Parish Council Meeting

a) Highway Matters – Mrs Hodges reported that the hedge between the "Dark Hole" and Buntings Lane needs cutting back.

Mr Rowell read to the meeting a letter received from Mr Hardcastle re the issues at Nene Pastures. To date Taylor Woodrow have not entered into a formal legal agreement with NCC relating to the roads and associated highway matters. NCC do not have any enforcement powers against the developer. Some other planning issues come under the jurisdiction of ENC. Re landscaping there is a planning condition requiring a maintenance period of 5 years. The planning consent also required that a management plan be established covering such matters as pathway maintenance, provision of signs etc. ENC have agreed to look into both of these matters, but are unlikely to be able to help re the footpath through the Social Club and the provision of services to the Leisure Field. Mr Hardcastle suggested a further on site meeting.

Since the last meeting Mr Rowell has made attempts to contact Elton Estates and at the present time Sir William Proby is hoping to arrange an on site meeting with the managing director of Taylor Woodrow.

b) Street Lights. The Council is still awaiting quotations for lighting. The Clerk to follow this up.

c) Leisure Field. Progress is difficult here until the services are connected. Mr J Short has cut the field with gang mowers to the standard required. A price will be obtained for this for the future. An "Improving Your Patch" award of £100 has been received and this will go into the funds for the Leisure Field.

d) Landscape Management. Mr Rowell had circulated notes and prices for planting. He had received an indication that other people in the village would be interested in forming a group, answerable to the Parish Council, to advise and offer some practical help re landscape management. On investigation Mr Constant had established that Mr Du Croz, Mr & Mrs Stroud, Mrs Solt and Mr Atkinson would be interested in such a group. It was suggested that such a group would not cover Rights of Way as there is already an NCC Officer, or Pocket Parks as there is already a committee. Mr Constant agreed to act as a go between. He suggested that the group would monitor the Landscape Management Report and roll it forward for the future. The formation of this group was agreed to in principle.

Re planting for the Autumn it was agreed that the locations have already been decided and prices obtained. It has been agreed to spend up to £200. Mr Rowell, Mr Reid and Mr Constant to decide the selections and an order made. Mr Dixon asked if Mr Rowell could look into the provision of a turf remover.

£100 has been received from Mr Enfield for a tree. A new yew tree will be purchased for the Churchyard and the remaining money allocated to tree planting. It was stressed that after care is very important and it was agreed to ensure that trees are well watered and protected. Any dead trees will be removed. Mr Dixon suggested that further grants may be available for tree planting.

It was agreed to take item k) Landscape of the Nene Valley – Impact of new Agricultural Systems, at this point of the meeting. This had been raised by Mr Du Croz and Mr Rowell read his letter out to the meeting. Mr Du Croz is concerned with the increasing use of polly tunnels and their impact on the landscape. Mr Constant proposed that the Parish Council acted on Mr Du Croz’s first recommendation and circularised other Parish Councils in the area for their views. This would then establish whether any further action should be taken. Mrs Huett pointed out that although she agreed that polly tunnels are ugly she felt that they were necessary to enable British farmers to compete. After discussion it was agreed to approach other Parish Councils and the raise the issue again at the next Parish Council meeting.

e) School Play area – The agreement for this is still in the hands of NCC. Mr Rowell had received a complaint about noise on a particular Saturday evening, but as this came from an anonymous source he was unable to follow it up. He has approached some boys about the use of hard balls and for one boy, as this is not for the first time, his parents will be informed.

f) Rights of Way. No problems have been reported. ROW have been made aware of problems with posts at the top of Broadgate Way, Church Lane and Taylors Green and are investigating.

g) Grass cutting – Churchyard, Cemetery, Leisure Field. Leisure Field dealt with above. The Churchyard has been well cut. The gravel paths now need to be sprayed. Mr Short agreed to approach Mr J Short for a price for this and if he is interested ask him to spray as soon as possible.

h) Christmas Tree for Village. After discussion Mrs Hodges proposed and Mr Dixon seconded that the tree be located to the left of the play area at Nene Pastures. The provision of electricity to be looked into.

i) Flagpole. Mr Davey has agreed to raise this at the next School Governors’ meeting. It will then be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting.

j) Elton Estates/ Taylor Woodrow. Dealt with above

a) The Old Hautboy – EN/04/00970 – Removal of an internal masonry wall and a partition wall and erection of burglar alarm. Planning Permission received

b) Fired Earth showroom – EN/04/00783 – Erection of signage to advertise access to Fired Earth. Advertisement Consent received.

c) 6 Bevan Close – EN/04/01263 – Conservatory. Planning Permission received.

d) Elton Estates Reservoir – Planning Permission received.

e) Re development at Little Green and its impact upon Ashdown Farm. Following representations to ENC, a site visit has been made and the developer has agreed to use obscured glass in the window in question.

a) Community A/C (Current) : £1598.95

d) Pocket Park A/c : £371.38

Adoption of accounts. Mr Bosworth proposed and Mr Constant seconded that the accounts be adopted. AIF

Conclusion of Audit. - HLB AV Audit reported no matters arising from the Audit for the year ended 31st March 2004. Mr Constant proposed and Mr Short seconded that the Parish Council approves and accepts the Annual Return. AIF

Various matters are outstanding with Elton Estates and Taylor Woodrow. In addition there has been no response to the letter to BT re the poles in Church Street.

a) Alms Houses. Mr Short reported no problems.

b) Village Hall. Mr Cutler reported that a meeting was held on September 6th and arrangements were made for the Autumn Fayre on October 2nd.

c) Warmington Charities. Mr Bosworth reported that a meeting will be held in October

d) Warmington School. Mrs Hodges reported that the football field was fenced off and reseeded in the summer holidays. This may be done again next year. New goal posts are to be installed. A perimeter fence is in the budget for the next financial year. In 2006/7 a 5 or 6 term year will be adopted depending on which is voted for.

e) Tree Warden/Conservation. Mr Reid reported that the lighting at Eaglethorpe Barns seems to have been reduced. The trees and hedges at the end of Church Street need attention. Mr Reid to approach Mr Simpson.

f) Road Safety. Apart from speeding, Mr Rowell reported no problems.

g) Pocket Parks. The new Pocket Parks Officer has visited and offered advice which will be taken up.

h) Allotments. Mr Short reported no problems.

i) Rights of Way. Mr Rowell reported no problems.

a) Mr Peck asked how the development at Little Green received planning permission. He was informed that the response of the Parish Council was that the house was too big for the plot, but that ENC seem reluctant to act on this basis. Comments from Mr Hardcastle suggest that the planning department at ENC is beginning to improve.

b) Mr Peck asked why Warmington has a tendency to loose its power supply so often. Despite numerous attempts by the Parish Council to investigate this, no particular reasons can be offered.

c) Mrs Bosworth reported that the drain outside the School still requires attention. This has been reported but will be looked into again.

d) Mrs Beesley pointed out that the contractors suggested that the drains on Little Green need to be flushed out. Mr Rowell had been informed that the drains are one third full of silt. This to be looked into.

e) Mr Thomas questioned why the "Design for the Future – Oundle and Surrounding Areas – Discussion Paper" was not an agenda item. He was informed that Mr Dixon had composed a reply to this document which was circulated amongst Parish Councillors for their comments before being sent to ENC. Mr Thomas argued that the document should have been discussed in open meeting and then a detailed and thorough reply made to a range of issues. Mr Constant suggested that a copy of the correspondence be made to Mr Thomas who could then pass his comments back to the Parish Council. This was agreed.

a) Mr Short reported that the litter bin at Eaglethorpe requires attention.

b) Mrs Hodges reported that she had attended a Public Transport meeting on 31st August. Money is to be received from the Government to upgrade bus routes starting with the large towns. Eventually, although not for a long time for Warmington, paths at bus stops will be raised to meet the bus, bus shelters will be upgraded and a system of Real Time information will be installed.

Mrs Hodges had also attended the Community Safety Roadshow on September 2nd. This was well attended, particularly by children.

c) Mr Reid reported that the bottle and clothes banks around the village were overflowing. This problem has been resolved now but a eye will be kept on it for the future.

d) Mr Bosworth reported that rubbish is collecting behind the seat in Little Green. Mrs Beesley kindly offered to collect it and let the Parish Council know if the situation gets any worse. Mr Constant pointed out that problems are created by the contactors at little Green parking on the verges. The Parish Council have been assured that the area will be reinstated.

e) Mr Rowell pointed out that Parish Councillors can recover legitimate costs from the Council. eg petrol costs etc.