Chief Superintendent D Smith, Cllr A Langley

The Chairman welcomed Chief Superintendent Dean Smith to the meeting. The CS spoke of the restructured Police Force in Northamptonshire and informed that he was responsible for the northern area (Wellingborough, Corby, Kettering and East Northants. The command structure was discussed and also the priorities that are faced by the police. A discussion took place as to the merits of the Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), and Mr Smith informed that they were allocated to specific geographical areas and would only be reallocated on short term basis. Not only had the County Council provided some funding for these Officers, but District and Borough Councils too (not East Northants). The use of PCSOs would not be detrimental to regular PC’s but would give the Police the opportunity to increase the amount of visible policing throughout the County.

Councillors aired with the CS the lack of Police attendance at Parish Council meetings and some of the problems in Woodford at present including parking in the High Street and at junctions generally, vandalism around the village and specifically to the Parish Church, Working Men’s Club and the Children’s Playground. The Chief Superintendent said he would pass the message on to the relevant officers. The Chairman thanked the Officer for attending.

The minutes of the Parish Council meeting having been circulated, were proposed by Mr Clifton, seconded by Mrs Hayman, and agreed as a true record by those present. It was unanimously agreed that the Chairman sign them as such.

3:         Cllr Langley said he had found the Chief Superintendent’s talk interesting and looked forward to meeting the new Council following the election

4:         Seat – Mill Road. The clerk’s email requesting the seat be replaced on the pavement adjacent to the high wall to the left of the “Showhouse” was read out. No reply.

5:         Mineral Extraction. The Clerk’s response voicing concern at the possible mineral extraction (fields around Grange Farm and the Shrubbery) was read out. Acknowledgement received.

6:         Temperance Hall. Solicitors had now confirmed that the Temperance Hall had been registered in the name of the Parish Council as Custodian Trustees of the Woodford General Charity (Temperance Hall).

7:         Church Fete. The Clerk’s letter to the Church Fete Committee allowing use of the village green was read out.

8:         Police Attendance. PCSO Gareth Cross had enclosed with his apologies the Crime Figures for the year to the end of March. Two “other” crimes had occurred in March. In total over the twelve month period there had been :

4        Burglaries of Dwellings

3        Thefts of Motor Vehicles

4        Thefts from Motor Vehicles

21      Other Crimes

       These 32 crimes represented 0.1% of the 28,924 crimes reported in North Northamptonshire during the year ending March 2007.  

9:         The Paddocks. The road names within The Paddocks development had been confirmed by East Northants Council (ENC) as Paddock Road and Windmill Close.

10:     Planning Committee Comments

a)           Riverview House – Refurbishment of outbuildings Resubmission. Councillors had no objections so long as the property remained ancillary to the main dwelling and business use was not permitted.

11:     East Northamptonshire Council Decisions

a)           5 De Capel Close. Single Storey Extension. Permitted.

b)           Riverview House – Refurbishment of outbuildings (original submission) Permitted.

12:     New Planning Applications

a)           There were no new planning applications

13:     Other Planning Matters

a)           There were no other matters

14:     Forthcoming Parish and District Elections. Only nine valid nominations were received by the closing time for the Parish Council and only one nomination for that of District Councillor for the Woodford Ward had been submitted. Consequently District Councillor Dudley Hughes was effectively elected unopposed and the Parish Council would be required to co-opt an additional four members. The Clerk was required to carry out the relevant provisions of the legislation.

15:     Bus Services. The County Council had written advising that the Bus Services operated by Alec Head were to be operated by Stagecoach to Kettering, Northampton. The Friday service to Wellingborough had been withdrawn.

16:     Parish Councillor Mrs Godden. Mrs Godden had written to the Clerk resigning from the Council. As this was the last meeting it was not required to formally declare a vacancy.

17:     Audit. BDO Stoy Haywood had written advising of the audit timetable.

18:     Orbit Housing. Orbit Housing had written informing they had been offered land for affordable housing. The Clerk reported that investigations had revealed that as the site was outside the village development zone a convincing case would need to be made through a Housing Needs Survey supported by the Council. Councillors agreed that the last survey revealed the number of properties required was in “single figures”, yet there were to be fourteen properties built on the William Davis Site and a further four  properties had been given planning permission in the village, such a need was not required at the time.

19:     Postwatch. Postwatch organisation had written to the Parish Council advising how, on a national basis they were opposing Post Office Closures.

20:     The Chairman asked that the following items of correspondence be circulated:

a)         East Midlands Development Agency Magazine

22:     Playground Inspection. The Clerk reported that the Playground inspection had taken place and the inspector had telephoned that evening suggesting the area should be closed due to the poor state of the safety flooring. The Clerk reported he had arranged to pick up the glue for the repairs the following day and Mr Sharples offered to assist with the replacement of the tiles. If however, the tiles were beyond repair, or excess damage had been caused then arrangement should be made to close the playground. Councillors authorised the Clerk to arrange for the relevant security fencing to be installed so long as the cost was not excessive.

23:     Sewage Services. Thrapston Road. Mr Woods reported that the sewage mains had been blocked in Thrapston Road and Anglian Water had attended to clear the blockage, however, they expressed concern at the state of the main. Those present agreed that the Clerk write to Anglian Water requesting that they investigate the matter with some urgency prior to the new homes in the Paddocks coming online.