Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Aziz

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9^th January 2017 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Sargeant declared a personal and pecuniary interest in Item 7 – Confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order, as it related to Persimmons, whom his partner is an employee.

It was agreed that the order of the agenda be changed to allow Councillor Sargeant, have declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, to leave the meeting.

There were none.

There were none.

The Borough Secretary and Monitoring Officer submitted a report and elaborated thereon. It was explained that the report sought approval for the scales of election fees paid to the Returning Officer for any Borough or Parish Council elections during 2018/19. It was noted that the Returning Officer had an obligation to ensure that elections were funded and there was enough capacity for this to be fulfilled.

The Electoral Registration Manager explained that the Council received fees for national elections, but not for Borough and Parish elections of for local referenda. It was noted that as the fees had not recently been agreed by Council, the parliamentary fees had been referred to for guidance as well as neighbouring authorities; this would prevent casual staff from switching between authorities depending on the rates of pay.

RESOLVED:

That the scale of election fees appended to the report be adopted for 2018/19

in relation to any Borough/ Parish Council by-elections or Referendums which may be required.

The Interim Arboricultural Officer elaborated on a report that sought confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) No. 232. It was explained that a site visit had been carried out in November 2017 and a Tree Preservation Order was made and served on the owner of the land and the owner of 27 Knights Court (Appendix 2). A letter objecting to the Tree Preservation Order was received in December 2017 whereby the objector had listed a range of concerns, including that the tree’s canopy encroaches toward their property and that if the tree were to fail in whole or in part their property might be at risk, and that the path near the tree’s base was being lifted by the expanding tree roots. It was explained that the tree had probably been in place for 100 years and had therefore been present when the houses had been built. It was noted that a TPO would not prevent management of the tree.

Members considered that the ash tree was an important feature within the local landscape and agreed that the tree contributed to the overall amenity of the area.

RESOLVED:

That Tree Preservation Order No. 232 be confirmed.

Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, the Chair left the meeting. The Deputy Chair took the Chair.  

The Interim Arboricultural Officer elaborated on a report that sought confirmation of a tree preservation order. As part of a routine review of existing Tree Preservation Orders TPO 204 University of Northampton, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road was found to be unsound.   It was explained that the site was due to become a development site and that Persimmons and the University  had objected to the new Order on the grounds that the established landscape character of the site had been already been secured through the approved Design Code for the site and the existing Order 204.  

Members discussed what deterrents were for not complying with a TPO and questioned enforcement arrangements were in place.

RESOLVED:

That Tree Preservation Order No. 235 be confirmed.