MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL OF HELD AT SWANSPOOL HOUSE, WELLINGBOROUGH ON TUESDAY 21ST JULY 2009

Present: The Mayor (Councillor P Morrall), Councillor Higgins (Deputy Mayor) and Councillors Ainge, Allebone, Bailey, Bass, Beirne, P Bell, R Bell, Blackwell, Callnon, Crofts, Dean, Dholakia, Griffiths, G Lawman, L Lawman, Maguire, Partridge-Underwood, Patel, Perkins, Pursglove, Raymond, Saxby, Shram, Simmons, Timms, Ward, Warwick and Waters.

1. PRAYERS

Prayers were said by the Mayor’s Chaplain with special remembrance for former employee Ken Marland.

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bigley, Graves, Harrington, Hollyman and Payne.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The following Councillors declared an interest, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Committee date and minute Reason for declaration no. Allebone Community 22 6 09 – Min 7 The Personal – he and wife Castle – Performance Indicators are Board Members of The Castle. Resources 23 6 09 – Min 14 The Personal and prejudicial Castle he and wife are Board Members of The Castle.

Bailey Planning 10 6 09 – Min 9 – Personal and prejudicial Planning Application property is adjacent to WP/2009/0109(F) – Orchard his home Court, Orchard Road, Planning 10 6 09 – Min 10 – Personal and prejudicial Listed Building Application property is adjacent to WP/2009/0110(LB) – Orchard his home. Court, Orchard Road, Finedon Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

P Bell Resources 23 6 09 Min 11 High Personal – lives near to Street General Vesting High Street declaration Urgent Action Development 24 6 09 Personal - knew one of Min 5 On-Street parking the speakers regulations – Residential Personal – lives near Scheme the High Street. Min 10 – Conservation Area Personal and prejudicial Strategy – Consultation Report. owns a house in the area. R Bell Resources 23 6 09 Min 11 Personal – lives near High Street General Vesting the High Street Declaration.. Blackwell Development 24 6 09 Min 6 – Personal – Member of Local Development Scheme the NNJPC Community 22 6 09 Min 5 – Personal – Board Wellingborough Homes – Member of Progress Monitoring Wellingborough Homes Resources 23 6 09 Min 9 – Personal - he is a Capital Programme – Revisiion member of the Earls to Project Barton Bowls and Tennis Club.

Crofts Resources 23 6 09 Min 5 Personal and prejudicial Community Buildings Grants Member of Victoria Centre and Treasurer of NREC based in the Centre. Min 8 University Challenge Personal - works at University of Northampton. Dean Community 22 6 09 Personal – Board Min 5 Wellingborough Homes – Member of Progress Monitoring Wellingborough Homes. Dholakia Resources 23 6 09 Min 5 Personal and prejudicial Community Buildings Grants Governor of Wrenn School Resources 23 6 09 Min 9 Personal and prejudicial Capital Programme – Revision to Governor of Wrenn Wrenn School Project School Higgins Community 23 6 09 Min 5 Personal – Board Wellingborough Homes – Member of Progress Monitoring Wellingborough Homes. Min 7 - Performance Indicators - Personal and prejudicial The Castle. Board Member of The Castle Resources 24 6 09 Min 14 - Personal and prejudicial The Castle Board Member of The Castle

Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

Audit and Performance 14 7 09 Personal and prejudicial Min 2 - The Castle Board Member of The Castle G Lawman Resources 23 6 09 Min 5 Personal – Council Community Building Grants representative on 2010/11. Victoria Centre Management Committee. L Lawman Resources 23 6 09 – Min 6 Personal- Council Final Outturn 2008/09 representative on the North Northants Joint Planning Committee. Development 24 6 09 – Min 6 Personal – Council Local Development Scheme appointed representative on the North Northants Joint Planning Committee. Partnerships Review 29 6 09 – Personal – Chairman of Min 5 – Update to April’s report the Prosper Group. entitled ‘How can we help our Secondary Schools improve the level of aspiration. Partridge- Community 23 6 09 Min 7 Personal and prejudicial Underwood The Castle Board Member of The Castle Resources 24 6 09 Min 14 Personal and prejudicial The Castle Board Member of The Castle Audit and Performance 14 7 09 Personal and prejudicial Min 2 The Castle Board Member of The Castle Patel Community 22 6 09 Min 5 Personal – Wellingborough Homes – Wellingborough Homes Progress Monitoring Board Member. Min 6 – Choice Based Lettings – Personal – New Allocations Policy. Wellingborough Homes Board Member., Min 10 – Prevention and Early Personal – Trustee of Intervention. Pravasi Mandal. Min 11 – Engagement with Personal – Trustee of diverse communities Pravasi Mandal and Member of WDHA and Victoria Centre. Pursglove Resources 23 6 09 -Min 12 Personal – Chairman of Growth Area Funding Round III the Wellingborough Old update – High Street Grammarian’s Indoor Regeneration Cricket Club which sub- lets space in The Drill Hall.

Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

Raymond Development 24 6 09 - Min 7 Personal and prejudicial Town Centre Area Action Plan – owns business premises Adoption in Town Centre Min 8 – Public Realm Strategy Personal and prejudicial Consultation response owns business premises in Town Centre Min 9 Shop Front Design – Personal and prejudicial Consultation response owns business premises in Town Centre Min 10 – Conservation Area Personal and prejudicial Strategy – Consultation response owns business premises in Town Centre Timms Resources 23 6 09 – Min 6 Personal – Council Final Outturn 2008/09 representative on the North Northants Joint Planning Committee. Development 24 6 09 – Min 6 Personal – Council Local Development Scheme. representative on the North Northants Joint Planning Committee. Warwick Resources 23 6 09 Min 11 Personal and prejudicial High Street General Vesting owns premises in High Declaration – Urgent Action Street Resources 23 6 09 Min 12 Personal and prejudicial Growth Area Funding III update owns business premises in High Street Development 24 6 09 Personal and prejudicial Min 7 Town Centre Area Action owns business premises Plan – Adoption in High Street Min 8 – Public Realm Strategy Personal and prejudicial Consultation response owns business premises in High Street Min 9 Shop Front Design – Personal and prejudicial Consultation response owns business premises in High Street Min 10 – Conservation Area Personal and prejudicial Strategy – Consultation response owns business premises in High Street Min 11 – Town Centre Personal only - owns redevelopment and High Street business premises in regeneration feasibility Study – High Street progress report

4. NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

RESOLVED to note the annexed circulated report on notable activities relating to the Council’s PRIDE objectives.

Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

5. REVENUE OUTTUTN TO 30TH JUNE 2009

RESOLVED to note the annexed circulated report of the Head of Financial Services in relation to the provisional financial outturn to 30th June 2009.

6. PERFORMANCE REPORT

RESOLVED to note the annexed circulated report of the Head of Performance, in relation to a summary of performance information for the year 2008-09, in accordance with the Council’s objective of efficient use of resources.

7. MEMBERS ALLOWANCES 2009/10

The annexed circulated report of the Head of Financial Services was received in relation to the review of the level of payment for Members’ allowances from 1/4/2009.

Councillor Waters moved an amendment to the motion that a 2.5% increase be paid only on the basic allowance received by Members for 2009-10 with all other allowances remaining unchanged. This was seconded by Councillor Griffiths. A debate ensued.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared to be carried with 13 votes in favour and 5 against. This became the substantive motion and on being put to the vote was declared carried.

RESOLVED that a 2.5% increase be paid only on the basic allowance received by Members for 2009-10 with all other allowances remaining unchanged.

(Councillor Allebone asked that his vote against this be recorded.)

8. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTE AND OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Geoff Simmons as newly elected member for Brickhill Ward.

The annexed circulated report of the Chief Executive was received in relation to the appointment of Councillors to the Audit and Performance Committee, Town Centre Partnership, , School Council and the North Northants Joint Planning Committee. Councillor Bailey informed Council that Councillor L Lawman had indicated that she wished to remain on the North Northants Joint Planning Committee and that this position did not need to be filled.

RESOLVED that:

(i) Councillor G Simmons be appointed to the Audit and Performance Committee and the Town Centre Partnership; Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

(ii) Councillor T Allebone be appointed to Wellingborough School, School Council.

9. WELLINGBOROUGH NORTH – SAFEGUARDING THE COUNCIL’S LAND

The annexed circulated report of the Deputy Chief Executive was received in relation to the requirement for a Deed which is in effect a Section 106 Agreement in relation to land known as Wellingborough North.

In accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, standing orders were suspended, for this item only, to enable discussion to take place between Members and the Legal Adviser regarding this report.

Various questions were asked of the Legal Adviser to which he responded.

RESOLVED that approval:

(i) be given in principle for the Council to enter into a Deed containing planning obligations in relation to the Wellingborough North Planning Appeal (ref: AOO/H2835/A/08/2093066/NWF); (ii) of the terms of the Deed be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive until the Director of Resources was in post at which time the delegation be given to him.

10. QUESTIONS/PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

The Mayor had received six requests to address Council in relation to Item 5 of the Development Committee minutes relating to On-Street Parking Regulations – Residential Scheme.

The Mayor allowed Lidia Douglas, Lucy James, Allan Blackman, Kevin Jones, Anna Hickman and Anthony Jackson to speak for 3 minutes each.

The speakers informed Council of the problems that they experienced on a daily basis with difficulties in parking in the vicinity of their homes, due to commuters parking. Tradesmen were unable to make deliveries, the refuse freighters had problems accessing roads and on some occasions residents were unable to use their vehicles as they had been blocked in. Concern was also expressed about residents’ safety. The speakers reiterated their desire for a residents’ parking permit scheme to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

The Mayor thanked the speakers and informed them that this matter would be dealt with under the Development Committee Minutes.

11. COUNCIL MEETING – 2ND JUNE 2009

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting of 2nd June 2009 be confirmed and signed.

Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

12. PLANNING COMMITTEE – 10TH JUNE 2009

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee of 10th June 2009 be noted.

13. COMMUNITY COMMITTEE – 22ND JUNE 2009

The minutes of the Community Committee of 22nd June 2009 were received.

Councillor Blackwell made reference to Item 9 State of the Borough. He moved an amendment for this item to be referred back to Committee. This was seconded by Councillor Dholakia. A debate ensued.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Community Committee of 22nd June 2009 be adopted.

14. RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 23RD JUNE 2009

The minutes of the Resources Committee of 23rd June 2009 were received. Councillor Bailey asked that items 1 to 13 be adopted. Item 14 was the subject of a Call-in to Audit and Performance Sub-Committee of 14th July 2009. This was seconded by Councillor P Bell.

RESOLVED that the Resources Committee Minutes, Items 1 to 13, be adopted.

15. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – 24TH JUNE 2009

The minutes of the Development Committee of 24th June 2009 were received.

Reference was made to Item 5 On-Street Parking Regulations – Residential Scheme.

A discussion took place following the comments made by the speakers and their concerns over the on-going parking problems they experienced. Potential problems were highlighted to residents, of having permit parking, such as the cost, limited number of permits and that there would be no guarantee of finding a parking space, even with a permit.

Councillor Raymond asked if Chester Road was included in the scheme and it was confirmed that it was and that there had been an omission in the proposed action of the report submitted to the Development Committee. This would be rectified.

A request was made by the Councillor Dholakia that a named vote take place. To enable this, a request from 7 Councillors was required. The Mayor asked those who wished that a named vote take place to stand. Five Councillors made this request which was insufficient for a recorded vote. Council Meeting – 21st July 2009

The recommendation as it appeared in the minutes was put to the vote and carried 14 votes to 7.

(Councillors Blackwell, Crofts, Dholakia, Maguire, Partridge-Underwood, Raymond and Shram asked that their votes for the recommendation be recorded).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Development Committee of 24th June 2009 be adopted.

16. PARTNERSHIPS REVIEW – 29TH JUNE 2009

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Partnerships Review Committee of 29th June 2009 be adopted.

17. AUDIT AND PERFORMANCE – 30TH JUNE 2009

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Audit and Performance Committee of 30th June 2009 be adopted subject to the recording of an apology from Councillor Bass.

18. AUDIT AND PERFORMANCE SUB- COMMITTEE - 14TH JULY 2009

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit and Performance Sub-Committee of 14th July be adopted.

(Councillors Allebone, Higgins and Partridge-Underwood left the room before this item and did not return).

19. RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 23RD JUNE 2009

RESOLVED that item 14, The Castle Supplementary Estimate be adopted.

Mayor………………………………………….

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.