Oundle Oracle March 2015 Oundle Town Council Newsletter Mayor’s Report Community Champions needed Congratulations to the organisers of the Oundle Classic Car Sprint and all the volunteers who made Sunday December 28th, 2014 a day to remember. Spotting the The Council To find out more join us should... Mayoral chain, visitors to Oundle from far and wide made for a point of admiring Oundle and thanked the “wonderful, Refreshments & go ahead” Council for allowing the event to happen. Fresh Information Some would say brave too! ideas on The Mayor’s Charity Concert held on Saturday 17th Tuesday March 17th at the January 2015 raised £1000. The generous donations of Elections for the Town Courthouse money, time and talent by many are a fitting recognition Council take place in May of the work CHAT Youth Counselling and Volunteer 2.00 - 3.00pm & 6.00 - 7.00pm Action do in our community. Particular thanks to Ellen Find out what we do, Porter pictured here, 2014 Oundle Young Musician, Irena Radic, 2013 Oundle Young Musician, Daniel Dixon how you can contribute by becoming a Councillor, 2014 Oundle Young Singer, Alec Hone and the Oundle what you have to do and when. School Ensembles. As one of the invited Mayors wrote Current Oundle Town Councillors will attend in appreciation “It’s such a pleasure to see young people Recent history shows that not all Councillors will stand again - demonstrating their talents so ably and so professionally. Names to watch for in the future!” you can! Oundle and the surrounding villages have been Close of Nominations 4pm April 9th chosen by Northamptonshire Police to test ideas Last day to register to vote April 20th for policing in rural areas as part of its Futures st Programme. We are delighted to welcome Robin Last day to apply for a postal vote April 21 Carter, Oundle’s new Parish Constable. Polling open 7am to 10pm May 7th It was with much regret that, just before Christmas, I received the resignation of Chris Make your voice count Elliot, who needed to give his business his full Your Annual Town Meeting takes place on attention. Chris made major contributions to the th work of the Council on your behalf. His efforts to maintain links with Andrésy, our Thursday, April 30 at 7.30pm in the Queen Victoria Hall French Twin town, were much appreciated. We send him good wishes for the future. Tea and coffee served from 7pm In 2011 there was not a contested election for Oundle, only the second time since I This is a meeting of the Town, organised by the Town Council, not a Council first stood in 1979. As we approach the end of this four year term we finally have a meeting. If you want to get formal support from residents present at the full complement of fourteen Councillors again. Matthias Menck and Debbie Murphy meeting, suggest an issue for discussion or simply table a question in have recently come forward and have been co-opted to the team. advance then please contact Town Clerk, Debra Harper, at the Courthouse Oundle has a wealth of activities and opportunities for residents to contribute to the by April 11th. We can then organise the agenda and further publicity. well being of the community. Oundle Town Council plays a vital role in supporting Inspector Julie Mead has been invited to talk about how to become a this. I do hope more than fourteen of you come forward to stand for election in 2015 Parish Constable. County, District and Town Councillors will be there to and look forward to reading your proposals with interest. listen and answer questions you may have about Oundle issues. Best wishes Vote on 2014 Town Meeting minutes can be seen at Oundle Library, at the Cllr. Gwen Radcliffe X May 7th Courthouse and on www.oundle.gov.uk Town Council Budget 2015/2016 The coming year will be a challenging one for Council finances with the move to Fletton House having a number of uncertainties around it which have led Council to adopt a cautious approach to forecasting. IT’S BACK! The project will cost close to £960,000, the majority of which has come from WORLD CLASS CYCLING RETURNS TO property sales e.g. Drill Hall and Cemetery Chapel and existing reserves including THE HISTORIC STREETS OF OUNDLE S106 Developer Contribution monies from Persimmon Homes, which to date has not been received. The build budget is something of a movable feast with extra, unforeseen expenditure vying with possible savings on an almost daily basis. The uncertainty of a firm completion date for the project when budgets were being set meant that the Council had to be circumspect in assessing occupancy revenues whilst the lack of interest in the Hospitality area means that we have to budget to run this ourselves. Taking this and the costs of the Neighbourhood Plan into account, the Council were able to unanimously agree the budget and a precept of £336, 543 for 2015-2016, at its meeting on January 20th. This is a rise of 1.86%. However you will be pleased to find that the Band D charge should fall as there are more households in Oundle. Aware that we are using your money, our approach has been one of careful pragmatism. SAVE THESE DATES! Finally it is worth noting that the Localised Council Tax Support Grant, monies which central government says should be passed to Parish Councils and which SATURDAY 9TH MAY 2015 would mitigate the amount of Precept, is once again unlikely to be paid to Oundle Oundle Launch of Friends Life Women’s Tour Oundle Market Place. Have a cycle and a slice of cake. The Countdown starts here! by East Northamptonshire Council. Cllr Terry Stagg SUNDAY JUNE 7TH 2015 Sports If you have a good news story please send it to editor by June 8th Bike & Hike Picnic & Party LET’S Club for next issue. The next event happened just after the December Oundle Recreation Ground. issue went to press. A great day out for all the family. MAKE News 2015 THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2015 ANOTHER Mark Hunter visits Rowing Club Tour Warm-Up Party Oundle Town Centre. Come and be YEAR TO On Friday, 28th November, the Olympic Medal winning rower, part of the celebrations and fun. REMEMBER! Mark Hunter paid a visit to Oundle Town Rowing Club. Mark, who won Gold in his lightweight double at Beijing in 2008 and Silver FRIDAY 19TH JUNE 2015 in London in 2012, came to Start of Stage 3 provide expert coaching and Oundle Town Centre. How exciting, they are coming back! advice to a group of young rowers. SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 2015 Girl-Rilla Ride A great, but all too short, Oundle Wharf. For the Ladies. afternoon was spent on the Designed and printed at water, with the pupils enjoying some top-class East Northamptonshire Council tips on rowing techniques. Thank you, Mark! www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/theprintroom Fletton House Progress St Peter’s Churchyard project The long standing goal to save Fletton Over 90 hours were worked by the St Peter’s Green House for the community and to turn it into Group churchyard team during 2014 to improve a hub of community activity is getting closer biodiversity and to manage those plants which try still! to take over. Also, an information board detailing the plan and the work carried out by the volunteers has Construction work started in November. been installed by the metal seat . So far a new plant room has been built, the roof has been refurbished, and a new The main activities were managing the cow parsley gas main has been installed. Major internal and comfrey and developing an area against the structural works have been completed north wall for elder and fox gloves. The group has to open up spaces and a completely new introduced some buddleia and other plants against mechanical and electrical installation is this wall and reduced the brambles at the west end nearing completion. This has been designed of the churchyard. to maximise on both comfort and energy The town council strim and mow the grass in early summer and autumn to suit the efficiency. flowering time of the wildflowers. The Green Group team then clear the strimmed The new extension has proceeded less and mown grass to lower the nutritional value of the ground. This effectively smoothly. Excavations to lay down the discourages the grass and encourages wildflowers. There were more butterflies, foundations reached over 4 metres before insects and birds on the north side, the area being developed. We hope that in finding solid ground. The structural engineer 2015 further species will be evident. Please use the small notebook on the Green and building inspector were on site during the excavations because of the risk Group board inside the church to note any sightings. Jeremy Rusher of destabilising the building. Fortunately a solution was found that avoided piling. Foundations have now been laid and the structure is rapidly taking shape. The construction work has been delayed slightly. At the moment completion is projected to be June 12th 2015, three weeks later than planned. Over the summer, we will furnish the building. Oundle Town Council and other tenants will also move in so that it is fully operational and open for business on September 1st 2015. Here's a reminder of what will be in the building: - Oundle Town Council offices Parish Constables – - Volunteer Action offices A new and exciting role - Oundle Community Preschool within the Northamptonshire Police! - Futures Room, Police and Fire at heart of community - open plan social space A Parish Constable is a Special Constable that is dedicated, through choice, to - venue for wedding and other ceremonies policing a specific area.