Woodford PC Minutes August 2006

Present:	Mr P Bird (chair), Mrs S Hayman, Mrs E Reid, Mr D Sharples, Mr M Vaughan, Mr B Whalley, Mrs Whalley and Mr D Woods.
In attendance:	Mr P T Bird (Clerk)
Apologies for absence:	Mr B Mearns, Mrs Godden. Mr I Vaughan (arrived later)
Minutes of last meeting:	The minutes of the July Parish Council meeting having been circulated, were agreed as a true record by those present. It was unanimously agreed that the Chairman sign them as such.
Youth Forum Update:	1: Mr M Vaughan reported that the next meeting would be 20^th September. The Clerk reported that the new Youth Liaison Officer at East Northants, Mr P Wilcox, had informed that ENC had been awarded £96,000 for the provision of youth services within the district and was currently seeking suggestions from anyone with a view.
Police Report:	2: A Police Officer was not present
Comments from Electors:	3: No members of the electorate were present.
Cllr Langley’s Comments:	4: Cllr Langley was not present but had forwarded a report
Cllr Hughes Comments:	5: Cllr Hughes was not present
Matters arising from the minutes:	6: Parking Newtown. The Clerk’s letter to NCC regarding parking problems in Newtown was read out. A copy had also been sent to Mr Norton who had originally raised the issue. No response had been received. 7: Rose Terrace Footpath. The Clerk reported that he had referred the state of the footpaths in Rose Terrace had been reported to the Street Doctor. A copy of a letter to NCC signed by many residents of Rose Terrace was also to hand. 8: Footpath in Thrapston Road. The Clerk’s letter to WS Atkins concerning the poor state of the footpath in Thrapston Road as a result of vehicles driving on it was readout. No response received. 9: Damage to Shrubbery trees. Mr Sharples reported he had seen youths damaging trees in the Shrubbery and had confronted them. He had reported the issue to Drayton Estate who did not appear to be interested.
Planning Issues:	10: Planning Committee Comments a) The Planning Committee had not commented on any plans since the last meeting. 11: East Northamptonshire Council Decisions a) Land Adjacent to 48 Highfield – Construction of pair of Semi-Detached houses permitted with condition that parking for 2 vehicles be provided in addition. 12: New Planning Applications a) No new Planning Applications were to hand
New Correspondence:	13: Byways Survey. NCC had written with a questionnaire requesting the Council’s vies on the usage of by-ways. It was suggested that as there were officially no by-ways in Woodford Parish then it was not worth completing. 14: Community Safety Forum. The next CSF would be on September 5^th at College Street Day Centre in Irthlingborough. 15: The Chairman asked that the following items of correspondence be circulated: a) Various ENC publications b) Village Viewpoint
Finance:	Balance brought forward			£32741.83
	Plus
	EME Wayleave		18.84
	Less			32760.67
	1394	Mr P Bird Clerk’s Salary	£200.00
	1395	Mrs D Bosworth Litter Picking (12hrs& £5.05 + £1.10 bags)	£61.70
	1396	Thrapston Town Band Donation	£60.00	£321.70
	Balance Carried forward			£32438.97

	16: Mr Whalley proposed, Mr Sharples seconded, and it was unanimously agreed that the above accounts be settled.
Donation to Thrapston Town Band	17: Thrapston Town Band had played again at Woodford Feast and it was unanimously agreed that a donation of £60 be forwarded to them.
Adoption of Accounts Year 2005/06	18: [Mr I Vaughan joined the meeting at this point.] The accounts for the year ending March 2006 had been audited and no problems had bee identified, however, some suggestions had been made which will be reported at the next meeting. The accounts having been circulated were approved unanimously and the Council’s statement of assurances was answered in the affirmative and the Chairman signed the document accordingly.
Footpath around rear of Infant School “The Righta”	19: Repairs to Fence. The Chairman reported that the fence around the rear of the school had been damaged once again and in order to make it safe he had removed the length of fence. He requested that the Council purchase a new length of fence be ordered. The Chairman informed the meeting that Mr Maddison whose boundary was adjacent to the fencing was willing to install the fencing free of charge. Mrs Hayman proposed and Mrs Reid seconded that fencing be ordered from Thrapston Farm and Garden and this was agreed by all present.
Playground enhancements	20: Playground Development. It was agreed that equipment should be of a low maintenance type, but should be aimed at an older age group than the existing equipment. Youth Forum to pursue it initially.
Parish Notice-board location	21: Notice-board location. Various sites were discussed and Councillors agreed that the best location would probably be near the school drive adjacent to the wall on the left hand side of the drive. The Clerk was asked to write to the school and Drayton Estate seeking their views.
Any other Business:	22: Dog Fouling. Mrs Reid reported that there were significant amounts of dog excrement in the High Street opposite the school, Constable Walk and Pound Lane. It was agreed the Clerk refer these matters to East Northants Council requesting greater monitoring of these areas by the Dog Wardens. 23: Signposts at end of Mill Road. Following excavations in Thrapston Road at the junction with Mill Road it was apparent that the “clearway” sign and the direction finger post had been replaced in the wrong positions, causing the finger post to be obscured for vehicles leaving Mill Road. Clerk to write to William Davis. 24: Thrapston Road. The Clerk reported he had been informed that the Agricultural Store in Thrapston Road was now being used by a plumber and had reported the infringement of planning law to the Planning Enforcement Officer at ENC.

Woodford, Near Kettering, Northamptonshire, England

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