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TOWN
COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY
8TH JUNE 2009
Present
: Cllr C. Lofts (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr D.
Bain, Cllr M. Blake, Cllr C. Dryden,
Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Linney,
Cllr J. Lynch,
Cllr
C. Stanger, Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates
1.
Apologies for Absence
Cllr
A. Maycock, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle
Cllr
A. Wilby – S. N. C.
Cllr
D. Dallyn – S. N. C.
2.
Declarations of Interest
None.
3.
Open to the Public
No
members of the public were present.
4.
Town Mayor's Items
Cllr
Lofts reported on events he has recently attended:-
22/05
Buckingham Town Mayor's Reception
27/05
Aldi Consultation at the Town Hall
31/05
Presentation of trophies at the Towcester Junior Footballl
Club Annual Tournament
01/06
Opening of the Brook Health Centre
02/06
Towcester Choral Society Concert
03/06
South Northants Volunteer Bureau Awards Ceremony
04/06
Inaugural meeting of artists from the community; Cllr
Lofts is hoping to establish an
annual arts festival to be held in the autumn
05/06
Re-launch of the National Childbirth Trust toddler activity
morning at the Community
Centre.
Cllr
Lofts has also attended a number of meetings held by the organising
committee of Midsummer Music. He confirmed that this year's festival
will take place on 26th / 27th June. On 26th June there will be
performances from Towcester Rock School in the Town Hall; followed
by the main event on 27 th June. He thanked members of the TC who
have volunteered for stewarding duties.
Members
were reminded that the Town Mayor's Charity Quiz will take place
on 19th June at the Town Hall. Tickets are now on sale and raffle
prizes would be most welcomed. Cllr Lofts is currently working with
Elizabeth on producing a flyer detailing all of his charity events
for the forthcoming year.
5.
Report back from :-
Cllr
R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council
Cllr
Bromwich was delighted to be re-elected as County Councillor for
Towcester at the 4th June elections. She confirmed that N. C. C.
now comprised of 56 Conservative, 2 Independent, 6 Labour and 9
Liberal Democrat Councillors. There are now 25 new Councillors on
N. C. C.; almost half of the total number. Cllr Bromwich distributed
copies of the Conservative Party manifesto for the election. Cllr
Lofts congratulated Rosemary on her re-election.
A
representative of South Northamptonshire Council
There
were no representatives of South Northamptonshire Council in attendance.
6.
Minutes of Meetings
Page
09/05/066 was corrected to read ‘Cllr Blake confirmed the only
height restriction on
hedges
applies to leylandi which must not be allowed to grow above 8ft'.
Page
09/06/073 was corrected to add Cllr M. Blake to the list of
Councillors present
Page
09/06/075 was corrected to read ‘The contractor has agreed
to contact the supplier,
Playdale'.
It
was agreed for the Chair to sign of the Minutes of Meetings as a
true record.
7.
Matters Arising from the Minutes
Page
09/05/066
Cllr
Hart attended the Aldi consultation held at the Town Hall on 27th
May. She enquired whether a new store could be sustained now there
is no time scale for the growth proposals. Representatives for Aldi
confirmed that postcode surveys carried out at their stores in Northampton
and Daventry showed an appreciable number of its customers were
from the Towcester
area. Concerns raised over traffic have been noted and they would
be guided by the Highways Agency on this issue. The timescale from
gaining planning permission to opening the store will be 9-12 months.
Cllr Yates enquired on the size of the Aldi store compared to Tesco.
It was confirmed the Aldi store will be approximately 1/3 the size
and the carpark 1/4 the size of that of Tesco. Cllr Lofts referred
to the Section 106 arrangements and noted the additional units that
formed part of the application. He suggested that one of the units
could be donated to the town for community benefit. Cllr Allen advised
that comments from members of the public had mostly been positive.
8.
Report back from the Chair of the :-
Resources/Planning
Committee
Cllr
Hart had nothing to report.
Town
Hall Committee
Cllr
Allen had nothing to report.
Recreation/Leisure
Committee
Cllr
Wright confirmed a date has been set for the next meeting of the
Nicholas Hawksmoor Pocket Park Committee and asked if the TC has
any issues it would like included on the agenda. It was agreed to
request details of the Caretaker's annual leave so a decision can
be made on whether the TC can open / close the Pocket Park on these
dates.
A
further meeting has been held with representatives of the N. C.
C. Early Years team with regard to its proposals to convert the
Community Centre into a Sure-Start Children's Centre. A further
meeting will be arranged to address concerns raised over proposed
alterations to the building.
The
Clerk is following up problems with the timing of the skateboard
lighting with the contractor.
Cemetery
Committee
There
was nothing to report as there had been no recent meeting.
Allotment
Working Group
Cllr
Maycock had given his apologies for the meeting.
9.
Report back from Local Bodies
Cllr
Allen commended the Towcester Junior Football Club for its clear
up of the Recreation Ground following the annual tournament on 30th
/31st May.
Cllr
Hart confirmed the window boxes and hanging baskets are being put
up this week. There are more participants this year but the full
allocation agreed by the Recreation/Leisure Committee has not been
used.
Cllr
Lynch gave members a progress report on Towcester Partnership's
ongoing projects. He confirmed that the MD of Phipps Brewery has
been in contact to express interest in opening a micro-brewery and
museum on the Moat Lane development. An open meeting regarding the
delivery, specification and phasing of the Bury Mount works will
take place on 17th June.
A
decision on the Youth Bus project will be made by SNC cabinet this
evening. If approved refurbishment and revenue grants are available.
The Partnership will then decide how best to manage the project.
Cllr
Linney confirmed the St Lawrence Church Fete will take place on
Saturday 13th June. The Town Mayor will be opening the fete and
there are many fantastic raffle prizes to be won.
Cllr
Stanger confirmed the Town Mayor's Charity Golf Match will take
place on 16th September. Sponsorship and teams would be most welcome.
10.
Towcester Masterplan
The
covering report for the Towcester Masterplan had been emailed to
members prior to the meeting. The Masterplan document is due to
be discussed by SNC cabinet this evening. Cllr Lofts confirmed that
2 new bodies will be set up to deliver the Masterplan.
It
was noted that the TC has been omitted from the list of consultees;
the Clerk confirmed that this was an error which will be rectified.
It was agreed that the TC should play a key part and be represented
on the Towcester Implementation Group. Once the Masterplan has been
approved there will be a formal consultation period of 6 weeks from
26th June to 7th August and an exhibition will be held in the Town
Hall committee room from 26th to 28th June. The Clerk is to arrange
a special meeting with Heidi Antrobus of SNC for members of the
TC to be briefed on the Masterplan and give their views. Cllr Lofts
suggested that, due to the size and importance of the plan, it may
be more practical for the TC to form a number of sub-committees
to look at the different issues. Cllr Lynch confirmed the Towcester
Partnership has organised a presentation of the Masterplan to take
place at the Saracen's Head on 16th June; further details can be
obtained from the Partnership office. Cllr Johns described the Masterplan
as a political document; the TC should arrange a meeting with the
leader of SNC or a member of its cabinet. It was agreed the meeting
with Heidi Antrobus will proceed; following this the Council invite
Cllr John Townsend or Cllr Mary Clarke to a Full Council meeting
to discuss the Masterplan.
11.
Moat Lane Regeneration
Bury Mount Restoration Project
Correspondence
from S. N. C. confirms that the restoration of Bury Mount will be
commenced in the next fortnight. S. N. C. will be working closely
with the appointed contractor to minimise disruption to residents
and businesses in close proximity to the site. It is anticipated
the project will be completed in November but as a result of the
complex nature of the works this date could alter. Contact details
are provided should any questions or queries arise.
12.
East Midlands Regional Assembly
Regional Plan Partial Review: Options Consultation Launch
The
current version of the Regional Plan can be viewed at:- http://www.gos.gov.uk/goem/planning/regional-planning/
The
Government requires that a Partial Review Regional Plan be undertaken
on a limited set of issues relating to housing, transport and climate
change. Consultations have taken place on a Project Plan for the
Partial Review. In line with the amended Project Plan, the Assembly
will launch an options ‘consultation' on key issues to run from
30th June to 6th October. The options consultation launch relating
to West Northants will take place from 10am – 1pm on Friday 17th
July in Northampton . Members of the TC who would like to attend
should notify the Clerk.
13.
Correspondence
a)
NCALC Update
A
copy of the NCALC Update / May – June 2009 is available from the
Clerk. The Clerk detailed upcoming training courses which members
may find useful:-
8th
July – Code of Conduct
12th
September – Chairmanship Training
16th
September – Engaging with Communities and Working in Partnership
29th
September – Off to a Flying Start (for new Councillors)
Anyone
interested in attending any of the training courses should notify
the Clerk
b)
Highways Agency
Leaflets
detailing the road traffic arrangements for the British Formula
1 Grand Prix at Silverstone are available from the Clerk.
c)
South Northants Review
A
copy of the South Northants Review Summer 2009 is available from
the Clerk.
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