HIGHAM FERRERS TOWN COUNCIL

Town Hall, Market Square Higham Ferrers. Tel: 01933 312075

Date: Wednesday 25th March 2015

To: All Members of the Council

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Higham Ferrers Town Council to be held in The Town Hall, Market Square, Higham Ferrers on Tuesday 31st March 2015 at 7.30 pm for the purpose of transacting the following business.

Mrs Sandra Mitcham. BA(Hons), FILCM

Town Clerk

AGENDA

1. / APOLOGIES
To receive and accept apologies for absence.
2. / DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Interests and the nature of those interests relating to items on the agenda.
3. / MINUTES
To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24th February 2015. Pages 1 -10 (copy herewith)
4. / POLICING
To exchange information with representatives of the police.
5. / PUBLIC FORUM (15 minutes)
To allow any member of the public to address the meeting for a period of no longer than three minutes each.
6. / MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
To receive a verbal report from the Mayor.
7. / PLANNING.
7.1
(i)
7.2.
7.3. / To consider responses to the following planning applications received: - (copy herewith) Page 11.
15/00327/FUL: Installation of external wall insulation to all external elevations of the property:13 Grove St, Higham Ferrers
To note determinations on planning applications. Pages 12-13 (copy herewith)
To consider a request from David Wilson Homes to vary the s106 agreement for the Station Road site. (copy herewith) Page 14.
8. / TOWN CLERKS REPORT
To receive and note Town Clerks Report. Pages 15 -16. (copy herewith)
9. / QUESTIONS.
An opportunity for Councillors to ask questions pursuant to standing order 8.
10. / REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO OTHER BODIES.
To receive reports from Councillors on meetings they have attended as representatives to other bodies.
11. / FINANCE.
11.1. / To approve accounts for payment as at 31st March 2015 and 1st April 2015. Page 17-18. (copy herewith)
11.2. / To approve the Bank Account reconciliation as at 28th February 2015.
11.3. / To receive and note the budget report as at 28th February 2015. (copy herewith) Pages 19-22.
11.4.
(i)
11.5. / To consider following items of expenditure: Pages 23 -24 (copy herewith)
Safeguarding Training.
To ratify expenditure under Clerk’s delegated powers.
11.6. / To receive the Independent Internal Auditors’ Report. (copy herewith) Page 25
12. / FOOTPATH, LANSCAPING AND FENCING AROUND THE SKATEBOARD PARK.
To consider the report on landscaping and installation of a footpath and fencing around the skateboard park. (copy herewith) Pages 26 -27.
13.
13.1.
13.2.
13.3. / COMMITTEES
To receive and adopt the minutes of the following committees:-
Planning Committee held on 10th March 2015. (copy herewith) Page 28
Policy and Resources Committee held on 10th March 2015.Pages 29 -30.
Recommendation.
That the Mayors Allowance is increased by RPI each year and that a new budget is set for Civic Events at £400 with effect 1st April 2015.
Events Committee held on 16th March 2015. (copy herewith) Pages 31-32.
Recommendation
That the budget for the Christmas Sparkle is increased to £4000.
14. / NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
To receive a verbal report on progress with the plan.
15. / HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT
To consider a report on possible options for the High Street in the region of the bus stop and possible additional on street parking. (copy herewith) Page 33.
16. / BUSINESS/FORWARD PLAN
To adopt the draft plan as circulated. Pages 34 -46 (copy herewith)
17. / TWINNING
To consider purchase of a commemorative coin to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Twining link with Hachenburg. (copy herewith) Page 47.
18. / PRAYERS AT MEETINGS
To consider a response to the email re the inclusion of prayers in meetings. (copy herewith) Page 48.
19.
19.1.
19.2. / SKATEBOARD PARK
To discuss strategies to deal with issues about the Skateboard Park. (copy herewith) Page 49.
To agree a response to an email received re the Skateboard Park. (copy herewith) Page 50
20.
20.1.
20.2. / LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD SCHEME
To confirm that the Council publishes online the items as detailed in the report.
To confirm that the Council has the items as detailed in the report. (copy herewith) Pages 51 -57.
21. / ADOPT A KIOSK
To consider adoption of a BT Telephone Kiosk. (copy herewith) Page 58.
22. / IRTHLINGBOROUGH MEADOWS
To agree any comments on the proposed Creation Agreement at Irthlingborough Meadows. (copy herewith) Page 59 – 60.
23. / STREETLIGHTING
To consider a report on up upgrading of streetlights to ‘Heritage Lights’ in Market Square, College Street, Wood Street and High Street. (copy herewith) Page 61.
24. / DEFIBRILLATOR
To consider purchase of a Public Access Defibrillator in the Town. (copy herewith) Page 62.
25. / DUCHY OF LANCASTER
To discuss arranging a meeting with the Duchy of Lancaster.(copy herewith) Pages 63 -65
26. / INVESTMENTS
To discuss investing funds with The Local Authorities’ Property Fund. (copy herewith) Pages 66 -74
27. / CLOSURE OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC AND PRESS
To resolve that in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to
Meetings) Act 1960 and by reason of the confidential and sensitive nature of the following item of business, the Press and the Public be excluded from the meeting.
28. / PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
To receive and adopt the minutes of the Personnel Committee held on 17th March 2015. (copy herewith) Pages 75 -76
Recommendation:
·  That the role of Town Clerk be regraded as LC3 SCP 39 -42.
·  That a revised contract be signed with Sandra Mitcham with a starting grade of SCP 39 with effect from 1st April 2015.
28. / CCTV
To consider report from Town Clerk on CCTV Provision in Higham Ferrers. (copy herewith) Pages 77-80.
29. / RE-OPEN THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC AND PRESS
To resolved that the confidential business having been concluded, the Press and Public be re-admitted to the meeting.
30. / ITEMS TO REPORT.
An opportunity for Councillors to report items and to request future agenda items. No decisions can be made under this item.