NEWNHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting held on 3 December 2008 at the Village Hall.

Present          Chairman                    Mr D Cooke

                        Councillors                  Mrs V Curtis

                                                            Mr H Ferguson

                                                            Mr N Shepherd

                                                            Mr T Wade

                        Clerk                            Mrs M Money

Two members of the public were also present.

705.07 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllrs D Messenger, J Lawrence and T Regan.

County Councillor R W Brown.

706.07 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were none.

707.07 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

On a proposal by Cllr H Ferguson it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th November 2007 be approved and signed as a true record.

708.07 MATTERS ARISING FOR REPORT ONLY

Christmas Tree Recycling – The Clerk reported that collections would be on the first two Saturdays of January 2008.

709.07 PUBLIC TIME

As the main concern was the proposed Post Office Closure the Chairman brought forward item 10 on the Agenda.

710.07 PROPOSED POST OFFICE CLOSURE

Lengthy discussion took place on the affect closure would have on the village and surrounding area.  The Clerk was asked to contact Postwatch to seek advice on the best way to present objections.  The deadline for the consultation period if 10 January 2008.  It was RESOLVED that a leaflet should be circulated to every household in the village to encourage residents to submit objections.  The Clerk will respond on behalf of the Council.

711.07 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

 PCSO Norman Bareham and WPC Paula Rutherford  joined the meeting briefly to update Councillors on the main issues in the area it was felt Neighbourhood Watch should be discussed as well.  The main concerns for the Police are distraction burglaries and car key thefts.

Cllr N Shepherd reported that 50 people in the village have joined the mailing list.  He intends to arrange for a Power Point presentation by the Long Buckby Neighbourhood Watch organiser in the new year and will also make contact with the national Neighbourhood Watch organisation. PCSO Bareham thanked him for the hard work he had put in to getting the scheme running in the village.

712.07 CORRESPONDENCE

a)         Strategic Funding Programme 2008/9 – The Clerk read a letter about the Programme.

b)         Atkins Urban Highways Grass Mowing 2008 – The Clerk advised that the contribution will be £463.60.

c)         My County Council – The Clerk will put a notice in the notice board that leaflets relating to Direct Payments are available.

d)         Changes to Business Rates – Changes are being made to rates for empty business premises. After 3 months the full rates will be payable.

e)         Launch of Daventry and District Housing – The Clerk reported on the transfer and management of the Council’s Housing stock.

f)          Homelessness Service Review – Councillors D Cooke and H Ferguson agreed to complete the survey.

g)         Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places – Councillors confirmed the current arrangements.

h)         Open Space, Sport & Recreational Facilities Survey – The Clerk advised that Inspectors will be visiting during the next two months.

i)          L.P Finn – Approval was given for the additional wording to the Cox memorial.

j)          Powergen – The Clerk advised that the price for the unmetered supply is to be increased to 8.24 per Kwh, making a yearly cost of £1200.07.

713.07 PARISH PLAN

Preparation of a plan will take a lot of time and commitment.  Cllr H Ferguson agreed to look at the various papers provided by Northamptonshire ACRE.  It was RESOLVED that allocation for a Parish Plan be included in the 2009/10 Budget.

714.07 WNDC PLANNING APPLICATION

Cllr H Ferguson reported on the meeting attended with Cllr T Regan on 8^th November.  The

final decision on Outline Planning Permission will be made early in 2009.

715.07 PLANNING

DA/2007/1230 – The Limes – Demolition of existing garage and construction of a

double garage

The application had been circulated, no observations were made.

In future the Clerk will contact the Chairman about applications received to decide on

whether a meeting should be called or the application circulated.

716.07 PLAY AREA

The Clerk explained the difficulties experienced in cleaning the play surface as there is no

water or electricity on site. An allowance should be made in the 2009/10 Budget for relaying

the play surface.

717.07 HIGHWAY MATTERS

State of pavements – Cllr D Cooke will report at the next meeting.

718.07 ACCOUNTS

a)      Accounts for Payment 

b)     Bank reconciliation

RESOLVED that the bank reconciliation be approved and signed as attached to these Minutes.

c)     Budget – It was RESOLVED that the Budget should be approved

d)     Bank Mandate – It was RESOLVED that a new Bank Mandate be prepared to include Cllr T Wade.

719.07 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cherry Tree – Cllr D Cooke advised that he had met with the Tree Surgeon and the tree will be lopped by about one third.

Haynes Family Seat in Cemetery – Cllr D Cooke reported that siting of the new seat has been agreed and it would be installed in the New Year.

Flower Beds – The handyman advises that the existing wooden ones are beyond repair.  It was RESOLVED  that they be replaced with brick built ones.

Clerk’s Contact Details – These will be posted in the notice board.

Speedwatch – Speedwatch Officers with official equipment have visited and will be visiting again in the next 4-6 weeks.