Agenda item

Councillor B Markham asked Councillor Caswell, as the Portfolio Holder, a series of questions about the arrangements and contract regarding the Adshel bus shelters.  He asked whether the Portfolio Holder would work with Adshel, Northamptonshire County Council and the Police to alleviate some of the current problems and issues that had arisen regarding these shelters.  Councillor Caswell advised that pending future transfer to the County Council, interim management and reporting of damaged shelters was currently being undertaken by Planning officers in the Regeneration and Growth Team.  Ultimately the future management of NBC bus stop/shelters etc, including transfer of the Adshel contract, would  be the responsibility of the County Council.  Councillor Caswell then briefly outlined the maintenance standards under the current contract with Northampton Borough Council.  He added that it was disappointing that instances of vandalism to shelters appeared to have increased in recent years with shelters becoming targets for mindless acts of destruction.  Northampton was not the only place where this was occurring however.  He stated that he would investigate with Adshel if more priority could be given to the repair of shelters which were prominent and highly used.  He would also examine the replacement of toughened glass with polycarbonate sheeting.  Councillor Caswell also undertook to ensure that Northamptonshire County Council assumed responsibility for bus shelters in Northampton as soon as possible in accordance with the terms of the transfer of staff so that there was a single point of contact and management for provision of bus stops and shelters in Northampton.

Councillor Taylor asked a question about the Market Square.  She asked the Portfolio Holder whether the internationally acclaimed Underscan Event held on the Market Square in February had shown that the Market Square could be used as a place where people could meet, watch or take part in events as well as a place to buy quality fresh produce.  She asked when the proposals for the Square drawn up by Letts Wheeler would be shown to the public as part of the promised consultation on future plans and asked to be reminded of the costs for the proposals so far.  She also asked when plans for creating space for future events or for public seating on the Market Square would be implemented.  Councillor Hadland advised that a Project Manager for Markets had been appointed on a six months contract to kick-start the changes.  One of his tasks was to look at implementing the removal of obsolete stalls and creating space for other facilities and events.  There were some key issues that would need to be addressed in delivering the changes and they included the provision of alternative service supplies and the likely relocation of the compactor.  In terms of the consultation process this had been affected by the Root and Branch restructure.  The consultation exercise would need to be revisited and planned to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to view the future proposals.  A definitive timetable for the consultation exercise was not available at this time but everyone would be updated once a plan had been produced.  In terms of costs of the works undertaken by Letts Wheeler to date, an order was placed for £18,000 and to date three payments totalling £17,000 had been made. 

Councillor Conroy asked Councillor Hadland, as the Portfolio Holder, a number of questions regarding empty shop units in Park Square, Kings Heath.  He asked how many shop units were currently empty in Park Square, how much rental income had been lost to date from these units, what was the current weekly loss of income and what action was being taken to let these units.  Councillor Hadland stated that there were presently three vacant shops at Park Square but all three were under offer to prospective lessees.  The total loss of rent for the three empty units had been £26,200 and the current loss of rent was £178 per week.  In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Conroy which was essentially the same questions as above but in terms of shop units across the Borough. Councillor Hadland undertook to write back to him with the answer. 

Councillor Matthews asked Councillor Palethorpe, as the Portfolio Holder, why CCTV had not been provided for the security of the new Camp Hill Community Centre in Dayrell Road given the high level of crime that could occur in the area.  Councillor Palethorpe stated that Camp Hill was not deemed to be a hot spot for crime which was usually the determining factor on where CCTV was required.  There would have been a significant cost implication to install cameras as one camera plus installation was in the region of £25,000 plus ongoing monitoring and maintenance of £4,000 per annum.  Facilities Management and Planning were probably the best place to advise on what security elements were considered at the planning stage for the new Community Centre.  In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Palethorpe stated that through the Crime Reduction Team he would monitor the situation. 

Councillor Woods asked Councillor Caswell, as the Portfolio Holder, what the current status of the Northampton Borough Council Green Travel Plan was.  Councillor Caswell advised that the Council had made a number of commitments over the past few years that necessitated the implementation of a Green Travel Plan.  A project initiation document for a Green Travel Plan was produced last year but not enacted due to the changes in the Council’s Structure, Root and Branch, etc.  However it was hoped that with a new project sponsor the plan may be re-initiated as a means to improve the internal working of the Council whilst advocating greener transportation across the Borough.  In response to a supplementary question as to whether work was continuing with Northamptonshire County Council Councillor Caswell stated that he would find out and would keep pushing this.