TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY 19TH MAY 2008

Present :   Cllr C. Stanger (Chairman), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr V. Baker, Cllr J. Godwin,

                Cllr J. Hart, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr A. Maycock,

                Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr C. Dryden, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr A. Wardle

2.    Declarations of Interest

None.

3.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.    TOWN MAYOR'S ITEMS

Cllr Stanger was pleased with how the Annual Meeting of the Council (Mayor Making Ceremony) on 12 th May went and the guests had an excellent time. He thanked Cllr Hart, the Clerk, Dianne, and her Assistant, Elizabeth, for organising the event. He confirmed his attendance at the SNC Chairman's Reception on 13 th May.

5.    Report back from :-

a)    Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Bromwich had confirmed she would be late arriving at the meeting. This item was deferred.

b)    Cllr D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council

Cllr Dallyn confirmed that SNC Councillors have agreed which committees they will sit on for the next 12 months. Cllr Dallyn will remain on the same committees. She referred to the Moat Lane consultations held at the Town Hall on 9th /10th May and the progress being made towards the development of the area. Cllr Dallyn made enquiries regarding the cost of public transport for students travelling to college. It was agreed this matter should be taken up with NCC.

6.    Minutes of Meetings

Resources/Planning Committee    14th April 2008

Town Council                               14th April 2008

Town Hall Committee                    21st April 2008

Recreation/Leisure Committee       21st April 2008

Resources/Planning Committee     28th April 2008

Cllr Yates referred to Page 08/04/047, which should read:-

Correspondence from Wallgate Resources confirms the cost for the annual service contract....

Proposal

Cllr Allen proposed that the minutes be signed by the Chairman as a true record; seconded by Cllr Lofts, All in favour.

7.    Matters Arising from the Minutes

Page 08/04/040 Cllr Baker referred to the Moat Lane Consultative Group. She is concerned that Chantry Lane may become a one-way system under the current proposals which indicate the road at the bottom of Bakers Lane is not wide enough to allow 2 vehicles to pass. This will result in heavy plant accessing the site via Chantry Lane when the works begin. Cllr Baker has taken up this matter with the consultants, Urban Design, who confirmed that no definite decision has been made. Cllr Johns referred to the initial proposals with access to the site via Northampton Road . Even if there is a pinch point in Chantry Lane , this could be resolved using traffic management measures, i.e. road signs. He suggested the TC make representations concerning traffic management to Urban Design now.

8.    Report back from the Chairman of the :-

Resources/Planning Committee

Cllr Lofts confirmed that the Committee had agreed to contribute £2,000 to the Towcester Partnership for the 2008/09 with the proviso it provides the TC with details of specific/measurable targets/projects it is due to undertake in the forthcoming year.

Town Hall Committee

Cllr Hart confirmed that the Town Hall roof works are ongoing. The slate work is complete and the leading should be finished this week. There are 5 windows left to be painted at the top west side of the building. The decoration works were delayed following the traffic management installed on the A5 for emergency repairs. Cllr Linney has prepared the specification for the internal decoration works and the Clerk will be obtaining quotations as soon as possible.

Recreation/Leisure Committee

Cllr Dryden had given her apologies for the meeting. The Clerk confirmed that the birds nest swing has been removed again. The contractor has ordered a replacement part to carry out the necessary repair. Cllr Stanger and Cllr Lofts have carried out the quarterly playground inspection and will report back on this at the next R/L Meeting.

Cemetery Committee

Vice-Chairman, Cllr Wright confirmed the stonemason has been given authority to commence repairs to the memorials agreed at the site meeting. The Clerk confirmed that the extended burial area has been reseeded and it taking well. She has calculated that there is a maximum of just 5-7 years for internments in the new Garden of Rest .

Allotment Working Group

Cllr Maycock had nothing to report.

5a)    Report back from Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Bromwich confirmed that NCC Social Services Department has received a regional award. It's scheme ‘This Time It's Personal' has resulted in 20 disabled people being enabled to make their own life choices, other than living in residential care. Most are now living in their own accommodation. Following the success of its presentation at the Birmingham ‘Big Event' the department has been to attend a national event at Wembley. Cllr Bromwich is confident about the improvements made to the service and the regulators will acknowledge this. Cllr Bromwich recently attended a meeting with Peter Betts of May Gurney who recently replaced Atkins as the NCC contractors for road/lighting works. She was impressed with the changes proposed for responding to reports and confirmed it is re-aligning its inspection regime to give a better standard of road repairs.

9.    Statement of Accounts 2007/08 Financial Year

At its meeting on 28th April, the Resources/Planning Committee proposed that Section 1 and 2 of the Annual Return be put forward to the Full Council for acceptance:-

Proposal

Cllr Lofts proposed that Section 1 and 2 of the Annual Return be accepted by the Council; seconded by Cllr Linney, All in favour.

10.    Report back from Local Bodies

Cllr Allen confirmed that the Sponne & Bickerstaffe Charity has a vacancy for a Nominative Feoffee from the community.

Cllr Baker confirmed that the Tourism Group under the Towcester Partnership is keen to produce a leaflet to encourage people to visit and stay in Towcester. She circulated a copy of the proforma. Cllr Johns referred to the Town Guide produced by the TC which already covers all the information.

Cllr Stanger is looking for volunteer to carry out stewarding duties at the Midsummer Music Festival. Anyone available to help should contact Cllr Stanger direct.

11.    W.N.D.C.

Prior to the meeting, the Clerk had forwarded all members a copy of the minutes from the Open Space and Recreation Workshop held by the W.N.D.C. The TC had been invited to the workshop but had only been given 3 days notice. Cllr Lofts referred to Item 10 – Management Arrangements. It would appear from the minutes that the W.N.D.C. has already held discussions regarding the management of new and current open spaces in the town. He suggested the TC makes it clear it would take on the new areas. Cllr Johns raised concern that the W.N.D.C. is debating issues without involving relevant organisations within the town. To have two separate arrangements for the new and current open spaces would further divide the existing town from the proposed development and there is bound to be differing qualities of maintenance. He considers the TC to be most competent to manage open spaces in the town. Cllr Lofts advised, in future, it will be the W.N.D.C. who will negotiate the Section 106 agreements. Where in the past SNC has been happy to pass open spaces to the TC, the W.N.D.C may not be. It was agreed the Clerk will establish the date of the next meeting and a representative from the TC must attend.

12.    Casual Vacancy for Brook Ward

The Clerk confirmed she has received only 1 enquiry regarding the casual vacancy for Brook Ward. Details of the vacancy have been placed in the Town Crier and on notice boards at the Town Hall and Library.

13.    BT Payphones

Correspondence from BT Payphones confirms its proposals to re-align payphone provision to meet consumer demand. This will result in the removal of 5 kiosks in the Towcester area, as follows:-

Marlow Road/Park View Road , The Green, Hulcote, Bickerstaffes Road , Highfields & Caldecote

The only payphones remaining will be those next to the Post Office. BT confirms notices will be placed in each kiosk to notify users of its scheduled removal. Cllr Hart asked the Clerk to write to BT for clarification on the usage of the kiosk in Bickerstaffes Road and to request it co-ordinates the removal of the equipment and kiosks together. Cllr Allen considered residents of Caldecote should somehow be notified of the removal of their only payphone.

14.    Northamptonshire County Council

a)    Rights of Way Update

Correspondence from the Highways Depot of NCC confirms changes to the structure of the Rights of Way Department. The team is now based at new offices at the Highway Depot in Brixworth The Rights of Way Officer for the Towcester region is Colin Wicks who can be contacted on 01604 883455 or CWicks@mgwsp.co.uk.

15.    South Northamptonshire Council

Details of the new national concessionary bus pass administered by SNC can be obtained from the Clerk. From 1 st April those over 60, or eligible disabled, can enjoy free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England .

16.    CORRESPONDENCE

a)    South Northants Homes

Correspondence from South Northants Homes confirms its intention to commence promised improvement works to the housing stock transferred from SNC within the first year. It is currently in the process of updating the records held on the condition of the housing stock and this information will be used to develop programmes of work. A specialist stock surveying company has been commissioned to gather the necessary survey data and will call at homes before the end of June. All surveyors will carry an identification badge and letter of authority.

South Northants Homes will be holding a ‘Meet Your Team' session from 3.00 – 7.00pm on Wednesday 21st May at Meadow Court , Towcester.

b)    South Northants Alzheimer's Society

A copy of the Alzheimer's Society Newsletter for April 2008 is available from the Clerk. Cllr Stanger informed the meeting that Margaret Lynch has recently stood down as Chairperson of the Society after 10 years. It was agreed the TC will write to Margaret to acknowledge her excellent work in raising the profile of the Society in our region and wish her well for the future.

c)    Northamptonshire NHS Primary Care Trust

Correspondence from the Teaching Primary Care Trust confirms that, following its consultations, the Governance Committee of the PCT has approved the closure of the Silverstone Branch Surgery of Dr Hooker and Partners effective from 25th April 2008 .

d)    Neighbourhood Watch (The Shires Group)

Correspondence from Nick King, Vice-Chair of Towcester Neighbourhood Watch confirms the Shires Group has met with Persimmon Homes with respect to the council adoption of the estate. It details the issues to be addressed prior to the adoption of the sewers, drainage and pumping station; roads & highways and public & open spaces giving an expected time period for completion of the works.