HANNINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON 4 OCTOBER 2016
1307. Attendance and Acceptance of Apologies. Approval of Reasons for Absence.
Present: Chair C Middleton, Councillors E Gill, J Middleton and K Simons.
Apologies: Vice Chairman I Wilson and Councillor A Ross.
The Parish Council approved the reasons for absence.
In Attendance: 3 members of the public.
1308. Dispensations received and granted.
There were no dispensations received and granted since the last meeting.
1309. Members Declaration of Interest for Items on the Agenda.
There were no declarations of interest made.
1310. Public Forum - 15 minutes - with a maximum of 5 minutes per question.
There were no requests to speak.
1311. County and District Councillors.
The County and District Councillors did not attend and sent their apologies. The Clerk read a report from the District Councillor.
1312. Approve and Sign Minutes of the Meeting dated 6 September.
The minutes of the meeting having previously been circulated were proposed for acceptance by Councillor K Simons and seconded by Councillor J Middleton as an accurate record and were signed by the Chair.
1313. To review action taken on matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting (for information only).
The Clerk had invited Dr C Kus to the meeting but she was unable to attend.
The Walgrave Wellbeing Centre and Community Bus will be discussed under item 1321.
The Clerk had e-mailed Mr I Boyes (KierWSP) who had passed on the details to a colleague, Sheila Guilder who looks after vegetation issues.
The quote from Maximow will be discussed under item 1325.
The rear bank of the allotments will be discussed under item 1315b.
Scoping of the device to be purchased will be discussed under item 1324.
1314. Correspondence:
(a) DDC – press release – Community Lottery – for information.
(b) DDC – OMBHH minutes 8 September meeting – for information only.
(c) County Councillor J Shephard – response to staggered opening times at the Recycling Centres. The Clerk read out the response. Councillor K Simons and Mr G Martin both reported that BBC Northampton had raised the issue of fly tipping during a broadcast on 7 September claiming that the cost of clear up now exceeded £1M pa. It was agreed that this should go on the next agenda.
1315. Review of Parish Assets:
(a) Pocket Park – nothing to report.
(b) Allotments – to include report by JM on the rear bank and any actions thereon.
Councillor J Middleton reported that there had been some regrowth of the brambles etc since the last clearance of the bank and would require re-spraying. Most plot holders were keeping the rear of their plots clear (for maintenance) with the exception of plot 7, whom he agreed to contact. It was his intention to get the new gates/posts erected in the winter. He also mentioned that one plot holder had been spraying but unfortunately had managed to kill off c1m of the new hedge.
(c) Bus Shelter/BT kiosk – to include update on kiosk repairs.
Bus Shelter – OK. Mr G Martin reported that the BT kiosk is a WIP, it had been power washed, undercoated and paint applied. A new door is required to house the steelwork. Councillor E Gill will speak to Mr S Barritt to see if he is interested in assisting in this matter.
(d) Mallards Wood – nothing to report.
(e) VAS –as Mr G Martin has been carrying out repairs to the BT kiosk, this will now be moved later this month.
1316. Report from Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.
The Chair reported had it had again been quiet since the last meeting – opportunistic burglaries and some large stack straw fires. There was some discussion on the lack of follow up information from the police when details of crimes had been previously circulated.
1317. DA/2016/0797 Construction of six detached dwellings. Former Henry’s of Hannington site, Red House Lane.
Following a discussion, the Parish Council has not changed its’ opinion from that given for DA/2015/0921 (amended) and still objects on the grounds of the over development of the site. However should DDC be mindful to approve the application, Hannington Parish Council would request that one of the units be allocated to Local Market Housing as part of a s106 Agreement.
In addition, the Parish Council also has concerns as mentioned in DA/2014/0939, DA/2014/0469, DA/2014/0141, DA/2013/0715 and DA/2013/0076, that the tree planting/shrub scheme ensures that the visibility is improved at the junction of the A43 and Red House Lane and that the site be better served with one entrance rather than two on the grounds of road safety.
1318. DA/2016/0847 Installation of 1 no.18m lattice tower with 3 no. antennas, 3 equipment cabinets and ancillary development within a chain-link fenced compound, installation of access gate and hardstanding. Land at Hall Farm, Hannington Lane, Walgrave.
Following a discussion the Parish Council decided on this occasion, unable to support this planning application and therefore wish to object to it. Whilst the Parish Council is NOT opposed to a mast it does object to the actual siting of the one in this planning application on the grounds of:
· It is to be placed in open country side
· It will create a visual disturbance
· The Mere is NOT a dirt track but an historical feature and part of an ancient pathway
· It will have an adverse impact on nature and conservation
· Other alternative sites to those listed had not been considered, for example the Solar Farm Development (DA/2014/0694) or the industrial buildings off Red House Lane, Hannington.
1319. Planning Application Update.
The Clerk reported that DA/2016/0797 was issued to consolidate all the previous applications relating to the redevelopment of the Henry’s site and amended the site layout – DA/2015/0921 was now contained within this application.
1320. Parish Council casual vacancy.
At present no-one had come forward to fill the position.
1321. Walgrave Wellbeing Centre and Community Bus - including WWC informal meeting 21 October at 7.30pm.
Dr C Kus was unable to attend the meeting. The Vice Chairman had indicated that he would try and attend the meeting. Councillor K Simons agreed that he also would attend. This item is to be included on the next agenda when the Vice Chairman and Councillor K Simons could report back.
1322. Hannington Neighbourhood Plan (AR).
The Chair will liaise with Councillor A Ross, to see if this item can be moved forward, as Hannington is deemed too small to have its own Neighbourhood Plan and it would have to be an “annex”.
1323. Village Broadband (AR).
NCC web site is still showing the village as getting Superfast Broadband by December – however the PC is aware of many problems being experienced by Villagers with the existing service.
1324. Update on Daventry Calling and Empowering Councillors grant – purchase of device, case & Microsoft 365.
Councillor K Simons had undertaken some preliminary work on scoping the device to be purchased via the EG grant. He will report back at the next meeting however it is likely that the way forward is “stand alone” devices rather than an Apple product.
1325. 2017/18 precept – to consider any projects, items of expenditure to include grass mowing etc, for first draft of figures.
The Clerk had circulated a copy of the 2016/17 precept prior to the meeting.
The Clerk reported that Maximow had quoted £40 for the initial cut of the verge between the gate by Cotsdale to the current stop place (first telegraph pole from Gate feature). It was agreed that this should not take place until the new grass cutting season – to allow for the hedge to be cut.
It was agreed that Parish Councillors would consider items and report back at the next meeting.
1326. Finance:
(a) Approve expenditure items received.
It was agreed to pay the following invoices:
E.on Energy Solutions – street light maintenance Chq 654 £55.48
Mrs JP Friell – salary & expenses (July – Sept) Chq 655 £559.34
HMR&C – paye (July – Sept) Chq 656 £134.20
Maximow – grass cutting Chq 657 £204.00
The reconciled bank balance was £7,161.36
(b) Approve income received.
There has been no income banked since the last meeting. The Chair passed to the Clerk, the rent for the allotment plot recently let.
(c) Audit conclusion.
The Clerk presented the conclusion of the Auditors to the Parish Council – there were no matters arising. The 2016 audited Annual Return was proposed for acceptance by the Chair, seconded by Councillor E Gill and unanimously agreed.
(d) Quarterly budget v actual.
The Clerk had previously circulated the figures which showed the actual expenditure for the six months to 30 September was £5,986 (however this needs to be adjusted for the NALC bursary received in error, refunded in May) giving a revised figure of £5,486 against a budget of £5,490.
1327. Hannington Life - items for inclusion in the next edition and New Residents requiring Welcome Pack.
The Chair had produced a draft copy for October, which was agreed by the Parish Council for publication.
It was suggested by Mr R Wratten that future editions should carry the time and date on the next PC meeting, which the PC were in agreement to.
1328. Closed item – exclusion of Press and Public.
In accordance with section1 (2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 any public and press will be temporarily excluded from the meeting for this agenda item (1328) due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted and the public interest would not be served in disclosing that information.
The Chair explained that at this point the meeting was being closed. All members of the public left.
The Parish Council discussed the item.
The meeting re-opened.
1329. Councillors’ comments for consideration at next meeting.
There were no comments. Councillor K Simons stated that he had reported the white lines and barriers to the relevant authorities.
1330. Date of next meeting – 1 November 2016.