Council Meeting Minutes

BROUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

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Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council, held at Broughton Village Hall on Wednesday, 16 January 2008, commencing at 7.00pm.

  (Please note these minutes are not a definitive record until they are approved, and may be subject to amendment)

Present Cllr. Mrs. MC Rust (in the Chair).

Cllrs. R Baxter, Mrs. HJ Bull, P Chaplin, Mrs. PA Cope, Mrs. JL Farenden, Mrs. RA Gresham, LA Manning, Mrs. JR Page, and AJP Stamper.

PCSO J Parish of Northamptonshire Police.
08/5945 APOLOGIES.  Apologies were tendered by Cllr. R Shrive
08/5946 MINUTES. The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 19 December 2007, copies having been circulated, were approved by members and signed by the Chairman. 
08/5947 RIGHT TO SPEAK. No members of the public took advantage of this facility.
08/5948 POLICE REPORT.  Members received a briefing from PCSO Jason Parish who first introduced himself as a member of the local Safer Community Team.

PCSO Parish discussed with members the priorities established by the last meeting of the Community Panel, and the resulting increased visible police presence was evident. Additionally, the attendance by an officer at the recent village auction event had also been appreciated.

Councillors heard that speed checks were ongoing in the village, and that a complaint of graffiti in a bus shelter was in the course of being dealt with.

The meeting agreed that PCSO attendance at the Tin Can Band had been very beneficial and further local links/support should follow from the roll-out of the village hall mini-office when the necessary broadband facility was commissioned; this being in hand.

Finally, members were informed that a further police surgery was to take place in the village, on Saturday 19 January. 

PCSO Parish left the meeting at 7.08pm. 
08/5949 MATTERS ARISING. Arising from 07/5935, Cllr. Baxter reminded the meeting of the need for the missing areas of white lining at the village entrances to be attended to. He mentioned a near miss recently, when a vehicle entering the village had been on the wrong side of the road, believed due to this. Members agreed that the change in highway maintenance contractors might provide an opportunity for this matter to be addressed.

Arising also from 07/5935, the Chair advised the meeting that the County Council were running a series of seminars on emergency planning in the spring, with a focus on vulnerable people. In order to prepare to participate, it was suggested that a team of councillors be formed and that an enquiry be made of the County Emergency Planning unit to ascertain what village information was held currently, as past work had been done that might still be useful.

Arising from 07/5936, and following the confirmation of withdrawal from the village map project of the graphic artist initially engaged to devise the necessary artwork, councillors agreed the best way forward now was to enquire of other local councils who had been commissioned for their displays. A particular example at Cranford as thought worthy of pursuing.

Arising from 07/5942, Cllr. Mrs. Bull confirmed that the additional NACRE contribution of £1,000 towards the costs of the Parish Plan project had now been received and the cheque was presented for banking.

Arising from 07/5936, and in view of the financial pressures resulting from the ongoing transition to a system of precepting, Members agreed the Clerk’s recommendation not to renew membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks. This represented a saving of £80.

Arising from 07/5935, and despite member apprehensions about the possible perceived ‘lateness’ of the display, the meeting heard that another pleasant show of festive illuminations had been provided within the trees on the High Street recreation ground and only positive comments had been received. In view of the difficulties previously noted, and the lengths gone to by operatives involved, it was agreed to express further thanks to those involved at the Borough Council for their efforts, which were much appreciated. Members also heard that the lights belonging to the Parish Council had now been returned to the Village Hall for storage. 
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08/5950 CORRESPONDENCE. The following items of correspondence were reported and action, as detailed, was agreed to be taken, with other general items being placed on circulation:-


a) A letter received by the Chair, from Rev. Withington of the Four Spires Benefice, expressing concerns at apparent proposals for a major reorganisation by the Borough Council of the warden provision serving sheltered housing schemes, including that at St. Andrew’s Court. Members heard that the writer feared these proposals might impact negatively upon the level of service enjoyed by residents, and concern was also expressed at the lack of consultation if such proposals did indeed exist as was believed.

Members acknowledged the concerns raised by Rev. Withington, and consequently agreed to write urgently to the Borough Head of Housing seeking clarification upon what was proposed and how this would impact.

b) A letter received from Anthony Rickett Architects Limited, consulting upon the proposed locations for four lamp columns to be provided within prospective new highway associated with the residential development off High Street. Having considered the drawing supplied, councillors agreed that a site inspection should occur as it was not clear whether the proposed columns would adequately illuminate the full extent of the new development, or conflict with facilities already present in the High Street. The Clerk was instructed to request more time to respond to allow for this.

c) Notification received from the Borough Council of local arrangements to commemorate the Holocaust on 27 January 2008.

d) A letter received from the Midlands Cooperative Society Limited, granting consent for the resiting of the High Street notice board to the flank wall adjoining 19a High Street. This consent was subject to liaison with the Society’s tenant occupying the affected property, and subject also to the Council indemnifying the other parties in respect of any third-party claims that might result from the presence of the notice board.

e) A communication received from the owner of 18 High Street, concerning arrangements for any proposed renewal of the bus shelter lease adjacent to that property. Members heard that although there was no indication renewal would be resisted, concern was expressed by the writer that there had been issues of nuisance and litter associated with the continued existence of the shelter. Members agreed the issue should be an agenda item for the next meeting. 

08/5951 REPORTS OF MEMBERS ATTENDING MEETINGS OF OTHER BODIES.
 Cllr. Mrs. Farenden reported upon the last meeting of the Village Hall committee, with members hearing that locks had now been installed on various internal doors within the Hall, so as to secure separate areas. New booking forms had been devised, new cleaning equipment had been acquired, a redecoration working party was to occur on 2 February, and the main hall floor was to be resealed on 15 February. 
08/5952  DEVELOPMENT CONTROL.
Planning Applications submitted for the Parish Council’s observations:-
The following applications were considered with no observations resulting:-

2c Coxs Lane  Convert garage and new garage  Mr Sturman
Cransley Grange  Single storey wooden garage/store Mr Heggs
              
Planning Decisions reported:-
The following decisions, being Approvals with conditions, were reported:-
Gables Farm    Single dwelling Polpark Ltd
Gables Farm Barn  Conversion/extension Polpark Ltd
Plot 2 The Rectory (rear of) Single dwelling  Mr Kirby
Plot 3 The Rectory (rear of) Single dwelling  Mr Fisher
 
08/5953 FINANCE (including precepting). 
The following items of income and expenditure were agreed:-
Income

£
KBC – ward grant Tin Can Band policing contribution

65.00
Barclays Bank plc Interest on premium account

30.45
NACRE Parish Plan top-up grant

1,000.00
Expenditure

£
Barclays Bank plc Store fee (Direct debit ) 1.00
Barclays Bank plc Commission (Direct debit ) 6.00
GA Duthie Salary and WP (101277) 287.99
HM Inland Revenue Income tax (101278) 70.40
MC Rust Chairs allowance (101279) 175.00

Precepting
In connection with the move to precepting imposed on the Parish by the Borough Council due to the tapered cutting of revenue support grant by that authority, the meeting heard that in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting a precept in the sum of £2,000 had now been levied and notified to the Borough Council for 2008/09. The Chair confirmed that an appropriate article had been prepared for publication in Broughton News and this was read for members’ information

08/5954 FESTIVE LIGHTS. This had been dealt with previously but councillors noted the matter would be considered again at the July meeting.
08/5955 WEBSITE PAGE. Photographs were taken of those councillors who were content for their pictures to be displayed.
 
08/5956 BROUGHTON NEWS.  The meeting received a briefing from the Editor, who confirmed that contributions were coming in nicely and that the final day was next Sunday, 20 January. An editorial committee was established, and agreed to meet on 29 January, comprising Cllr. AJP Stamper (Editor), Cllr. Mrs. MC Rust, Cllr. R Baxter, Cllr. Mrs. PA Cope

Delivery was again to be undertaken by Mr. Marriott for a fee of £25.
08/5957 GENERAL INTEREST ITEMS. Cllr. Mrs. Bull reported that, once again, the Council provided planters on Northampton Road had been vandalised. This was the third occasion during the winter and, for that reason, it was agreed no further attempts to provide a display in this location would occur. In respect of the remaining planters, donations were again being sought from willing local organisations who might wish to sponsor the same.

Cllr. Chaplin raised an issue with moss growth on the A43 junction at Kettering Road, which might pose a hazard, especially to motor cycles.

Cllr. Mrs. Cope reported that an inoperative street light had been referred via the ‘Street Doctor’ service but that feedback had been received indicating these were better reported to Kettering Borough Council.

The Chair reported that a stile to the footpath crossing the Glebe from Wellingborough Road had a loose footplate. 
08/5958 DATE OF NEXT MEETING. It was reported that the next meeting of the Parish Council would be on Wednesday 20 February 2008, at 7:00pm in the Village Hall. 
08/5959 URGENT ITEMS ADMITTED BY THE CHAIR. The following items were admitted for discussion by the Chair:-

None were raised. 

 The meeting was closed at approximately 8.35pm.

 

         20 February 2008

  Signed..............................

            Chair