TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2009

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

                 Cllr C. Dryden, Cllr G. Godwin, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr J. Lynch,

                 Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr D. Wardle, Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr M. Johns, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr R. Mills

Cllr R. Bromwich – N.C.C.

Cllr A. Wilby – 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 gave details of events he has recently attended:-

16/9    Town Mayor's Charity Golf Day. Cllr Lofts thanked Cllr Stanger for organising this   event.

19/9    St Lawrence Bell Ringers Bell Peel Marathon. Over £1,000 was raised towards the   church roof works.

          Unveiling of the Youth Bus

          Sponne & Bickerstaffe 25th Anniversary of the building of the Alms houses

20/9    SNC Civic Service

26/9    Youth Action Team meeting to promote further youth events in conjunction with Vision

27/9    Daventry Civic Service

2/10    Meeting with Jean Morgan, Chief Executive of SNC attended by the Town Mayor and   Town Clerk. Items for discussion  

          included future plans for the Town Council and and a progress update on the Moat Lane development.

Cllr Lofts confirmed his Charity Tea Dance will take place on Saturday 17th October.

This year's Remembrance Service will take place on 8th November. Members who wish to attend the service at St Lawrence Church were asked to notify the Clerk.

A Murder Mystery Evening in aid of the Town Mayor's Charities will take place on 13th November at the Saracens Head Hotel.

5.    Report back from :-

Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Bromwich had given her apologies for the meeting.

Cllr D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council

Cllr Dallyn confirmed that the Development Control Committee of SNC had approved that change of use for the Watermeadows to public open space. A gateway has been proposed for the entrance to the Watermeadows to reflect that of the upper lodge on Northampton Road.

On Friday 9th October Cllr Dallyn attended the official launch of the Youth Bus at Magdalen College . The launch, in conjunction with WOW (What's on When), showcased the wide range of activities on offer in the Brackley area.

Cllr Lofts stressed the need to establish funding to employ more Youth Workers within South Northants since the N.C.C. budget for youth activities was cut entirely.

Cllr Dallyn confirmed that SNC Cabinet is discussing its new draft Economic Strategy this evening and the TC will be consulted on the document. Members expressed disappointment at the failure of SNC to involve the TC in this process. Members had attended a number of meetings with SNC on the last Economic Strategy produced 18 months ago and had been assured of their continued involvement. SNC has not sought the TC input on the document being discussed this evening.

6.    Minutes of Meetings

Resources/Planning Committee        14th September 2009

Town Council                                   14th September 2009

Town Hall Committee                        21st September 2009

Recreation/Leisure Committee           21st September 2009

Cemetery Committee                       28th September 2009

Resources/Planning Committee        28th September 2009

Page 09/09/120 was amended to add Cllr J. Hart to the list of apologies.

Proposal

Cllr Linney proposed that the Minutes of Meetings be signed by the Chair as a true record;

seconded by Cllr Stanger; all in favour.

7.    Matters Arising from the Minutes

Page 09/09/118 – Cemetery Chapel

A report on the underpinning and associated works to the Cemetery Chapel had been forwarded to all members prior to the meeting. The proposal put forward by the Cemetery Committee is to take out a public works loan of £35,000 towards the cost of the works. This sum will be added to budget of £13,000 to meet the total cost including fees and contingencies. The Clerk met with NCALC who have confirmed that the minimum loan amount would be £37,000 to represent £5 per head of the electorate. The Clerk detailed the interest rates and repayments for the loan.

Proposal

Cllr Lynch proposed that the TC apply for a public works loan of £37,000 to meet the cost of underpinning and refurbishment to the Cemetery Chapel. The loan is to be repaid over a period of 5 years at an interest rate of 1.7%; seconded by Cllr Wardle, all in favour.

Page 09/09/115

The Clerk confirmed she has completed the application form to adopt the telephone box at Caldecote. An administration charge of £50.00 will be payable to N.C.C.

8.    Report back from the Chair of the :-

Resources/Planning Committee

Cllr Hart confirmed the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeal against SNC decision to refuse permission for the re-siting of the boundary wall at 9 Coulthard Close. The Resources/

Planning Committee has made observations on the application for change of use of the former Lloyds Chemist, Swinneyford Road to restaurant / hot food takeaway.

Town Hall Committee

Cllr Allen confirmed that redecoration and re-carpeting of Office 6 has been completed for the new tenants to take occupation this week.

Proposal

Cllr Lynch proposed that the underlease counterpart licence to relet Office 6 be signed by the Chair and Clerk; seconded by Cllr Stanger; all in favour.

Recreation/Leisure Committee

Cllr Wright had nothing to report. Cllr Dryden confirmed that works commenced today to remove the old climbing frame and install the new piece of equipment on the Recreation Ground. The works will be completed by the end of the week.

Cemetery Committee

Cllr Wright had nothing to report

Allotment Working Group

Cllr Maycock had given his apologies for the meeting. The Clerk confirmed that one allotment plot has been repossessed and split to accommodate 2 residents on the waiting list.

9.    Moat Lane Toilets

A report on Moat Lane Toilets had been forwarded to all committee members prior to the meeting.

The gent's toilets have been closed for approximately 6 months due to problems with ground-level water seepage. During this time the Clerk has not received a single complaint.

Last week the Clerk visited the toilets with the contractor to discuss works to resolve the problems with water seepage. On opening the gent's toilet door it was discovered the roof had collapsed. The quotation for repair of the roof is £5,500 bringing the total cost of the repairs required to £8,000.

The Clerk and Town Mayor recently met with the Chief Executive of S.N.C. and enquired on plans to upgrade the toilets in conjunction with the development of Moat Lane . Jean Morgan confirmed there are no plans to upgrade the toilets in the foreseeable future.

The TC took over the maintenance of the toilets on a ‘licence to occupy' in 1999 when S.N.C. planned to close them. Problems with vandalism and anti-social that resulted in the closure of the toilets diminished when the TC introduced new opening times; closing the toilets at 6pm each day. The Clerk has found that the ‘licence to occupy' expired in 2000 so the TC is no longer obligated to continue maintaining the toilets. Over the past 10 years the TC has spent approximately £150,000 in maintenance and wages to keep the toilets open.

The TC needs to decide if it wishes to continue maintaining the toilets at Moat Lane or pass responsibility back to S.N.C.

Members discussed the issue at length; each putting forward their view on whether the TC should continue to maintain the toilets.

Proposal

Cllr Godwin proposed that the TC hand back responsibility for the maintenance of Moat Lane Toilets to South Northamptonshire Council; seconded by Cllr Hart; 8 in favour, 4 against.

10.    Report back from Local Bodies

Cllr Linney confirmed the Dolphin Café would be holding a French-themed Evening on Saturday 7th November for the benefit of the Towcester Youth Coffee Shop. There will be live entertainments and tickets priced at £25.00 are available from the Dolphin.

11.    CORRESPONDENCE

South Northants Council – 3 Yearly Review of Gambling Act 2005 / Statement of Principles

A copy of the draft Statement of Principles can be viewed on www.northantslicensing.gov.uk

Northampton & District Citizens Advice Bureau – AGM

The AGM will take place at 3pm on 14th October at Northampton Museum , Guildhall Road . Anyone interested in attending should notify the Clerk

Northants 50+ Network – The latest Newsletter is available from the Clerk

Northants County Council – Electric Blanket Testing Week

Details on where to have electric blankets tested between 26th and 30th October are available from the Clerk.