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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY 17TH MAY 2010
Present: Cllr J. Hart (Chair), Cllr P. Allen, Cllr M. Blake, Cllr J. Godwin, Cllr M. Johns, Cllr D. Linney,
Cllr C. Lofts, Cllr J. Lynch, Cllr A. Maycock, Cllr C. Stanger, Cllr A. Wardle, Cllr H. Wright, Cllr D. Yates
1. Apologies for Absence
Cllr C. Dryden, 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 Report
Cllr Hart thanked everyone who had helped with the Mayor Making Ceremony on 10th May and referred to a letter of thanks received from Jane Hardy, Chief Executive of the PSP Assocation which congratulates the TC on organising a marvellous event.
Cllr Hart attended Mayor Making Ceremony for Banbury Town Council on Tuesday 11th May.
5. Report back from:-
Cllr R. Bromwich, Northamptonshire County Council
Cllr Bromwich had forwarded her apologies for the meeting.
Cllr D. Dallyn, South Northamptonshire Council
Cllr Dallyn confirmed that enforcement proceedings have been issued in respect of 7 St Lawrence Road, Towcester. The property is jointly owned between the occupier and Waterloo Housing Association and the notice has been served upon both parties. Cllr Dallyn explained that the front and rear gardens of the property are in a terrible state with vast amounts of rubbish accumulating. There has been an attempt to erect an imposing fence around the front garden and, whilst the fence it permitted, what has been put up is horrendous. The owner/landlord has 28 days from 14th June to remove all items and fencing.
Cllr Dallyn confirmed that a parking review for Towcester is currently being undertaken. Acting on behalf of residents of Richmond Court, she has requested that the two parking spaces nearest to its entrance are removed to improve visibility for residents and their visitors. Under the review, it has been proposed that all of the parking spaces on Richmond Road be removed. The review will go out for consultation and the TC will have an opportunity to make observations.
6. Minutes of Meetings
Resources/Planning Committee 12th April 2010
Town Council Meeting 12th April 2010
Recreation/Leisure Committee 19th April 2010
Resources/Planning Committee 26th April 2010
Cemetery Committee 26th April 2010
Proposal
Cllr Stanger proposed that the Minutes of Meetings be signed by the Chair as a true record;
seconded by Cllr Blake; all in favour.
7. Matters Arising from the Minutes
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Cllr Lynch gave an update following the meeting with the Highways Agency contractor A1+. The Highways Agency has agreed to meet the cost of traffic management for this year’s Midsummer Music Festival. Cllr Lynch had hoped that this would include placing barriers around the Market Square as the committee have to collect them from Silverstone Circuit. Although Cllr Lynch is awaiting confirmation; this looks unlikely. It is likely that future events, including the annual carol concert, will be held on Bury Mount.
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The S. N. C. Sports Development Officer asked the TC to complete a questionnaire supporting its request for Lottery Funding to introduce the ACE Scheme (Active Cycling for Everyone) to the Towcester/Tiffield area. The TC agreed to forward a portion of the questionnaire to Dennis Dale for a detailed response. A copy of his answer was forwarded to all members prior to the meeting. The consensus agreed to forward the reply to S. N. C.
Cllr Wardle raised the following items:-
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The Pocket Parks Officer has contacted Cllr Wardle advising that a formal agreement needs to be in place between the TC and Nicholas Hawksmoor School over the use of the pocket park land for any funding application to progress. Cllr Wardle was certain there was some form of agreement in place originally; the Clerk confirmed there is no record of this on file. Cllr Yates confirmed that, at its last meeting, the RL Committee were concerned over relinquishing any authority over the land. Cllr Lofts advised that the Towcester Wildlife Group were preparing a bid for WNDC funding for refurbishment of the park at a quarter of the price quoted by Jonathon Kingsley-Smith. This would also require a formal agreement to be in place between the TC as land owner and the managing committee. He did not see anything negative about having an agreement in place. Cllr Yates advised that there are issues to be rectified before the TC will enter into agreement. The Clerk confirmed the TC needs to make a decision and it must take some responsibility for allowing the situation to lapse over a long period of time. Cllr Lynch suggested that this item be placed on the agenda for the next RL meeting where an agreement can be drafted that looks after the TC interests.
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Cllr Wardle confirmed that the barbed wire has been removed from the boundary wall between the church and Malthouse Court allotments.
8. Report back from Local Bodies
Cllr Blake reported back from a meeting held at Towcester Library to establish a ‘Friends of Towcester Library’ Group. The aim is to raise the profile of the Library and fundraise to prevent the loss of non-statutory services that could be affected by N. C. C. spending cuts. The inaugural meeting will take place 19th June.
Cllr Allen confirmed that NCALC had its annual meeting at the Town Hall on 15th May. It was agreed by members to dissolve the organisation to reform as a company limited by guarantee.
Cllr Lofts confirmed the Towcester Wildlife Group is putting together an application for capital funding from the W. N. D. C. to purchase equipment and materials for refurbishment of the Pocket Park. The Group is not assuming it will be appointed to undertake the work. Cllr Lofts referred to the newly formed U3A Group (University of the Third Age) which organises activities for the retired and semi-retired. The inaugural meeting for the Towcester branch held at the Town Hall was attending by 96 people.
Cllr Stanger reminded members that the Town Mayor’s Charity Golf Day will be held on 15th September at Cherwell Edge Golf Club. The cost is £40.00 per person and all proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s Charities.
Cllr Lynch reported back from the recent Board meeting of the Towcester Partnership. He said the Partnership is comfortable with its viability but is keen to make clear its aims and objectives. As its main sponsor, it would be pleased to hear of any activities it could carry out on behalf of the TC. The South Northants Bus Co. is very busy; the level of fees has been revised into separate brackets for charges to be levied according to the category of hirer.
Cllr Yates confirmed that Sponne School has set up a fund to offer assistance to parents of pupils struggling to meet the cost of music lessons. N. C. C. has reduced its funding for school music lessons which has resulted in higher charges. Cllr Hart referred to The Combined Charities Fund which can assist residents/groups in Towcester with one-off payments to meet a particular need. She recommended that individual cases could be referred to the charity via the school for consideration.
Cllr Johns confirmed that SNC has agreed to pass on Section 106 monies relating to the Northampton Road development to the Museum Trust. Building work on the Museum can now commence and will be project managed by the Towcester Partnership. It is hoped from the summer the building will be useable; funding applications are pending with other bodies to advance the project further.
Cllr Hart confirmed the town centre window boxes will be put up week commencing 7th June. Cllr Wright referred to the flower baskets on the bridge as these were not planted last year. The Clerk felt South Northants Homes may be interested in sponsoring the baskets; otherwise the TC should consider taking them over.
9. South Northamptonshire Council
a) Economic Development Strategy
Cllr Hart confirmed that the final report is available to view online on S. N. C. website
b) Landlords News and Views
Copies of the Spring 2010 issue of Landlords News & Views were distributed.
c) New Mandatory Licensing Conditions
Correspondence confirms that the Government’s New Mandatory Licensing Conditions came into
effect from 6th April 2010. The conditions are implemented under Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 860
and relate to the responsible sale of alcohol in licensed premises.
10. Environment Agency
Consultation on amendments to the Statutory Main River Map, Towcester
Correspondence from the Environment Agency confirms the Statutory Main River Map does not accurately reflect the position as it exists on the ground due to changes that have taken place over the years that have not been recorded. The plan provided by the E. A. show the proposed amendments within the Towcester boundary. The proposed amendments will be reviewed by the Anglian Central Regional Defence Committee on 22nd July 2010. If the TC wishes to make any objections/observations to the amendments, they should be submitted to the E. A. prior to this date.
11. Department of Transport
a) High Speed Rail – London to West Midlands and Beyond
b) High-Speed Two (HS2) Exception Hardship Scheme
Cllr Hart referred to the brochure on the proposed High Speed Rail Link. The Clerk agreed to forward the website link to those interested in finding out further information on the proposals.
12. Correspondence
a) SNVB – South Northants 50+ Forum
The next meeting of the South Northants 50+ Forum will take place at the Town Hall on 19th May
from 2 – 4pm. The programme will include falls prevention advice from the NHS and an overview
of the N. C. C. ‘You Choose’ campaign; a major public consultation into public spending.
b) Bromford Support Open Day
An Open Day event for Bromford Support Generic and Mental Health Floating Support Services will be taking
place on Thursday 3rd June from 12.30 to 3.00pm. Anyone interested in attending should
notify the Clerk.
c) MGWSP Parish Enhancement Gangs
Correspondence from MGWSP details the works undertaken by its Parish Enhancement Gangs. It
was agreed that this service is designed to benefit small parish councils.
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