RESOURCES / PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

MONDAY 22ND MARCH 2010

Present:-            Cllr J. Hart (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr D. Linney, Cllr C. Lofts,

                          Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr A. Wardle

1.           Apologies for Absence

Cllr M. Blake, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Yates

2.           Declarations of Interest

Cllr Lofts declared an interest in Item 5a – cheque number 009437.  Cllr Lofts signed the Declarations of Interest Register accordingly.

3.           Open to the Public

No members of the public were present.

4.           PLANNING

a)           Decisions

Permission for Development in respect of:-

S/2010/0054/FUL           23 Magpie Road, Towcester

                                        Ground floor rear extension.

S/2010/0102/FUL           Footpath to north-western side of Silverstone Brook between

                                       Clare Crescent and Water Lane, Towcester

                                        To vary conditions 11 & 12 on planning application S/2005/0726/P

                                       ‘maintenance of landscaping works’ to provide a cycleway.

Refusal of Consent for Display of Advertisements in respect of:-

S/2010/0055/ADV          The Olde Bakehouse, 156 Watling Street East, Towcester

                                        One non-illuminated fascia sign.

b)           Amendments

No amended applications were received.

c)           Applications

No observations in respect of:-

S/2010/0224/FUL           37 Kensington Close, Towcester

                                        Two storey rear extension.

S/2010/0267/EXT          Land adjacent to Shires Housing Estate

                                       Erection of a building for use for religious and community purposes    

                                       with associated access and parking.  (Extension to time limit on

                                       S/2005/0126/P).

Planning Appeal against Refusal of a Householder Application

Appeal Reference No:-                 APP/Z2830/D/10/2123539

Address of Site:-                           Long House, Caldecote

Proposed Development:-               Two storey rear extension and new pitched roof over existing garage

Cllr Hart confirmed that all observations with respect to the application will be forwarded as part of the appeals process.  There will be no further opportunity to make comment as the appeal is proceeding under the Householder Appeals Service.

5.           Finance

a)           Cheques Issued

The Clerk distributed copies of the Cheques Issued List (cheque numbers 009430 to 009448).  Most items were ongoing, the following cheques were highlighted:-

009445 / £167.00 to Engas for repairs to the radiators at Cemetery Lodge

Proposal

Cllr Linney proposed that the Cheques Issued List be signed by the Chair and R.F.O;

seconded by Cllr Wardle; all in favour.

b)           Credit Control

The Clerk detailed the outstanding payments due in respect of Town Crier advertising as at 22nd March:-

Outstanding 6+ months = 1 invoice to the value of £25.00

Outstanding 3 – 6 months = 3 invoices to the value of £55.00

Outstanding 0 – 3 months = 5 invoices to the value of £105.00

Total = £185.00

The Clerk did not anticipate any problems obtaining settlement of the accounts.

6.           Review of Internal Audit & Internal Control

The Council had carried out a review of the Internal Audit procedures and Cllr Hart had completed the Internal Control checks required under the review.  All checks were in order and there were no issues to report back to the committee.

a)           B. D. O. Audit Briefing

The Clerk referred to the recent Audit Briefing from B.D.O.

7.           Northamptonshire County Council

a)           Northamptonshire Household Waste Recycling Centre Contract

Correspondence from NCC confirms a new contract governing the operation of the county’s Household Waste Recycling Centres will commence on 1st April.  There will be changes to the service most of which will take effect week commencing 21st June.  Cllr Hart confirmed that the changes will see Towcester Recycling Centre closed 2 days per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) with extended opening hours on the remaining days.  Re-use items will no longer be sold on site but taken to a separate location for resale. 

The committee discussed the proposals and considered the changes to be of no benefit, favouring the current arrangements.  Cllr Wardle commented that the removal of resale items to a separate location would detrimental to the environment.  Cllr Hart pointed out that the changes had been decided and this was not a consultation, however, the committee agreed that the TC should forward its views on the proposals.

b)           Local Government Pension Scheme

The Clerk referred to correspondence which states the TC has a data cleansing exercise outstanding in respect of the pension information it holds.  The Clerk will make further enquiries on this matter.

8.           Section 38 Agreement – The Shires

              Charles Church Development Ltd

Correspondence from NCC confirms the following areas have been adopted and became Highway maintainable at public expense from 16th February 2010:-

Herbert Gardens                                                                                            145m

Cycleway link from Herbert Gardens to Coulthard Close                                  18m

Acessway off Northampton Road                                                                    27m

Cycleway link to Coulthard Close                                                                    34m

9.           Allianz Insurance

Correspondence from Allianz Insurance confirms it has put forward an 50/50 offer to settle the claim made against the TC in December 2008.  Noted.