Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Regeneration

1.      It is agreed to support proposals, in principle, for a LED lighting scheme in the Market Square.

2.      It is agreed to submit a full application to WNDC for the £250,000 funding necessary for this project at its Board meeting on 1st December 2009, and to receive a further report should funding be approved.

3.      It is noted that the Director of Planning and Regeneration and Director of Finance and Support in consultation with the relevant portfolio holders have authorised £30,000 of expenditure from LABGI funds to progress project design thus ensuring WNDC funding, if approved, can be spent this financial year.

4.      It is agreed that the final design of the LED lighting scheme should be delegated to the Director of Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holders in Planning and Regeneration and Environment and Culture and that due consideration be given to the issue of light pollution.

Beverley Mennell addressed Cabinet informing them that there was public concern about the amount of money being spent on the proposed new lighting system.  She then referred to an item in the General Fund Revenue Budget Monitoring Report, which showed that a charge was to be introduced for pest control.  She asked cabinet to take on board her serious concerns about rat infestation in the Borough and the potential health and safety risks in the event that people could not afford to pay for private infestation control.

Mr Baker addressed Cabinet giving his opinion that the regeneration of the Market Square had only been of benefit for events and not for stallholders. He felt that too much money was being spent on the Market Square and, referring to the report on General Fund Revenue Budget Monitoring, he pointed out the decline of rental income.  He saw a need to reduce rental charges to encourage new stallholders to the Market.

As a representative of the Campaign for Dark Skies, Mr Robert Marriott felt that lighting should only be used where absolutely necessary and not wasted on spotlighting buildings.  He referred to the cost and environmental impact of decorative lighting, including the risk to birds who became disorientated by lighting.  He pointed out the nuisance of unnecessary lighting and stated that even low-energy lights still obliterated the beauty of the night sky.  He did not see any need for floodlighting on the Market Square.

Lorraine Crook, a resident of the town for 30 years, wondered why Cabinet should think that a European style of market place would be appropriate for Northampton.  She was of the opinion that the working people of the town wanted good value market stalls and not money spent on lights and a fountain.  In response to a question from Councillor Beardsworth, Ms Crook felt that people wishing to look at the architecture of the buildings in the Square would be better to come in the daylight and that in any case, there was sufficient light from shop fronts without the need for additional lighting schemes.

Councillor Clarke referred to pictures of the proposed lighting that were being displayed at the meeting.  He sensed that the public would fail to understand the various funding sources that would enable the lighting to go ahead but cut back the pest control service. He questioned the allocation of £250K from WNDC on such a project when there was a need for improved infrastructure to cope with the proposed town growth.  He then compared the project with the rejected proposal for a needle sculpture near the station and hoped that it would be put aside in the light of the Council’s financial situation.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet and questioned the prioritisation of the funding.  He understood that if Northampton was to introduce a café society to encourage people to spend money in town in the evenings, there would have to be attractive enhancements.  However, he felt that the money could be better spent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7