Development Meeting Minutes

Below is the minutes that put the residents parking on hold - thanks Councillors! :-(

COUNCIL MEETING 4 NOVEMMBER 2008

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

1 October 2008

MINUTES of a meeting of the Development Committee held at Swanspool House, Wellingborough on Wednesday 1 October 2008, commencing at 7 p.m. and concluded at 9.30 p.m.

Present: Councillor L Lawman (Chairman), Councillor Warwick (Vice Chairman) Councillors Bass, Hollyman, G Lawman, Maguire, Pursglove, Timms and Ward


1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

RESOLVED to note apologies from Councillors Heckstall-Smith, Payne, and Saxby,

2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

RESOLVED to note that the following Councillors declared their interest in the Agenda items specified in accordance with the Code of Conduct:-

Councillor
Minute No
Subject
Reason

L Lawman



Pursglove

6



5

East Midlands Regional Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy)

On-street Parking Regulations – Residential Schemes



Personal – a member of the NNJPU


Personal – a season ticket holder on East Midlands Trains


3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2008 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

4. PRESENTATION BY EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS

The Chairman reported that an e mail had been received from East Midlands Trains to say that unfortunately they were unable to attend the meeting to give a presentation. However, a meeting had been held between the Chairman, an Officer of the Council and East Midlands Trains to discuss whether it would be possible for them to contribute towards the consultation process regarding on-street parking. They agreed that they would contribute 50% towards the consultation process (£1,500). Once the consultation was complete they would meet with the Council again and we would ask again for their support.

5. ON-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS – RESIDENTIAL SCHEMES

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director to further consider variations to the on-street parking regulations in Wellingborough in relation to Residential Permit Schemes.

The report further considered the proposed residential permit scheme parking areas around the Station and to the north of the Town Centre and set out in the Appendix further details of residential scheme policies and details of the issuing of permits.

Now that parking enforcement measures were in place it was proposed that residents in the streets affected by commuter parking in the residential streets to avoid paying the station car park charges would be consulted. This would involve the introduction of time limited parking areas, with the residents being given the option to purchase resident parking permits allowing parking throughout the period of restrictions (i.e. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays). This would prevent parking by rail users during the day but would allow short stay visitor parking during the morning and longer term visitor parking in the afternoons and overnight.

A meeting had been held with East Midlands Trains at which the issues were discussed and they have been requested to contribute to the scheme.

It had been suggested that as the original consultation on the introduction of a permit scheme in Alma Street was carried out seven years ago, a further consultation would be carried out in Alma Street and also in Cannon Street, Great Park Street, Park Road and Herriotts Lane. The appendices to the report set out the proposals in more detail.

It was proposed that a charge of £25 was made for the purchase of a residents permit with a review taking place on an annual basis.

The cost of the proposals amounted to £53,500 and were detailed in the report on the assumption that all the proposals were carried out as separate schemes. By carrying out the proposals together the cost could be reduced by £2,700.

A Member expressed great concern about payment from residents affected by such schemes in the present economic climate. Other Members were also concerned about the charge of £25 and the uncertainty over future costs. Members also were very aware of the total cost of the scheme in the region of £ 53,000. Separately members noted that this could spread into other areas of the Borough where parking may pose a problem. One suggestion was made that the whole issue could be resolved if East Midlands Trains were a bit more sympathetic to their users and dropped their parking charges.

It was pointed out by the Officers that any significant increase would have to be agreed with the Council and the Parking Partnership.

In view of the discussion and the concerns expressed by all members present, it was moved by Councillor Pursglove and seconded by Councillor Hollyman that the Recommendation and Resolution as printed in the report be rejected and would be reviewed by the committee in 12 months time.

The Resolution as amended was voted on and carried.

R1 RECOMMENDED that the proposed action be rejected and would be reviewed by the committee in 12 months time.
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6. EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL PLAN (REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY) SECRETARY OF STATE’S PROPOSED CHANGES

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director to bring to the Members’ attention the recently published changes proposed by the Secretary of State to the Draft East Midlands Regional Plan, covering the period to 2026.

The Secretary of State had proposed a number of changes to the Draft Regional Plan following the recommendations of the Panel that examined the Plan last year. The strategy of urban concentration remains. In Northamptonshire, only the 2021-2026 housing figures had been determined along with a figure to replace that for the Northampton Implementation Area which had been struck out of the Strategy following a legal challenge. During the period 2021-2026 the Borough would need to provide on average 685 dwellings per year. The Secretary of State had also proposed an immediate review of the Strategy to 2031 in view of latest projections showing the need for further growth in the Region.

A new policy had been proposed by the Secretary of State requiring sites for strategic distribution to be identified. Broad locations should include North Northamptonshire.

The immediate review of the Strategy would also reappraise the regional transport strategy which had been judged unsound.. Non committed transport schemes had for the present been excluded from the Plan, including the A14 Kettering bypass and the Wellingborough Eastern Distributor Road. Such schemes would be considered for inclusion in a proposed freestanding Implementation Plan to assist in identifying potential sources of funding.

The Chairman advised the committee that she had received some further information from the County Council since the writing of the report regarding the Regional Funding Allocation. This indicated that there could be a delay in the implementation by approximately 6 months of the Isham Bypass and Isham to Wellingborough Improvement, as schemes were to be reviewed owing to a significant increase in costs and the Department of Transport only potentially committed to 75% of the cost increase leaving a substantial shortfall for the county Council. It was agreed to express the concerns of the Committee in a response to the Secretary of State and in response to the Regional Funding Allocation process which will be reviewing major infrastructure projects.

It was moved by Councillor G Lawman and seconded by Councillor Maguire that a third resolution be added to the report namely:-

3.3 a separate response be sent to the Secretary of State on the Draft East Midlands Regional Plan including the comments made at this committee. The letter would be agreed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman before this is sent.

This was voted on and carried.

RESOLVED that:-

(i) the Secretary of State be advised that the Eastern Distributor Road would be developer funded and constructed as part of the implementation of the proposals for Wellingborough East.

(ii) the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Committee be advised that in relation to the Secretary of State’s proposal of Sites for Strategic Distribution:
the need for rail connection should be imperative;
proposals must not prejudice, the objective of moving the local economy into higher order employment; and
over reliance on distribution should be avoided.

(ii) a separate response be sent to the Secretary of State on the Draft East Midlands Regional Plan including the comments made at this committee. The letter would be agreed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman before this is sent.

7 THE MARKET POLICIES

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director with information of the current operation and operational policies of the Market.

A brief description of the various components in place was set out in the report which comprised the current operation and operational policies of the Market and a suggestion that Officers bring to a future meeting proposals on specific matters.

Various appendices were attached to the report as follows:-

v Appendix A – Market Charges
v Appendix B - Wellingborough Market Regulations 2007
v Appendix C – Operating Procedures Manual
v Appendix D – Street Trading: Consent Streets Regulations
v Appendix E – Proposed working of new paragraph 6.11
v Appendix F – Summary of Revenue Income & Expenditure for the last four complete financial years.

A specific addition to the Market Regulations was requested concerning the type of goods for sale and the proposed wording was attached to the report in Appendix E.

Members were asked if there were any further particular market matters Officers could bring back to the committee. This was discussed and are shown below:-

v The pricing policy
v Disabled parking and parking arrangements for disabled market traders
v Street traders
v Configuration of market stalls
v Potential indoor market
v Web page for the market and advertising budget etc
v The appointment of a permanent market manager
v The objectives of, and a formal remit for, the Informal Market Working Group which has served as a platform for the Market Traders to express their opinions and problems
Allocation of street trading pitches to retail use/potential conflict with the market

RESOLVED that:-

(i) The matters referred to above would be brought back to future committee meetings.

(ii the Market Regulations be amended to include the new regulation set out at Appendix E to the report


8 A PLACE MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

The Committee received a report from the Corporate Director updating the Committee on the formulation of a co-ordinated place marketing campaign for North Northamptonshire and its importance for Wellingborough. Officers wished to proceed with the development of a marketing campaign for Wellingborough and North Northamptonshire.

Wellingborough faces a challenge to attract the number and type of jobs that the Borough needs to increase its prosperity and to raise its profile in respect of investment institutions which need to be aware of Wellingborough’s offer in a competitive market.

On 3 September NNDC delivered a presentation to Members. Members also received a briefing note which set out the key messages and how the marketing would be integrated in a family approach for North Northamptonshire while still retaining the independence of the individual centres.

One of the unique selling points over the rest of North Northamptonshire was Wellingborough’s proximity to London and this was proposed to be the key message followed by Growth as a secondary message, then Central, Value and Green in equal third place.

Members were being asked to endorse the strategy and to make further resources available from within existing budgets originally allocated by the Resources Committee.

Nick Bolton of NNDC attended the committee for this item and delivered the presentation which had previously been shown to Members at an earlier date.

A question and answer session followed the presentation.

The Chairman urged the Members to forward any thoughts or ideas they may have to the relevant Officer to take back to the Steering Group.

It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Warwick that a sentence should be added to 3.3 as follows:-

3.3 Members recommend that in addition to a Wellingborough campaign the Borough optimises its resources by buying into and taking advantage of a wider North Northamptonshire campaign subject to funding

This was voted on and carried.

The Chairman thanked Mr Bolton for the presentation and attending the committee.

R2 RECOMMENDED :-

(i) that the key marketing messages be approved.

(ii) to proceed with the development of a campaign for Wellingborough that could be adapted for and aimed at target audiences.

(iii) that in addition to a Wellingborough campaign, the Borough optimises its resources by ‘buying into’ and taking advantage of a wider North Northamptonshire campaign subject to funding.

(iv) that resources be vired within existing budgets to progress this project with NNDC.

9 ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Chairman reported that as the report on Swanspool Gardens Car Park had been withdrawn at Full Council this would now be brought back to the November meeting.

It was also reported by the Chairman that the planning guidance for Wellingborough which was brought before the last meeting was as agreed by Committee, amended by the Chairman and Councillor Timms 2 weeks ago. Officers were requested to let all members of the Development Committee have a copy of those amendments to ensure the correctness of the amendments following from the committee discussions. This will now be brought back to the November meeting.








Chairman