TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY 8TH MARCH 2010

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

                          Cllr J. Hart, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr C. Stanger,

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

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr C. Dryden, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr R. Mills

2.           Declarations of Interest

None.

3.           Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.           Town Mayor’s Items

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

05/03/10 Brackley Town Mayor’s Civic Ball

Cllr Lofts reminded members that the Mayoress will be holding a ‘Ladies Night’ in the Town Hall on 18th March.  He has been asked to mention two charity events being organised by the Towcestrians RFC over the weekend of 2nd / 3rd April.  On 2nd April the Towcestrians will be hosting a beer festival; on 3rd April there will be an attempt to gain entry into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest rugby match ever organised.

5.           Report back from:-

Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Bromwich confirmed that on 9th March the NCC Cabinet will be discussing the future of the Springboard referral units in Northamptonshire.  The units were created to support children at risk of exclusion from mainstream education.  Following the last Ofsted report, which highlighted the need for improvements, NCC has decided that the units are outdated and will be looking at methods to improve the services provided.

The Cabinet has agreed to maintain the current level of fees and charges in the County’s libraries for the forthcoming financial year.

Cllr Bromwich confirmed that the speed cushions on Pomfret Road have been removed.  She has received complaints about the standard of the works carried out and will follow this up.  Cllr Bromwich has met on site with a representative of the Highways contractor A1+ to point out the road repairs needed at the Saracens Head crossroads.

Cllr Godwin asked if anything could be done about the churned-up verges in town, particularly pointing out problems in the Marlow Road/Shepherds Crescent area.  Cllr Yates said the condition of the verges was noted on her recent ‘walk-about’ with representatives of South Northants Homes.  Cllr Bromwich agreed to follow this up.  Cllr Blake reported the temporary road fillings carried out in Marlow Road were not adequate; the contractors are making a real mess. 

Cllr Lynch referred to this year’s Midsummer Music Festival.  He is experiencing difficulties obtaining permission to close off the Market Square.  Cllr Bromwich recommended he contact May Gurney direct.

Cllr D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council

Cllr Dallyn apologised for being unable to attend the Annual Meeting of the Town on 1st March due to Cabinet commitments.

She advised that this evening the Cabinet has discussed the future funding of the Towcester Partnership but she would leave this report for the Chair, Cllr Lynch.

Following problems faced by SNC at its public meeting on 15th February, Cllr Dallyn has  insisted that District Councillors are issued with briefing papers to enable them to respond to questions posed by members of the public. 

Cllr Blake suggested this information be published on the SNC website.  Cllr Dallyn advised that this may happen but elements of the briefing paper remain confidential and cannot be published at this time.

Cllr Yates asked if information relating to the financial implications of SNC relocation has been released.  Cllr Dallyn confirmed it has not as the proposals are still in the pre-planning stage.

Cllr Allen said the planning issue is a red herring; members of the public are concerned about the occupation of the building and SNC depriving the town centre of a vital development site; this is not a planning consideration.  No-one considered the SNC building was not fit for purpose until Nov/Dec 2009.  Cllr Dallyn said this was not the case; the issue was raised when SNC looked into refurbishing its council chamber.

Cllr Stanger asked if all the permissions were in place is SNC definitely going to relocate.  Cllr Dallyn confirmed this.  Cllr Stanger asked about the public whose views SNC is supposed to represent; can SNC guarantee that no funds will be used from the public’s purse to finance the relocation?

Cllr Bain asked how SNC will future-proof the building; he would be interested to know the timescale to recover the cost of the move.  Cllr Dallyn said the design of the building must incorporate independent accesses to facilitate separate occupiers; this way if SNC was to downscale of grow it could be accommodated. 

Cllr Hart referred the proposed expansion of the whole town and asked if SNC has investigated the potential of other sites?  It is not necessary for SNC to have its offices in the town centre.  Also, there is no evidence that SNC has tried to attract other businesses to the site.  Cllr Dallyn said that other sites were considered but deemed inappropriate as they were not in SNC ownership so would have to be purchased or leased; she had been advised that someone would be responsible for marketing the site.  Cllr Lofts suggested SNC could sell the site at Moat Lane and use the capital to purchase another site outside the town centre.  Cllr Dallyn has been informed by the consultants, Urban Delivery, that interest in the site has increased and been of a better quality following the decision of SNC to relocate.

Members referred to the Annual Meeting of the Town where Cllr Clarke had stated categorically that no marketing had been carried out to attract new business for the offices.

Cllr Lynch confirmed that this evening Towcester Partnership had a motion put to SNC Cabinet for emergency funding requesting it works pro-actively with the TP to complete 3 projects.  The motion was defeated unanimously marking the end of the TP.  Arrangements will need to be made concerning the future of the Youth Bus and Towcester Museum.  Redundancy notices have been served on the TP Project Manager and Clerk.

Cllr Wardle noted that Cllr Dallyn had left the meeting without commenting on this decision.  Cllr Lynch said that he had agreed with Cllr Dallyn to report back this decision adding that correspondence from the TC and Reverend Bryer supporting the TP request had underpinned the motion.  Cllr Lofts said the decision was disappointing.

Proposal

Cllr Wardle proposed that the TC forward a letter of complaint to SNC concerning it decision to refuse the request from the Towcester Partnership for emergency funding;

seconded by Cllr Linney; 8 votes in favour; 3 abstentions.

6.           Minutes of Meetings

Resources/Planning Committee                               8th February 2010

Town Council                                                        8th February 2010

Cemetery Committee                                          22nd February 2010

Resources/Planning Committee                           22nd February 2010

Proposal

Cllr Linney proposed that the Minutes of Meetings for February 2010 be signed by the Chair as a true record; seconded by Cllr Allen; all in favour.

7.           Matters Arising from the Minutes

Page 10/02/017

The Clerk confirmed that the Environment Agency will undertake the works to repair the collapsed headwall downstream of Towcester sluice.

The site meeting with Grant Perks of SNC and representatives of Persimmon Homes to discuss the transfer of open areas on The Shires Estate was deferred to 16th March due to illness.

Monies from the Public Works Loan Account for works to the Cemetery Chapel have been transferred into the TC account.  The Clerk will contact Paul Brown to schedule a date for works to commence.

8.           Report back from the Chair of the:-

Resources/Planning Committee

Cllr Hart confirmed that the committee had objected to the application to erect a large freestanding sign for the Co-operative store on Richmond Road.  The TC has agreed to cover outdoor performances at this year’s Midsummer Music Festival under its public liability insurance.

Town Hall Committee

Cllr Allen had nothing to report.

Recreation/Leisure Committee

Cllr Wright had nothing to report.

Cemetery Committee

Cllr Wright had nothing to report.

Allotment Working Group

Cllr Maycock confirmed that the Allotment Society’s AGM will be held on Tuesday 23rd March.

9.           Report back from Local Bodies

Cllr Yates confirmed that the next meeting of the Pocket Park Committee has been scheduled for 19th March.

Cllr Wright confirmed the Sponne & Bickerstaffes Charity still has a vacancy for a nominative feoffee.

10.         British Telecom

              Agreement for Adoption of Public Kiosk at Caldecote

The Clerk confirmed she has received the final contract between the TC and BT to adopt the public kiosk in Caldecote.  BT will now arrange the removal of the internal equipment.  The TC needs to display a sign stating the kiosk is the responsibility of the TC and inform residents of Caldecote and the emergency services that it is no longer operational.  The TC must also arrange for the kiosk to be included on its insurance and will become responsible for ongoing maintenance/repairs.

11.         West Northamptonshire Development Corporation

              Launch of Manual for Design Codes

Cllr Linney represented the TC at the WNDC launch of the Manual for Design Codes on 24th February.  The WNDC pamphlet showing how Northampton could look in the future was circulated.  The accompanying CD is available from the Clerk.

12.         Northamptonshire County Council

a)           Draft Council Plan 2010 – 2014

A copy of the plan was forwarded to all TC members prior to the meeting.  Members were asked to forward any comments back to the Clerk.

b)           Tree Wardens – Annual Day Conference

Any members interested in attending the Annual Day Conference for Tree Wardens was asked to notify the Clerk.  The date has not been set as NCC needs to gauge the level of interest before booking the venue.