The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting were agreed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

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

2:         A Police Officer was not present.

6:         The Clerk reported that two persons had expressed an interest in becoming a Parish Councillor; Mr Michael Hurst and Mr Brian Mearns. It was proposed unanimously that both be considered, and following a vote Mr Brian Mearns was duly elected to serve. Clerk to write to both candidates.

7:         Power Generation Plant Cranford Landfill. Clerk informed that he had received information from NCC (who had now approved installation) of the methane fuel generation plant at the land fill site. The unit was self contained and whilst it would have a fare stack the flame would be ignited within the stack so would not be visible. The unit would require only weekly maintenance so traffic would not increase substantially and had a projected life of between 15 and 20 years.

8:         Woodford Feast Weekend. Mr Colson reported that he had attended a meeting of the Playing Fields committee and he understood that vehicles for the forthcoming Vintage Vehicle Rally would arrive from the Tuesday prior to the weekend.

Mr I Vaughan reported that due to the Football World Cup Final being held on 9^th July it was unlikely the band would be able to attend in the evening. It was agreed that the concert be rescheduled to 2.30pm if the band were in agreement.

9:         Vans at Club Lane. Mrs Hayman raised the issue of the vans parked at the top of Club Lane causing a hazard. The Clerk informed the meeting that they had been reported to the Police more than once, but he would do so again.

10:     The Shrubbery. Draton Estate had responded that they had no immediate plans for any forestry work in The Shrubbery. They also stated that they had no wish to involve any conservation groups in the maintenance of the wood.

11:     Mill Road development. The Clerk informed the meeting that Mr Croucher (ENC) had informed him that now that work had resumed the development would be considered to have “started” and that it would also be worth invoicing William Davies for the agreed sum for the provision of off site recreation facilities.  Mr Colson voiced concern over the potential overload to the sewerage system in Thrapston Road and it was agreed the Clerk write to Anglian Water and William Davies Ltd with these concerns. Storm water drain installation had commenced.

12:     Planning Committee Comments

a)           Glebe Farm Addington Rd. Siting of temporary mobile home. Objection. Councillors strongly objected to this development citing that it was in open countryside and there was sufficient housing in nearby Great Addington and Woodford. This would also provide a foothold for future permanent development at the site.

b)           Adj. 48 Highfield Pair 2 storey semi-detached houses. No objection in principle to development but concerned at lack of parking provided.

13:     East Northamptonshire Council Decisions

a)           8 High Street – Rear Extension – Permitted.

b)           1 Whittlesea Terrace – Two storey Front Extension – Permitted

c)           48 High Street – Conversion of shop to flat – Refused due to failure to demonstrate that development would not a have a detrimental impact on safety of road users.

14:     New Planning Applications

a)           26 Church Street two storey side extension. Change of materials – No objection.

b)           Addington Road Ringstead. Three Storey Country Hotel. Objection. Councillors objected stating that despite the site being overgrown for in excess of ten years the access was poor and the property would be visually intrusive in open countryside.

c)           Ivy Cottage Thrapston Rd Cranford. Side extension and construction of new chimney to rear. No Objection.

15:     Other Planning Matters

a)           There were no other planning matters.

16:     Northamptonshire Police Force Merger. The matter was discussed and Councillors vigorously opposed the proposal. The clerk was asked to complete the questionnaire citing this view.

17:     Bus Service 16. Notice had been received that the Service 16 was to be cut with 1 in two services being withdrawn from 22 July. The Clerk was asked to write to the County Council (who subsidise the service) expressing dismay at the lack of consultation, concern that many students would be waiting up to 75 minutes at the end of their school day for a bus service, and that the last bus from Kettering was 17.45hrs.

18:     Community Safety Fund. East Northants Council had written asking why so few Parish Councils had sought money from these various funds. Clerk asked to respond that whilst it was sometimes easy to identify projects they did not always have the capacity to progress and monitor projects.

19:     Road-works. The Highways Agency had written with details of road works in the East Midlands. Leaflets circulated to the Post Office and Doctors Surgery.

20:     Community Safety Forum. The next Community Safety Forum would be at Higham Ferrers on 28^th June at 7.30pm.

21:     Mill Road Development. A proposed street lighting plan was to hand involving the relocation of one lamp in Mill Road to the opposite side of the road and the installation of an additional eleven lamps within the development. The need for one of the lamp locations was questioned (between plots 47 / 48 on road 1) and Mr Sharples asked whether more energy efficient lamps which shone at half brightness until movement was detected could be considered. Clerk to discuss with ABB before responding to William Davies. Council acknowledge it would need to accommodate these extra lamps in future budgets.

22:     North Northamptonshire Planning Unit.  Details of the latest proposals are available at http://smartstore.northamptonshire.gov.uk Proposals for A14 improvements will be received in September when there will be a formal six week consultation period.

23:     Welfare Rights Advice Service advised that they had funding to increase the advice work presently carried out in East Northamptonshire area.

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

a)          ENC Councillor Information Circular

b)        Community Safety Forum Minutes

c)         Older Wiser East Northamptonshire minutes

26:     The Clerk informed the meeting that it was necessary to re-appoint an internal auditor and Mr Lionel Essam was reappointed unanimously. The Clerk was asked to contact him to ensure he was willing to continue.

27:     Footpaths in Warren. Mrs Hayman raised the issue of the overgrown footpaths in the warren field. The Clerk was asked to raise the issue with Drayton Estate.

28:     30 Miles per Hour limit. Mention was made of the 30mph limit in Thrapston Road being very close to the entrance to Alledge Drive. Many of the allotments outside of the zone were now regularly used, as too was the SMC site and also the farm. The Clerk was asked to write to WS Atkins to request that the 30mph limit be extended to encompass these sites.