RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 28TH JANUARY 2008

Present :   Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr P. Allen, Cllr V. Baker, Cllr J. Hart, Cllr M. Johns,

                Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr R. Mills, Cllr D. Yates

 

1.    Apologies for Absence

Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr A. Wardle

 

2.    Declarations of Interest

None.

 

3.    Open to the Public

No members of the public were present

 

4.    PLANNING

a)    Decisions

 

Permission for Development granted in respect of:-

 

S/2007/1567/P   37 Docklewell Close, Towcester

                        Conversion of garage into habitable room.

 

S/2007/1552/P   2 Quarry Farm Cottages, Wood Burcote, Towcester

                        Two storey and single storey rear extensions (retrospective).

  

S/2007/1477/P   3 Briary Close, Towcester

                        Convert part of garage into residential accommodation.

 

Refusal of Permission for Development in respect of:-

 

S/2007/1434/P   84 Brackley Road, Towcester

                        Vehicle cross-over.

 

Consent for the Display of Advertisements in respect of:-

 

S/2007/1533/A   187 Watling Street West, Towcester

                         Removal of two unauthorised signs. New non-illuminated

                         hanging sign. New lettering painted directly on to the upper

                         section of existing entrance door surround.

 

S/2007/1531/A    Tove Valley Business Park, Towcester

                          2 no. non-illuminated panel signs.

 

Listed Building Consent granted in respect of:-

 

S/2007/1539/LB   187 Watling Street West, Towcester

                           Removal of two unauthorised signs. New non-illuminated

                           hanging sign. New lettering painted directly on to the upper

                           section of existing entrance door surround.

  

b)    Amendments

No objections in respect of:-

S/2007/1571/P   Waitrose Ltd, Water Lane, Towcester

Proposal:           Variation to condition 24 on planning consent S/1995/0713/PO

                         to allow extended delivery times in the run up to Christmas

                         from 06:30 am on the 20 th , 21 st , 22 nd , 23 rd and 24 th December

                         unless one of the days falls on a Sunday when a delivery time

                         of 09:00 am will apply on a permanent basis.

Amendment:       Revised description and revised site notice.

 

c)    Applications

The Clerk confirmed that the Persimmon / Bloor consultants, Trimedia, have offered to give a presentation to the TC on its application. The Clerk is waiting for the WNDC to forward a hard copy of the plans and they have confirmed that the TC will have an extended consultation period. Cllr Baker suggested the offer made by Trimedia is accepted for a time when the TC has had an opportunity to look at the plans and discuss them with SNC. The TC will need to be prepared to get the best out of the consultation period. Cllr Allen queried the purpose of a presentation as the plans cannot be influenced at this time. He suggested a discussion on the plans with Paul Quinn of WNDC or Heidi Antrobus of SNC would be more useful. Cllr Johns felt the TC should take this opportunity but also seek the views of both the WNDC and SNC. Cllr Lofts referred to the complexity and scale of the application and suggested it be split into sections, i.e. roads, employment, housing etc and allocated to individual members or small groups to view. Cllr Johns agreed that this would be beneficial on an application of this magnitude and suggested that it may take several meetings to fully consider the plans. It was agreed to accept the presentation by Trimedia and arrange meetings with representatives of both the WNDC and SNC. The Clerk will work on the dates and report back.

 

The committee had no objections to the following:-

 

S/2008/0026/LB    177-179 Watling Street, Towcester

                           Installation of non-illuminated hanging sign on existing bracket.

 

S/2008/0049/P   44 Irvine Drive, Towcester

                         First floor extension over garage.

 

S/2008/0004/P    Burcote Wood Farm Business Park, Wood Burcote

                         Change of use for Unit 20 to B1 use class, mezzanine floor

                         and addition of 4 roof lights.

 

S/2008/0029/P &    12 Park Street, Towcester

S/2008/0030/LB      Satellite mini dish to side wall.

 

The committee gave its support to the following:-

 

S/2007/1636/P   58 Watling Street, Towcester

                        Part change of use to incorporate dental surgery.

 

S/2007/1662/LB    177-179 Watling Street, Towcester

                           Repainting of ground floor windows to dark grey.

 

S/2008/0010/A    Sponne School, Brackley Road, Towcester

                         Six metre high flagpole.

 

S/2007/1583/P   Towcester Health Centre, Swinneyford Road, Towcester

                         Extensions and alterations to form primary care Health Centre

                         including the construction of a first floor with ridged roof.

 

5.    South Northamptonshire Council

a)   “ Local requirement” for planning applications – consultation on “local list”

Correspondence from SNC confirms that the government is introducing a number of changes to the information required to be submitted with applications. Among the changes is the provision for local planning authorities to compile “local lists” of additional information that must be submitted with an application before it is registered. The government published its guidance on the validation of planning applications in December and this includes a recommended process that local planning authorities should go through before adopting their “local lists”. This includes consultation with a range of bodies, including parish / town councils. SNC has now prepared its draft “local requirements” and is commencing consultation on it in accordance with government guidance. It can be viewed on online at http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/environment_planning/3187.htm. The Clerk agreed to email the website link to committee members.

b)    Section 64 – Town Improvement Clauses Act 1847

Correspondence from SNC confirms that in accordance with the provision of the Act the 8 new industrial units at Old Greens Norton Road have been allocated the following address:-

Units 1 – 8, Old Greens Norton Road, Towcester, NN12

The postcode allocated by Royal Mail's Address Development Centre will be notified shortly. Noted.

 

6.    FINANCE

Cheques Issued

The Clerk distributed a copy of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 008518 to 008582) to each committee member. Most items were ongoing, the following items being of note:-

008533 / £106.00 to ABB for streetlighting (replacement for cheque number 008402

which was not banked and is now out of date).

008569 / £170.21 to Gillians Blinds for blinds at the Community Centre (money has been reimbursed from the Community Centre account for this item).

008577 / £6037.50 to Ravensthorpe Construction for putting up/taking down Christmas trees.

 

Proposal

Cllr Allen proposed that the Cheques Issued List be signed by the Chairman and R.F.O; seconded by Cllr Linney, All in favour.

 

7.    AUDIT

      Review of the Effectiveness of Internal Audit / Internal Control

The Clerk confirmed that NALC has forwarded some useful information with regards to how the effectiveness of the TC systems of internal audit / internal control can be reviewed. The information will be forwarded to Cllr Johns, Cllr Linney and Cllr Lofts who arranged to meet with the Clerk at 7pm on Tuesday 5th February to discuss how to proceed with the review.

 

8.    ASHTAV News

A copy of Issue Number 4 of ASHTAV News is available from the Clerk.

 

9.    NCC Local Government Pensions Scheme Regulations   

 

The Clerk has previously reported changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme which will take effect from 1st April 2008 . The Clerk will be attending another pension seminar in February which will look specifically at the issues of flexible retirement and ill health retirement, after which, this item will be brought back for further discussion. At this stage, the Clerk can respond to the following employer considerations which will affect the TC details of which were distributed.

 

1.   Have you considered the implications of the new employee contribution bands?

 

Yes – rates will increase from 6% to 6.5% for E. Cox

from 6% to 6.85% for D. Isaacs

 

2.   Have you considered if all your current employees in the Local   Government Pension Scheme can continue

      to be so after 1 st April 2008 ?

  

Yes – both employees are eligible for the New Look Government Pension Scheme.

  

3.   Have you given consideration to your responsibility of providing the Pension Section of the final pensionable salary

      in respect of the employees resigning or retiring?

  

Yes – This figure can be based on the last 10 years service.

The Council's payroll records have the facility to record this data.

  

4.   Can your payroll system process a refund of pension contributions for   those   who leave the scheme

      with less than 3 months pensionable service?

  

Yes – The Sage payroll system has the facility to refund contributions.