Agenda item

Councillor Roy asked a question of Councillor Hadland as Leader whether, given the emphasis in the Improvement Plan on the role of the individual Ward Councillor, he could give details of the results so far into investigating the potential of questions being submitted to Portfolio Holders sufficiently in advance to enable publication in the Council Agenda.

Councillor Hadland advised that various constitutional amendments had been recommended to Council at the last meeting which had included the issue of questions however a decision on this was deferred and the Constitutional Review Working Group would consider the changes again and report to Council in September.  The issue of questions would be considered then.  In response to a supplementary question Councillor Hadland stated that the Constitution Working Party had discussed both types of questions ie those from members of the public and those to Portfolio Holders.

Councillor Roy then asked a question of Councillor Caswell as the Portfolio Holder whether he could give details on partnership working with the WNDC on the development of the Blueberry Hill Diner Site in the town centre and his opinion on the time taken to progress to date.

Councillor Caswell stated that this site was purchased earlier this year on the Council’s behalf by EMDA following a meeting with the Regeneration and Growth Team.  The site was immediately adjacent to landholdings held by the Council and was secured to provide an opportunity for bringing forward regeneration of the St Johns Area.  Further funding had also been secured by the Regeneration and Growth Team from EMDA for the demolition of the existing buildings and this demolition was almost complete.  Discussions were in hand with the stakeholder partners including WNDC to discuss the Central Area Framework document recently produced by consultants BDP.  This work would be presented to Councillors after the summer and would for the basis of the Central Area Action Plan work and wider consultation thereafter.

NB Councillor Larratt declared an interest in the above question.

Councillor Roy then asked a question of Councillor Palethorpe whether he could give details on the progress or otherwise on the completion of security measures on Park Square flats since the last full Council given the admission that progress up to the last full Council had been unacceptably slow.

Councillor Palethorpe advised that there was the need to look at a technical feasibility study and he would be asking for consultation with the community and those who would be responsible for security measures which would involve the CASPAR Group.  In response to a supplementary he stated that he would put a response in writing to Councillor Roy.

Councillor B Hoare then asked a question of Councillor Caswell as the Portfolio Holder regarding the Bullen Report.  He stated that in March 2003 Northampton Borough Council commissioned Bullen Consultants to undertake a strategic Flood Risk Assessment of Northampton.  This was duly considered by the Planning Transportation and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 17 March 2005 and that Committee resolved to make eight recommendations to the Executive.  The second recommendation was as follows:-

The Executive consider identifying the 430 homes in the Borough (Wootton Brook and Collingtree) areas that were at risk of flood in consultation with the Environment Agency to see what measures could be taken to address the risk.  He asked if the Portfolio Holder could advise what programme had been made to identify these 430 homes at risk.  Councillor Caswell stated that the Executive in July 2005 had accepted the Scrutiny report and resolved that reference to the named areas be replaced with Nene Valley and West Hunsbury Wards.  The document had been published together with maps which identified all homes in Northampton Borough subject to flood risk and these maps were available to the general public and identified individual properties.  The full report and map was available on the Council’s website and there were over 600 recorded viewings of the maps covering the Nene Valley and West Hunsbury Wards which identified properties at high risk of flooding.  The Council would be seeking to address flood risk ensuring that its development plans took account of the evidence of flood risk and policies helped to mitigate flood risk and where possible reduce risk.  Flood risk areas would be clearly identified and the Council would ensure that site specific risk assessments would be carried out in accordance with Environment Agency requirements in order to examine the individual nature of all new development.

NB Councillor Wire declared an interest in the above as a member of the Environment Agency Northern Area Committee and Councillor Glynane declared an interest as Chair of the Nene Flood Prevention Alliance.

Councillor Hollis then asked a question of Councillor Flavell. She stated that with reference to the recent report on Neighbourhood Management and the involvement of Councillors as Community Leaders could the Portfolio Holder confirm how Neighbourhood Wardens were allocated to Wards.  Given the decision earlier this year made without consultation with Councillors to move Neighbourhood Wardens around the Borough how would the Portfolio Holder ensure the continuity with regard to the work being undertaken within the Ward by Neighbourhood Wardens.  She also asked what plans were being developed for Wardens to support Councillors in their role as Community Leaders.  Councillor Flavell stated that to date Wardens had been allocated according to the Executive report of 23 May 2005.  The roll out allocations had been decided in parallel to the Police service rollout in order to ensure that the resources were targeted to meet demands identified in the areas on a priority basis.  As the roll out continued in 2006/07 all of the areas would receive the benefits of this service.  A further five Wardens were due to be recruited in this financial year and the next areas would be New Duston, Kingsthorpe, Parklands, East Hunsbury and West Hunsbury but this would be reviewed in line with the recent report on Neighbourhood Management Areas and it might be more beneficial to double up on some areas that required a greater input.  Councillor Flavell elaborated further upon the current position commenting that Kingsley and Abington would be covered by the St Davids and Weston Area Wardens but would be reviewed together with Nene Valley in 07/08 dependent upon the funding available and those priorities determined by Councillors.  The decision to rotate the Wardens should not be detrimental to any of the areas and would assist in ensuring the Wardens were alerted not compromised.  It was envisaged that this change would occur every two years and the Wardens would ensure that they worked together to ensure the continuity of work currently being undertaken.  The first move was envisaged for September 2006 and all Councillors would be informed when their Wards were affected.  Councillors would be contacted by their Wardens following completion of their initial training.  Alternatively Councillors could establish meetings through contact via the Neighbourhood Warden Team Leader.  Also up to date information on the Neighbourhood Wardens was available on the Council’s website.  Councillor Flavell welcomed Councillors comments on how this service may be developed to ensure Councillors were supported in meeting their future expectations.  She added that a new officer was organising the Wardens and she would let Councillor Hollis have details of this.

Councillor Glynane then asked a question of Councillor Larratt whether given the recent thunderstorms and heavy rain causing increased surface water flooding across Northampton and in particular the St James and Far Cotton areas whether he could advise how many incidents of surface water flooding in Northampton were reported to the Borough Council and the County Council, how regularly the drains should be cleaned, to what standard and what provision was made to clean the drains when the gulley was obstructed by parked cars and the service standard set for drain clearance and how under the Borough Council’s duty of care to the citizens for Northampton could this be effectively monitored.  Councillor Larratt stated that in terms of the incidents of surface water the Borough Council did not receive calls directly as the responsibility for this area of work fell directly with the County Council.  In terms of the cleaning of drains again this responsibility fell within the remit of the County Council but the County’s policy stated that water should not lay around a gulley for more than two hours following any rainfall.  Thirdly, in terms of the service standard set for drain clearing Northampton Borough Council did not operate a duty of care as this element of work also fell within the remit of Northamptonshire County Council.  However the Borough did provide Northamptonshire County Council with direct information in relation to any complaint received which could logged against a unique reference number.  In response to a supplementary Councillor Larratt reiterated the Borough Council was not the responsible authority for this area of work and that it was the County’s responsibility and therefore Councillor Glynane should take up any issues with the County accordingly.

Councillor Church asked a question of Councillor Larratt stating that Northampton Bowls League had announced with effect from 17 July they would cease to use the Racecourse Bowling Greens after 80 years of continuous use.  They cited problems of vandalism and anti-social behaviour and stating they were willing to return at the beginning of next year season provided conditions were acceptable.  Councillor Larratt stated that this was deeply regrettable Unfortunately this Bowling Green was subject to a considerable amount of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.  The Council did endeavour to ensure that all damage was reinstated as soon as possible and the presence of Park Rangers and the Neighbourhood Wardens service to patrol the particular area had been increased.  Unfortunately unless a continued presence was available it became increasingly difficult to police the situation on a permanent basis.  Meetings had been held with Bowls League officials to discuss the current situation and the issue of safety fencing around the perimeter was discussed.  They were advised that the situation would reviewed later in the financial year.  Councillor Larratt stated that he had subsequently looked into the financial situation and was pleased to confirm that subject to member approval if a proportion of the works could be sourced externally then the remaining funding could probably be found.

Councillor Matthews then asked a question of Councillor Laratt with regard to Hunsbury Country Park.  He stated that the park had seen a steady decline over the past 20 years with very little work other than the usual grass cutting and the removal of damaged items.  A tour of the park had been organised earlier in the year and he asked if as a result of this tour a programme of maintenance had been drawn up and if so the details of that programme.  If a programme had not been drawn up he asked what action would be taken to include the park in the winter work schedule and what work would be done.  He added that the Hill Fort within the park was an ancient monument which was in need of urgent attention and asked whether the Council had entered into a dialogue with English Heritage with regards to its conservation.  Councillor Larratt stated that works carried out last winter in Hunsbury Park included the pruning of Green Lane, the pruning of shrubs around the car park and tidying up around the disused toilets which had received numerous complaints from local residents.  A start had been made on edging up the pathways and litter picking was carried out across the park on a regular basis.  This winter it was intended to carry out the pruning of shrub beds and continuing with the edging up of the paths in the park.  The trees had been inspected and it was understood that there was a programme of work in place to carry out the necessary works.  With regard to the Hill Fort Councillor Larratt stated that he did not know what the position was with regard to this but he would take up the issue and let Councillor Matthews know.