Mr P Bird (chair), Mr S Clifton, Mr P Colson, Mrs I Godden, Mrs S Hayman, Mrs E Reid, Mr D Sharples, Mr I Vaughan, Mr M Vaughan Mr B Whalley, Mrs Whalley and Mr D Woods

Mr P T Bird (Clerk), Mr D Sturdy, Mr M Parry

Mrs Reid. Cllr D Hughes. 

3:         Mr Sturdy and Mr Parry informed the meeting that they intended to set up a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire business, called “Take That Taxis Ltd”. It was anticipated that the vehicles would be in use for the vast majority of the day; consequently parking would not be an issue.

4:         It was hoped to launch the venture in May and permission was sought to park the vehicles on the small green near the Duke’s Arms for the launch of the business. The Parish Council agreed to this request.

5:         Cllr Langley informed the meeting that he had met with WS Atkins and also officers of the County Council, in a bid to resolve some of the highways issues facing this part of the county. He believed that some progress was being made but was being hindered by the lengthy administrative process that was used between the County Council and its contractor. Cllr Langley said that he had prepared a report proposing fundamental changes to the process including the delegation of some of the maintenance budgets to individual Parishes.

6:         The shrubs in Thrapston Road were still an issue and this was being actively pursued, however, restrictions apply to the pruning of shrubs between April and June.

7:         The road maintenance contract, due to expire in the autumn of this year is likely, when renewed to be of fifteen years duration.

9:         Alledge Bridge. The Clerks letter requesting that reflector posts be installed near the new bridge in Alledge was read out. No response yet.

10:     Use of Village Green. The Clerk’s letters regarding children playing on the village green instead of the recreation field were read out, but no further response had been received. Additionally the Clerk had responded to Mr Perkins of the Working Men’s club that he was unaware as to why grants for the maintenance of the playing fields had ceased some nine years ago.

11:     Village Green. The Clerk had written to Mrs Middleton (Woodford PCC) permitting the use of the village green for the Church Fete.

12:     Electoral Reform. The Clerk’s letter to the Boundary Committee confirming the Council’s agreement to the status quo for the District Council wards was read out.

13:     Bus Stop Sign – The Green. The Clerks letter to NCC was read out requesting the sign be re-sited away from the edge of the footpath and the timetable panel be located so travellers did not have to stand in the highway to read it. Additionally comment was made regarding the unsuitable design.

14:     NCC Youth Service. NCC had responded to the Councils letter (Jan para 1) concerning the Youth Service funding. Now that the overall budget had been set meeting legal deadline, consultation was now taking place regarding the allocation of the budget.

15:     Use of Back Green. The Clerk’s letter to Mrs Smith of Church Street who had requested use of back green as an overflow car park for a forthcoming wedding was read out.

16:     Stockman’s Cottage. The Clerk reported that since he had written to the agents for the development at Glebe Farm informing that the Council were unwilling to meet, a personal invitation had been made to him to attend a meeting to learn what was proposed at the site. Councillors were quite adamant that he should not attend.

17:     Planning Committee Comments

a)           The Planning Committee had not commented on any plans since the last meeting.

18:     East Northamptonshire Council Decisions

a)           No decisions had been received from the District Council

19:     New Planning Applications

a)           The Closet High Street. Conversion of shop to flat and provision of off street parking. The Parish Council had no objections to the conversion of the property but was concerned that in order to entrance the garaging facilities proposed vehicles would need to drive very close to the school pedestrian gate. Additionally a dropped kerb would need to be provided but due to the height of the pavement a significant gradient would be needed to cross the path.

b)           Conversion Ringstead Mill to Holiday Flats. Clerk explained that the previous application had been rejected (although notification had not been received) and this revised proposal included the retention of more internal features and additionally no new building work would be visible form the road. No Objections

20:     Other Planning Matters

a)           Mill Road Development. The Clerk reported that work had ceased on the development but no official notification had been received. He suggested it could be due to the restrictions on the clearance of nesting sites etc which is prohibited between 1 April and 30 June. Mr Woods informed the meeting that the Building Regulations had changed from 1^st April and with the impending expiration of the planning permission there may have cause to commence works in order to meet the planning conditions. This now having been done, the work is once again in abeyance. It was agreed that if sufficient work had been completed to meet the planning conditions, then perhaps the Council should now seek the grant from the developer. The Clerk was asked to contact ENC to clarify the matter.

21:     Community Safety Forum The next Community Safety Forum would be on Wednesday 17^th May at Rushden Hall – 7.30pm

22:     Audit. Details of the external audit in respect of the financial year 2005-06 had been received and this was timetabled for September.

23:     Royal British Legion. The Royal British Legion had written complaining of the lack of respect offered to the War Memorial by persons using the village green and offering to send a representative to the school to talk to the children. Councillors asked the Clerk to respond commenting that the children who play on the village green do not attend the village school, that steps had been taken within the past month to persuade those using the green to play on the recreation ground, and the subject was frequently aired in the village newsletter.

24:     SITA Trust. The application form from the SITA Trust was to hand in respect of a possible grant for the improvement of the Bridleway from the Shrubbery to the Lock.

25:     Circulation. There were no documents for circulation

27:     Temperance Hall. Mrs Hayman drew attention to the weeds in front of the Temperance Hall. The Chairman said this was not a Parish Council matter but there were a number of Temperance Hall Trustees present and the comments would be noted.

28:     Waste incinerator / Power Generation plant. .Mr Bird mentioned he had seen in the press that there was a proposal for a power generating plant to be built at the Cranford Quarries and queried whether the Parish Council had received any information from Kettering Borough Council. The Clerk responded that he had heard nothing but would contact Kettering BC.

29:     The Shrubbery. Mrs Hayman voiced concern at the deterioration of the shrubbery. Dead trees needed thinning and additionally much of the undergrowth was being damaged by motorcyclists. The Clerk was asked to contact Drayton asking whether they had any plans for the woodland and also their views if the Woodland Trust or similar were asked for opinion.