Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Regeneration

1.      The outcome of the consultation on the Consultative Parks and Open Spaces Strategy has been considered and the key summary responses are noted.

2.      Approval is given to the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy for Northampton.

3.      Approval is given to the use of the Accessibility, Quality and Quantity Standards as set out in Appendix B as the agreed standards for green space, as required for new development in accordance with Policy E19 in the Northampton Local Plan.

4.      The process is noted to develop an Action Plan from the workstreams identified, and to receive an annual briefing in respect of progress.

Councillor Hawkins addressed Cabinet commenting that it was a tremendous piece of work containing some issues that had been highlighted by the Friends of Eastfield Park, of which she was a member. She was disappointed that Becket’s Park and Delapre Park were being treated separately to the strategy as she sensed a lack of coordination.  She then suggested that the document be put forward in a draft form to stakeholders for final comments before the work came back to Cabinet.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and praised the work of officers on the strategy.  He called for a further drilling down to address individual uses of the parks and asked particularly that the needs of junior and adult footballers be considered.  He was concerned at potential conflicts in requirements in parks giving the example of the need for footpaths during the week being at variance with the need for sports pitches at weekends.  He then expressed his frustration at the County Council’s failure to protect open spaces and playing fields at school sites.

As Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Church presented the report to cabinet explaining that it was, in fact, a joint report with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Culture and the Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement.  He praised Northampton for its wealth of parks and open spaces but warned that even with unlimited resources, there would be a need to prioritise the various demands and improvements requested. The strategy would enable the Council to work with other groups and would ultimately inform the planning and local development framework and enable the submission of more robust bids for external funding.  A lot of work had gone into the strategy and now it was time to adopt the policy. He then referred to Appendix E, which outlined the workstream leading to the action plan, although he emphasised that all work going forward was dependent on financial restraints.  It was confirmed that the Playing Field Strategy had been addressed.

Councillor Crake, as Portfolio Holder for Environment and Culture, had been impressed by the enthusiasm of the public during the consultation process.  She regretted that the Council did not have the money to provide abundant flowers and play equipment and pointed out the Council’s willingness to support Friends’ groups in their bids for funding.  She commented that the strategy would help with the assessment of future need for allotments and cemeteries.

Councillor PD Varnsverry applauded the number of people who took part in the consultation workshops and recommended strong partnership work to minimise the conflicts of users’ needs.  He congratulated the authors of the report. It was confirmed that the responses set out in Annex C of the report had been communicated back to the relevant people.

Councillor B Hoare commended the report and commented on the lively support and interest for Abington Park.

RESOLVED

1.      That the outcome of the consultation on the Consultative Parks and Open Spaces Strategy be considered and the key summary responses be noted.

2.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8