Councillor Vacancy to be considered on 16 February 2026

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Since advertising the Councillor vacancy at the end of November 2025, the Parish Council have received one application.

The Council would like to formally consider co-option of a Councillor at the next Council meeting on 16th February 2026, 7pm at the Village Hall.

If you would like to be considered, then please formally apply by:-

(this will allow Councillors the opportunity to review applications before the meeting on Monday).

If you have any questions about the role or the co-option process, please contact the Parish Clerk via email or telephone (07918329763).

 

 

 

WNC’s draft Local Plan – proposes 1,500 houses north of Buckton Fields

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WNC’s Planning Policy Committee meeting on 8th January 2025 will consider the draft Local Plan (Reg 18) and when it will go to public consultation. – the meeting papers can be found here:- https://westnorthants.moderngov.co.uk/mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=3056

UPDATE – it is expected to go to Public Consultation at the start of February 2026 for 8 weeks.

The Parish Council will consider the draft Local Plan in due course but as a brief outline the following aspects relate to Boughton Parish:-

  • 1,500 houses are proposed for North of Buckton Fields under Policy N20 (below is a screenshot of Figure 16, page 186, taken from the draft Local Plan. The Council will request a better quality image for circulation).
  • Boughton is defined as a Secondary Service Village under Policy R2 (previously it was proposed that Boughton would form part of Northampton Town for planning purposes – presumably this is no longer the case but the Council will seek clarification).
  • under Policy R6 Boughton is to provide a minimum of 42 houses up to the year 2043 (this appears to be an additional allocation to the 1,500 proposed, the Council will seek clarification)
  • It is proposed to amend the village confines to remove houses on Harborough Road North (below is a screenshot of the proposed boundary. The Council will request a better quality image for circulation).

Boughton Village Matters Newsletter – December 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 Dec 25

December 25 Update – Resident’s request access from Buckton Fields to Fairmile is re-instated

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See the Parish Council’s previous posts here:

  1. https://boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk/news/residents-request-access-from-buckton-fields-to-fairmile-is-re-instated
  2. https://boughtonparishcouncil.co.uk/news/update-on-residents-request-access-from-buckton-fields-to-fairmile-is-re-instated

At the Parish Council meeting on 17 November 2025, the Clerk reported:-

  •  the resident’s petition to reinstate the access has now reached 365 signatures
  • the Clerk attended a meeting with representatives from WNC Planning, Bloor Homes and Kingsthorpe Parish Council on 9th October.
  • Subsequently, WNC confirmed “there doesn’t appear to be any incidences of reported crime in the area”. Kingsthorpe Parish Council are meeting on 20th November with a recommendation to resolve that the fence should be removed.

At the meeting, the Council resolved to:- “note the resident’s online petition to reinstate the informal access has reached 365 signatures and it appears there are no incidences of reported crime in the area. With this in mind, Boughton Parish Council (BPC) strongly advocate that WNC take the appropriate steps to re-open the access. BPC rely upon the technical expertise of WNC Highways as to whether a safe route can be ascertained by simply taking the fence down.  The Clerk is to send this response to the appropriate parties.”     

WNC’s Planning officer has confirmed on 25th November 2025, 

  • “I note that both Parish Councils would like the fence erected by Bloor’s to be taken down to allow residents to informally cut through by developments.
  • From a planning perspective, a footpath connection in this location was not envisaged as part of the development.  The footpath link was further to the east, along Central Avenue.  I appreciate this is some distance from Fair Mile.
  • Following concerns from Councillors and a local resident and discussions with Planning, Bloor’s agreed to reinstall the fencing along their boundary to effectively block up the informal footpath link.  It is difficult to confirm the approved boundary treatment along this boundary, but it appears to require the existing boundary and landscaping to be retained.  I understand that it was residents who originally took down the fence as they wanted to created an informal access.
  • If both Parish Councils wish for a formal footpath to be created, I would advise that you work together to submit a planning application which proposes this.  This would allow you, as Parish Councils, to carry out informal consultation with neighbouring properties to seek their views on any such proposal.  This would create a formal footpath linking both developments creating an extension to the existing footpath on the Fair Mile side and linking into proposed footpaths on the Buckton Fields side.  I would suggest that you also liaise with Bloors regarding this.
  • If this is something that both PC’s wish to peruse, I could arrange a Teams meeting and include Highways, possibly Bloors as well, so that you are fully aware what would need to be addressed as part of any application.”

The above update will be brought to the Parish Council at there next meeting on Monday 15th December.

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.