Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of the Parish Council of Ecton held in The Village Hall, High Street, Ecton on Tuesday 20th January 2015 at 7.30p.m.

Mrs. S. Bresnahan - Chairperson

PRESENT: Mr D Dicks, Mr T Moffett, Mr P Godby, Mrs J Jones, Mr B Brophy, Mrs M Mulvey and Mr R East

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs S Wong – Clerk.

213/15 APOLOGIES: Apologies were received from Mrs A Fernley (Family engagement) these were noted and accepted and apologies were

also received from representatives of the Police and Wellingborough Mayor - Councillor Jim Bass

214/15 DECLARATION OF INTEREST – None declared.

215/15 TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 18TH NOVEMBER 2014

Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on the 18th November 2014 as previously circulated, were read, confirmed and signed as a correct record of account.

216/15 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

No matters arising.

217/15 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM POLICE REPRESENTATIVES

No Police representatives were in attendance. Clerk read out the Novembers crime report for Ecton. There were two burglary non-dwellings, tools were stolen from an out building and a barn was broken into where equestrian equipment was stolen. There has been a spate of burglary non-dwellings where yards and stables have been targeted for equestrian equipment. Police are advising yard / stables and horse owners to store valuable tack and saddlery in a secure and locked location or consider taking it home to store.

218/15 SHORT PRESENTATION – RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN FOR SPECIAL CONSTABLES FROM EMMA BULLOCK

Deferred to the March 17th meeting.

219/15 PRESENTATION FROM STEVEN BARBER OF MGWSP HIGHWAYS – SELF PURCHASE VAS SCHEME

Mr Steven Barber was not in attendance – deferred to a later date.

220/15 TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

No Borough or County Councillors were in attendance.

221/15 DISCUSS ANY UPDATES REGARDING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN / LOCALISIM BILL

Councillor Jones reported there have been no Neighbourhood plan meetings since Christmas. The group are still in the process of writing the draft plan and taking photographs. The next scheduled meeting is 12th February 2015. The Parish Council asked if a copy of the current plan could be sent to Councillors.

222/15 VILLAGE SERVICES

A.  UPDATE REPORT ON THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLAYING FIELD AND FUND RAISING EVENTS

Unfortunately the Parish Council were not successful with their grant application for funding with Mick George, under their terms we are unable to re-apply in the future. There is currently £3011.61 in the Playing Field fund and another £1,000 pledged. There are another 3 or 4 fund raising events planned. Another £60 has been received from Mr Phil Foster from the sale of Pub Calendars.

A year has nearly passed since the Parish Council received a grant award from the Big Lottery Fund. An End of Grant Report needs to be submitted to the Big Lottery Fund which the Clerk will complete on behalf of the Council.

B.  RECEIVE UPDATES AND DISCUSS ANY VILLAGE MAINTENANCE MATTERS

The new dog waste bin has now been installed at the bottom of West Street. There have been several complaints of a dog running off its lead whilst being walked through the village. The dog jumped up one of our councillors giving them a fright. Clerk to write a letter to the owners asking they keep the dog on a lead whilst walking along the street paths and roads to help alleviate residents concerns.

C DISCUSS ONGOING RUBBISH DUMPING ISSUES AT LOWER ECTON LANE

Another complaint has been made to the Clerk regarding the constant fly tipping along Lower Ecton Lane and the serious environmental issues it causes. Councillor Bass has been involved with meetings with the AWA Liaison Group and the Cleansing Team at Wellingborough Norse, Northampton Borough Council and other departments to agree an action plan to tidy up the area. The next meeting is due to take place the first week of February.

D DISCUSS AND APPROVE PURCHASE OF VAS SIGNS

Deferred until a later date.

223/15 RECEIVE UPDATES AND DISCUSS ANY HIGHWAY MATTERS AND HIGHWAY AGENCY

Councillors are concerned with the high number of pot holes on the roads in Ecton. Clerk to write to Helen Howard – Highways department to inspect the pot holes and arrange for repairs to be carried out.

224/15 RECEIVE UPDATE REPORT REGARDING SYWELL AERODROME

Nothing new to report.

225/15 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Application No. WP/14/00096/FUL – Waste Transfer Station, ready mix concrete plant and overnight parking for 15 HGV’s at Lower

Ecton Lane. A number of anomalies were found in the planning application which give the Parish Council cause for concern. Clerk to

write to Wellingborough Planning Departing listing all our concerns.

DISCUSS AND AGREE A RESPONSE TO THE FORTHCOMING CONSULTATION ON THE PRE-SUBMISSION NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE JOINT CORE STRATEGY (JCS)

Deferred as the consultation doesn’t take place until 26th January to 9th March 2015. Consultation documentation is yet to be released.

226/15 OTHER PLANNING MATTERS AND THOSE NOT YET DETERMINED

Nothing new to report.

227/15 FINANCIAL MATTERS –

A.  PROPOSE PAYMENTS AND SIGN CHEQUES

Resolved that the balances as presented be accepted. Resolved that the following accounts be paid.

CHEQUES DRAWN AT MEETING

413 Eon

Lighting Maintenance to 31.12.14 146.66

414 Eon

Electricity Costs to 31.12.14 218.49

415 S Wong – Salary (18.11.14 to 20.1.15)

Interim Payment Dec Pay increase £6.75 6.75

Salary 22.5hrs 257.33

Expenses

Use of clerks home as office – Sept / Oct 2014 £305/12 50.84

Broadband 20.00

Less Tax Deductions -50.40

------

278.97

416 H M Revenue & Customs

Tax and NI Deductions – S Wong 50.40

GRAND TOTAL OF CHEQUES 694.52

B.  UPDATE REPORT REFERENCE DAVID CROSS BEQUEST

Nothing new to report.

C.  REVEIW OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT

The Clerk presented a balance sheet as at 20th January 2015. The current bank balance stands at £28,598.14 of which £5926.10 David Cross funds, £3011.61 Play Equipment Fund and £19,660.43 Parish Council Funds.

D.  DISCUSS AND AGREE SETTING OF THE PRECEPT FOR 2015 / 2016

Borough Council Wellingborough have provided a summary of how much income (precept) the Parish Council would receive if the 2015/2016 individual parish “band D” tax charge was to remain the same as 2014/2015. This would generate an increase in precept by £908. It was resolved to submit a precept request for 2015/2016 of £11,908.

228/15 DISCUSS ANY CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

No correspondence to be discussed.

229/15 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Resolved that the next meeting be held on Tuesday 17th March 2015 at 7.30pm.

Meeting ended at 8.45pm.