District Councillor Helen Howell for Stanwick & Hargrave

I hope you are all coping with the fabulous weather we are having, please remember it is not only the cold that can have an impact, please keep an eye out for elderly neighbours who may be struggling in this heat as well as our furry friends.

The news from East Northants Council is as follows:

Nags Head Appeal

You will probably be aware that the appeal against ENC’s decision to refuse planning permission for The Nags Head Public House to be converted into a residential dwelling took place on 12th June 2018, following a delay to the scheduled date of 5th April.

There was a good representation from the village and the parish council. Many residents spoke at the appeal including Ed Wilson, who represented the Community pub group. I was pleased to be able to support the village and speak about the importance a community pub could bring back to the village.

We have done all we can do now, it is in the hands of the inspector and we will know the outcome of the appeal some time soon, we have not been given a date as of yet though. I would like to thank Amie Baxter and the team from East Northants planning department for all their hard work in supporting the village and me in defending this appeal.

I must admit I did leave the appeal with some optimism, let’s hope that it is confirmed!!

Transformation Committee

I am delighted to have been asked to Chair the new Transformation Committee. We will be holding our inaugural meeting on Monday 2nd July at 7.30pm. This Committee was created in recognition of the significant transformational challenges facing ENC in the next few years as it seeks to adopt modern ways of working and potentially transfer responsibilities to the proposed new North Unitary Council. The Committee remit will include some of the areas previously covered by working parties such as the Local Government Reform Working Party.

ENC are looking to improve the physical working conditions for staff so as to create a pleasant and attractive work space through which staffs are inspired and able to deliver services effectively. The project will also help prepare staff for the changes to local government in Northamptonshire that will be happening over the coming years whilst making the best use of council facilities.

I will be able to update you further in my next report.

Important consultation – have your say to help us design the future of local government Consultation on a re-structure of local government in Northamptonshire starts today, with opportunities for all residents, businesses and other stakeholders in the county to have their say.

All eight authorities in Northamptonshire are working on a proposal for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that “must command a good deal of local support”, so stakeholders across the county have an opportunity to comment before a final proposal is submitted.

Formal consultation runs from today (18 June) until 22 July 2018.

People are being encouraged to have their say by going online to complete a questionnaire at www.futurenorthants.co.uk

There they will also find a detailed consultation document that fully explains the proposal.

The Government’s invitation to submit a proposal follows a Best Vale Inspection of Northamptonshire County Council, which concluded that its financial, cultural and governance problems could not be solved in isolation and recommended that plans be developed for two unitary authorities.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has asked that the eight authorities in Northamptonshire submit a proposal that meets the following criteria:

A single county-wide unitary is explicitly excluded as an option Each new proposed authority must have a population substantially in excess of 300,000 The proposal must be based on existing council boundaries. Alongside the consultation website, copies of the consultation document and the questionnaire will also be available in libraries and local council offices from Monday, 25 June.

Please check your council website for details of venues where you can pick up a copy.

A representative telephone survey will be carried out and a series of focus groups with representative groups of invited residents will also take place across the county, as well as engagement with other stakeholders.

Other consultations by the local media and by individual councils may take place at the same time, so it’s really important that people respond to the official Local Government Reform Northamptonshire consultation being run by all eight Northamptonshire councils for their comments on the proposal to be considered.

In addition to the criteria set out by the Secretary of State, Government has stated:

• Only one proposal will be accepted, not a range of options • It must demonstrate clear potential for savings • It must command a good deal of local support • Due consideration should be given to recommendations in the Best Value Report • Any solution should prioritise the Government’s wider housing and growth agenda

Full steam ahead for community pathway project

Rushden’s rich heritage and links to the that flows past it are the focus of a major project.

Run by the Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme and Council, the project is called Out to Water, Into History.

Whilst a lot of work has already started on the project, including the setting up of a ‘Friends of the Greenway’ group via a dedicated Facebook page and a recent community litter pick, which saw several bags of rubbish collected, the project will have its official launch on Saturday, 23 June 2018.

The project team will be situated at either end of the Rushden route of the Greenway, from Crown Park to Asda, with fun quizzes for all the family and to share the five year plan to achieve the project’s goal of improving this stretch of the Greenway from Rushden Lakes to the town centre; with new signage, welcoming gateways, better landscaping and as the name suggests, the project hopes to encourage users to travel between the river and Rushden, creating clear links with other points of interest along the route.

Councillor Sarah Peacock, from the Greenway board, says:

“This is a major step in the project as we finally show everyone the hard work that has already taken place to start the improvements of the much-used pathway.

“We want as many people as possible to come down to the Greenway between 11am to 1pm and talk to the team about the project and learn why it is vital for the town.”

Nenescape’s Project Manager, Amanda Johnson, added:

“The Greenway project is a wonderful example of how communities and businesses are recognising the value of connected and accessible spaces. With the Out to Water, into History project and launch event, the Nenescape team are really looking forward to celebrating with Greenway volunteers and officers who continue to work hard behind the scenes to ensure the Nene Valley is a great place to live, work and visit.”

Find out more about the project at www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/outtowater

Growing The Greenway walking and cycling route

East Northamptonshire Council members have approved £345k of funding to grow and improve the much-loved Greenway route that walkers and cyclists enjoy throughout East Northamptonshire and beyond.

Phase 5 will see the network extend in and around Rushden Lakes, Stanwick Lakes and to the main town centres of Rushden, Irthlingborough and Higham Ferrers.

The re-instatement of bailey bridges will provide a continuous link from Rushden Lakes to the main Greenway route making it easier to access the retail park without using a car, something local residents appreciate and enjoy.

The Higham Ferrers to Irthlingborough stretch will receive improvements to signage and new interpretation boards that help people to navigate the Greenway. The boards will also provide information on the surrounding landscape, especially the wildlife reserves and lakes.

And a new leg of the Greenway will be created between Islip and Woodford Lock that will create an important connection between the middle sections of East Northamptonshire and Stanwick Lakes. This will make it easier for Greenway users to access the many villages and sights along that section of the route.

Leader of East Northamptonshire Council, Steven North, said: “We know how much local walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities enjoy the Greenway and, along with our partners, want to see it develop with an extended network and better ways for people to make the most of this route.

“We’re very keen to see as many people as possible using this network not only because walking and cycling is good for your physical health but because a green route through our beautiful district is great for your mental health too. It’s an asset of which we’re very proud.”

• £300K investment has been made available for constructing phases 7 and 8 of Greenway. The funding is coming from our New Homes Bonus reserve. • £45K investment is for various works on phase 5 of the Greenway. The funding is part of financial contributions required by housing site developers building nearby. • All works planning will take into account nesting bird species and other seasonal issues around fauna and flora. • Strategic direction for the Greenway is through a Board led by ENC and supported by: Northamptonshire County Council, The Wildlife Trust, Sustrans, Natural and Destination Nene Valley. • Council celebrates a double award winning technical achievement

At the recent Exemplar Awards 2018, which took place on Thursday 10 May at Edgbaston Cricket Club in Birmingham, East Northamptonshire Council was presented with a ‘Gold Performance Award’.

This is in recognition of the management of its address information database, plus we were awarded best in the whole of too.

Improving public services and overcoming the challenges of data sharing is a key focus for councils. The awards highlight best practice in local authorities using land and property and street information to tie different services from across the council together to give a ‘property level view of services'. Good data is critical in all of this. Without accurate, current and well-maintained data many of these challenges simply won't be solved.

Local councils have a statutory requirement for street naming and numbering and are the source for the millions of address records of every residence and business in the UK. Addresses are invaluable to our economy and our public services.

The Gold Performance Award for Address Data is given to authorities that have reached and maintained the very highest standard in national tests on data excellence and supply of regular updates to the national hub which manages receipt of address data from all authorities in England and Wales.

Cllr Steven North, Leader of East Northamptonshire Councils says:

“This is a great achievement for everyone involved with the project at East Northamptonshire Council and reinforces our commitment to providing services of which we can be proud.”

My usual contact details are: [email protected] Please include the suffix (action) in the subject heading. You can also leave a message for me at ENC on 01832 742000.

I am happy to make home visits or wherever it is convenient.

Best wishes

Cllr Helen Howell