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RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY, 28TH NOVEMBER 2011
Present:- Cllr D. Linney (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr M. Blake, 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 D. Bain, Cllr G. Barbour, Cllr J. Hart
2. Declarations of Interest
Cllr P. Allen declared an interest in Item 5a cheque number 009995. 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
No decisions had been received.
b) Amendments
No amended applications had been received.
c) Applications
S/2011/1383/SCO Towcester Southern Extension
Scoping option for residential and mixed use development
Cllr Linney referred to observations made by Brian Giggins on behalf of Towcester & District Local History that the following additional evaluation works are required in order to satisfy PPS5 guidelines :-
1. The majority of the area of the proposed development to be subject to detailed geophysics investigations.
2. All fields within the development area shall be trial trenched to a percentage of the area thought fit
by the NCC Planning Archaeologist, targeting the geophysics features.
The committee supported the comments made by Towcester & District Local History Society and will reinforce these in its observations to SNC.
S/2011/1412/LBC 160 Watling Street East, Towcester
To increase the height of the existing boundary wall up to 2.6 metres (retrospective)
No objections
S/2011/1468/MAF Watermeadows, Off Northampton Road, Towcester
Change of use of land from private agricultural land to public open space (Phase 2)
The committee gave its support to the application
S/2011/1471/FUL Unit 1, 7 Swinneyford Road, Towcester
Change of use from A3 (restaurant) and A5 (hot food takeaway) to B1offices
The committee gave its support to the application
5. Town & Country Planning Appeal
Application Ref: A/2011/0988/FUL
Appeal Ref: APP/Z2830/A/11/2163894/NWF
Site Address: Land adjacent to 27 Richmond Road, Towcester
Extension to provide two flats.
Correspondence from SNC confirms that an appeal has been against the refusal of planning permission. The TC made no objections to the original application and its comments will automatically be considered as part of the appeal process. Any further representations must be made by 20th December 2011.
6. Conservation Area Appraisal
The Clerk referred to comments made previously concerning the Conservation Area Appraisal by Cllr Allen and Cllr Johns. As proposals are to extend the boundary of the conservation area in Towcester to include Pomfret Road and Queens Road, it was felt that Gilbert Scott Court and the Lace Maker’s and Ridgeway Cottages on Brackley Road were equally significant and should also be included.
The Conservation Officer, Mandy Lumb, had previously advised that the Watermeadows did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the conservation area as it is not a built area. Cllr Lofts said he has researched this issue and found that open space can be included; this would be advantageous to protect trees on the site. The committee agreed to make two representations to SNC on the Conservation Area Appraisal, as follows:-
1. The boundary of the conservation area should be extended to include Gilbert Scott Court and
the Lace Maker’s Cottages and Ridgeway Cottages on Brackley Road.
2. The boundary of the conservation area should be extended to include Gilbert Scott Court and
the Lace Maker’s Cottages and Ridgeway Cottages on Brackley Road and also the Watermeadows
open area.
7. Finance
a) Cheques Issued
The Clerk distributed copies of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009991 to 010008. Most items were ongoing; the following cheque numbers were highlighted:-
010006 / £90.00 to E.Cox – reimbursement for the purchase of Christmas cards for Town Crier deliverers
010008 / £145.00 to D. Isaacs – annual telephone expenses
Proposal
Cllr Stanger proposed that the Cheques Issued List be signed by the Chair and R. F. O;
seconded by Cllr Blake; all in favour
b) Internet Payments
The Clerk distributed copies of the Internet Payments List which detailed the salary payments for the month of November. The committee agreed for the Internet Payments List to be countersigned by the Chair.
8. Towcester Partnership
Correspondence from the Chair and Director of Towcester Partnership confirms its decision to formally wind up the company. It encloses a copy of the Companies House form DS01 – “striking off application” signed, as required, by a majority of the board. It remits the balance of £30.02 to the TC. It also points out that a sum of money is owed to the Towcester Partnership from the South Northants Bus Co. If this payment is forthcoming from the South Northants Bus Co. it should be divided between the stated persons. This was agreed by the committee.
9. Budgets for the 2012 /13 Financial Year
A copy of the draft budgets was forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting. The Clerk confirmed that each committee had agreed on its budget. Reference was made to funding for the school crossing patrol; the Clerk has recently established that Cllr Bromwich will contribute a further £1,000 for the next academic year and parents anticipate that their fundraising activities will raise a further £1,000. It is therefore likely the TC will be asked to meet the shortfall of £1,900 to continue this service. The RL Committee proposed against budgeting for this item and instead agreed to release funds from contingency if required. Cllr Johns said the TC needs to determine now whether it intends to support this or not as the situation is unlikely to change. Cllr Linney advised the RL Committee did not support the inclusion of this as a budget item as it gives the impression the TC has accepted responsibility forevermore. Cllr Wardle agreed saying that the original argument not to include funding for the school crossing patrol as a budget item was sound.
Proposal
Cllr Wardle proposed that funding for the school crossing patrol is not included in the TC budget but should be funded from contingency if necessary.
seconded by Cllr Yates; 5 votes in favour, 3 votes against; 1 abstention – proposal carried
The Clerk confirmed that the TC will need to make its decision on funding for the school crossing patrol before April 2012.
Cllr Lofts said he remains disappointed that the TC is not looking at re-opening the public conveniences in Towcester. He has discussed funding with SNC and it would help its case if the TC indicates it would support re-opening of the toilets in the future. Cllr Johns added that all councils are in financial difficulties but there is lots of interest in having the public toilets in Towcester particularly as SNC is trying to promote the town as a tourist attraction. Cllr Yates said SNC is not willing to provide any funding and eventually will have its own facilities in Moat Lane. Cllr Wardle said that this issue had already been discussed and subsequently deferred due to pressures on the budget as a result of works required at the Town Hall. Other items have already been cut back to maintain the precept at last year’s level. Cllr Blake agreed adding that the TC has not said it does not support the provision of public toilets but the cost meant that this was not achievable in next year’s budget. Cllr Allen said the TC could not justify spending such a vast amount of money on someone else’s building.
Proposal
Cllr Stanger proposed that the Draft Budgets for the 2012 /13 financial year, with a precept of £273,189.00, be referred to Full Council for approval;
seconded by Cllr Lofts; all in favour
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