Buckton Fields Community Centre to be leased to Born to Shine

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The Parish Council resolved at their meeting on 17th November 2025 to instruct solicitors to prepare a lease of the Community Centre to Born to Shine.

The Lease will be for a 7-year term, with a break clause at year 3, peppercorn rent at £25pcm and a rent review after year 1, on the basis both parties sign a Memorandum of Understanding about shared goals.

The Council feel Born to Shine could create a thriving community hub given their proposed types of activities/programmes:

PLEASE NOTE, ALL THE PROGRAMMES ARE NOT GUARANTEED AT THIS STAGE BUT THE COUNCIL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN BORN TO SHINE’S PROPOSAL

  • Parent & Child / Family Sessions
    • Weekly “stay & play” mornings for pre-school children (0-4yrs) with caregivers — good for families moving into the area.
    • After-school clubs: craft, youth club, lego etc.
    • Family movie nights or “board-games and pizza” evenings.
    • Parent meet-ups / café mornings: a space where new families can connect.
  • Fitness / Health & Wellbeing
    • Evening or weekend fitness classes: yoga, Pilates, circuit training suitable for adults (commuters likely home evenings).
    • Healthy cooking workshops (especially useful for first-􀆟me buyers learning to cook) or “budget meals for families” sessions.
    • Mindfulness or stress-management workshops (for busy professionals/commuters).
      Local walking groups / outdoor nature club u􀆟lising the nearby green spaces.
  • Community & Social Groups
    • Book club / social coffee mornings for older adults or downsizers looking to meet
      neighbours.
    • Crafting, knitting or gardening club.
    • Film or quiz nights for all ages.
  • Learning & Development
    • Digital-skills classes: online banking, using smart devices, safe internet for older
      residents or new home-owners.
    • Career / commuuting support: since there are many commuters, maybe “working from
      home” forums, remote-working meet-ups, shared-workspace drop-ins.
  • Children & Youth Focus
    • Youth club nights (teenagers) with games console, pool table, social space.
    • Planned outdoor activities (nature walks, sports) utilising the nearby open parkland (if
      possible).
    • Skills workshops: e.g., cooking, first aid, budgeting etc.
  • Sustainability / Green Living
    • Utilising green space for growing, possible gardening clubs.
    • Recycling / up-cycling workshops: making items from old items.
    • Local “green commuting” groups: e.g., bike-share, walking-to-work meet-ups

 

 

WNC Highways – unlawfully installed marker posts or stones outside properties

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The Parish Council have been informed by WNC Highways that they intend to write to properties in the parish which have unlawfully installed marker posts or stones on the grass verges outside the property boundary.

The Parish Council recognise parishioners have presumably done so, to protect the grass verges from being damaged. As Highways are the landowner of the grass verges, there is little the Parish Council can do.

As always, should Parishioners wish to raise an agenda item on the topic please email clerk@boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk

Enforcement Letter Boughton - Final, 251117

Have your say on funding for policing and fire and rescue services in Northamptonshire

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Have your say on funding for policing and fire and rescue services in Northamptonshire

The survey is now open and runs until midday on Monday 5 January 2026. It can be completed by clicking here: https://www.research.net/r/OPFCCPR25

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone is asking for views before setting the council tax precept – the amount of the council tax bill that goes towards funding Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Local police and fire services are funded through a combination of central government grants and the council tax precept. The precept is about 18% of a total council tax bill in Northamptonshire.

A consultation has now been launched to ask how much people are willing to pay to support their police and fire services next year (2026/27).

Government guidance on what level of precept increase is available to Commissioner’s is expected soon, but we are asking for views on an expected increase of £14 a year for policing and £5 a year for fire for a Band D property.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone said that these increases are needed to balance the budgets of both organisations and to invest in policing and fire services.

“It’s never easy to ask for more money, but it’s my responsibility to set the precept for Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. I must balance the impact on taxpayers against the need to invest in these important public services so that they can deliver on the public’s priorities,” Danielle said.

“We have made a commitment to create new policing hubs in key towns and there will be two new fire stations and new appliances to ensure we continue to meet the risks that face the county. I am genuinely excited by the developments we are seeing.

“Without the contribution that local people make through their council tax, we can’t deliver better services,” Danielle added.

The strategic priorities for both Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service are set out in Danielle’s Safe and Sound Plan, which is based on the results of a wide-ranging public consultation.

The Plan aims to deliver police and fire services that are visible, accessible and engaged with their local communities – so that they deliver on public priorities.

In the coming year, new investments in both services will include keeping police officer and firefighter numbers and creating better town centre police bases in Corby, Kettering and Towcester. For fire, there will be new fire stations in Moulton and Kettering and new fire appliances.

Danielle said: “As Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, I am committed to pressing the government on the historic underfunding and underinvestment in Northamptonshire.

“The council tax precept is a significant part of our funding and before I set the level for next year, I really want to hear from the public.”

 

Boughton Village Matters Newsletter – November 2025

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This newsletter is independent of the Parish Council. Please use the contact details in the newsletter for any queries

BVM Nov 25

Buckton Fields Community Centre

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A copy of our recent notice that went on to Parish Noticeboards can be found below:

Dear Parishioners,

Buckton Fields Community Centre

It is anticipated that Taylor Wimpey will hand over the Community Centre to the Parish Council in April 2026.

The Parish Council have been approached by Born to Shine (charity number:1187913) about the possibility of entering a long-term lease of the Community Centre so that they can provide community activities. They have also suggested they would consider a “Service Agreement” structure in which they would run the Community Centre for the Parish Council.

The Parish Council are impressed with the proposal and are giving this serious consideration. Whilst details of the proposal are not yet agreed, it is hoped that the suggested arrangement would create a Community Hub, allowing Born to Shine to run a variety of programmes for the community whilst enabling third party users to be able to use the space.

As a public entity we aim to be transparent and to provide what is in the best interests of the parish. The Council would be open to listening to other proposals that offer community programmes/activities, on a not-for-profit basis.

If you have a proposal for the Council, please email clerk@boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk.

The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday 17th November 2025, 7pm at the Village Hall.

Buckton Fields Community Centre

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Draft minutes from our recent Parish Council meeting can be found here: https://boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk/your-council/agendas-and-minutes

It is anticipated that Taylor Wimpey will hand over the Community Centre to the Parish Council in April 2026.

The Parish Council have been approached by Born to Shine (charity number:1187913) about the possibility of entering a long-term lease of the Community Centre so that they can provide community activities. They have also suggested they would consider a “Service Agreement” structure in which they would run the Community Centre for the Parish Council.

The Parish Council are impressed with the proposal and are giving this serious consideration. Whilst details of the proposal are not yet agreed, it is hoped that the suggested arrangement would create a Community Hub, allowing Born to Shine to run a variety of programmes for the community whilst enabling third party users to be able to use the space.

As a public entity we aim to be transparent and to provide what is in the best interests of the parish. The Council would be open to listening to other proposals that offer community programmes/activities, on a not for profit basis.

If you have a proposal for the Council, please email clerk@boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk.

The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday 17th November 2025, 7pm at the Village Hall.

Phase 2 – Traffic Calming Measures (NWRR)

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The implementation of the 20mph zone is known as “Phase 1”, it is expected to complete by 25th November 2025.

WNC/Kier have been working with the Parish Council regarding “Phase 2”. Ongoing discussions are to take place (see below)

Paper B - DRAFT - Phase 2 Projects (NWRR - traffic calming)

UPDATED – Roadworks for Traffic Calming – 15.10.25

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15th October – WNC have confirmed:-

  • The reason why the works did not start on Monday 13th and have been rescheduled to Monday 20th October is because they had to review the results of the ground penetration radar (GPR) survey and overlay KIER’s design.
  • The outcome was that there are shallow services i.e. utilities in several locations. Hence KIER had to consider mitigation measures to ensure a safe method of works to install the speed cushions at the agreed locations.
  • The planned completion date remains unchanged and is on Wednesday 26th November 2025 with the installation the VAS i.e. one on Vyse Road and one on Moulton Lane”

Each map has been updated with the relevant dates.

Boughton Fact Sheet - Update 15.10.25

Northamptonshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner – October 25 Newsletter

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Newsletter – October 2025 – Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner