Agenda item

At this juncture an issue regarding works in Becketts Park and Midsummer Meadow was raised as a Matter of Urgency.  M Kitchen and S Docker from the Borough Council had been invited to make a short presentation with regard to this item.  M Kitchen firstly advised of the background to the scheme stating that earlier in the year Northampton Enterprises had approached Northampton Borough Council to advise that there was a shortfall in cash and enquiring whether the monies could be spent in the current financial year.  As such waterside areas in Northampton had been looked at and  a piece of work in Becketts Park and Midsummer Meadow was identified. This would upgrade and improve the area.  Subsequently an expression of interest was placed followed by further bids.  The first expression of interest was placed in August but it was not until 28 November that approval for funding for the scheme was received.  In view of the timescale and the need to get the work completed in this current financial year it was essential that works commence as soon as possible.  It was noted that the £357,000 was match funded by Northampton Borough Council from the LABGI reserve.  This element of the funding was not time restrained and therefore they were looking to use this on a feasibility study on Becketts Park to see what improvements could be made to Becketts Park and use of the waterside facilities generally.

M Kitchen then explained the actual works that were taking place which in Becketts Park were focussed upon improving the area at the side of the railway embankment. In terms of Midsummer Meadow a footpath and cycle path were being installed and there was the desire to get the public to appreciate the wildlife and the river more and to make it a safer place generally for people to visit.  The Environment Agency would be putting in a new landing stage where the old swimming pool used to be located.  Also the tree planting over the years had not been managed and this was being looked at as well as possibly reducing the height of the bunding to increase the natural surveillance of the parking areas.

Having heard the presentation and the type of works that were taking place the group welcomed these improvements.  In response to a query it was noted that there was a plan to put in more litter bins.  In terms of further works it was noted that there would be the need for a Steering Group to be established as the intention was to get as wide a consultation as possible as it was accepted that these initial works had not perhaps allowed for as much consultation as would have been desirable due to the restricted timescale.  However future consultations would be with various groups and the Police and would include liaison with this particular group in future.  Following the concerns that had been expressed by this group regarding the works and the lack of consultation the works had been put on hold until this meeting.  Work was due to start again the following Monday and the group gave their endorsement to the works proceeding.

M Kitchen was thanked for the update and clarification of the situation.

With regard to the HIV Policy and Pre-Employment Screening Update L Ambrose advised that H Crabtree had now left the authority and that M Mina was the Interim Manager in HR.  One of the things that had been requested by this group which H Crabtree had obtained was Camden’s Pre-Employment Questionnaire and copies of this were circulated to the group for information.  It was noted that this would be discussed further under the relevant item on the agenda.

A Bewers referred to the discussion at the last meeting regarding the Anti-Bullying work by the NLGBA and Northamptonshire County Council and that the launch referred to had taken place with over 50% of the schools attending which was very good attendance.  He added that NLGBA and Northamptonshire County Council should be given credit for achieving this.

A matter for noting was that K2 had opened again as a gay venue.