TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY 12TH JANUARY 2009

Present :-   Cllr C. Stanger (Chair), Cllr C. Dryden, Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr J. Hart,

                 Cllr M. Johns, Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr R. Mills,

                 Cllr A. Wardle, Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates

 

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr D. Linney

 

2.    Declarations of Interest

None.

 

3.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

 

4.    TOWN MAYOR'S ITEMS

Cllr Stanger gave details of events he has recently attended:-

 

09/12/08 Sponne Cluster Primary Schools Carol Concert

10/12/08 The PSP Association Carol Concert

11/12/08 Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School Christmas Production

14/12/08 Carol Service at Peterborough Cathedral

16/12/08 Towcester Primary School Christmas Production

              Towcester Choral Society Christmas Concert

17/12/08 Towcester Studio Band Christmas Concert

18/12/08 Open Air Carol Concert

19/12/08 Presentation of vouchers to Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School pupils for

              Town Crier front cover artwork

27/12/08 Judging of the Best Christmas Window Display – won by Eden Florists

 

5.    Report back from :-

 

Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Bromwich referred to the Department of Health initiative ‘Safeguarding Adults', which every council must take notice of. A review of the practices of NCC and its partner organisations has been carried out. 70 – 80 representatives attended a recent seminar to ascertain the scale for NCC, at which the need to improve all aspects of training was identified. Cllr Bromwich will report further on this item once the official report has been received.

Cllr Bromwich will be speaking at the NCC Cabinet meeting tomorrow. On the agenda is the presentation of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). She informed the meeting that NCC had been awarded 1 star for its performance but has subsequently received good grades and its rating has improved considerably, however, there is still much more work to be done in this area.

Cllr Bromwich spoke about the ‘Prevention and Early Intervention' scheme which looks at the whole of the community with the aim to reduce the future need for social care.

 

Cllr Lofts described the situation as disappointing. Not only is the CSCI rating for NCC poor but the South Northants region within in it comes lower down than many other areas. He advised that SNC is not funding measures to keep people in their own homes so the South Northants region fairs particularly poorly. Cllr Lynch added that NCC must ensure that people remaining in their own homes, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease, are adequately supported.

 

Cllr D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council

Cllr Dallyn confirmed that members input have been sought for the draft Community Engagement Strategy. It is anticipated that the draft will be completed by the end of March and will be followed by a period of consultation.

Cllr Dallyn informed the meeting that SNC cabinet has been reshuffled and detailing the new responsibilities for each member. The number of cabinet members has been increased from 6 to 7 to include Cllr Wilby.

Cllr Dallyn confirmed her participation in a SNC Working Group looking at concessionary fares, in particular applicable times and services for the disabled.

 

Cllr A. Wilby, South Northamptonshire Council / Towcester Partnership

Cllr Wilby confirmed the Silverstone Brief has been approved so a documentary planning structure is in place.

SNC has appointed a new Economic Development Manager, Clare Bonny, previously employed by Kettering Borough Council.

Some progress is being made on the Persimmon/Bloor Homes Development, an agreement is yet to be made with the Highways Agency on amendments to the road structure and negotiations are ongoing. No discussions will take place on the Section 106 Agreement or affordable housing scheme until this issue has been resolved. Persimmon/Bloor will need to submit a new application and consideration must this time be given to the Masterplan for Towcester, which will be completed this week.

 

Cllr Lofts asked what steps that will be taken to ensure Section 106 funds remain in Towcester as it is Towcester that is taking the development. Cllr Wilby confirmed that a comprehensive ‘shopping list' of requirements had been prepared and, as such, it should be possible.

 

6.    Minutes of Meetings

Resources/Planning Committee      8th December 2008

Full Council                                   8th December 2008

 

Minute Page 08/11/167 / Item 9 – Budgets 2009/10

Should read Cllr Lofts proposed that the Council serve a Precept of £267,720 on the District Council for the 2009/10 financial year. Accordingly, the minutes were amended and initialled by the Chairman.

 

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed that the Minutes be signed off by the Chairman as a true record;

seconded by Cllr Mills, all in favour.

 

7.    Matters Arising from the Minutes

There were no matters arising.

 

8.    Report back from the Chairman of the :-

 

Resources/Planning Committee

Cllr Lofts had nothing to report.

Town Hall Committee

Cllr Hart confirmed that redecoration of the Town Hall is ongoing and should be completed within the next few weeks.

Recreation/Leisure Committee

Cllr Dryden confirmed that a new slide for the Recreation Ground play area is on order.

Funds are in place for the installation of lighting at the skateboard park. There is a 8 – 12 weeks lead time and it is anticipated that the works will be carried out during March 2009.

R.O.S.P.A. carried out its annual inspection of the TC play equipment in December. Just one item of equipment on the Sandyhome Road play area was highlighted for urgent attention. Replacement of the climbing frame on the Recreation Ground play area was recommended in the report and funding for this has been allocated in the 2009/10 budget.

 

Signing of the Deeds for Transfer of Public Open Space, Water Lane , Towcester

Proposal

Cllr Johns proposed that the Deeds of Transfer of Public Open Space at Water Lane, Towcester from David Wilson Homes to the Town Council be signed by the Chairman and Deputy Chairman;

seconded by Cllr Wardle, all in favour.

 

The document was duly signed by Cllr Stanger and Cllr Lofts.

 

Cemetery Committee

Cllr Mills informed the meeting that the Cemetery Contractor, Ben Mitchell and his assistant, Les, have both suffered from serious health problems in the past two months with Les remaining in hospital. The Clerk confirmed she had forwarded the TC best wishes.

Allotment Working Group

Cllr Maycock confirmed the next meeting of the Allotment Society will take place on Wednesday 14th January.

 

9.    Report back from Local Bodies

Nothing to report.

 

10.    Notification of Casual Vacancy

The Clerk has notified South Northants Council of the Casual Vacancy on Brook Ward. Once the statutory period of 14 days has passed the vacancy will be advertised for co-option.

 

11.    Notification of Town Council Precept Requirement for 2009/10

The official precept requirement application has been received from SNC.

 

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed the application form be completed to serve the TC precept requirement of £267,720 on the District Council for the 2009/10 financial year;

seconded by Cllr Lofts, all in favour.

 

12.    South Northamptonshire Council

a)    Meet the Directors – Jean Morgan, Chief Executive

Correspondence confirms a successful meeting took place in December at Brackley Town Hall where a number of representatives from local parish councils met with the Chief Executive and new Directors of SNC. A further session is to be arranged on the eastern side of the District for early spring and details will be notified to the TC as soon as possible.

b)    Partner Survey – Nicola Capewell

Correspondence thanks the Town Clerk for participating in the SNC Partner Survey. The results of the survey were presented to Elected Members in early December. SNC is now working on an action plan, to be completed by the end of January, to address the concerns highlighted and the TC will be notified of the measures introduced in due course.

c)   A copy of the Housing 4 U Winter 2008 Edition is available from the Clerk

d)   A copy of the Parish Council Newsletter Winter 2008 Edition is available from the Clerk.

13.    Northamptonshire County Council

a)    Northamptonshire Minerals & Waste Development Framework

Correspondence confirms the Core Strategy for the Minerals and Waste Development Framework was submitted to the Secretary of State on 12th December 2008 . It will now be examined for its compliance with statutory requirements by an independent Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. The Submission Core Strategy and accompanying material can be downloaded from:-

http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/policy/Minerals/Corestrat.htm

b)    NCC Area Structure

Correspondence details the Area Structure of Northamptonshire for the purposes of maintenance and the relevant contact details.

c)   A copy of the Active Ageing Newsletter Winter 2008 Edition is available from the Clerk.

d)    NCC ‘Local List' Consultation

Correspondence confirms that Department of Communities and Local Government has published a ‘national list' of mandatory information that must be submitted with every planning application. In addition to this the Government has also published a list of additional requirements which local authorities are encouraged to adapt to suit their individual circumstances. Once consulted upon and formally adopted, this document of additional requirements will be used in order to determine whether a submitted application is valid. It will be known as the ‘local list'. NCC's draft Local List is now available for viewing and comments on:-

https://consult.northamptonshire.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/system/listConsultations?type=0

14.    Communities & Local Government

         Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power

         Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity

 

The consultation document was published on the Communities and Local Government website on 17th December. A copy has been forwarded to the TC inviting its views on the content of the Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity. Any comments must be submitted by Thursday 12th March 2009 .

 

15.    Correspondence

 

a)    Northamptonshire & District Citizen's Advice Bureau

The Annual General Meeting of the Bureau will take place at 2pm on Thursday 22nd January at the Court Room, Guildhall, Northampton . Anyone interested in attending was asked to notify the Clerk.

b)    Northamptonshire NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust

Correspondence confirms the application for preliminary consent to open a pharmacy at Greens Norton Medical Centre was considered by the Pharmacy and Dispensing Committee on 2nd December 2008 . An extract from the meeting confirms that the committee decided that a new pharmacy in Greens Norton is neither Necessary nor desirable and the application was rejected.

c)   A copy of the 2006/07 Annual Report for Victim Support is available from the Clerk.