal doors.

 

Refusal of Permission for Development in respect of:-

 

S/2009/0092/P     5 Hulcote, Easton Neston, Nr Towcester

                          Replacement dwelling.

 

S/2009/0109/P     Land rear of 185 Watling Street West, Towcester

                          New office building (B1).

 

Refusal of Listed Building Consent in respect of:-

 

S/2008/0097/LB     124 Watling Street East, Towcester

                            Removal of lean-to canopy at front of the building.

 

Refusal of Conservation Area Consent in respect of:-

 

S/2009/0093/CA   5 Hulcote, Easton Neston, Nr Towcester

                          Demolition of dwelling.

b)    Amended Plans – For information only

 

S/2009/0270/LB         Museum building to the rear of 163-5 Watling Street West, Towcester          

Proposal:                   Replacement of three external ground floor doors and the installation

                                 of alarm box to the south-east elevation (part retrospective).

Amendment details:    Change of site address to Museum building to the rear of 163-5

                                 Watling Street West .

 

c)    Applications

S/2009/0270/LB     Land to the rear of 163-5 Watling Street West, Towcester

                            Replacement of three external ground floor doors and the installation

                            of alarm box to the south-east elevation.

                            The committee gave its support to the application but commented that

                             the address of the Museum building should be  White Horse Yard NOT

                             rear of Watling Street . Observations will be forwarded to SNC accordingly.

 

S/2009/0305/P     Baptist Chapel Site, Watling Street, Towcester

                           Two detached dwellings (amendments to approved application S/2006/1115/P).

                           No observations.

 

5.    West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit

       Public Consultation – Draft Supplementary Planning Document: Affordable Housing

 

The website link to the consultation document was forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting. Cllr Lofts advised that a development of 50+ dwellings would automatically trigger an affordable housing requirement of between 35% and 40%, dependent on the location.

6.    South Northants Council

       Interim Rural Housing Planning Policy

The website link to the document was forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting. Cllr Lofts confirmed that SNC recently lost two planning appeals against proposed developments in South Northants villages. The Interim Rural Housing Planning Policy has been produced and the consultation period is ongoing until 30th May 2009. Cllr Lofts referred to a section of the document which identifies the most sustainable settlements as Deanshanger, Middleton Cheney, Roade and Bugbrooke. A further 13 villages in South Northants have been identified as reasonably sustainable settlements.

 

7.    Finance

a)    Cheques Issued

 

A copy of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009080 to 009115) was distributed to all committee members. Most items were ongoing, the following cheques were highlighted:-

009092 / £2445.50 to J. R. Murray Construction – play inspections / maintenance and repairs

009101 / £49273.32 to National Savings – transfer of Section 106 monies for Alchester Court

009113 / £73.13 to Accounting by Computer – Sage end of year payroll

009115 / £29.99 to E. Cox – reimbursement for renewal of Norton anti-virus protection

009102 – 009108 – wages for April 2009. The Clerk confirmed that all wages are to be paid monthly with effect from April.

The committee agreed for the Chair and R. F. O. to sign the Cheques Issued List.

b)    Credit Control

The Clerk confirmed that at 27th April 2009 a total of £780.00 was outstanding in relation to Town Crier advertising. All overdue accounts are ongoing and none have been identified for potential write-off. Larger advertising accounts outstanding at 31st March have been settled.

8.    Annual Audit for Year Ending 31st March 2009

The Clerk confirmed that Audit Regulations require all accounts to be completed by 30th June 2009 . An internal audit of the TC accounts will be carried out on 12th May and the finalised accounts will be brought to the Full Council Meeting on 18th May. The Clerk distributed a copy of the Summary of Accounts to each committee member for information.

 

9.    T. A. D. D.

Cllr Lofts referred to correspondence from T. A. D. D. (Towcester Area Door to Door). It confirms that the charity has seen a significant improvement in its financial position over the past two years which means the grant from the Town Council is not needed at this time. The letter thanks the Town Council's support over the past years and hopes it can divert the funds to any worthy cause in the community. Noted.

 

10.    Carillion WSP

        A5, Towcester – Bus Stop Improvements

 

Correspondence from Carillion WSP confirms that improvements to 4 bus stops on the A5 will commence on 27th April. Works will take place between 9.30 and 3.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am and 3.00pm on Friday and will require some traffic control measures. It is anticipated the works will be completed by 15th May. Noted.

11.    ASHTAV

a)    Membership Renewal

The committee agreed to renew its membership of ASHTAV (Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages) at an annual cost of £35.00.

b)    The Future of Conservation Areas

The seminar entitled ‘The Future of Conservation Areas' took place on 25th April so was out of date.