Members' Briefing Note Template - Wellingborough · The keynote address was given by Baroness Andrews, the Chairman of English Heritage. It was very gratifying to hear Baroness Andrews

AGENDA

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

You are hereby summoned to attend a Meeting of the Borough Council of Wellingborough in the County of Northamptonshire to be held on the FOURTEENTH day of DECEMBER 2010 at 7 PM in the Council Chamber, Swanspool House, Wellingborough for the purpose of transacting the following business.

1. Prayers said by the Mayor’s Chaplain.

2. Apologies for absence.

3. Declarations of interest.

4. Report on notable activities, events and issues arising.

5. Report on calendar of meetings 2011-2012.

6. Questions/Petitions from the public (previously notified).

7. Minutes of meetings:

Action to be taken Meeting Date Page No. Colour To confirm Council 9th November 2010 297 White To note Planning 17th November 2010 303 Yellow To receive & adopt Community 22nd November 2010 327 Blue To receive & adopt Development 23rd November 2010 337 Green To receive & adopt Resources 24th November 2010 347 Gold To receive & adopt Partnerships Review 29th November 2010 357 Grey To note. Performance & Scrutiny 30th November 2010 367 Stone To note Licensing (to follow) 3rd December 2010 Lilac

8. Members questions, motions, if any:

9. Correspondence, communications and other business brought forward by the direction of

the Mayor or of the Chairman of the meeting.

Dated this sixth day of December 2010.

Joe Hubbard,Chief Executive.

For more information about this Agenda please contact: Carol Mundy, Democratic Services Officer on 01933 231521, [email protected]. If you wish to address the meeting on an agenda item you can register by choosing one of the options below:

• going on-line to ‘on-line forms’ then addressing Council meetings; • completing the appropriate form which is available at reception desks; • contacting Carol Mundy, as detailed above.

Membership of the Council: The Mayor, Councillor Lora Lawman, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Peter Morrall and Councillors, Ainge, Allebone, Atkinson, Bailey, Bass, Beirne, P Bell, R Bell, Blackwell, Callnon, Crofts, Dean, Dholakia, Graves, Griffiths, Harrington, Hawkes, Higgins, Hollyman, G Lawman, Maguire, Partridge-Underwood, Patel, Perkins, Pursglove, J Raymond, P Raymond, Saxby, Shram, Simmons, Timms, Ward, Warwick and Waters (36).

Swanspool House, Doddington Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1BP Tel: 01933 229777 Fax: 01933 231684 DX 12865

www.wellingborough.gov.uk

mailto:[email protected]

4BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH AGENDA ITEM

Council meeting 14 December 2010

Report of the Chief Executive

NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

1 Purpose of report

This report is presented as a monthly update on notable activities that have taken place or are planned and relate to the council’s PRIDE objectives.

2 Executive summary 2.1 CHOICE BASED LETTINGS

A new allocations scheme that gives social housing applicants greater choice went live at the beginning of November. ‘Choice based lettings’ allows applicants to choose actual properties within an area. The system works on a banding process, with those in the greatest housing need being placed in the highest of the four bands. Available properties are then advertised on a weekly basis and applicants can ‘bid’ for – express an interest in – properties they are eligible for.

2.2 LITTLE HARROWDEN AFFORDABLE HOMES A development of affordable eco homes was completed and officially opened by the Mayor on 3 November. The homes are prioritised for people with a local connection to the village and are at Rookery View, off Hardwick Road. The houses have been built by White Rock Homes and the development will be managed by Northants Rural Housing Association. Extra funding was given by Wellingborough Council to increase the eco measures in the development, taking the houses to a Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 – which is above current government requirements. The eco measures include a ground source heat pump for each home, which extracts heat from the ground to provide hot water and heating.

2.3 REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

A huge number of Wellingborough residents attended the Remembrance Day service and parade at Broad Green. The Mayor visited each poppy seller in the town centre on the day prior to the parade to express thanks to the poppy sellers. The current figures show that the Royal British Legion collection will be in excess of £18,000.

2.4 NATIONAL HERITAGE CHAMPIONS

On 15 November, the Leader, Councillor John Bailey, attended the National Heritage Champions annual conference at the Foundling Museum, London. The keynote address was given by Baroness Andrews, the Chairman of English Heritage. It was very gratifying to hear Baroness Andrews single out for mention Chester Farm and Roman Town, which she had recently visited, and which she described as ‘an example of the very best of English heritage’.

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2.5 ENVIRONMENTAL WARDENS The council’s environmental wardens teamed up with the police on 19 November to hold a litter awareness operation at Tresham College. Students from the college had been identified on recent patrols as being the major contributors to littering in Church Street and All Hallows churchyard. With the support of the college, the wardens and PCSOs carried out the high-visibility operation and spoke to numerous members of the public about the problem of littering. On 25 November, the wardens supported the police with an event at Hardwick Infant School. They took part in an assembly, part of which was devoted to the problems of littering and dog fouling, before the children were taken outside to do a litter pick of the surrounding area.

2.6 WELLINGBOROUGH INTER FAITH GROUP

Wellingborough Inter Faith Group (WIFG) has been recognised by the government for its work with other local community groups. The group, who meet monthly at the Victoria Centre in Wellingborough, received recognition for working with the local Women Have A Go (WHAG) group, a needlework and craft group of women from a wide range of faiths and cultures, on a table drape to be used at inter faith meetings. Cynthia Bailey, chair of WIFG, attended a reception at Admiralty House during inter faith week. The reception was hosted by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP.

2.7 PRIME MINISTER’S RECEPTION

On 24 November, the Leader, Councillor John Bailey, attended a reception hosted by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. The event coincided with a large demonstration by students and gaining access to Downing Street was quite difficult. About 120 Conservative Leaders of district council groups were addressed by Eric Pickles and the Prime Minister. The Leader was delighted to have the honour of representing the council at such an auspicious venue.

2.8 MARKET STREET AND GLOUCESTER PLACE

Phase one of the improvement works on Market Street completed on 26 November and the road has reopened to allow traders to take advantage of Christmas trade. Work will begin again on 4 January and is expected to last until March. During this Christmas period, the construction team is working on the zoo-themed play area on Croyland Gardens.

2.9 SNOW PLAN

The council’s snow plan was implemented at the beginning of December. Teams from environmental maintenance were redeployed to grit footpaths around the council buildings and leading into the town centre. The winter weather continues to be monitored and the teams are ready to respond if necessary. The responsibility for gritting the roads and the majority of the footpaths, including the town centre, lies with the county council.

2.10 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON

The town centre’s Christmas lights were switched on at an event on 4 December. Special guests, including X Factor winner Steve Brookstein and Emmerdale actor Richard Grieve, who is starring in The Castle’s Christmas production, teamed up with the Mayor for the festive celebrations. The event started with a lantern parade around the town centre and offered two hours of entertainment including live music and dance.

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2.11 FOSIG

On 10 December, the Leader, Councillor John Bailey, with Mr Pittman, attended the annual meeting of FOSIG, the organisation representing the views of councils that still have a committee system. It was gratifying that the new Coalition Government has announced its intention of allowing any council to return to a committee system if it so wishes. This has been a major aim of FOSIG since its establishment.

2.9 MAYORAL VISITS

Please see a list of mayoral visits for November and December 2010 at Appendix A.

3. Proposed action:

Council is invited to note the report on notable activities. 4. Author and contact officer

Paula Whitworth, Communications Officer.

5. Consultees The Mayor, Chief Executive, Directors, Heads of Service.

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Appendix A 03/11/2010 Little Harrowden – 7 Eco Houses official opening ceremony

Inspiring Achievement Employer Awards, The Castle 04/11/2010 Weavers School Wildcat café opening

Northamptonshire Sports Awards 2010 with Mike Newell & Daniel Keatings 05/11/2010 Welcoming of soldiers from RAF Honington on their March for Honour at Sywell 06/11/2010 Councillor Surgery Brickhill Ward 07/11/2010 Tree planting in memory of the late Mike Prescod

09/11/2010 Full Council 10/11/2010 Policy Seminar 11/11/2010 Armistice Day attendance

Irchester Primary School Birthday Greetings for Mr Ramsay, ex soldier from Southwood House Greetings for Mr Ryan at Shaftsbury House 12/11/2010 Whitworths

Kettering Civic Ball 13/11/2010 Visiting all poppy sellers in the town centre area 14/11/2010 Remembrance Sunday Parade at Broad Green War Memorial

Remembrance Sunday Service Little Irchester Youth in Concert Northampton

15/11/2010 Wellingborough 1st Girls Brigade visit to Parlour 16/11/2010 Women's Aid offices

Women's Aid Safe Houses visit Brahma Kumaris Book talk by Anthony Strano 17/11/2010 Talking Newspaper for the Blind studio recording

18/11/2010Mr Steve Linnell & team - handover of £3,500 checque to Help for Heroes following WWII Jeep Push

Wellingborough School, West Side Story at the Castle 19/11/2010 Visit to HM Prison Wellingborough

Visit the Prison Visitors Centre Little Harrowden School Mayor's Charity Quiz Night 20/11/2010 Wellingborough Swimming Club - Swimming Club Competition & Awards 21/11/2010 Finedon Community Centre - Christmas Fair opening

Civic Service NCC Chairman 22/11/2010 Rotary Club, Borough School Choirs from various local schools 23/11/2010 Irchester Primary School visit to meet School Council

Eagle Pub Working Group Development Committee 24/11/2010 Observer at Resources 25/11/2010 Redhill Grange Residents Association AGM 26/11/2010 Sea Cadets Awards night

27/11/2010 Young People's Enterprise Trade Fair and judging St Mark's Christmas Fair Northamptonshire Hindu Samaj Mayor's Charity Dinner 28/11/2010 Cransley Hall Christmas Fair

Cultural Kaleidoscope - Northants Communities 29/11/2010 Agenda Meeting Full Council 30/11/2010 Earls Barton's Beavers Christmas Carol Concert 02/12/2010 Sportsframe visit

Redwell School visit Alliance for Black Children AGM 03/12/2010 Rothwell Christmas Fair 04/12/2010 Finedon Weslyan Church Bazar

Langdale Court Christmas Party Craft Fair Tithe Barn Christmas light switch on Wellingborough School singers 05/12/2010 Installation of Child Bishop at All Saints

Opening of 3Q Pharmacy at Albany House Daventry Mayor Civic Service Wellingborough School carol service 07/12/2010 Cransley Hospice Tree of Lights at Swanspool House 08/12/2010 Hardwick Parish Council meeting

09/12/2010 Glamis Hall Christmas Party Tresham Institute – Princes Trust Awards Police & Fire Brigade Carol Service 11/12/2010 Polish Christmas Mass & Celebrations Lancum House Christmas Party Northants Dance School Performance 12/12/2010 United Reformed Church Carol Service

Peterborough Cathedral Carol Service 13/12/2010 Oakway School Christmas Fair

Major O'Driscoll 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment Lantern Parade Oakway School Children Little Harrowden Ladies Club Dinner 14/12/2010 Full Council Meeting 17/12/2010 Grendon Primary School Christmas Carols 17/12/2010 Women's Aid Childrens Christmas Party 20/12/2010 Wellingborough Air Cadet Presentation Night 24/12/2010 Visit to HM Prison Wellingborough

5BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH AGENDA ITEM Council 14th December 2010Report of the Chief Executive. Calendar of Meetings May 2011-May 2012. 1 Purpose of Report 1.1 The purpose of this report is to obtain approval to the calendar of meetings

from May 2011 to May 2012. 2 Executive Summary 2.1 The report presents the calendar of meetings from May 2011 to May 2012. 3 Appendices 3.1 The calendar of meetings from May 2011 to May 2012.

4 Proposed Action 4.1 Council is invited to RESOLVE that the calendar of meetings from May

2011 to May 2012 be approved.

5 Background 5.1 The Leadership Team at its meeting in November were presented with two

versions of the calendar of meetings. Version 1 was the preferred option and is appended to the report.

6 Discussion 6.1 The current calendar of meetings ends in May 2011. 6.2 The appended calendar details the meetings scheduled from May 2011 to May

2012.

7 Legal Powers Local Government Act 1972, Local Government Act 2000.

8 Financial and Value For Money Implications There are no financial implications.

9 Risk Analysis Nature of risk Consequences

if realised Likelihood of occurrence

Control measures

Meetings won’t be scheduled and Members may not be able to attend.

Decisions will not be made in good time.

Medium That the calendar be approved.

10 Implications for Resources 10.1 There are no implications. 11 Implications for Stronger and Safer Communities 11.1 There are no implications.

12 Implications for Equalities 12.1 There are no implications. 13 Author and Contact Officer

Carol Mundy, Democratic Services Officer.

14 Consultees Joe Hubbard, Chief Executive, Directors, Leadership Team, Democratic Services Manager.

15 Background Papers None.

Approved at Council Meeting ? DRAFT VERSION 1

CALENDAR OF COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS FROM MAY 2011 TO MAY 2012

May 2012 Thursday 5 Borough Elections JANUARY Tuesday 10 Member Induction (10am) Wednesday 4 Planning TUESDAY 24 ANNUAL COUNCIL Monday 9 Community Wednesday 25 Planning Tuesday 10 Development JUNE Wednesday 11 Resources Monday 13 Community Monday 16 Partnerships Review Tuesday 14 Development Tuesday 17 Performance & Scrutiny Wednesday 15 Resources TUESDAY 31 COUNCIL Monday 20 Partnerships Review FEBRUARY Tuesday 28 Audit Wednesday 8 Planning Wednesday 29 Planning Monday 20 Community JULY Tuesday 21 Development TUESDAY 12 COUNCIL Wednesday 22 Resources Wednesday 27 Planning Monday 27 Partnerships Review SEPTEMBER Tuesday 28 Performance & Scrutiny Wednesday 7 Planning MARCH Monday 12 Community TUESDAY 6 COUNCIL Tuesday 13 Development Wednesday 7 Planning Wednesday 14 Resources Monday 19 Community Monday 19 Partnerships Review Tuesday 20 Development Tuesday 27 Audit Wednesday 21 Resources Wednesday 28 Planning Monday 26 Partnerships Review Tuesday 27 Audit OCTOBER APRIL TUESDAY 4 COUNCIL TUESDAY 3 COUNCIL Monday 17 Community Wednesday 4 Planning Tuesday 18 Development Monday 16 Community Wednesday 19 Resources Tuesday 17 Development Monday 24 Partnerships Review Wednesday 18 Resources Tuesday 25 Performance & Scrutiny Monday 23 Partnerships Review Wednesday 26 Planning Tuesday 24 Performance & Scrutiny MAY NOVEMBER TUESDAY 1 COUNCIL TUESDAY 15 Wednesday 9 Planning COUNCIL Monday 21 Community NEW MUNICIPAL YEAR Tuesday 22 Development TUESDAY 15 ANNUAL COUNCIL Wednesday 23 Resources Monday 28 Community Monday 28 Partnerships Review Tuesday 29 Development Tuesday 29 Performance & Scrutiny Wednesday 30 Resources Wednesday 30 Planning DECEMBER TUESDAY 13 COUNCIL

Swanspool House, Doddington Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1BP Tel: 01933 229777 DX 12865 www.wellingborough.gov.uk

Notes for Councillors:

• Audit Committee and Performance and Scrutiny Committee, share the committee cycle with Audit being held in June, September and March. Performance and Scrutiny Committee will meet in October, November, December, January and April.

• Planning Committee is held every month with the exception of August. • The calendar where possible avoids school holiday periods and public holidays.

All meetings are open to the public to attend and are either held in the Committee Room or Council Chamber at Swanspool House, Wellingborough, commencing at 7 pm unless otherwise stated on the Agenda.

If you have any queries regarding this Calendar please contact Democratic Services on 01933 231511 or 231521.

Swanspool House, Doddington Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1BP Tel: 01933 229777 DX 12865 www.wellingborough.gov.uk

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE

BOROUGH COUNCIL OF WELLINGBOROUGH HELD AT SWANSPOOL HOUSE, WELLINGBOROUGH

ON TUESDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2010

Present: The Mayor (Councillor L Lawman), The Deputy Mayor (Councillor P Morrall and Councillors, Allebone, Atkinson, Bailey, Bass, Beirne, P Bell, Blackwell, Callnon, Dean, Dholakia, Griffiths, Harrington, Hawkes, Higgins, G Lawman, Maguire, Partridge-Underwood, Perkins, Pursglove, J Raymond, P Raymond, Saxby, Shram, Simmons, Timms, Warwick, Ward and Waters. Officers present: Mr J Hubbard, (Chief Executive), Mr R Micklewright, Mr J Wilson and Mr T Wright (Corporate Directors), Mrs B Lawrence, Mr C Pittman, Mr G Stoppani and Mr S Wood,(Heads of Service), Miss S Lyons, (Legal Adviser),Mrs C Mundy (Democratic Services Officer) and Mr G Betts, Mayor’s Sergeant.

1. PRAYERS Prayers were said by the Mayor’s Chaplain.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ainge, R Bell, Graves Hollyman and Patel.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The following Councillors declared an interest, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. Councillor Committee date and minute no. Reason for declaration

Allebone Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10

Min 4 Annual report for Performance & Scrutiny

Personal and prejudicial – Member of The Castle Board.

Allebone Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10 Min 6 Performance Report.

Personal and prejudicial – Member of The Castle Board.

Blackwell Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal – Member of Earls Barton Parish Council.

Bass Resources 13 10 10 Min 6 Review of Sywell Aerodrome Planning Applications.

Personal -

Dean Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal – is a County Councillor.

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Council Meeting – 9th November 2010.

Dean Development 12 10 10 Min 7 Chester House Farm.


Harrington Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal and prejudicial – lives on Redhill Grange.

Hawkes Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan

Personal and prejudicial – lives on Redhill Grange and is Member of Redhill Grange Community Association.

Higgins Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10 Min 4 - Annual report.

Personal and prejudicial – Board Member of The Castle.

Higgins Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10 Min 6 – Performance Report.


G Lawman Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal – aware of previous respondents.

G Lawman Development 12 10 10 Min 7 Chester House Farm.


L Lawman Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal – is aware of objectors.

Maguire Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal – Member of Sports Association and Irchester Parish Council.

Partridge-Underwood

Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10 Min 4 – Annual report.


Partridge-Underwood

Performance & Scrutiny 19 10 10 Min 6 – Performance Report.


J Raymond Development 12 10 10 Min 12 Town Centre Redevelopment

Personal and prejudicial – wife owns business premises in town centre.

P Raymond Development 12 10 10 Min 12 Town Centre Redevelopment.

Personal and prejudicial – owns business premises in town centre.

Warwick Development 12 10 10 Min 5 Site Specific Proposals Development Plan.

Personal and prejudicial – Resident of Redhill Grange.

Warwick Development 12 10 10 Min 9 Town Centre Redevelopment.

Personal and prejudicial – owns business premises in High Street.

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4. NOTABLE ACTIVITIES The annexed circulated report and verbal update was received on the notable activities that had taken place. Members made particular reference to the Local Democracy Day event; the restoration of 28 Church Street and opening of new business; the business survey which was currently being conducted; the introduction of glass collections in the green household recycling bins; and the success of officers involved with the Local Land and Property Gazetteer which had achieved gold standard. Councillor Bailey also made reference to the final Challenge Board meeting which concluded that significant improvements in leadership, community engagement and performance had been made. The Mayor referred to the March of Honour of members from RAF Honington who were marching to London to hand over a Book of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. She had welcomed them, along with Veterans and members of the Royal British Legion, at Sywell Museum. To date they had collected in the region of £540,000. RESOLVED to note the report, verbal update and comments made on notable activities relating to the Council’s PRIDE objectives.

5. SCHEME FOR PETITIONS

The annexed circulated report of the Monitoring Officer was received on the scheme for petitions, to include petitions in electronic format (e-petitions), to comply with the statutory requirement in respect of e-petitions which would be effective from 15th December 2010. The report detailed the proposed revised scheme. The IT Partnership had secured an operational e-petition facility which would be hosted on the Borough Council’s website. E-petitions would remain open for signature for a period of 90 working days. It was thought that there could be an increase in the number of petitions on the same issue and it was recommended that the Council would not debate a petition within 6 months of a previous debate on the same or closely related issue. RESOLVED that the revised Petition Scheme be adopted.

6. COUNCIL MEETING – 5th OCTOBER 2010

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting of 5th October 2010 be confirmed and signed.

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7. PROCEEDINGS OF COMMITTEES

Community 11th October 2010. Development 12th October 2010. Partnerships Review 18th October 2010. Performance & Scrutiny 19th October 2010. RESOLVED to adopt the minutes of the above mentioned meetings subject to Councillor J Raymond’s apologies being recorded for Partnerships Review.

8. RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 13TH OCTOBER 2010.

The annexed circulated minutes of the Resources Committee of 13th October 2010 were received. Reference was made to minute number 4 – Officer Employment Procedure Rules. It was proposed by Councillor Bailey and seconded by Councillor Bell that the following Members be appointed to the Appointments Committee, Councillors Bailey (Chairman), P Bell (Vice-Chairman), Allebone, Callnon, Dean, Dholakia, Griffiths, Hawkes, G Lawman, Maguire, Timms, Ward and Waters. Councillor Partridge-Underwood also asked that his apologies for non-attendance at the meeting be recorded in the minutes. RESOLVED that: (i) approval be given to the appointment of Councillors Bailey (Chairman),

P Bell (Vice-Chairman), Allebone, Callnon, Dean, Dholakia, Griffiths, Hawkes, G Lawman, Maguire, Timms, Ward and Waters to the Appointments Committee;

(ii) Councillor Partridge-Underwood’s apology for absence be recorded; (iii) the Resources Committee Minutes be adopted.

9. PLANNING COMMITTEE – 20TH OCTOBER 2010. RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee of 20th October 2010 be noted.

10. MEMBERS QUESTIONS OR MOTIONS. There were no questions or motions from Members.

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11. CORRESPONDENCE, COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS The Mayor reminded Members that the Annual Policy Seminar would be held on 10th November and that their attendance at the Seminar would be appreciated. Mayor The meeting closed at 7.35 pm.

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COUNCIL MEETING – 14th DECEMBER 2010

REPORT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

17th November 2010 Present: Councillor Ward (Chairman), Councillor Griffiths (Vice-Chairman), Councillors P Bell, Dean, Harrington, Morrall, Patel, Timms and Waters. M Kilpin (Development Control Team Leader), J Jhamat (Legal Services), A Stevenson (Conservation and Design Officer) and J Wilson (Corporate Director – Development). (Councillor Bass attended for item 17.) 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

RESOLVED to note that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Beirne and Maguire.


RESOLVED to note that in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, the Code of Local Government Conduct and the Council's Constitution, the under-mentioned Councillors declared an interest in the following items: Councillor Minute No Item Description of Interest P Bell 8 Planning Application Personal and prejudicial WP/2010/0401(FM) - his property bordered the application site. P Bell 9 Conservation Area Personal and prejudicial Application – WP/ - his property bordered 2010/0402(CA) the application site.

3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20/10/2010, be confirmed and signed.

4. REPORT OF THE HEAD OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

RESOLVED that the annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment, on the applications for planning permission, listed building consent and building regulation approval, be received.

5. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0361(F) – 16 HOLME CLOSE, WELLINGBOROUGH

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0361(F), for alterations to main roof (hip to

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Report of the Planning Committee – 17th November 2010

gable) and roof dormers to provide additional bedrooms and en-suites at 16 Holme Close, Wellingborough for Mrs L Leung.

The report set out details of the proposal, a description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal.

The Head of Built Environment had recommended that planning permission be

granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. The Site Viewing Group had visited the site on 16/11/2010, and a record of the

visit was set out in the circulated notes.

A request to address the meeting had been received from an objector. The Chairman allowed the person to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After the speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification. Having heard the views of the speaker and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that planning permission be refused as the proposal had an overbearing impact on the property to the rear and would be detrimental to its amenities by reason of overlooking. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously. RESOLVED that planning permission be refused for the following reason: 1. The proposal would be unacceptably detrimental to the amenities of the

occupiers of the property to the rear by reason of overlooking and the overbearing effect which would be created by the enlarged roof. The proposal is contrary to Policy 13 (h and l) of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy.

6. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0381(F) – TUDOR GATE HOTEL AND

RESTAURANT, 29/35 HIGH STREET, FINEDON

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received, including late correspondence from the applicant’s agent, on planning application WP/2010/0381(F), for the part demolition of existing extensions to Grade II Listed Tudor Gate Hotel, proposed conversion of existing Listed Building into two residential dwellings, creation of a further six residential properties and associated courtyard area at the Tudor Gate Hotel and Restaurant, 29/35 High Street, Finedon for Gilt Edged Homes Limited.


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The Head of Built Environment recommended that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. With regard to issues concerning the specification of the vehicular access gate and the relationship of the boundary walls to the proposed new dwellings, these would be dealt with by conditions to be agreed by the officers.

The Site Viewing Group had visited the site on 16/11/2010, and a record of the


Requests to address the meeting had been received from an objector, the applicant’s architect and agent and the applicant’s representative. Prior to the meeting, the objector indicated he no longer wished to address the meeting as his concerns had been resolved by the applicant’s architect and agent. The Chairman allowed the applicant’s architect and agent and the applicant’s representative to each speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After each speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification. Having heard the views of the speakers and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application. In respect of proposed condition 9, relating to materials, the Committee agreed that the dwellings on plots 6 and 7, which would be seen from High Street, be faced in stone with slate roofs.

It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, including the materials requirement for plots 6 and 7 in respect of condition 9, and the additional conditions, to be agreed by the officers, in respect of the specification of the vehicular access gate and the relationship of the boundary walls to the proposed new dwellings. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions: 1. The development shall be begun not later than the expiration of three

years beginning with the date of this permission. 2. Before development commences, a landscape scheme shall be

submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented concurrently with the development and shall be completed not later than the first planting season following the substantial completion of the development. Any trees and shrubs removed, dying, being severely damaged or becoming seriously diseased within five years of planting shall be replaced by trees and shrubs of similar size and species to those originally required to be planted or other species as may be agreed.

3. A Landscape Management Plan including long term design objectives, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules of all landscaped areas, other than the privately owned domestic gardens, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority prior to the occupation of the development. The Management

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Plan shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

4. Before development commences, a scheme for screen fencing/walling shall be submitted to the local planning authority and approved in writing. The approved scheme shall be implemented to the satisfaction of the local planning authority before the houses are first occupied.

5. Full details of the new front security gate, including arrangements for electronic accessibility/communication, shall be submitted for the written approval of the local planning authority.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification) no gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure or screen shall be erected, constructed or placed in front of the front wall of any dwelling, or the flank wall of a dwelling at the junction of two roads, other than approved under condition number 4, without the express planning permission of the local planning authority.

7. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification), the development shall not be extended or altered externally (including window insertions) without the express planning permission of the local planning authority.

8. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no structures or buildings shall be erected or constructed within the curtilages of the dwellings without the express planning permission of the local planning authority.

9. Before development commences, representative samples of all new external facing and roofing materials shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out only using the approved materials.

10. Before development commences, full details of the following items shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing: new build (Units 5, 6 and 7) - lime mortar mix for stonework, doors and windows (including garage door), eaves/verges and rainwater goods. The development shall be carried at in accord with the approved details.

11. Before development commences, full details of the following items shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing: conversions (Units 3, 4 and 8) - alterations to doors and windows. The development shall be carried at in accord with the approved details.

12. Before development commences, full details of the intended surface treatment of the parking, access and manoeuvring areas that allow for water-permeability shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing. The development shall be carried in accord with the approved details.

13. During the excavations for buildings or new garden areas any soil contamination shall be immediately reported to the local planning authority and remediation works shall be carried out to its satisfaction. A minimum of 600mm of soil shall be imported to the new garden areas and this shall be sourced from a supply which is approved by the local planning authority.

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14. Before development commences, a plan indicating the precise position of Plots 6 and 7 shall be submitted to, and subsequently agreed on site with, the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the agreed details.

15. Before development commences, details of the proposed finished floor levels of the dwellings in relation to the existing and proposed ground levels of the site shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing. The development shall be carried out in accord with the approved details.

16. No development shall take place within the application site until the applicant, or their agents or successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which shall be submitted to the local planning authority and approved in writing.

17. This approval does not extend to the proposed front elevational details of units 3 and 4 and before development commences an alternative design shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing. The development shall be carried out in accord with the approved design.

18. Before development commences a schedule of repairs for the Tudor Gate Hotel (plots 1 and 2) shall be submitted to the local planning authority and approved in writing. Plots 5, 6 and 7 shall not be occupied until the approved repairs have been completed to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.

Reasons: 1. Required to be imposed pursuant to Section 51 of the Planning and

Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. 2. In the interests of visual amenity. 3. In order to maintain and enhance the landscape quality and visual

amenity of the site. 4. In the interests of amenity, privacy and security. 5. To ensure adequate communication from the street with residents in the

rear yard. 6. In the interests of visual amenity. 7. In the interests of preventing overdevelopment of the site and controlling

the character and appearance of the development. 8. In the interests of preventing overdevelopment of the site and controlling

the character and appearance of the development. 9. In the interests of visual amenity. 10. In the interests of controlling the character and appearance of the

development. 11. In the interests of controlling the character and appearance of the

development. 12. In the interests of visual amenity and sustainable urban drainage. 13. In the interests of remediating any potential contamination. 14. To ensure the stability of the rear wall. 15. In the interests of controlling the heights and appearance of the

development. 16. To ensure that features of archaeological interest are properly examined

and recorded, in accordance with PPS5 Policy HE12. 17. In the interests of protecting the setting of the adjacent listed building.

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18. To ensure that the repairs to the grade II listed building are carried out.

7. LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION WP/2010/0382(LB) – TUDOR GATE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT, 29/35 HIGH STREET, FINEDON

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on listed building application WP/2010/0382(LB), for the part demolition of existing extensions to Grade II Listed Tudor Gate Hotel, proposed conversion of existing Listed Building into two residential dwellings, creation of further six residential properties and associated courtyard area at the Tudor Gate Hotel and Restaurant, 29/35 High Street, Finedon for Gilt Edged Homes Limited.


The Head of Built Environment recommended that listed building consent be

granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. The Site Viewing Group had visited the site on 16/11/2010, and a record of the

visit was set out in the circulated notes. It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that

listed building consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that listed building consent be granted subject to the following conditions: 1. The works to which this consent relates must be begun not later than

the expiration of three years from the date of this consent. 2. Full details of the following items shall be agreed in writing with the local

planning authority prior to commencement of development: (i) repair and re-pointing of external masonry; (ii) windows and external doors - repair or replacement as appropriate; (iii) rainwater goods - refurbishment or replacement in cast iron required; (iv) a programme for the retention/repair of historic floorboards, walls, ceilings, fireplaces, doors, etc. (v) roof repair; (vi) a scheme for new internal partition walls, fittings and other carpentry; (vii) retention/repairs to existing boundary walls; (viii) frontage hard and soft landscaping; (ix) removal of ivy and other growth from the front elevation and elsewhere on the building.

3. Any alterations required to the west flank wall at Plot 4 shall be submitted for the written consent of the local planning authority.

4. No development shall take place until the applicant, or their agents or successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of

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archaeological building recording to Level 3 in the case of the primary listed building and Level 2 for the attached shop block to the west, in accordance with a scheme of investigation which has been submitted for the written approval of the local planning authority.

Reasons: 1. In order to comply with Section 18 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and

Conservation Areas) Act 1990. 2. To protect the character of the listed building. 3. To protect the curtilage-listed fabric. 4. To protect the character of the listed building. (Note: Councillor P Bell, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the next two applications, left the meeting during the consideration and voting thereon.)

8. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0401(FM) – LAUNDRY PREMISES, BUCKWELL END/SHORT LANE, WELLINGBOROUGH

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0401(FM), for 23 dwelling units comprising of 4 maisonette flats, 1 bungalow, 8 three bedroomed houses and 10 two bedroomed houses and associated external works at the laundry premises, Buckwell End/Short Lane, Wellingborough for East Midlands Housing Association Limited.


The Head of Built Environment recommended that planning permission be

granted subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, or a Unilateral Undertaking in respect of financial contributions for highways, health provision, education, fire and rescue, libraries and community facilities, including all matters set out in the Wellingborough Planning Contributions Guide, and the conditions set out in the report.

The Site Viewing Group had visited the site on 16/11/2010, and a record of the


Requests to address the meeting had been received from an objector, Councillor P Bell (resident of Rock Street) and the applicant’s contracting consultant. The objector did not attend the meeting and prior to the meeting Councillor P Bell indicated he no longer wished to address the meeting as his concerns had been resolved. The Chairman allowed the applicant’s contracting consultant to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After the speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification.

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Having heard the views of the speaker and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that the issue of planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, or a Unilateral Undertaking in respect of financial contributions for highways, health provision, education, fire and rescue, libraries and community facilities, including all matters set out in the Wellingborough Planning Contributions Guide, and the conditions set out in the report.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the issue of planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to: (i) the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town

and Country Planning Act, 1990, or a Unilateral Undertaking in respect of financial contributions for highways, health provision, education, fire and rescue, libraries and community facilities, including all matters set out in the Wellingborough Planning Contributions Guide;

(ii) the following conditions:

1. This permission is personal to East Midlands Housing for the development of the site for residential purposes comprising 23 units. In the event of the site being transferred to another developer other than a Registered Social Landlord, the successors in title shall be obliged and required to dedicate a proportion of the total number of units to social housing in perpetuity, in accordance with Policy H8 of the Wellingborough Local Plan (or any other relevant policy at the time of transfer). In the event of transfer to private ownership, details of the number of affordable/social units and dwelling mix shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the local planning authority prior to the commencement of the development and the requisite units shall be managed by a Registered Social Landlord to be approved by the local planning authority. Following this, the development shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

2. The development shall be begun no later than 3 years beginning with the date of this permission.

3. Notwithstanding any materials specified in the application form and/or the drawings, particulars and samples of the materials to be used on all external surfaces of the buildings, including fenestration, windows and doors, eaves/verges and their surrounds, door canopies shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority before the commencement of the development. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

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4. Details of those parts of the site not covered by buildings including any parking, roads, footpath, hard and soft landscaping, surface and boundary treatments (including front curtilage walling/fencing) shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority before the commencement of the development. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

5. The proposed tree planting/landscape scheme shall be implemented during the next planting season after the completion of the building operations on site or within any such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the local planning authority. Such planting shall be maintained, including the replacement of dead, dying or defective trees, shrubs or ground cover plants for a period of 5 years.

6. A Landscape Management Plan including long term design objectives, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules of all landscaped areas, other than small, privately owned domestic gardens, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority prior to the occupation of the development. The Management Plan shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

7. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any other Order revoking or re-enacting the Order), no buildings, extensions or alterations permitted by Classes A, B, C, D and E of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Order shall be carried out to the 19 dwelling houses hereby approved without the prior written consent of the local planning authority.

8. The car parking spaces shown on the approved drawings shall be laid out and provided before the occupation of the dwellings and shall thereafter be kept free from obstruction and shall be retained for parking purposes for the occupiers of the development and their visitors.

9. Nominal vehicle to vehicle visibility of 2.4m x the extremities of the site must be provided and maintained in both directions at the junction between the access road and Short Lane. These standards shall be maintained in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

10. Pedestrian to vehicle visibility of 2.4m x 2.4m above a height of 0.6m must be provided and maintained on both sides of all individual points of vehicle access. These standards shall be maintained in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

11. A footway 1.8m wide must be provided over the whole frontage of the site to Short Lane and particular care must be taken to ensure that this is achieved at Plot 15. These standards shall be maintained in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

12. Vehicle to vehicle visibility of 2.4m x 43m must be provided and maintained between Short Lane and Westfield Road in the direction of Broad Green. To enable this to be achieved it is considered appropriate for the footway on the Westfield Road

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frontage of the site to be increased in width to no less than 2m. These standards shall be maintained in perpetuity unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

13. If, during development, contamination not previously identified is found to be present at the site then no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the local planning authority) shall be carried out until the developer has submitted, and obtained written approval from the local planning authority for, an amendment to the remediation strategy detailing how this unsuspected contamination shall be dealt with.

14. No infiltration of surface water drainage into the ground is permitted other than with the express written consent of the local planning authority, which may be given for those parts of the site where it has been demonstrated that there is no resultant unacceptable risk to controlled waters.

15. Piling or any other foundation designs using penetrative methods shall not be permitted other than with the express written consent of the local planning authority, which may be given for those parts of the site where it has been demonstrated that there is no resultant unacceptable risk to groundwater.

16. No building works which comprise the erection of a building required to be served by water services shall commence until details of a scheme, including phasing and future management and maintenance arrangements, for the provision of mains foul water drainage has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The works shall be implemented prior to the occupation of any buildings within the relevant phase(s) of the development.

17. Prior to the commencement of development approved by this planning permission (or such other date or stage in development as may be agreed in writing with the local planning authority), the following components of a scheme to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site shall each be submitted to and approved, in writing, by the local planning authority: 1) A preliminary risk assessment which has identified: • all previous uses; • potential contaminants associated with those uses; • a conceptual model of the site indicating sources, pathways and receptors; • potentially unacceptable risks arising from contamination at the site. 2) A site investigation scheme, based on (1) to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site. 3) The site investigation results and the detailed risk assessment (2) and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy giving full details of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken. 4) A verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in (3) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action.

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Any changes to these components require the express consent of the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

18. Prior to the commencement of development, a scheme detailing the security standards to be incorporated within all openings associated with the development shall have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority in consultation with the Police CPDA and in line with the recommendations of ‘Secured By Design’. The developers will need to provide proof prior to occupation of the development that these measures have been implemented.

19. Prior to the commencement of the development full details of the lux plan and lighting strategy shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority and the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

20. No development shall take place until the applicant/developer or any successors in title has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological works in accordance with a written scheme for investigation, which has been submitted by the applicant/developer or any successors in title in writing and approved by the local planning authority in accordance with the detailed scheme approved pursuant to this condition. The archaeological works shall be carried out by a suitably qualified investigating body acceptable to the local planning authority.

Reasons: 1. To ensure that affordable housing is provided in perpetuity in

accordance with the development plan objectives and government guidance.

2. Required to be imposed pursuant to Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

3. To ensure a satisfactory appearance for the development in the interest of visual amenity.

4. To ensure that the site is satisfactorily landscaped and in order to maintain and enhance the visual amenity of the area.

5. To ensure that the site is satisfactorily landscaped and in order to maintain and enhance the visual amenity of the area.

6. In order to maintain and enhance the landscape quality and visual amenity of the area.

7. To afford the local planning authority the opportunity to control future developments on the site, having regard to the nature of the site and in the interests of safeguarding the amenities of neighbouring occupiers.

8. To ensure adequate off-street parking provision and in order to prevent additional parking in surrounding streets which, could be detrimental to amenity and prejudicial to safety.

9. In the interest of highway and pedestrian safety. 10. In the interest of highway and pedestrian safety. 11. In the interest of highway and pedestrian safety. 12. In the interest of highway and pedestrian safety.

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13. To ensure that any unforeseen contamination identified during development is appropriately dealt with and that any risks to controlled waters are addressed.

14. To ensure that infiltration systems such as soakaways do not increase the potential for contaminant migration. Soakaways should not be located in areas of potential contamination.

15. The design of piling or any other foundation designs should not create a preferential pathway to allow the potential migration of contamination (if present) to impact groundwater below the site.

16. To prevent flooding, pollution and detriment to public amenity and biodiversity through provision of suitable water infrastructure, irrespective of the provisions of Sections 94, 98 and 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

17. To protect the water environment. 18. In the interest of the security and quality of life of future

occupants of the development in accordance with Policy 13 of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy.

19. In the interest of the security and quality of life of future occupants of the development in accordance with Policy 13 of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy.

20. Important archaeological remains may exist on the site. Accordingly, the local planning authority wishes to secure the provision of archaeological investigation and subsequent recording of the remains prior to the development, in accordance with the guidance set out in Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment.

9. CONSERVATION AREA APPLICATION WP/2010/0402(CA) – LAUNDRY

PREMISES, BUCKWELL END/SHORT LANE, WELLINGBOROUGH The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on conservation area application WP/2010/0402(CA), for the demolition of the existing defunct Sunlight Laundry buildings at Buckwell End/Short Lane, Wellingborough for East Midlands Housing Association Limited.


The Head of Built Environment recommended that conservation area consent

be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that

conservation area consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously. RESOLVED that conservation area consent be granted subject to the following conditions: 1. Demolition shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this

consent

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2. Demolition shall not be carried out until a contract for the works in respect of the full permission (WP/2010/0401/FM) has been entered into.

3. Operations that involve the destruction and removal of buildings (or part of a building) shall not be undertaken during the bird breeding season which extends from March to August inclusive, except when approved in writing by the local planning authority. If breeding birds are discovered during demolition, the relevant work should be halted immediately and Natural England or suitably qualified ecological consultant notified and further advice sought.

Reasons: 1. To comply with the requirements of Section 18 of the Planning (Listed

Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. 2. In pursuance of Section 17 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and

Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and in order to prevent the premature demolition of the buildings which would have a detrimental impact on the appearance of the Conservation Area.

3. In the interest of safeguarding protected species and their habitats. (Note: Councillor P Bell rejoined the meeting prior to the consideration of the next application.)

10. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0019(FM) – FORMER A J SECTIONAL PREMISES BETWEEN 11 AND 11A THRAPSTON ROAD, FINEDON

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received, including late correspondence from the applicant’s architect and Natural England, on planning application WP/2010/0019(FM), for the demolition of an existing industrial unit and erection of 40 new dwellings at the former A J Sectional premises between 11 and 11a Thrapston Road, Finedon for Roxley Estates.

The report set out details of the proposal, a description of the site, the planning

history, relevant planning policies, outcome of consultations and an assessment of the proposal.


granted subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, affordable housing and bin provision and the conditions set out in the report.

A request to address the meeting had been received from applicant’s agent and architect. The Chairman allowed the person to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After the speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification. Having heard the views of the speaker and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application.

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It was moved by Councillor Ward and seconded by Councillor Griffiths that the issue of planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, affordable housing and bin provision and the conditions set out in the report.


RESOLVED that the issue of planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to: (i) the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town

and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, affordable housing and bin provision;


1. The development shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission.

2. Prior to the commencement of development approved by this planning permission (or such other date or stage in development as may be agreed in writing with the local planning authority), the following components of a scheme to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site shall each be submitted to, and approved in writing, by the local planning authority: 1) A site investigation scheme, based on the Desk Study submitted, to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site. 2) The site investigation results and the detailed risk assessment (1) and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy giving full details of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken. 3) A verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in (2) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action. Any changes to these components require the express consent of the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.

3. No infiltration of surface water drainage into the ground is permitted other than with the express written consent of the local planning authority, which may be given for those parts of the site where it has been demonstrated that there is no resultant unacceptable risk to controlled waters. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approval details.

4. No building works which comprise the erection of a building required to be served by water services shall commence until details of a scheme, including phasing, for the provision of mains foul water drainage has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The works shall be implemented prior to the occupation of any buildings within the relevant phase(s) of the development.

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5. The site shall be landscaped and planted with trees and shrubs in accordance with a comprehensive scheme which shall be submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority before the development is commenced. The scheme shall be implemented concurrently with the development and shall be completed not later than the first planting season following the substantial completion of the development. Any trees and shrubs removed, dying, being severely damaged or becoming seriously diseased within five years of planting shall be replaced by trees and shrubs of similar size and species to those originally required to be planted or other species as may be agreed.

6. A scheme for screen fencing/walling shall be agreed with the local planning authority before the start of construction. The agreed scheme shall be implemented to the satisfaction of the local planning authority before the houses are occupied.

7. Representative samples of all external facing and roofing materials shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority before the development is commenced.

8. Development shall not begin until a scheme to deal with contamination of the site has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The scheme shall include an investigation and assessment to identify the extent of contamination and the measures to be taken to avoid risk to the public/buildings/environment when the site is developed.

9. This permission relates to amended plans received on 5 October 2010.

Reasons:

1. Required to be imposed pursuant to Section 51 of the Planning

and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. 2. To prevent risk of pollution of controlled waters. 3. To prevent risk of pollution of controlled waters, through

mobilisation of sub-surface contamination. No soakaways shall be constructed in contaminated land.

4. To prevent flooding, pollution and detriment to public amenity and biodiversity through provision of suitable water infrastructure, irrespective of the provisions of Sections 94, 98 and 106 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

5. In the interests of visual amenity. 6. In the interests of amenity and privacy. 7. In the interests of amenity. 8. To avoid any detrimental effects from contamination. 9. For the avoidance of doubt.

11. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0067(FM) – THE ROYAL, 27 KNOX ROAD, WELLINGBOROUGH (Minute 6 – 11/8/2010) The annexed 2 circulated reports of the Head of Built Environment were received on planning application WP/2010/0067(FM), for the demolition of the existing Public House and erection of a block of 12 flats plus car parking at 27 Knox Road, Wellingborough for S M Developments.

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The application had been considered at the meeting on 11/8/2010, when it was resolved that further consideration of the application be deferred to enable the officers to negotiate with the applicant on a reduction in the size of the development and an increase in the provision of car parking.

The Head of Built Environment advised the meeting that the applicant has now submitted an appeal to the Secretary of State on grounds of non determination of the application within the statutory period. The appeal would be dealt with by the written representation process. A resolution was therefore required from the Committee to enable officers to submit the Council’s case.

It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Waters that

the Secretary of State be advised that this Council would have refused planning permission on the grounds that the proposal represented an overdevelopment of the site; would have a detrimental impact on highway parking; and detrimental to residential amenity.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried by 7 votes to 0 votes. RESOLVED that the Secretary of State be advised that this Council would

have refused planning permission on the grounds that the proposal represented an overdevelopment of the site; would have a detrimental impact on highway parking; and detrimental to residential amenity.

12. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0369(O) – THREE FIELDS FARM, 48

HARROLD ROAD, BOZEAT

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on outline planning application WP/2010/0369(O), for the erection of an agricultural dwelling, with access arrangement to be determined at this stage and other matters reserved, at Three Fields Farm, 48 Harrold Road, Bozeat for Mr K Badrick.



The Head of Built Environment recommended that outline planning permission

be granted subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, that would tie the occupiers of the existing dwelling on the site to being a person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry, or a widow or widower of such a person, and to any resident dependants and the conditions set out in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Waters and seconded by Councillor Morrall that the

issue of outline planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, that would tie the occupiers of the existing dwelling on the site to being a person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry, or a widow or widower of such a

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person, and to any resident dependants and the conditions set out in the report.


RESOLVED that the issue of outline planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to: (i) the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town

and Country Planning Act, 1990, that would tie the occupiers of the existing dwelling on the site to being a person solely or mainly working, or last working, in the locality in agriculture or in forestry, or a widow or widower of such a person, and to any resident dependants;


1. Application for approval of reserved matters must be made not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission and the development must be begun not later than whichever is the later of the following dates: (a) the expiration of three years from the date of this permission; or (b) the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters or, in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

2. Before any development is commenced, detailed plans, drawings and particulars of the layout, scale, external appearance and the means of foul sewage disposal, together with landscaping and screen walls/fences shall be submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority and the development shall be carried out in accordance therewith.

3. The first 5m of the driveway in the rear of the public highway shall be hard surfaced.

4. Before development commences, details of any gateway intended to be erected at the point of access to the site shall be submitted to the local planning authority and approved in writing. The development shall be carried out in accord with the approved details.

5. Before the development is first occupied, a vehicle to vehicle visibility splay of 2.4m x 215m and a pedestrian to vehicle visibility splay of 2m x 2m above a height of 0.6m must be provided and maintained on both sides of the point of access.

Reasons:

1. Required to be imposed pursuant to Section 92 of the Town and

Country Planning Act 1990. 2. To secure satisfactorily planned development. 3. To prevent loose material being carried onto the public highway

in the interests of highway safety. 4. In the interests of highway safety. 5. In the interests of highway safety.

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13. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0393(F) – 23 HIGH STREET, GREAT DODDINGTON

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received

on planning application WP/2010/0393(F), for extensions, new vehicular access, garage and associated works at 23 High Street, Great Doddington for Mr P Cunningham.




granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. In respect of condition 2, the Design and Conservation Officer recommended that it be substituted by the normal condition relating to materials.

A request to address the meeting had been received from the applicant. The Chairman allowed the person to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After the speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification. Having heard the views of the speaker and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Patel that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, including the amended condition 2.



years beginning with the date of this permission. 2. Representative samples of all external facing and roofing materials shall

be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority before the development is commenced.

3. The driveway shall be constructed in such a way to enable vehicles to access and egress the site in a forward gear, the first 5m from the highway frontage shall be hard-paved. The vehicular crossing must be constructed and all highway surfaces, where affected by the proposals, reinstated to the specification of Northamptonshire County Council to a suitable licence.

4. Vehicle to vehicle visibility of 2m x 43m and pedestrian to vehicle visibility of 2m x 2m above a height of 0.6m must be provided and maintained on both sides of the point of access. Due to the width of the footway over the frontage of the site it may be necessary to adjust the position of the boundary wall to achieve these requirements.

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Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. 2. In the interests of amenity. 3. In the interest of the safety and convenience of the highway. 4. In the interest of the safety and convenience of the highway.

14. CONSERVATION AREA APPLICATION WP/2010/0394(CA) – 23 HIGH STREET, GREAT DODDINGTON

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received

on conservation area application WP/2010/0394(CA), for part demolition of front boundary wall at 23 High Street, Great Doddington for Mr P Cunningham.



The Head of Built Environment recommended that conservation area consent

be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report. It was moved by Councillor Griffiths and seconded by Councillor Patel that

conservation area consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.


RESOLVED that conservation area consent be granted subject to the following conditions: 1. The works to which this consent relates must be begun not later than

the expiration of five years from the date of this consent. 2. Full details of the reveals and capping finish of the walling shall be

submitted for the written consent of the local planning authority. Reasons: 1. In order to comply with Section 74 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and

Conservation Areas) Act 1990. 2. To protect the character of the conservation area.

15. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0397(OM) – 66/74 LEA WAY,

WELLINGBOROUGH The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received

on outline planning application WP/2010/0397(OM), for change of use of site to residential at 66/74 Lea Way, Wellingborough for Mr A Nafri.



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The Head of Built Environment recommended that outline planning permission be granted subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, sports and recreation and affordable housing and the conditions set out in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Morrall and seconded by Councillor P Bell that the

issue of outline planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, sports and recreation and affordable housing and the conditions set out in the report.


RESOLVED that the issue of outline planning permission be delegated to the Proper Officer subject to: (i) the prior signing of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town

and Country Planning Act, 1990, relating to open space, sports and recreation and affordable housing;


1. Application for approval of reserved matters must be made not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission and the development must be begun not later than whichever is the later of the following dates: (a) the expiration of three years from the date of this permission; or (b) the expiration of two years from the final approval of the reserved matters or, in the case of approval on different dates, the final approval of the last such matter to be approved.

2. Before any development is commenced, detailed plans, drawings and particulars of the layout, scale, external appearance and the means of access thereto, together with landscaping and screen walls/fences shall be submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority and the development shall be carried out in accordance therewith.

3. Development shall not begin until a scheme to deal with contamination of the site has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the local planning authority. The scheme shall include an investigation and assessment to identify the extent of contamination and the measures to be taken to avoid risk to the public/buildings/environment when the site is developed.

Reasons: 1. Required to be imposed pursuant to Section 92 of the Town and

Country Planning Act 1990. 2. To secure satisfactorily planned development. 3. To avoid any detrimental effects from contamination.

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16. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0399(F) – 48 PARK ROAD, WELLINGBOROUGH

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received,

including late correspondence from the applicants, on planning application WP/2010/0399(F), for the conversion of existing workshop into two residential dwellings and front two storey extension at 48 Park Road, Wellingborough for Mr J Patel and Mr R Thanki.




refused for the reasons set out in the report. It was moved by Councillor Waters and seconded by Councillor P Bell that

planning permission be refused for the reasons set out in the report. On being put to the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that planning permission be refused for the following reasons: 1. The proposed development is contrary to Policies 13 (h), (i) and (o) of

the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy and Policy 12 (v) of the Wellingborough Town Centre Area Action Plan. The proposed development by way of the bulk, size of footprint and inappropriately designed two storey front extension would have a detrimental effect on the appearance of the street scene and the setting of the Wellingborough Town Centre Conservation Area.

2. The proposed development would have an overly detrimental effect on the standard of privacy that is currently enjoyed by the occupiers of no. 3 Upper Havelock Street and the proposal is contrary to Policy 13 (l) of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy.

3. The proposal is contrary to Policy 13 (a) of the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy because the illustrated amenity spaces are inadequate to allow for comfortable residential occupation.

17. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0403(F) – 12 EARLS BARTON ROAD,

MEARS ASHBY

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0403(F), for an amendment to an approved dwelling under construction (WP/2010/0138(F), minute 7 – 12/5/2010) in respect of proposed roof lights, solar panels, extension to garage and rainwater harvester at 12 Earls Barton Road, Mears Ashby for Mrs R Watkins.




granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

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Requests to address the meeting had been received from Councillor Bass (Ward Councillor and speaking on behalf of Mears Ashby Parish Council and the owner of no. 14 Earls Barton Road) and the applicant’s architect. The Chairman allowed Councillor Bass to speak for a maximum of 5 minutes and the applicant’s architect to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes. After each speaker the Committee was given the opportunity to ask questions of clarification. Having heard the views of the speakers and taking account of the officer’s report, the Chairman invited the Committee to determine the application.

It was moved by Councillor Waters that planning permission be granted. The motion did not find a seconder. It was moved by Councillor P Bell and seconded by Councillor Ward that

planning permission be granted for the roof lights, solar panels and rainwater harvester only and a condition be included omitting the proposed extension to the garage, which should be the subject of a separate planning application.



years beginning with the date of this permission. 2. The planning application hereby consented includes the approval of the

rooflights, solar panels and the rainwater harvester but does not include the garage extension as shown on drawing number 2372/4.


Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. 2. In the interests of a neighbours amenity.

18. PLANNING APPLICATION WP/2010/0411(O) – LAND TO THE REAR OF 129 LONDON ROAD, BOZEAT

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received,

including late correspondence from the Council’s Environmental Protection Manager, on outline planning application WP/2010/0411(O), for one dwelling house with primary access off Little Close and all other matters reserved on land to the rear of 129 London Road, Bozeat for Mrs V Askew.



The Head of Built Environment recommended that outline planning permission

be refused for the reasons set out in the report.

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It was moved by Councillor Morrall and seconded by Councillor Dean that outline planning permission be refused for the reasons set out in the report.


RESOLVED that outline planning permission be refused for the following reasons: 1. The proposed development is contrary to Policy 13 (h) of the North

Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy and Policy G4 (2) of the Borough of Wellingborough Local Plan because a dwelling house in the proposed location would have a detrimental impact on the character of the street scene by reducing the open spacious appearance of the application site.

2. The proposed development would result in an unacceptable loss of garden amenity space and would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area and is, therefore, inconsistent with the provisions in PPS 3.

19. COUNTY COUNCIL APPLICATIONS 1. WP/2010/0443(C)

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0443(C), for the replacement of extant planning permission 07/00050/MIN, (WP/2007/0625(C)), to extend the time limit for implementation by two years at Earls Barton Spinney Quarry application for a sand and gravel quarry with restoration of flood plain habitats and agriculture at Earls Barton Quarry, Grendon Road, Earls Barton for Breedon Aggregates.

The report set out details of the proposal, a description of the site, the planning history, relevant planning policies and an assessment of the proposal.

The Head of Built Environment recommended that no objection be raised to a time extension provided that all other conditions were rigorously monitored. RESOLVED that no objection be raised to a time extension provided that all other conditions were rigorously monitored. 2. WP/2010/0020(C) The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0020(C) for the creation of an undulating area on existing shooting ground through the importation of inert material and the temporary siting of a mobile crusher and screen to separate soils and recycled secondary aggregates to use in the construction of the mounding and already permitted go-kart track at Sywell Range Gun Club, 300 Kettering Road, Sywell for Mr B Muttock. RESOLVED to note that the County Council had granted planning permission on 21/4/2010 subject to the conditions set out in the report.

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20. APPLICATION OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH 1. WP/2010/0467(OB)

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on planning application WP/2010/0467(OB), for the erection of a 11,070 sq m (gross external area) superstore, associated parking and servicing areas, petrol filling station, car wash facilities and infrastructure works including new and realigned road and new landscaping on land at St James Road, St James Industrial Estate, Corby for Greatline Developments Limited. The Head of Built Environment recommended that no objection be raised to the application. RESOLVED that no objection be raised to the application.

21. APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION, LISTED BUILDING

CONSENT AND BUILDING REGULATIONS APPROVAL RESOLVED that the decisions on applications for planning permission, listed building consent and building regulation approval determined by the Head of Built Environment in accordance with delegated powers and set out in the report of the Head of Built Environment, (Minute 4), be noted. The meeting concluded at 8.50pm.

Chairman

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COUNCIL MEETING – 14TH DECEMBER 2010

REPORT OF THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE

22nd November 2010

Present: Councillor Waters (Chairman), Councillor Patel (Vice-Chairman), Councillors, Ainge, Atkinson, R Bell, Blackwell, Dean, Graves, Perkins, P Raymond and Shram. Also present: Councillor Morrall, Mr J Hubbard – Chief Executive, Mr J Wilson – Corporate Director - Development, Mr T Wright – Corporate Director, Mr J Casserly – Head of Environmental Services, Mrs C Stephenson – Head of Neighbourhood Development, Mr C Culing – Housing Renewal Manager, Ms L Flores – Cultural Development Manager, Ms S Horton – Community Safety Officer, Mrs P Whitworth – Communications Officer, Ms A Wilcox Health Protection Manager, Ms G Arnott – Executive Director, The Castle, Ms R Dowman – Youth Development Officer, Groundwork Youth Programme and Mrs L Willis – Committee Administrator. 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Higgins.


RESOLVED to note that in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, the Code of Local Government Conduct and the Council’s Constitution, the under-mentioned Councillor declared an interest in the following item:

Councillor Minute

No Subject Reason

Atkinson 6 Redwell and Waendel Leisure Centres – Performance Indicators

Personal - Member of Waendel Leisure Centre

Blackwell 4 Earls Barton Sports Facility Project Update

Personal – Member of Earls Barton Parish Council, President of Earls Barton Cricket Club and Life Members of Earls Barton Football Club

Graves 4 Earls Barton Sports Facility Project Update

Personal – Employer has use of a garage at The Grange for storage purposes

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Report of the Community Committee – 22nd November 2010

3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11/10/2010 be confirmed

and signed. 4. EARLS BARTON SPORTS FACILITY PROJECT UPDATE Mr P Verden, Chairman of Earls Barton Parish Council, Ms A Cleaver,

Secretary of Earls Barton United Football Club and Mr R Mair, Chairman of Earls Barton Cricket Club each spoke to the Committee in support of the proposed action as set out 4.1 and 4.2 of the annexed report.

The Ward Councillors for Earls Barton further supported the proposed action

and urged the Committee to support the resolution. Thanks was expressed to Senior Officers involved with project for the great progress made so far and it was hoped that the project could now come to conclusion and move forward.

The annexed circulated report of the Corporate Director of Development was

received to update Members on the proposal for a sports facility in Earls Barton and to establish whether the Council was willing to reaffirm the principal of using Compulsory Purchase Powers as a mechanism to achieve land purchase and to progress the project if a final negotiated settlement could not be achieved.

The investigation and pursuit of delivering better sports facilities for Earls Barton had been a long standing ambition for the Parish Council. A detailed evidence base of the need for sports facilities within Earls Barton was established through a needs assessment undertaken by Strategic Leisure Ltd which fed into the business case which was commissioned by the Parish Council. The Borough Council carried out its own sports and leisure assessment for the Borough through Nortoft Ltd as evidence for the Site Specific Proposals Development Plan Document (SSPDPD) which reached similar conclusions. In January 2010 planning application WP/2009/0393 was consented by the Council for a change of use on 13.4 ha of land at, and adjacent to, the existing playing field at The Grange. Part of this location had already been leased by sports associations within the village to provide some sports pitch provision. The lease of 1.85 ha held by the Earls Barton Sports Association would come to an end in 2016 and the consent recently given would provide the level of sports pitch facilities identified in the Parish Council’s business case. The Site Specific Proposals preferred options would go out for consultation during October and November and would reflect the Parish Council’s ambition to bring forward a sports development scheme at this location. Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was the consented site area as set out in the SSPDPD preferred options. The three landowners, to which land the recent change of use planning consent was granted; Community Trade Union (the present owners of The

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Grange), the Peterborough Diocese and a further private landowner, were consulted and their agents had presented alternative development proposals to the Council. These would effectively prevent the sports projects progressing in their current form and development proposals on this scale would not be in accordance with the emerging SSPDPD. These landowners had so far been unwilling to consider the sale of the land for the purposes of sports provision on the scale proposed although there had been a willingness to consider some allocation provided that the majority of their land was aligned to other development uses. This level of development would be contrary to the current SSPDPD preferred options. It would also not make it possible to deliver the required level of sports facilities identified in the sports needs assessments. Although a formal offer to purchase the site had not yet been made, all of the landowners continued to assert that they would not be willing to sell by agreement and would resist any attempt at compulsory acquisition. Due to the perceived aspirations of the landowners by the Parish Council it was now its view that the use of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers would be the preferred recourse which would secure the land to enable the project to proceed.

In order to further progress this scheme it would be necessary for the Council

to reaffirm the use of its CPO power if the acquisition of the land could not be secured through a final attempt at negotiation and private sale.

R1 RECOMMENDED that:

i) the Council resolves to reaffirm the principle of using its Compulsory Purchase Powers to acquire interests in property, highlighted in orange, on the plan within Appendix 1, required in connection with the sports facilities in Earls Barton;

ii) the resolution set out in i) above was subject to the proviso that the land could not first be purchased within a reasonable timescale through a further attempt at a negotiated private settlement and that any financial implications impacting on the Borough Council be subject to the normal budgetary processes as controlled by the Resources Committee.

5. GROUNDWORK QUARTERLY UPDATE REPORT

Ms R Dowman, the Youth Development Officer for the Groundwork Youth Programme, was present to provide the Committee with a presentation on:

• works carried out by Groundwork North Northants with young people in Finedon and Irchester

• successes so far • specific work and projects that had been undertaken • measures to build further relationships with young people

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The annexed circulated report of the Head of Neighbourhood Development was received to provide Members with a quarterly update of the work carried out with young people In Irchester and Finedon by Goundwork North Northants.

Groundwork North Northants was commission by the Neighbourhood Development Service to work with the young people in Irchester and Finedon. Since the last report youth workers had continued working regularly in both areas building positive relationships between themselves and young people. Earls Barton Parish Council did not currently benefit from the Groundwork programmes, however meetings between the Parish Council and Groundwork were being arranged to see if work could be developed that would enable the Parish Council to bid for youth programme funding. RESOLVED to note the progress of the pilot scheme of Groundwork North Northants working with young people in the rural areas of Finedon and Irchester.

6. REDWELL AND WAENDEL LEISURE CENTRES – PERFORMANCE

INDICATORS The annexed circulated report of the Head of Neighbourhood Development was received on the performance statistics for the Redwell and Waendel Leisure Centres for the second quarter of the 2010/11 financial year.

The report detailed performance indicators for visits to both leisure centres, outlined some of the initiatives and projects that had taken place over that period. It also set out future plans by DC Leisure to encourage further use of the various facilities and to develop the programme of activities.

Appended to the report were the attendances at both Redwell and Waendel Leisure Centres in graphical format.

Actual visits to the Redwell Centre for the first 6 months stood at 38,702, compared with a target figure of 40,751 and last year’s actual of 40,347. The actual figures to date therefore showed a deficit of approximately 5% against target. It was only in the last quarter that figures had dropped below target.

A flooding incident, caused by the very heavy rainfall on 23 August, caused extensive damage to the facility and resulted in a 7 day closure. This had inevitably affected the attendances for the quarter. Actual attendance at the Waendel Leisure Centre for the first 6 months of 2010/11 stood at 163,751 compared to the target figure of 169,026 which was just under 3.5% below target. This compared to actual figures of 167,353 for the same period in 2009/10.

The free swimming programme had ceased from 30 July, with the withdrawal of DCMS funding, this had impacted on numbers of general swims at the

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Centre. During July to September 2009, a total of 33,228 general swim sessions were taken up (excluding School, Clubs and Lessons use). From July to September this year there were 27,640 sessions – a reduction of 5,588. Had levels in 2010 been similar to 2009, the target set would have been reached.

From September to the end of December, DC introduced a pilot free swimming programme for under 8’s. Although still in the early days, it would appear numbers had started to pick up again. A review of this scheme would be included in the forthcoming report for the third quarter. Members requested that a visit to both of the centres be arranged with a list of the outstanding issues that were still to be resolved so that they could see first hand the facilities available and progress that had been made to date. RESOLVED: i) to note the report; ii) to continue to receive future reports on a quarterly basis; iii) a visit to both centres be arranged for Committee Members.

7. THE CASTLE – PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Neighbourhood Development was received on the performance statistics for The Castle for the period 01/07/2010 to 30/09/2010. Ms G Arnott, Executive Director of The Castle, attended the meeting to respond to Members questions regarding the report. The report detailed initiatives and projects that had taken place over the period. It also outlined future plans by The Castle to encourage further use of the various facilities and to develop the programme of activities. Current performance indicators included targets for performances, income, capacity, and participation, and a description of each was given under the respective headings within the annexed report. In summary the summer months had been productive, particularly with the work focussed on young people. The autumn season included programming of some very strong work. Sales for the Christmas show appeared to be affected by competitors with professional performances in Kettering and Corby so a strong marketing effort to this effect was being undertaken. RESOLVED that: i) the report be noted; ii) reports continue on a quarterly basis.

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8. FOOD HEALTH AND SAFETY ENFORCEMENT UPDATE

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Environmental Services was received to provide Members with a progress report of the work of the Health Protection Section for the period 01/04/2010 – 30/09/2010. Ms A Wilcox, Health Protection Manager attended the meeting to respond to Members questions regarding the report. The report gave a general update of food safety and health and safety enforcement activities for the period. There had been an increase in the number of unregistered tattoo operations, predominantly in domestic premises. These represented a high risk of blood borne infections as operators had not usually received infection control training. There were also cases of minors being tattooed in these operations. Identifying these premises proved difficult but efforts to continually investigate all complaints received were made. Allegations concerning the tattooing of minors were undertaken jointly with the police. In connection with the police, projects would be undertaken early next year in schools to educate young people on the dangers connected with unregistered tattooists. A project in relation to health and safety within nail bars in the Borough was currently ongoing. Members requested that the next report gave detailed information on food safety enforcement activities and the food premises relating to them.

RESOLVED:

i) to note the report; ii) to continue to receive future reports on a six monthly basis; iii) that the next report includes detailed information on food safety

enforcement activities and the food premises relating to them. 9. SNOW PLAN

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Environmental Services was received on the progress and status of the Council’s Snow Plan. The severe winter of 2009/10 highlighted the need for a co-ordinated strategy that would enable the Council to be fully prepared for any future event of severe weather. Attached at Appendix One to the report was a Snow Plan which provided the following information:

• The various responsibilities of different agencies involved • When the plan would be implemented • The areas of BCW responsibility

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• Weather reporting/decision making • Source of salt/grit • Preparation for ‘out of hours’ provision of service • Budget

Northamptonshire County Council, as the Highway Authority, had responsibility for winter maintenance of Northamptonshire’s highways which included all roads and footpaths within the Borough. This also included the provision and maintenance of grit bins.

The Borough Council of Wellingborough had responsibility for winter maintenance on all footpaths, car parks etc that were within its ownership and were not classified as public highway. The table at 3.1 within the Appendix showed Council owned land and the areas that would be cleared by BCW in priority order. Further to this Members had been invited to highlight any areas within their wards that they considered to be a priority. This list was demonstrated at Appendix Three to the annexed report. Members held a discussion on the Snow Plan and raised the following concerns:

• Confusion over what areas were Council owned land • Unclear as to which areas were covered and which were not • Not all Members had been given the opportunity to put forward priority

areas for their Ward

In response to Members concerns, The Head of Environmental Services assured the Committee that the Snow Plan was an ongoing coordinated approach and that the lists within it were not definitive and could be altered following further input, investigation and consultation.

Councillor Shram moved an amendment that in respect of the proposed action the words “ward councillors and” be inserted after the word “with….” at 4.2. This was seconded by Councillor P Raymond and on being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

RESOLVED:

i) to note the contents of the report and to adopt the Snow Plan; ii) to note the interim status of the Plan and that a further iteration would

be presented to Committee once further consultation and liaison was undertaken with Ward Councillors and the County Council.

10. EMPTY PROPERTY ACTIVITY

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on empty properties within the Borough and the difficulties associated with addressing the problem.

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The longest term empty properties had been reduced by over half. Use of Enforced Sale, Improvement Notices, Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) Demolition Orders and Compulsory Purchase had been explored to further reduce the number of empty dwellings. Service and financial pressure had however made progress in those areas limited. Options that had been implemented or explored as ways of dealing with empty properties included:

• Letters, followed up with advice and assistance • Offers of grant assistance • Section 215 orders

Section 215 orders offered potential for a way forward with x1 notice having already being served by the Planning Enforcement Officer. The main area of focus would now be to concentrate on properties that had been vacant for 6 months to 2 years; this could best and most efficiently be achieved by writing to landowners, encouraging them to bring their properties back into productive use. Housing Renewal would continue to work with other Council Departments to address the problems caused by empty properties and would provide advice and assistance to owners regarding the re-occupation of their properties

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

11. URGENT MATTER The Chairman decided that the following matter was urgent within the

meaning of Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 for the reason set out:

Minute No Subject Reason

13 Vacant Property To advise the Committee

12. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information of the descriptions shown in schedule 12A to the Act:

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Minute

No.

Items Paragraph of Schedule 12A

13 Vacant Property E1 and E2

13. VACANT PROPERTY

The Committee considered an exempt urgent matter in relation to a vacant property in Harrowden Road. A copy of a letter written by a member of the public requesting that the matter be brought to the attention of the Committee in relation to the property was circulated. It was noted that the Housing Renewal service would take action in a bid to bring the property back into use. RESOLVED to note the matter and the action proposed by the Housing Renewal service to bring the property back into use. . The meeting concluded at 8.40pm.

Chairman

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336

COUNCIL MEETING - 14th DECEMBER 2010

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

23rd November 2010. Present: Councillor G Lawman (Chairman), Councillor Warwick (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Dean, Harrington, Hollyman, L Lawman, Maguire, Pursglove, J Raymond, Saxby, Timms and Ward. Also present: Mr J Wilson, Corporate Director, Mr S Wood, Head of Built Environment, Mr M Haybyrne, Planning Policy Manager, Mrs N Dennis, Economic Development Manager, Mr J Somers, Senior Planning Policy Officer, Mr A Stevenson, Design and Conservation Officer, Mrs C Mundy, Democratic Services Officer. (Councillors Bass, P Bell, Griffiths, Morrall and Simmons attended as observers). 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

RESOLVED to note that an apology for absence was received from Councillor Harrington.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST RESOLVED to note that the following Councillors declared their interest in the

Agenda items specified in accordance with the Code of Conduct:-

Councillor Minute No.

Subject Reason

G Lawman 7 Draft Statement of Intent on Housing Targets for North Northamptonshire

Personal – with reference to Upper Redhill - is aware of an objector to the development.

G Lawman 8 Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) North Northamptonshire Local Investment Plan (LIP).

Personal – with reference to Upper Redhill - is aware of an objector to the development.

L Lawman 7 Draft Statement of Intent on Housing Targets for North Northamptonshire

Personal – in relation to Upper Redhill, knows an objector to the development.

L Lawman 8 Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) North Northamptonshire Local Investment Plan (LIP).

Personal – in relation to Upper Redhill, knows an objector to the development.

J Raymond 11 Town Centre Redevelopment – RAG Progress Report

Personal and prejudicial – wife owns business in the town centre.

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Report of the Development Committee – 23rd November 2010

Saxby 9 Sywell Aerodrome Limited Joint Consultative Committee

Personal and prejudicial – Mr Bletsoe-Brown is a personal friend.

A Warwick 7 Draft Statement of Intent on Housing Targets for North Northamptonshire

Personal and prejudicial – in relation to Upper Redhill lives at Redhill Grange.

A Warwick 8 Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) North Northamptonshire Local Investment Plan (LIP).

Personal and prejudicial – in relation to Upper Redhill - lives at Redhill Grange.

A Warwick 11 Town Centre Redevelpment – RAG Progress Report.

Personal and prejudicial – owns business premises in the High Street.

3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES. RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12/10/2010 be confirmed

and signed. 4. PRESENTATION BY THE CONSERVATION OFFICER ON CABE DESIGN

ADVICE. Mr A Stevenson, Conservation Officer gave a presentation to the Committee

on CABE design advice and answered questions from Members. He detailed the seven principles of good design being character; continuity and enclosure; quality of the public realm; ease of movement; legibility; adaptability and diversity.

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted. The Chairman thanked Mr

Stevenson for his presentation. 5. NORTH NORTHANTS DRAFT DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS SPD.

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on the public consultation and work that had been taking place by the North Northants Joint Planning Unit (NNJPU) in conjunction with member authorities to prepare the Development Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Mr J Somers, Senior Planning Policy Officer, informed the meeting that the purpose of the Development Contributions SPD was to provide clarity and greater certainty to land owners, developers, local authorities, stakeholders and the local community regarding the basis on which development contributions would be sought and used. The draft document was appended to the report and had been the subject of a six week public consultation. The report detailed the Council’s proposed response to the document in relation to paragraphs 4.19, 4.21, the Schedule of Standard, Charges 4.24 -4.28, 5.30 Allotments, all Wellingborough tables and 5.33.

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Members made the following points and asked Mr Somers to consider these points when responding: 4.19 Reference to the provision of equipment for adults and persons with limited mobility such as those found within fitness trails; 5.38 Waste Collection and recycling - Councillor L Lawman asked that the words ‘and boxes’ be removed; 5.30 Allotments - Councillor Pursglove asked that it be noted that allotments should be located as near to catchment areas as possible. Councillor Warwick concurred with this; 5.35 Cricket Pitches - Councillor Warwick asked that the need for improved cricket facilities for future generations be included. Councillor Maguire agreed with this and felt that provision should also be made for tennis courts, athletic tracks and other sporting facilities. In this regard Councillor Pursglove stressed that sporting facilities needed to be community based rather than in a centralised sporting village; The Chairman also asked that concern over the future electricity supply be highlighted as it was believed this needed enhancing. RESOLVED to submit comments on the draft Development Contributions SPD as detailed with the additional comments of the Committee.

6. AFFORDABLE HOUSING The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on the interim planning policy for affordable housing. Mr M Haybyrne, Planning Policy Manager presented the report and detailed the current policy with regard to the negotiations for the provision of affordable housing irrespective of whether or not the site was allocated in the Local Plan. Policy H8 of the Local Plan and Affordable Housing Supplementary Guidance (July 2004) provided a threshold at which a development would trigger the provision of affordable housing. On 12th October 2010 the Development committee resolved to undertake public consultation on the Site Specific Proposals Development Plan document – preferred options. This detailed the range of circumstances in which affordable housing would be required. A national indicative minimum threshold of 15 dwellings was stipulated, in PPS3 (Housing), Government policy enabled lower thresholds to be set where viable and practicable. The Council proposed to negotiate for the provision of affordable housing on sites of 15 or more dwellings in the urban area and 3 or more dwellings in the rural area, where opportunities for delivering affordable housing were more limited. Members voiced their concerns over these proposals with most feeling that stipulations on provision made for affordable housing was frequently ignored by developers. It was agreed that there was a need for affordable housing in the current climate and a number of good schemes had been developed.

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The proposal to negotiate for on site affordable housing provision on developments of 15 or more dwellings (or sites of 0.4ha or greater in size) on sites within the town of Wellingborough and on developments of 3 or more dwellings (or sites of 0.1ha or greater in size) in the rural area was put to the vote and declared lost with 2 votes in favour and 6 against. RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the proposal be declared lost and that no further action be taken to negotiate the current figures.

7. DRAFT STATEMENT OF INTENT ON HOUSING TARGETS FOR NORTH

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on the draft Statement of Intent on housing targets for North Northamptonshire. As part of the Core Spatial Strategy Review, the North Northamptonshire Planning Committee (JPC) proposed to identify housing requirements below the targets in the East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy. The draft Statement of Intent was appended to the report. Mrs S Suttle addressed the meeting in respect of item 6.1 Housing Targets and particularly in relation to development to the north of Wellingborough. Mr Haybyrne, Planning Policy Manager presented the report and informed the committee that it had been found that the Secretary of State had acted unlawfully in revoking the Regional Spatial Strategy, though it was intended that this be done. The report detailed the Government’s commitment to increasing the number of new homes and the need for this to be driven by local ambition rather than top-down targets. The Regional Spatial Strategy was intended to be revoked and a New Homes Bonus, which would match fund the Council tax on every new home for each of the subsequent six years would be introduced from April 2011 to provide an incentive to local authorities to build new homes. Local authorities wishing to review housing requirements had been advised to signal their intention to do so. In North Northamptonshire the Joint Planning Committee (JPS) had reviewed the Core Spatial Strategy for consultation in early 2011 for adoption towards the end of 2012. The review would provide the opportunity to reconsider the scale of housing to be provided. The review would take account of local aspirations and wider linkages dependent on levels of growth including, housing needs, economic development, town centre investment, infrastructure deliver and regeneration. Whilst North Northamptonshire was well placed to accept some growth, there was a strong case for housing requirements to be revised downwards on the basis that previous growth trajectories were undeliverable given conditions in the housing market and difficulties in achieving the associated job targets and infrastructure investment.

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Members raised concern that there was a pressing need for the creation of jobs and employment and that new homes should not be built without employment. There were a significant number of empty properties within the Borough which had been on the market for a long time and with buyers struggling to obtain Mortgages it was considered there was no need for additional housing. It was felt that the delivery period for the housing targets could be extended. Mr Haybyrne responded to some of the queries and concerns raised by members. Councillor L Lawman proposed that an amendment be made to 4.1 of the proposal within the report to add the words ‘set significantly’ to read as follows: ‘Support the proposal to identify, as part of the review of the Core Spatial Strategy, housing targets that are set significantly below those in the regional spatial strategy’.

On being put to the vote the amendment was carried. RESOLVED: (i) to support the proposal to identify, as part of the review of the Core

Spatial Strategy, housing targets that were set significantly below those in the Regional Spatial Strategy;

(ii) to support the proposal to stretch the delivery period for the housing targets in the adopted Core Spatial Strategy as an interim measure in order to indicate that, in the case of Wellingborough, it was unlikely that adopted targets could be met until after 2026 and

(iii) to request that the 5 year supply requirement be phased in order to reflect the prediction of a gradual recovery in the housing market during the period to 2021 as indicated in the report.

8. HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

LOCAL INVESTMENT PLAN. (Councillor Warwick had declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the room during discussion on this item). The annexed circulated report of the Corporate Director Development was received on the Homes and Communities Agency’s Local Investment Plan for North Northamptonshire. Further to a report submitted to the Development Committee in June 2010, the Corporate Director of Resources had attended a number of Board meetings involving key stakeholders including the Local Authorities and North Northamptonshire Development Company with the aim of completing the final plan by March 2011. The draft LIP was appended to the report. Mr Wilson presented the draft to the committee and informed them that this set out the investment required to

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deliver the agreed vision and economic purpose of North Northamptonshire. This would identify the needs to be addressed, based on robust evidence from local strategies, including the Sustainable Communities Strategy, Local Development Framework and the Local Economic Assessment. It also included objectives, outputs and outcomes that were expected from each partners’ interventions covering key areas for potential investment. From the LIP, a Local Investment Agreement would be drafted and agreed which would set out the funding and resources that the HCA would invest in the area over time as resources were made available and the outputs and outcomes expected from them. Councillor Pursglove proposed that reference to North West Wellingborough, Upper Redhill be removed from the document this was seconded by Councillor Hollyman. On being put to the vote this proposal was carried with 8 votes for and 1 against. Councillor Lawman commented on the negative comments relating to properties in her ward of Brickhill and asked if at 5.55 Brickhill could be added to the heading, and requested that more positive wording be used. She also asked if at 5.48 reference to Lea Way and the Cox’s Factory at Westfield Road be added. RESOLVED that: (i) the reference to Upper Redhill be removed and other comments made

by Members be incorporated in the Local Investment Plan; (ii) the adoption of the Local Investment Plan along with any amendments

be delegated to the Corporate Director Development in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

(Councillor Warwick returned to the meeting).

9. SYWELL AERODROME LIMITED JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTION.

(Councillor Saxby left the meeting during discussion on this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest).

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Built Environment was received on the findings of an investigation to establish whether Sywell Aerodrome Limited (SAL) had breached the Planning Agreement between the Council and SAL and to consider the proposed actions that would be put in place to regularise the position and to consider the request made by Councillor Bass. Councillor Bass addressed the meeting, making reference to a petition he had in his possession and voiced his concerns over the independence of the Chairman of the JCC. Mr Wood, presented the report and reminded the Committee of the background of the consent given to SAL which had imposed a condition on the applicants to enter into a Planning Agreement under section 106 of the Town

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and Country Planning Act. The signed agreement detailed the requirement of SAL to make every endeavour to set up a Joint Consultative Committee. Until recently SAL had complied with their obligation. The situation had changed when an attempt had been made to alter the membership and administration of the JCC by a number of the stakeholder representative including those representing the Council. SAL had given notice of the suspension of the JCC. Legal advice including the examination of documentation, correspondence and the interviewing of the management of SAL, had concluded that SAL would be willing to consider the reinstatement of the JCC on the understanding that the representatives fully embraced the principles of the role of a JCC as outlined in the Department of Transport Guidance. The Head of Built Environment together with the Council’s legal team would now enter into negotiation with SAL to reinstate the JCC as outlined in the Planning Agreement. Issues of concern to the local population of the village and other stakeholders, including the review of the Flight Protocol, Noise and general operation issues could be addressed. The consent for the all weather runway had not yet been fully implemented and there would be ongoing dialogue with SAL and the Development Control Team to ensure compliance with the Consent. RESOLVED that the actions of the Planning Enforcement Team in relation to the review of the Planning obligations of Sywell Aerodrome Ltd be noted along with the further action needed to re-establish a Sywell Aerodrome Joint Consultative Committee.

10. TEMPORARY ‘APPROVED LOCATION’ OUTDOOR ADVERTISING

GUIDELINES

This annexed circulated report of the Corporate Director was received on the regulation of display of temporary outdoor advertising in specified locations. Following consultation with the County Council and other relevant parties guidelines had been drawn up designed to regulate the process from application to display a banner onwards in specified approved locations, top provide an interim solution to the display of temporary outdoor advertising whilst a longer term solution was sought.

RESOLVED that the proposed gudelines be adopted to regulate the display of temporary outdoor advertising at approved locations at the main entrances to Wellingborough Town Centre.

11. TOWN CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT – RAG PROGRESS REPORT.

The annexed circulated report and verbal update by Mr Wood, on the progress of the town centre redevelopment was received. RESOLVED that the report be noted.

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12. URGENT MATTER The Chairman decided that the following matter was urgent within the


Minute No.

Title Reason

13 New Homes Bonus A response was required by 24/12/10. 13. NEW HOMES BONUS CONSULTATION RESPONSE

The tabled report of the Corporate Director Development was received on the Government’s consultation on the proposed new homes bonus and the implications for the Council. Mr Wilson explained that the New Homes Bonus was part of a wider suite of incentives set out in the Local Growth White paper. The Scheme would l reward Local Authorities for each net additional property with a New Homes Bonus which would be equal to the national average for the council tax band D for the following six years in the form of an unringfenced grant. For each additional affordable home there would be a £350 enhancement, (including additional gypsy and traveller sites), also paid for six years. Empty properties which had been vacant within existing housing stock for over six months and which came back into use would also be eligible for the grant. The report detailed further the effect that this may have on Wellingborough based on the online calculator. It also detailed the housing completions and affordable housing delivered between October 2009 and October 2010. The New Homes bonus would primarily be funded from the formula grant settlement and redistributed on the parameters of the bonus. This would mean that the grant would be revenue neutral for the Government. During the spending review period the impact would be mitigated by additional Central Government money as it was anticipated that the whole cost of the scheme in 2011/12) (£200m) would be covered from the abolition of the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant. An allocation for 2012-13 to 2014-15 of £250m had been made and further funding beyond these levels would come from the Formula Grant. After this and beyond the six year cycle all funding would be based on redistribution of Revenue Support Grant. Appended to the report was the proposed response to the consultation which Members considered The Chairman suggested that Councillors respond to Mr Wilson or himself by 3/12/10 to enable officers to submit the comments in good time. RESOLVED that:

(i) the potential implications of the New Homes Bonus for the Council be

noted;

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(ii) the consultation response to the New Homes Bonus be submitted by the Corporate Director, Development in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Development Committee and that members submit any responses by 3/12/10.

Chairman The meeting concluded at 9.55 pm.

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COUNCIL MEETING – 14th DECEMBER 2010

REPORT OF THE RESOURCES COMMITTEE

24th November 2010

Present: Councillor P Bell (Vice-Chairman acting as Chairman), Crofts, Dholakia, Graves, Griffiths, G Lawman, Hollyman, Partridge-Underwood, Patel, Pursglove, Warwick and Waters. Also present: Mr J Hubbard, Chief Executive, Mr R Micklewright, Mr T Wright, Corporate Directors, Mr C Pittman, Mrs B Lawrence, Mr N Robinson, Ms C Stephenson, Mr G Stoppani, Heads of Service, Mr S Preval, Interim Head of Accountancy, Miss S Lyons and Mr B Higgott, Legal Services and Mrs C Mundy, Democratic Services Officer. (Councillors Bass, Callnon, Dean, Hawkes, L Lawman, Morrall, P Raymond and Simmons attended as observers.) 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. An apology for absence was received from Councillor Bailey. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST.

Councillor Minute

No. Title Reason

Crofts 12 Allocations Policy for Voluntary and Community Sector Grants for services provided under Service Level Agreements.

Personal and prejudicial – treasurer of the NREC and WWRAG.

Dholakia 5 Review of Polling Stations Personal - Ex Chairman and Member of WDHA and user of Hindu Community Centre.

G Lawman 12 Allocations Policy for Voluntary and Community Sector Grants for services provided under Service Level Agreements.

Personal - NCC nominee on the Wellingborough Volunteer Bureau

Partridge-Underwood

14 The Castle Personal and prejudicial – Board Member of The Castle.

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Report of Resources Committee – 24th November 2010

Patel 5 Review of Polling Stations Personal – Member of WDHA including the Community Centre.

Patel 12 Allocations Policy for Voluntary and Community Sector Grants for services provided under Service Level Agreements.

Personal – NCC nominee on the Victoria Centre Board.

3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 24/11/2010 be confirmed and signed.

4. WARD SUPPORT PROGRESS UPDATE. The annexed circulated report of the Head of Neighbourhood Development

was received in relation to the interim progress of the Ward Support initiative for 2010-11 financial year.

Ms Stephenson, Head of Neighbourhood Development presented the report

to the committee and gave a verbal update on progress since the report had been written. She detailed the work that had been undertaken in the wards to date and where spending had been allocated. The report also detailed the carried forward funding from 2009-10 which had been earmarked for SmartWater and signs for Hemmingwell; SmartWater for Brickhill and Queensway Ward; and grit bins for Redwell West Ward.

Members referred to the spend in their own wards and asked if a follow up

report could be produced in early 2011 to update the committee. RESOLVED that the status of the Ward Support Programme during the 2010-11 financial year in respect of the monies spent to date be noted.

5. REVIEW OF POLLING STATIONS. The annexed circulated report of the Head of Organisational Development

was received on proposed changes to polling stations following feedback from the Parliamentary General Election on 6th May 2010.

The report made particular reference to concerns about polling stations at The Embankment, Redwell Leisure Centre, The Hindu Community Centre and Freeman’s School and the alternative options available. Arrangements had been made for the use of two rooms at Redwell Leisure Centre. Suitable alternative venues had not been found for the other polling stations referred to.

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Members thanked officers for their work in making polling stations as accessible as possible. RESOLVED that: (i) the current position regarding Polling Stations at The Embankment and

the Hindu Community Centres in Castle Ward; and Freeman’s School in Brickhill Ward be noted;

(ii) at future elections two rooms would be used at Redwell Leisure Centre as Polling Stations and that the Salvation Army community room would be used as a Polling Station as an alternative to The Avenue Infant School.

6. COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW – ORLINGBURY

The annexed circulated report of the Chief Executive was received to consider a request from Orlingbury Parish Council for a review of its number of Parish Councillors. The Council had the power under the Local Government and Public Involvement and Health Act 2007 to carry out reviews of local governance. The number of councillors for each parish is part of the electoral arrangements. A Community Governance Review had not been timetabled for the Borough and the last Parish Review had been undertaken in 1999. It was the Council’s intention to carry this out on a non-election year probably in 2012-13. A request had been received from Orlingbury Parish Council for an additional parish councillor due to the expansion of the village as a result of the Norlinton Close development and ancillary matters. It was the decision of the Borough Council whether to proceed with a review. The process for carrying out a review had been published by the Department for Communities and Local Government with the Boundary Commission for England and advice was that a review would not be likely to be completed in less than twelve months due to the various stages of consultation required. Any changes would therefore not be effective until elections in 2015. RESOLVED that: (i) the request to carry out a review of Orlingbury parish’s electoral

arrangements be declined because it could not be completed before elections in May 2011;

(ii) a further report to be made to the Committee on a proposed timetable for completing a Community Governance Review for the whole Borough so that any changes could take effect from May 2015.

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7. MANAGEMENT RESTRUCUTRE The annexed circulated report of the Chief Executive was received on the proposed management restructure. A period of consultation with employees and employee representative had taken place between 24/10/10 and 8/10/10. The Chief Executive had received feedback on the proposals from both employees and Members and these had been taken into account in the preparation of the final structure which was attached to the report. This was based on Option 1 of the report of 20th September and had been amended to incorporate the addition of a Head of Service for service operating out of Trafalgar House; the provision of management expertise in Environmental Health by the addition of a Principal Manager; provision of sufficient management and technical expertise at Trafalgar House, by the addition of a Principal Manager; alignment of disciplines providing similar services by their rearrangement under Heads of Service; removal of two Principal Manager posts where it had been considered the service areas could be redistributed amongst other Principal Managers. One of which was still being consulted on. The Chief Executive confirmed that the management restructure would involve, Directors, Heads of Service and Senior Managers. In respect of Senior Managers these were employees who meet all the following criteria:

• Report direct to a Head of Service • Benefit from a salary band whose minimum point is spinal column point

29 or above, (i.e. JNC Senior Officer scale or above) • Has current senior management responsibilities (e.g. service planning,

managing service budgets, etc.).

On 13th October 2010 a decision to amend the Constitution in respect of Deputy Chief Officers (Heads of Service) the Chief Executive had reviewed the salary scale for those officers. The pay review of 2009 highlighted that the Council’s Heads of Service were paid on average 22% less than other Heads of Service in the East and West Midlands, and East Anglia where the average salary was £59,932. To address this it was proposed that the Deputy Chief Officer salaries (Heads of Service) be linked to the Chief Executive’s salary as were the Chief Officers (Directors). The Resources Committee on 20th September 2010 had agreed that Chief Officers be paid 60% of the Chief Executive’s salary and it was proposed that the Deputy Chief Officers be paid 49%. The salary scale for Deputy Chief Officers would therefore be £50,841 - £51,374 - £51,901 - £52,430 - £52,961. Members raised queries with the Chief Executive in relation to the financial impact of the changes to the salary scales, the need for both a Principal Environmental Protection Manager and Principal Health Protection Manager. There was also concern that under the Environment structure there were only two Heads of Service both with a number of employees under them and there was concern that this area possibly needs additional Managers. Comments

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were expressed that the Management Structure was still top heavy compared to neighbouring authorities. It was suggested that a reduction in a Director post and less Heads of Service post would be more appropriate. The Chief Executive responded and said that the authority would be best served with the two Directors and the structure that was before Members. The Principal Environmental Protection Manager and Principal Health Protection Manager were two different areas of specialism and therefore both were required. With regard to the Environment structure, under the Principal Managers were a number of supervisors and it was considered that the two managers were adequate.


(i) the management structure for the Council with effect from 1st April 2011 be noted;

(ii) a new salary band for Deputy Chief Officers (Heads of Service), expressed as 49% of the Chief Executive’s salary band be agreed.

8. CALCULATON OF COUNCIL TAX BASE 2011-12

The annexed circulated report of the Revenue Services Manager was received on the setting of the Council Tax Base in accordance with the (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, for 2011-12. The report detailed the proposed tax base for the Parish Councils and Wellingborough town and had been calculated by taking into account the present occupancy situation; new dwellings becoming chargeable; the ratio of the Bands to Band D and the estimated collection rate. RESOLVED that: (i) the amount calculated by the Borough Council of Wellingborough as

the Council Tax Base for the year 2011-12 be 24,550; (ii) the Council Tax Bases for the Parish Councils and Wellingborough

town be approved. 9. PROJECT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK – FEEDBACK ON PILOT

STUDY. The annexed circulated report of the Head of Performance was received on

the proposal for a new project management framework to monitor and control projects carried out by and on behalf of the Council following a six month pilot study.

The report detailed the need for a project management framework. Appended

to the report was the overview of the Pilot Study which had been carried out on the Multi-Storey Car Park Lighting Upgrade; Market Office Relocation; the Managed APACS; One Stop Shop and Outsourcing Third Party Cash

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Payments (Cash Office). Also appended to the report was the proposed Project Management Framework.

RESOLVED that the proposed Project Management Framework be adopted. 10. URGENT MATTER The Chairman decided that the following matter was urgent within the


Minute No.

Title Reason

11 Gypsy and Traveller Site at Gypsy Lane, Irchester.

To respond in a timely fashion to a request from Northamptonshire County Council.

11. GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITE AT GYPSY LANE IRCHESTER. The annexed circulated report of the Corporate Director was received on the

proposal by Northamptonshire County Council to dispose the Gypsy Lane Traveller site in Irchester and their offer to the Borough Council.

The report detailed the location and current ownership of the site which had

25 plots for mobile homes with 18 families currently living on the site. The residents were of either English or Irish Gypsy/Traveller communities and they lives separately in two communities.

During 2009 the management arrangements were taken under the direct

control of the County Council. A series of improvement works to the site had been contracted but due to difficulties with contracts, weather and site residents the work programme had progressed slowly and additional funding had been sought. This request had been refused by the County Council’s management team and an instruction to explore options for the disposal of the site had been issued. The Gypsy Council had approached the County Council with an offer to purchase the site and an offer had been made by the County Council for the Borough Council to purchase the site.

The report detailed the various options open to the County Council in the

disposal the land and the implications of each disposal. RESOLVED that the County Council’s offer to the Borough Council to

purchase the Gypsy Lane Traveller site in Irchester be declined. (Councillor Crofts left the room having declared a personal and prejudicial

interest and did not return). 12. ALLOCATION POLICY FOR VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR

GRANTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS.

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The annexed circulated report of the Corporate Director was received on the

future allocation policy for voluntary and community sector grants. This had been circulated as an exempt report but was taken in the open part of the meeting.

The Resources Committee of 23rd June had established a Member Working

Group on Community Grants. The group had met on four occasions to review the arrangement that were in place to allocate community grants and other payments to external bodies.

The group had considered the following:

(a) What services should be funded? (b) What were the relative priorities of the funded services? (c) How much funding should the services receive? (d) What was the most efficient way for the funded services to be

provided? The group were also tasked to consider the range of options for the improving grants allocation process and would need to reconvene to consider this subject to make recommendations. The group had identified services that the council should fund as follows (in order of priority):

• Debt advice and management; • Employment advice and support; • Counselling and education services to young people; • Support and aftercare for victims of domestic violence; • Community transport; • Community support and space; • Voluntary sector support; • Equalities advice and support; • Support and aftercare for victims of crime; • Heritage.

The group had also considered the varying of the current arrangements in the interests of obtaining value for money by either bringing the service ‘in-house’ and providing it using council employees; contracting the service to alternative organisations; re-negotiating the terms of the arrangement with the existing service provider; providing the service in partnership with another service funder or ceasing the funding to the service all together. The conclusion had been that in most instances, there were opportunities to obtain better value for money. The group recommended that a consultation exercise with voluntary sector representatives be undertaken before consideration be given to a reduction in budget. It was also proposed that the Community Grant Working Group be

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reconvened to receive the results of the consultation and to report back to the Committee in February 2011 on their findings and recommendations. Members voiced their opinions on the findings of the working group. There was an awareness of the need in the current financial climate for debt advice services. There was also support for funding to be given to Women’s Aid which was a local charity rather than an alternative charity based in Corby. Concern was also raised about the proposed reduction of 25% in the grants to the voluntary sector until after the consultation had taken place. It was also suggested that Councillor Graves be appointed to the working group as he had a background in working in and with the voluntary sector. RESOLVED that: (i) the order of the Council’s priorities for funding services provided by the

voluntary sector be as follows: • Debt advice and management; • Employment advice and support; • Counselling and education services to young people; • Support and aftercare for victims of domestic violence; • Community transport; • Community support and space; • Voluntary sector support; • Equalities advice and support; • Support and aftercare for victims of crime; • Heritage.

(ii) the Council’s budget for community grants be subject to consultation with representatives of the voluntary sector;

(iii) the Members Working Group on Community Grants be reconvened, and that membership of the group be decided at the Council meeting on 14th December 2010, to receive the results of the community consultation;

(iv) the community consultation and the subsequent consideration of the same by the Members Working Group on Community Grants be brought back to the Resources Committee in February 2011.

13. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item in accordance with Section 100A (4) to the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information of the descriptions shown in schedule 12A to the Act:

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Minute No.

Items Paragraph of Schedule 12A

14 Castle Contract Re-Procurement 3

14. CASTLE CONTRACT RE-PROCUREMENT

The annexed circulated exempt report of the Corporate Director was received on the future running of The Castle Arts Centre from 1st February 2011, when the current contracted ended. An updated copy of appendix 2 Estimated costs associated with each of the four options was circulated. The Corporate Director, Mr T Wright, presented the report and detailed the three options for the future management of The Castle Arts Centre if the Council wished to continue to provide the service as follows: (i) negotiate a new contract with The Castle (Wellingborough) Ltd; (ii) create a new business with charitable objects and award a contract to

this organisation; (iii) take the service in-house and run the Castle Arts Centre as a

department of the Council. He also referred Members to the updated Appendix which gave the estimated costs of each option. Members asked why the Council would have a pension liability if the option to take the service in-house was agreed. Mr Wright informed the committee that the employees would have to join the Council’s pension scheme and the Council would therefore be liable for their pensions. Councillor Waters stressed that The Castle needed to be kept open, it was a vital asset to the people of the Borough and provided an opportunity for young and old to become involved with the arts. This was reiterated by a number of Members. Comments were made about the current programme of events which it was believed could be enhanced to encourage a higher attendance. (Councillor Hollyman joined the meeting at. 8.27 pm.) Some Members considered that there should be more Council participation in the board and decision making, whilst others thought this was not necessary. A suggestion was made that an advisory committee be established. Councillor Waters reminded the Committee that currently reports were submitted periodically to Community Committee.

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(i) a new business with charitable objectives be established to run the Castle Arts Centre;

(ii) the cost of setting up the new business be met from existing resources;

(iii) the provision of a £150,000 interest-free loan to the new business as initial working capital, subject to an agreement that the loan be repaid in equal monthly instalments over a four year period commencing on 1st February 2012 and that the terms of repayment be a condition of any management contract let subsequently be approved;

(iv) a contract for the running of The Castle Arts Centre for one year be awarded to the new business to commence from 1st February 2011 or earlier should it be necessary;

(v) a report be submitted to Resources Committee in January 2011 in relation to governance and reporting procedure arrangements.

(Councillor Dholakia abstained from voting on this item and asked that this be recorded).

Chairman

The meeting concluded at 8.25 pm.

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COUNCIL MEETING – 14th December 2010

REPORT OF THE PARTNERSHIPS REVIEW COMMITTEE

29th November 2010

Present: Councillor Allebone (Chairman), Councillor Pursglove (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Blackwell, Graves, Hawkes, G Lawman, J Raymond and Shram. Also Present: Mr J Casserly (Head of Environmental Services), Mr G Jones (Head of ICT Services), Mr C Pittman (Head of Policy, Partnerships and Property) (Committee Manager) and Mr J Wilson (Corporate Director). 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

RESOLVED to note there were no apologies for absence. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

RESOLVED to note that in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, the Code of Local Government Conduct and the Council’s Constitution, the under-mentioned Councillor declared an interest in the following items:

Councillor Minute

Subject Reason

Blackwell 4 Northamptonshire Waste Partnership

Personal – County Councillor

5 Borough Council of Wellingborough Snow Plan


G Lawman 4 Northamptonshire Waste Partnership


5 Borough Council of Wellingborough Snow Plan


3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18/10/2010 be confirmed

and signed. 4. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WASTE PARTNERSHIP

The Chairman welcomed Mr W Siddiqui, Acting Head of Waste, Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) and Mrs J Perrin, Executive Officer, Northamptonshire Waste Partnership (NWP).

357

Report of the Partnerships Review Committee – 29th November 2010

Mr Siddiqui gave a presentation on the current position with Project Reduce, the Treasury’s decision on the PFI funding and the wide range of possibilities already being assessed by the project team. It was noted that the options appraisal for the future of the project was being considered by the Joint Waste Disposal Committee (JWDC) on 30th November 2010.

It was stated that both partners in Project Reduce are still seeking solutions that seek to maximise the reuse and recycling of waste material.

Mr Siddiqui also gave a progress update on the first six months of the Household Waste Recycling Centre contract, which included performance and issues of the HWRC contract. The performance information shows that targets are being met. Fears that the changes in the service would lead to a material increase in fly tipping have not been realised and this is largely due to the extensive pre-change publicity campaign and subsequent enhanced enforcement activity. Mr Siddiqui thanked Wollaston Parish Council for their support in the production of a local leaflet explaining the changes that had been implemented at the Wollaston site.

Mrs Perrin then gave a presentation on the benefits analysis of the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership (NWP) and the future work programme of the Partnership for 2011/12 via the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership Shadow Board and through the priorities identified in the Joint Municipal Waste Management (JMWM) Strategy.

A copy of the presentation was circulated at the meeting.

The Northamptonshire Waste Partnership Work plans 2009/2011 and

2010/2012 were attached to the report at Appendix 1 and 2 respectively. Mr Siddiqui and Mrs Perrin responded to questions and comments raised by

the Committee, which included the following:

Q. What is Project Reduce? A. Project Reduce is a major joint procurement of a waste treatment

facility for Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes and is required due to the dearth of landfill, increasing landfill tax, gating fees payable to contractors, disposal costs and the European Union landfill directive. The Comprehensive Spending Review announced the withdrawal of PFI credits for Project Reduce so the project team is considering alternative ways to proceed e.g. a number of smaller contracts or arrangements with existing service providers.

Q. Is there any opportunity to reduce the cost per tonnage of waste to a sum that would be acceptable for a PFI award?

A. The cost per tonnage was put forward in the outline business case to the Treasury and cannot now be challenged.

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Q. Noted that one of the bidders for the PFI credit had a perceived advantage because they had a plant nearby. Is there a possibility to review that option in the future?

A. Useful knowledge and commercial intelligence has been gained through the project, which has helped to inform the options appraisal to be considered by JWDC on 30th November 2010.

Q. Is there a preferred waste treatment option that people will choose from the national bids that are going ahead?

A. There has always been a wide range of waste treatment options available from Energy From Waste (EFW) through to the use of Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT). The County has always advocated pre-treatment of the residual waste as there is still a lot of recyclable material within this waste. There is not a preferred treatment process; however, gasification and heat treatment to waste has significantly improved over the last decade and it is no longer a case of using mass burn incineration.

Q. What is the current position regarding landfill options? A. Landfill is costly and the cost will continue to increase. It is likely there

will be no landfill capacity by the end of the decade. Q. A lot of Members are opposed to the incineration of waste. Are there

more sophisticated options to reduce waste? A. There are now fairly sophisticated systems for dealing with recyclables.

Residual waste still has some value in it: looking at extraction/recovery technology will help reduce the costs.

Q. With economies of scale, partnership working is the only way forward and we need to keep a wider overview in relation to waste management.

A. NWP was not driven purely by the PFI project but also other external and local drivers.

Q. What are you trying to achieve through the use of the klaxon at the recycling centre? This is just diverting the depositing of waste outside the centres to other areas.

A. We have remote cameras which monitor the use of the recycling centre outside the centre’s regular hours to ensure people do not deposit waste outside the centre. The use of klaxons in conjunction with CCTV is a fairly new initiative operational at all recycling centres. Its continued use will be reviewed in the future, in line with the comments made.

Q. Is it possible to disaggregate the performance targets down to Wellingborough level?

A. Once the 12 month figures are available, the disaggregated performance figures for each site in the Borough will be provided. It was noted there was a dramatic increase in recycling performance at Wollaston following the removal of residual material.

Q. It was previously reported that each recycling centre would have a reuse shop attached to it. There is no reuse shop in Wellingborough; what is the prospect of having a reuse shop located in Wellingborough?

A. We operate a proximity principle when determining where to locate reuse shops; they need to be within a 5 mile radius of a recycling

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centre. Reuse shop contracts are renewed every three years and there may be an opportunity to have a reuse shop at Wellingborough when these are reviewed. The removal of the previous ‘shop’ at the Wellingborough site enabled changes to the layout of the site which have had the effect of improving recycling performance.

Q. The ‘meet and greet’ service at the Wellingborough is very regimental, intimidating and an unpleasant experience.

A. We are working with the contractor at all the recycling centres to make best use of the sites and to make them more cost effective. However, we will work to make visits more of a pleasant experience.

Q. As part of the NWP website initiative, have you considered targeting your audience through emails rather than through the website?

A. As part of the website procurement, funding has been awarded to develop a NWP Communications Strategy, which will be for the benefit of all NWP partners.

Q. There will be increased demand on waste as a result of the growth of the area.

A. This has been anticipated. Provision has been made for service improvements and enhancements over the life of the contract in response to changed circumstances. The impact of growth is also being considered as part of the review of the JMWM Strategy.

Q. The closure of 2 days per week at Wellingborough recycling centre is not considered to be reasonable bearing in mind it serves a large settlement.

A. A review of how sites were being used during the year was undertaken which resulted in the reduced opening hours.

Q. How many work programmes outlined in the NWP work plan for 2009/2011 and 2010/12 have been delivered and are up and running?

A. Some projects in the 2009/2011 work plan were completed and others were carried forward into the new financial year. The 2010/12 work plan incorporates additional projects agreed by the Shadow Board in September 2010.

Q. How are decisions delegated and what decisions have, or might be, delegated from this authority?

A. The Shadow Board does not have any legal status. It’s been recognised that the partnership needs to be developed as a whole; all partners need to work more collectively together and be part of the decision making process.

Q. Can the ‘Recycle for’ website be focused on each Borough and district as well as at County level?

A Review of waste partnerships across the country revealed there was a typical approach used by the public when searching for information on waste recycling on the internet. All NWP partners decided that the best option was to have all information on one County-level site.

Q. Is the cost shown for a recent survey correct as it seems very low given that the survey involved some 28,000 face-to-face interviews?

A. The cost was comparatively low because only the interviews were carried out by persons recruited for the survey work over a 12 week period. All other work, such as analysis, was carried out by employees of the NWP member authorities.

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Q. We need better information on the range of plastics that can be recycled.

A. Agreed.

The Chairman thanked Mr Siddiqui and Mrs Perrin for their very detailed presentations.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the presentation be noted; (ii) there were no specific matters to be drawn to the attention of the policy

committees. 5. SNOW PLAN

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Environmental Services was received on the progress and status of the Borough Council’s Snow Plan which aimed to ensure a fitting and reasonable response to service provision and public safety in the event of severe weather.

It was noted that the extreme and enduring severe weather during the winter of 2009/10 highlighted the need for a co-ordinated strategy that would enable the authority, along with the relevant partners, to be in a state of preparedness in the future event of such severe weather. This would help the Borough Council to continue delivering its services during these extreme conditions and also to better assist communities in clearing key areas. The Borough Council’s Snow Plan and MGWSP’s report on NCC’s footway solution for 2010 during adverse weather conditions were attached to the report at Appendix 1 and 2 respectively. The report detailed the statutory responsibilities of the Borough Council of Wellingborough and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC).

The Chairman also welcomed Mr D Grindley, Traffic Manager, NCC, to answer questions raised by the Committee.

Mr Casserly and Mr Grindley responded to questions and comments raised by the Committee, which included the following: Q. How realistic is it to get the footways gritted in Earls Barton and is it

high on the priority list? A. The clearing of footways during adverse weather conditions is

dependent on the usage of the areas and are classed under three categories: Category 1 is for all main shopping precincts; Category 2 for minor shopping precincts and Category 3 for rural areas. Category 1 footways were treated last weekend.

Q. The Snow plan notes that NCC has stated that the filling of grit bins will be provided for use on roads rather than footpaths and are positioned dependent upon gradient and usage. The grit bins were empty most of last winter; can we put priority on bins in rural areas and have the bins replenished?

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A. Grit bins that were authorised in the summer were replenished on a rotating cycle at the beginning of winter. A ranking system has been introduced for new grit bins dependent on the location and gradient of the area and lorries being able to fill them.

Q. Noted that the Snow Plan is implemented when there is snow on the ground and likely to remain for 24 hours or more, but not solely when ice is present. We should be thinking of residents’ safety.

A. Treating ice is NCC’s responsibility alone and so only it has the appropriate equipment and chemicals. Also, as ice would not ordinarily prevent the delivery of amenity services, our resources would not be available. Noted corporate decision is not to pay standby payments, only overtime if required to work at short notice. To enable areas to be cleared quickly and efficiently, standby arrangements may be worth introducing.

Q Why does the Borough Council have to obtain confirmation from NCC to clear the areas of Council owned land?

A It does not. It only needs permission to treat highways land. NCC has responsibility for footpaths and as part of NCC’s insurance policy, Borough and District Councils need its authorisation to clear the areas. The Borough Council has an agreement with NCC that grounds maintenance and street cleansing employees can clear footpaths if resources permit. From a practical point of view it is necessary to liaise with NCC to avoid duplication of effort. If NCC has put arrangements in place to treat the footpaths/highways in question our resources can be deployed elsewhere. The Snow Plan is a document which was put together following the extreme and severe weather during the winter of 2009/10 and it will be revised and amended in the light of experience of implementation this year.

Q. Park Road, Midland Road, Tithe Barn, Oxford Street (entrance to Morrisons), Redwell leisure centre and medical centre at Nest Farm are excluded from the footpaths listed under NCC category 1 responsibilities. Can these be included as category 1 areas?

A. Consideration will be given to this. Q. Should the nominated contact person for triggering the Snow Plan be

resident in Wellingborough? A. Nominated contact person is the Sustainable Infrastructure Manager.

A procedure is in place to trigger the Snow Plan. The nominated person does not need to be resident of Wellingborough but does need to be able to communicate and initiate action so that crews can activate the snow plan.

Q. Noted that due to last year’s winter, the tonnage of salt stocks has been increased from 11,000 to 14,000 tonnes of salt and will be re-ordered when less than 6,000 tonnes (4,000 tonnes last year). Is this a knee jerk reaction to last year or is this an ongoing arrangement?

A. NCC have decided to increase the residual amount of salt and to use sugar coated salt which is slightly more expensive but more efficient as it sticks to the roads.

Q. Thanks are conveyed to officers for working in partnership on the Snow Plan. Can the Wilby Way estate, which now has a lot of roads

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adopted, be considered for grit boxes, especially as the estate is on a slope?

A. NCC will be looking at appropriate locations for the grit boxes in Wilby Way now that the roads are adopted. However, the decision to grit the roads was agreed during the summer.

Q. Can the paths near schools be gritted as a priority as this will also help the parents.

A. There is a grit bin policy from the County Education department which states that grit bins are provided within 400 metres of schools.

Q. How many times do you refill empty grit bins? A. NCC replenish grit bins at the beginning of the season and then mid

season; requests are via the Street Doctor. The Traffic Manager needs to be contacted directly with details of specific locations where bins are not being replenished.

The Chairman thanked Mr Casserly and Mr Grindley for their attendance and presentations. Councillor G Lawman suggested that the Committee’s concerns and NCC’s comments regarding the Snow Plan should be fed into the revision of the Snow Plan that was being reviewed in liaison with the Ward Councillors and County Council and reported back to a future Community Committee meeting. It was agreed that Ward Councillors would forward any further suggested amendments to the Snow Plan to the Head of Environmental Services.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the presentation be noted; (ii) that the comment of this Committee and NCC’s Traffic Manager be

taken into consideration when revising the Snow Plan for reporting to a future Community Committee meeting.

6. INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES The Chairman welcomed Mr G Jones, Head of ICT Services, Miss K Rance,

Applications Support Manager, Mr I Peters, ICT Technical Manager and Mrs A Curtis, ICT Support Manager who gave a presentation on the work done by the ICT Services for the Borough Council of Wellingborough.

It was noted that the shared ICT Service with East Northamptonshire Council, which was formed in April 2008, was the first of its type both in the county and country. The objective of the ICT Services was originally to deliver the same high level of service to the staff of Wellingborough as East Northamptonshire through a comprehensive replacement programme, rationalisation of contracts, reducing costs and staff training.

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The strategic aims of the ICT Services as outlined in the ICT Strategy, which was approved by the Resources Committee in January 2010, were to:

• improve self-service options for the Borough’s customers through creating a single view of the customer and place using the CRM and website;

• improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and decision making through maintaining and developing the service desk, improved access to systems remotely, improved disaster recovery, training and improved availability of technology for members and better information management. There was also the need to keep the technical skills of the service current and assist other services with improving their ICT skills;

• reduce costs for services and ICT support through common systems

and hardware, centralising all budgets and bringing the systems administrators into ICT.

A copy of the presentation was circulated at the meeting

Mr Jones and Mrs Curtis responded to questions and comments raised by the Committee, which included the following:

Q. Can Councillors be offered the opportunity to attend the training

courses that are available to Council employees? A. IT training can also be made available to Councillors, and will be

offered as part of the training package for new members after the elections.

Q. Can software licences be entered into with another contractor other than Microsoft, preferably open source?

A. Under the procured joint Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, the Microsoft licences have all been paid and the licences now run for their natural life free of charge.

Q. How much are the licence fees? A The Microsoft Enterprise Agreement licence fee was £34,000 per

annum for a 3 year period and BCW/ENC shares the cost of that licence. Noted there was no further licence fee payable to Microsoft. High percentage of cost is ICT licences for systems, and ICT Services look at efficiencies when negotiating contracts for shared services.

Q. Noted that approximately 13% savings have been made as a result of the shared ICT Service. Are these year on year savings?

A. The average is 13% savings each year on budget, but this figure will decrease as opportunities for efficiencies diminish as they are realised.

The Chairman thanked Mr Jones and his team for their attendance and presentations.

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RESOLVED that:

(i) the presentation be noted; (ii) the following specific matters be drawn to the attention of the relevant

policy committees:

(a) a recommendation to Resources Committee that, as part of the Member induction programme, provision is made for IT training and also for those Members that joined at By-Elections.

The meeting concluded at 9.35pm

Chairman

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COUNCIL MEETING - 14TH DECEMBER 2010

REPORT OF PERFORMANCE & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

30th November 2010

Present: Councillor L Callnon (Chairman), Councillors Allebone and Crofts. Officers present: Mr C. Pittman, Head of Policy, Performance & Property, Mr G. Stoppani, Committee Manager, Mr T. Wright, Corporate Director, Community. The Committee Administrator had received apologies for absence from Councillors Simmons (Vice Chairman), Bass, Dean, Dholakia, Harrington and Patel.

At 7.10 pm, as there was no quorum, the business set out in the Agenda could not be considered and therefore would be referred to the next scheduled meeting on 11th January 2011. Chairman……………………..

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Report of the Perfromance and Scrutiny Committee – 30th November 2010.

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Documents

Members' Briefing Note Template - Wellingborough · The keynote address was given by Baroness Andrews, the Chairman of English Heritage. It was very gratifying to hear Baroness Andrews