BOUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

Transcription

1 BOUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL PLAN

2 Contents Page No 1 Introduction 2 The Parish Council 3 Councillors 4 Councillors Roles & Responsibilities 5 Council s Main Areas of Responsibility 7 Charities and Organisations 8 Aims & Objectives 10 Key Activities

3 Introduction What is the Parish Council Annual Plan? The Parish Council Annual Plan is a statement of the Parish Council s vision for the parish, its purpose, values, objectives and key priorities. It is a document that sets out what Boughton Parish Council itself can achieve, either directly or by trying to increase its influence on relevant authorities such as the District or County Council. The aim of the Annual Plan is to give the residents of Boughton a clear understanding of what the Parish Council is trying to achieve and how it intends to deliver this. It details what the Parish Council intends to focus on over the next financial year. At the same time, the Annual Plan will help the local community to have a better understanding of what the Parish Council does and also to clarify what it does not do, in other words, to explain what issues fall under the responsibility of other authorities such as Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire County Council.

4 The Parish Council There are three tiers of local government each with different responsibilities. Boughton Parish Council is the first and most local tier, with an important role to play in promoting the parish, representing the interests of residents and supporting the work of different groups in the community. Daventry District Council is the second tier and is responsible for services including planning, waste and recycling, and street cleaning. Finally, Northamptonshire County Council s responsibilities include highways, education, health and social services, public rights of way and libraries. Boughton Parish Council is made up of nine Councillors who are elected every four years. The Parish Council s work can be divided into two areas: statutory duties and community functions. The statutory work involves liaising with partner authorities such as Northamptonshire County Council, Northampton Borough Council and Daventry District Council, consulting on such things as planning applications and development. The community functions include addressing local issues and undertaking projects to improve the local community. The Parish Council also works closely with community groups, voluntary organisations and government agencies. The Parish Council meets on the second Monday of each month (excluding August, December and February). Members of the public are always welcome to attend the meetings and are given the opportunity to address the Council to express opinions or ask questions. Councillors are unpaid and commit their time to improving Boughton and maintaining it as an attractive and sustainable place in which to live and visit. Elections were last held in May 2012 and are scheduled to be held next in May 2016.

5 Councillors Cllr John Clarke Cotswold, Humfrey Lane, Boughton (Chairman) Cllr Kevin Greatorex 35 Howard Lane, Boughton (Vice Chairman) Cllr Alan Dale Cllr Richard Greener Cllr Gillian Kingston Cllr Jim Parker Cllr Steve Potter County Cllr Judy Shephard Cllr Russell Wilson 1 Greville Close, Boughton The Old Rectory, Church Street, Boughton Pinewood, Moulton Lane, Boughton Church Street, Boughton Hillgarth, Butchers Lane, Boughton Windbreck, Butchers Lane, Boughton Hillside, Church Street, Boughton Parish Clerk & RFO: Mrs Jayne Bunting 6 Horseshoe Close, Brixworth boughtonpc@btconnect.com

6 Councillors Roles & Responsibilities John Clarke Council Chairman Community Panel Meetings Planning Applications Consultation Responses OMBBH Group Kevin Greatorex Alan Dale Richard Greener Gillian Kingston Jim Parker Steve Potter Judy Shephard Russell Wilson Governing Policies & Procedures Village Hall Representative Neighbourhood Watch Annual Information Plan Village Design Statement Council Vice Chairman Pocket Park Representative Richard Humfrey Charity Trustee Tree Warden & Environment Website Development Tree Warden & Environment Footway Lighting Highways & Traffic Boughton Primary School Trustee Website Development Footpaths and Rights of Way Village Design Statement Richard Humfrey Charity Trustee OMBBH Working Group Internal Financial Control Finance, Insurance, Auditing Risk Assessment Budget/Precept Asset Register Governing Policies & Procedures

7 Council s Main Areas of SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS Responsibility Call and chair the Annual Parish Meeting Regular Parish Council Meetings Power to light footways public places Power to repair and maintain public footpaths and permitted paths Power to maintain bus shelters and street furniture provided by Boughton Parish Council Power to plant/preserve trees and ensure maintenance of highway verges Provision of litter and dog bins Provision and maintenance of signs and notice boards Maintenance of public open spaces Insurance Notification of local planning applications Precept and finances Liaison with Police on parking and speeding issues Conservation issues Recreation areas Acquisition of land for the community Crime prevention Affordable housing (within the proposed Buckton Fields Development) GENERAL FUNCTIONS To represent the interests of the Parish by making decisions about situations in the area and putting, by way of objections, or pressure, or comment, the wishes, views or needs of the Parish to other bodies with power to take action desired by the Parish or its inhabitants (where it does not have a formal legal position, the Parish Council may have to

8 persuade others to accept its right to make a case for its area on subjects where it has no statutory powers). Maintain overall aspects of the village general tidiness, suitability of design etc. Liaise with village charities Plan suitable village events Keep the village informed by Notice Boards, Newsletter, Website, etc. Maintain the association with the Parish Church, Boughton Primary School & Pocket Parks. Maintain associations outside the Parish. Progress any conservation area issues. PRINCIPAL TASKS In addition to carrying out the functions of the Parish Council, the following key issues will be kept under review and acted upon where necessary: Speeding and volume of traffic in the village Buckton Fields Boughton Quarry - Landfill and Recycling Centre Pitsford Quarry - Minerals extraction and land restoration Crime and disorder Highways representation with NCC Grant support for local community organisations OTHER ISSUES Communication with electorate and surrounding Councils/Authorities Primary School travel plan/parking Affordable Housing (Linked to Buckton Fields) Transport Liaison with Boughton Rise Local Bus Service

9 CHARITIES Boughton Village Hall Richard Humfrey Trust Boughton Pocket Park (Playground & Field) Obelisk Spinney Pocket Park (Nature Reserve) LOCAL ORGANISATIONS Neighbourhood Watch Care of the Elderly Parish Church Boughton Primary School Ladies Fellowship Boughton Village Hall Coffee Morning Cricket Club OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS Daventry District Council Northamptonshire County Council Northampton Borough Council West Northants Joint Planning Unit Local Parish Councils (Brixworth, Chapel & Church Brampton, Pitsford, Moulton and Overstone) Northamptonshire County Association of Local Councils (NCALC) Northamptonshire ACRE Northamptonshire Police Council for the Protection of Rural England Quarry Liaison Group M & K Gardening Peter Bennie Limited E-ON Kier WSP (Highways) Kingsthorpe Meadows Pocket Park

10 Aims & Objectives AIMS To provide effective, efficient and accountable local government for the parish, enabling residents to be involved in the life of the community and its future development. To be a strong voice for residents working to improve the overall village environment, both built and natural, while preserving the distinctiveness of the heritage and conservation areas. The Conservation Area is an important part of the character of Boughton and needs to be carefully protected. To manage the Parish Council s assets and finances effectively and efficiently to achieve best value. OBJECTIVES To understand and communicate the views, needs and aspirations of residents to statutory and non-government bodies as required To improve communication between the Parish Council and its residents using the new village website To increase public involvement in the community through ensuring the Parish Council and its activities are open, transparent and accountable to residents by:- the provision of a public forum at every Parish Council meeting consulting those affected on planning applications and other matters reporting the Parish Council s activities through the village noticeboards and the village web site. The website provides information about the Parish Council and also signposts people to other organisations and service providers Supporting the work of village voluntary organisations through grants and practical support Working closely with Boughton Primary School to ensure that the needs of young people are adequately addressed

11 Responding to planning applications and other statutory consultations on time, ensuring that recommendations made to the District Council adhere to the Village Design Statement, statutory regulations, and the interests of the community Updating the Village Design Statement Identifying areas in the village which could attain Conservation Area status Monitoring operations at Boughton Quarry and attend local liaison meetings. Continuing to press for a safer community by seeking ways to reduce the speed and volume of traffic in the village through liaison with the Police and Northamptonshire Highways Finalising a traffic calming scheme in the Village Establishing a Buckton Fields Local Liaison Group Progressing a Wish List for improvements within the Parish with the developers of Buckton Fields. Holding an Annual Village Day Continuing liaison with neighbouring villages Providing a Village Information Pack for new residents Investigating the obligations of the Parish Council with regard to land within the Parish Ensuring that Councillors and the Clerk to the Council have access to high quality training and development opportunities

12 Community Organisation Grants Key Activities Through its grants programme the Parish Council Council supports community groups to provide services which benefit the community of Boughton. Applications for grant funding are considered by the Parish Council twice a year at its meetings in January and July. Although the Parish Council s funds are limited, it will work in partnership with appropriate agencies and organisations in order to encourage and facilitate any opportunities to develop further the cultural, educational, sporting and social life of Boughton s residents. Village Enhancement, Environment and Public Safety The Parish Council strives to ensure that the village retains a pleasant, clean and safe environment. While the Parish Council itself if not directly responsible for the delivery of environmental or policing services, it works in partnership with the relevant authorities to encourage a high standard of services that meets the needs and expectations of its residents and visitors. The Parish Council will continue to support the Community Speed Watch initiative. Litter, Refuse and Recycling Daventry District Council is responsible for litter, refuse and recycling in the parish. However, the Parish Council will continue to monitor the effectiveness of street cleaning and litter collection and recycling services in the village and raise any concerns with Daventry District Council. The Parish Council will ensure that local complaints are directed to Northamptonshire County Council Street Doctor and addressed in a satisfactory time and manner.

13 Local Safety & Policing The Parish Council will continue to work with Northamptonshire Police and Neighbourhood Watch to share information on local crime, highway and safety issues. The Chairman of the Parish Council is the representative at police community panel meetings. The Parish Council have included Police contact information on the Parish Council s new website and receive regular updates and alerts through the Northamptonshire Police Community Connect system. Transport & Highways The Parish Council is not directly responsible for highways or transport, services in the village, but strives to ensure that the County Council provides a good quality service. Road and pavement repairs, traffic flow and winter gritting are the responsibility of Northamptonshire County Council. The Parish Council endeavours to ensure that the roads and pavements in the parish are safe and also that local interests are taken into consideration in the scheduling of any major road works. The Parish Council includes and regularly updates information on the Parish Council website in relation to highways issues notified through the Roadwork s Alert system. The Parish Council s Rights of Way Representative monitors and promotes the public rights of way in the parish in conjunction with Northamptonshire County Council. Public Transport Northamptonshire County Council plays a key role in supporting the bus network but bus operators are responsible for providing services and setting the routes, frequencies, timetables and fares on those services. There are two bus service providers that serve Boughton. The Stagecoach X7 service runs half hourly from the A508 Harborough Road

14 island at the top of Vyse Road. In addition, Centre Bus, Service No. 62, which is a concessionary service, provides a twice a weekly bus on a Wednesday and Saturday from the bus shelter in Humfrey Lane at a.m. returning to the village at 2.30 p.m. This service was enhanced to a twice weekly service in December Money from the S106 Agreement from the development at Buckton Fields will provide a commercial bus service to Moulton Park. With the future growth of the parish the Parish Council will continue to lobby Northamptonshire County Council both directly and jointly with neighbouring parishes to improve the bus service provision in Boughton. At the request of the Parish Council Northamptonshire County Council is currently looking at the maintenance of the bus stops in the village which are located in Vyse Road, Howard Lane and Humfrey Lane. More information on bus timetables can be found at:- ey-planning/pubtrans/pages/bustimetable.aspx This Plan is reviewed annually by the Parish Council.