Minutes of meeting held on 5^th January 2009 at 7.30p.m. in the Village Hall.

PRESENT              CHAIRMAN                        Mr D Messenger

                                COUNCILLORS                   Mr D Cooke

                                                                                Mr H Ferguson

                                                                                Mr J Lawrence

                                CLERK                                    Mrs M R Money

Also present 7 members of the public and a reporter from the Daventry Express.

948.09   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllrs T Regan and A Wade. 

949.09 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were none. However, the chairman pointed out that in accordance with guidance issued by the Standards Board for England the issue of the Village Hall was of such a general interest that no interest need be registered by Councillors.  Cllr D Cooke was not requird to register a particular interest in discussions on the Village Hall as he is the Parish Council’s appointed representative on the Committee.

950.09 TO APPROVE AND SIGN THE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 5^th DECEMBER 2008

On a proposal by Cllr D Cooke it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th December 2008 be approved and signed as a true record.

951.09 PUBLIC TIME

a)            Playground Equipment – A letter of complaint about the equipment has been passed to Cllr A Wade for attention.  This will be an Agenda item for the February meeting.

b)            Footpath from Churchyard to Mounts Lane – A question was asked about responsibility for maintenance. This is the responsibility of NCC Highways Department and the Clerk was asked to write to them pointing out that this route formed part of the Nene Way and the need for regular maintenance.  In the meantime the handyman will be instructed to maintain it in the absence of any action by the Highways Department.

It was suggested that an artilce be included in Village Voice asking residents to report any routine maintenance in the village which could be undertaken by the handyman.

c)            School Website – It was reported that the school has anew website and this should be promoted through Village Voice and the Link.

d) Royal Mail Collection Box - A petition to get a collection box near the Green is being organised by Mrs Price.  When this is ready it will be sent to the Royal Mail with a supporting letter from the Council.

d)            DA/2008/1103 – Land to the rear of Dunster, Mounts Lane – This application has been approved.  A query was raised as to the Council’s response as the DDC planning website said that the Parish Council had not raised any objections.  The Clerk advised that although no objection had been raised comments had been made.

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952.09  NEWNHAM VILLAGE HALL

The Chairman introduced the topic and asked Paul Ettridge – Chairman of the Village Hall Management Committee – to comment on the Survey Report.  It was pointed out that at this stage the report was confidential to Godfrey-Payton, Chartered Surveyors, the Parish Council and Mr and Mrs Mobbs as interested parties, in accordance with the terms of engagement.  The Village Hall Management Committee will descuss the report at its meeting on Thursday.  Cllr D Cooke pointed out that the report highlighted several contributory factors to the damp problems and these would have to be addressed in a staged repair programme.  It was RESOLVED that the Village Hall Management Committee should now take responsibility for moving the repair work forward. 

953.09  NEWNHAM AMENITY ASSOCIATION

There is concern that the Association will be without a Chairman when Mrs P Alexander retires later in the year.  To date no-one has expressed interest in taking over the role.  Discussion was held on the origins of the Association.  Clrr D Cooke said he had a copy of the Constitution which will be available at the next Parish Council meeting.  CLlr Cooke was asked to invite Mrs Alexander to attend the meeting.

954.09   WNDC APPEAL

The Chairman advised that there was nothing further to report since the December meeting.  He also advised that the group of villages known as Daventry Villages Togetther will be writing to the Inspectorate setting out the particular issues they wished raised at the Enquriy.  For Newnham this would include traffice concerns which could be covered by a Section 106 Agreement.  It is important for the Parish Council to be party to such an agreemen t so that it can use its enforcement powers if required.  It was stressed that a Section 106 Agreement can only apply to new; possible problems not ameliorate existing ones.

955.09   VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT

Cllr H Ferguson advsied that a meeting of the Steering Group will be organised shortly.

956.09  CORRESPONDENCE

a)            Northants CALC – Funding for Country Training Partnership/NCC Conference for Parishes – The Clerk reported that additional funding is available for training of Clerks and Councillors.  An NCC Conference for Parishes is to be held on Wednesday 18^th March 2009 between 4.30.p.m and 8.30.p.m at the Rushden and Diamond Conference Centre.  The Chairman asked Collrs to make every effort to attend.

b)            CPRE Northants Invite to Meeting – No one is available to attend.

c)            NCC Transport & Highways Top 10 Local Priorities – The Clerk was instructed to complete the form in line with the top 10 priorities listed on the NCC paperwork.

d)            DDC National Play Strategy – CLlr D Cooke agreed to consider the papers.

e)            NCC Draft Council Plan and Budget Consultation – Noted by Councillors

f)             Northants ACRE Consultation on Policing – The Clerk offered to attend and this was accepted.

[At this point five members of the public left the meeting]

957.09   FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Cllr H Ferguson had looked at the Model Publication Scheme and stressed the importance of getting

 the website active again to meet the Scheme’s requirements.  On a proposal by CLlr Ferguson it was

RESOLVED to adopt the model Freedom of Information Publication Scheme as issued by the

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Information Commissioner and to form a working party to complete the Guide to Information and

submit it to council for approval.

958.09   STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Due to lack of time to take on additional commitments no-one felt able to apply to join the

Committee.

959.09   NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

No report was available. 

960.09   PLANNING

a)            DA/2008/1067 – Work to trees in Conservation Area, Bartons, The Green – This application has been granted.

b)            DA/2008/1103 – Land to the rear of Dunster, Mounts Lane – See under Public Time.

c)            DA/2008/0896 – Conversion of outbuilding to single dwelling with garage – Revised plans have been submitted.  The Planning Officer’s recommendation will be to refuse the application.

961.09   HEALTH AND SAFETY

a)            Reflective Jackets – The Clerk was instructed to find out cost for 6 with Newnham Parish Council printed on the back.

b)            Tap in Cemetery – There is a leak caused by the very cold weather.  The handyman will be asked to repair.

c)            Churchyard – The Chairman circulated a Law Report titled Council’s duty to ensure safety in churchyards – As Newnham is a closed churchyard there is an overlap of responsibility by the Parish Council and Parochial Church Council.  IT is essential for the Parish Council to be proactive on maintenance, hence the need for regular risk assessments.  The Clerk was asked to write to the PCC asking for the comments.

[At this point the reporter from the Daventry Express and Paul Ettridge left the meeting]

962.09   HIGHWAY MATTERS

a)            Gully Cleaning – The Clerk advised that she is still trying to make contact with the appropriate person to obtain dates for the work. 

b)            Response from Street Doctor re Newnham Hill - - The Clerk advised that she had contacted them again asking why the work has not been carried out.  An apology has been received and she is due to hear from the engineer within the next week.

963.09   WAR MEMORIAL

On-going.

964.09   FINANCIAL

On a proposal from the Chairman it was RESOLVED that the following accounts be paid.

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The payment to Godfrey-Payton is partly covered by the £750 received from the NCC County

Councillors Empowerment Fund. 

b)            Monies Received - £500 from the NCC County Councillors Empowerment Fund towards the cost of the final version Village Design Statement.

c)            Financial Statement – The bank statements and reconciliaton were available for inspection.

d)            Income/Expenditure Against Budget 3^rd Quarter – The information had been circulated with the meeting papers and no questions were raised.

e)            External Audit Report – The report, particularly the issues highlighted by it, were discussed.  It was unanimously RESOLVED that the report be received.   It was pointed out that most of the issues raised had already been adopted by the Council or were in the process of being adopted.  The Chairman asked that the Council’s gratitude to the Clerk for the time and hard work involved in dealing with the audit should be recorded.

965.09   ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING

May and June meetings.

966.09   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 2^nd February 2009 at 7.30.p.m.

Meeting closed at 10.10.p.m.