Council set to consider investing in JCB Pothole Pro to maintain 1289 miles of road

/in /by
West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet is set to consider plans to invest £450,000 into purchasing a JCB pothole pro, which will enable WNC’s Highways partners, Kier, to carry out an improved repair service.

The investment forms part of the Council’s long-term vision to improve the road network across the area and follows the announcement to invest more than £2.8 million additional funds into the Highways contract in 23/24.

The investment will accompany a second Thermal Road Repairs machine. The new machinery offers advanced technology and deliver high-quality outputs and benefits from low emissions, zero waste, and offers a quality solution to defect repairs.

Cabinet will meet on Tuesday, 11 July to consider the plans to fund the Pothole Pro, which is due to arrive at Kier’s depot in Brixworth over the summer.

Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at WNC, said: “Potholes can form quickly during extreme weather and cause a real issue for our road users. We are committed to working with Kier to invest in our network and improve the condition of the roads across West Northamptonshire.

“By investing in this ground-breaking technology, we can achieve our Council’s strategy to deliver prompt pothole mending with no requirement for further, future repair – ensure the future sustainability of our road network.”

The JCB Pothole Pro travels at a faster speed than other machines, provide a more efficient service and enabling WNC to cut the defect, crop the edges and clean and repair potholes to an improved quality.
Contact Information

West Northamptonshire Council Communications Team
communications@westnorthants.gov.uk

West Northamptonshire Council Presents Annual Report

/in /by
The leader of West Northamptonshire Council has thanked residents, businesses and partners for their ongoing support during its second year as the authority launches its 2022/23 Annual Report

Launched at the Council meeting last night (Thursday 29 June), the report provides a comprehensive overview of the Council’s achievements, challenges, and performance during its second year as a unitary authority. It also outlines key priorities for the upcoming year and sets the Council’s direction of travel for 2023/24.

Over the past 12 months, the council has faced numerous challenges in the wake of significant cost-of-living rises amidst an uncertain international and economic climate. Addressing the cost-of-living difficulties faced by the community has been one of the council’s top priorities throughout the year 2022/23. Working closely with partners, West Northamptonshire Council has made extensive efforts to provide vital support to residents in need.

The council has also dealt with a multitude of significant issues, including assisting in the resettlement of families fleeing the war in Ukraine, leading the county’s emergency response to the loss of our Queen, and taking proactive measures to tackle emerging financial challenges in future budgets that could not have been predicted at this time last year.

Despite these challenges, West Northamptonshire Council has continued to make substantial progress towards its ambitions, achieving significant milestones throughout 2022/23,  including:

  • Delivered the £750,000 Northampton Bike Park, encouraging cycling, and featuring facilities for all abilities of riders
  • Embarked on a bold new approach to make West Northamptonshire a more sustainable place to live and work. Steps that the Council is taking are many and varied, from our £8million scheme to decarbonise our rural leisure centres to increased solar energy to reduce our emissions.
  • Supported over 500 people through refugee resettlement programmes, and the creation of almost 100 warm and welcoming spaces at the heart of communities to help people facing cost-of-living challenges
  • Committed to creating more school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including plans for a new 230-place SEND school, and extending provision at six other schools, including opening the new Hardingstone Academy and Castle Academy SEND Units
  • Introduced the SEND Ranges to provide consistent advice and guidance to identify and provide tailored support based on individual needs of children and young people in educational settings.
  • Launched the Integrated Care Northamptonshire 10-year Strategy, focusing on equitable opportunities and collaboration with local area partnerships to help residents “Live Your Best Life.”
  • Distributed over £5 million of the government’s Household Support Fund in West Northamptonshire, providing assistance such as free school meal vouchers, pension credits, and food vouchers through local voluntary and community groups.
  • Improved access to services and streamlined payment options to make it easier for residents to access the support they need.
  • Launched the Explore WN App, which showcases businesses and attractions across West Northamptonshire and offers exclusive discounts and events to promote local tourism.
  • Initiated ambitious regeneration strategies in towns like Towcester, Daventry, and Northampton to enhance communities and revitalize public spaces.
  • Celebrated over 60 events, including Pride, Diwali, International Women’s Day, and Holocaust Memorial, to bring diverse communities together.
  • Tackled environmental crime, including reducing fly-tipping and implementing new public space protection orders to build cleaner communities.
  • Achieved significant waste management results, collecting over 400,000 bins each week, with nearly 50% of all waste collected being reused, recycled, or composted.
  • Invested an additional £2.86 million for 2023/24 into road improvements, resulting in enhancements across 161 parishes, vegetation clearance, sign cleaning, and extensive carriageway repairs.
  • Retained the prestigious Green Flag Awards for six green spaces, demonstrating excellence in park and recreational space management.

The council has remained dedicated to its transformation plans, enhancing the services inherited from legacy councils, while developing and implementing new strategies aimed at creating sustainable communities and improving outcomes for local residents. Recognising that there is more work to be done, the council’s priorities for the upcoming year reflect its ongoing mission to provide even better services that enable residents to lead their best lives.

Cllr Jonathan Nunn, the Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: “The Annual Report showcases the dedication and resilience of West Northamptonshire Council in delivering services and meeting the needs of our communities.

“I’m immensely proud of the progress we have made over the past year as a new unitary authority and I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all residents, businesses, partners, and colleagues for their support over the past year. Their invaluable contributions resilient spirit, generosity, and determination continue to play a fundamental role as the council strives to make West Northants a great place to live, visit, work, and thrive.

“We have made significant strides in our second year, but we recognise that there is more work to be done in our third year. There will be challenges ahead without doubt, but we are confident that we will be able to respond effectively to future changes and challenges.”

The annual report not only reflects on the past year’s achievements but also outlines the plans and aspirations for the upcoming year. The council remains committed to enhancing services and creating sustainable communities, aiming to provide even better support and services for residents.

For more information and to access the full annual report, please visit the West Northamptonshire Council website.
Contact Information

West Northamptonshire Council Communications Team
communications@westnorthants.gov.uk

Help us to reduce contamination in our household waste collections

/in /by
Residents are urged to help West Northamptonshire Council tackle contamination in household waste collections.

From Tuesday, 20 June waste crews will be rolling out bin stickers which highlight the correct use of waste and recycling bins to households across West Northamptonshire.

The stickers support three campaigns which aim to raise awareness of what people can and can’t put into their bins for collection, in a bid to reduce contamination in household collections batteries are disposed of correctly.

The stickers will be placed on top of all general waste bins, with clear instructions on what cannot go into that bin, as follows
No Batteries, use separate collection
No Food Waste, use your food caddy
No Recyclables, use your recycling bin

From Tuesday 20 June and into July, the stickers will be distributed by crews to every household across West Northants. There is nothing which you need to do because of this, other than follow the instruction on the sticker. 

Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at WNC, said: “Too much of the wrong stuff in the wrong bin can cause the whole load of our waste trucks to be rejected for recycling, as well as pose a serious safety risk, in particular batteries that can cause fires in our collection vehicles. We want to ensure that all residents are aware of the risks of not disposing of batteries correctly and to know how they can safely recycle them.  We know residents want to recycle waste, and they need to know how they can support us in reducing contamination by putting the right stuff in the right bin so that we recycle more.”

There is a handy guide on our website and app which provides information on how items can be disposed of. Click here to find out what goes where. 

Download the West Northants App either through the Play or Apple Store for handy reminders for when to put out your bins and for detailed guidance for what can go in each bin. 

Town and Parish Briefing – June 2023

/in /by

Dear Town and Parish colleagues

Please find attached the June edition of the Town and Parish Briefing.

We hope you find this briefing useful and informative, and we encourage you to share it widely within your organisations.

If you have any ideas and feedback for shaping future content, we’d really like to hear from you, so please feel free to contact us.

Kind regards

WNC Communications Team

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

June-23-Town-and-Parish-BriefingDownload

Cabinet approve proposals to bring Northampton Railway Station Multi-storey car park back on track

/in /by

Plans to increase spaces and provide improved facilities at Northampton Railway Station, by building a new 1,198 space multi-storey car park (MSCP), have moved forward as West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) approved proposals at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 13 June.

WNC is working closely with Network Rail and its development partner, BlocWork to bring forward the new MSCP which will provide much-needed parking in this area increasing capacity from 800 to 1200.

Following cabinet’s approval in December 2021, plans have altered while the Council has responded to lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and cost inflation. As such, the terms of the lease were not agreed. Therefore, the Council stepped in to deliver proposals which will see the Council manage the facility offering best value for money for residents.

Cllr Dan Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth at WNC, said: “There is a real need a new multi-storey car park to replace the current arrangements which currently exist at Northampton Railway Station. By creating an multi-storey car park we have make space available for future development which will further enhance this area.

“Over the last 18 months we have been closely monitoring the vast increase in inflation and responded to the affects of the pandemic and are now in a strong position to bring forward this development and made the facility in-house.

“Working with Network Rail and Blocwork, we can create a facility which is much better for rail users who access the station by car.”

To keep up to date with regeneration across West Northamptonshire visit: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/regeneration

Daventry office relocation from Lodge Road to the Abbey Centre

/in /by

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is moving its Daventry offices from Lodge Road to the Abbey Centre to make more efficient use of office space and generate savings as well as improve service quality and to meet the changing needs of our communities.

The move will take place in two phases. Customer-facing services have now moved, to be followed by the move of the rest of the WNC teams and the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust later this summer.

The office relocation was informed by feedback from customers and employees about how office space is being used post-Covid?.  The move will bring together services more effectively for residents. This would include front-line teams like customer services, revenues and benefits, housing, adult social care, and children’s services being based within the Abbey Centre in St John’s Square. It is expected to save at least £200,000 a year in the Council’s revenue budget, which pays for the day-to-day running of services.

Cllr Mike Hallam, WNC Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic presented its challenges but also presented opportunities too. It provided us with the insight and the opportunity to review the way we work as well as inform our future building needs alongside the technology advancements required to support our staff and communities.

“Our office relocation to the Abbey Centre is a great chance to reduce our building space used and generate significant savings, as well as an opportunity to work with partners to deliver joined-up services for our residents.”

Residents visiting the Abbey Centre can:

  • Get advice about a wide range of West Northants Council services, from housing options to council tax and everything else in between.
  • Report issues online, from potholes to concerns about a child or adult, using the website in our self-serve areas.  
  • Access LibraryPlus services and well as meet with our partners who can help with money advice, legal matters, or offer health and wellbeing support.  

The full details of our new Customer Services Hub in Daventry are The Abbey Centre in St John’s Square (behind the Leisure Centre), St John’s Square, Daventry, NN11 4XG.

Our customer service team alongside other key council services and partner agencies offer a wide range of drop-in options across West Northamptonshire.  Find a drop-in session near you on our website

Children and young people asked to get involved in the Coronation Art Competition

/in /by

Schoolchildren of all ages in Northamptonshire are being asked to display their creative skills and share what inspired them about the King’s Coronation by taking part in the countywide Coronation Art Competition.

His Majesty’s Representative in Northamptonshire, the Lord-Lieutenant is inviting pupils to create a work of art based on their take on the Coronation celebrations that took place across the country in May.

James Saunders Watson Esq, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, said: “The possibilities are endless: you can submit drawings on size A3 canvas, paper, board, or you can use oil or water-based paint, pencil, pastel, crayons, collage, and photography to show what Coronation meant to you and remember you’re limited only by your imagination.

“Being Northamptonshire I expect we’ll see plenty of creative ways to use shoes and boots, and if you’re not creative with your hands, write a poem or a song or send across your computer graphics.

“We are looking forward to receiving some wonderful and colourful submissions and I cannot wait to see the entries displayed at the final exhibition that will take place during the October half term. “

There are four age categories for children with ages between four and sixteen with a cash prize of £100 per category, to be awarded at the final exhibition that will take place at The Stables at Lamport Hall on Thursday, 26 October.  The top ten contestants in each category will be invited to exhibit their artworks at the exhibition.  Residents, entrants, and their families will be welcome to visit the exhibition, which will run from Thursday, 26 October until Sunday, 29 October. 

Entries must be sent to coronationart@outlook.com by Wednesday, 30 August, and include the entrant’s name, age, the school, and the school’s postcode.

Three found guilty of dumping waste pay the price

/in /by

Three people who have been found guilty of discarding of waste on the streets of West Northamptonshire have been ordered to pay £5,870 collectively.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) officers work hard alongside our waste collection partners to keep our areas clean and green. When fly tipping or littering offences occur, we will take action against offenders in line with our enforcement policy.  This week alone there have three cases where people were held to account for the impact their carelessness has had on the environment.

Mr Umit Bilgin, aged 43 of Patterdale Walk, Northampton attended court on 6 June and pleaded guilty after he was linked back to dumped household and construction waste in Spectacle Lane, Moulton which is a rural hot spot area for fly-tipping crime. Bilgin had to pay out £3,350 for fly-tipping and not complying with his duty of care for disposing of household waste properly.

WNC officers attended the area in February 2022 after being alerted by a local resident and came across the large amount of waste carelessly discarded on the Lane. After carrying out an investigation they found items which linked this back to Bilgin. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £400, which he did not pay. The case was put forward for prosecution where he was fined £1,400, costs amounting to £1,800 and a victim surcharge of £140.

On the same day in court Miss Emma Smith aged 31 of Harefield Road, Blackthorn was found guilty of littering and fined a total of £1,260 for failing to pay a fixed penalty notice of £150. Smith did not attend court on 6 June and the case was heard in her absence, she was subsequently found guilty and fined £220, as well as costs amounting to £952.27 and a victim surcharge of £88.

In October 2022 a WNC Neighbourhood Warden carried out a routine patrol in Kingsland Gardens, Northampton, where they found a pile of green refuse sacks. After investigating the officer found it was linked to Miss Kelly Short aged 41 of Kingsland Gardens, Kingsthorpe.

Short was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £150 and failed to provide evidence to support her challenge of the fine issued.  Her challenge was rejected, and a case was put forward to prosecution when the fixed penalty remained unpaid. Short failed to appear in Court and was found guilty in her absence she was subsequently fined £220, as well as costs amounting to £952.27 and a victim surcharge of £88.

Cllr David Smith, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services at WNC, said: “Three cases in one week which have resulted in fines totalling more than £5,800 for careless crimes of littering and fly-tipping demonstrates our commitment to investigating and responding to cases of environmental crime, as well as the invaluable support we receive from residents to report fly-tips, and provide statements which are vital when reaching a positive outcome and prosecution.

“There is no excuse for blighting our streets with waste and we will ensure people are held accountable for their actions. Working together, we can tackle waste crime and help to keep our areas clean and green.  We very much welcome support from our communities to help bring these offenders to task”

People can report fly-tipping on our website, along with details of any information which can help to pinpoint the offenders. To find out more visit: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/cleaner-communities

Boughton Village Matters Newsletter – June 2023

/in /by

This newsletter is independent of the Parish Council. Any queries should be sent to Charlotte Mackaness.

June-23-BVMDownload

West Northamptonshire Council unveiled its new Coat of Arms

/in /by
A new Coat of Arms for West Northamptonshire was unveiled at last night’s Annual Council meeting to officially symbolise and celebrate civic pride across our area.

The heraldic design has been officially granted to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and will promote the new authority area, which was created on 1 April 2021 as part of the biggest reorganisation of local government in the county for nearly 50 years.

In line with strict royal tradition and procedure, the Coat of Arms has been hand-drawn and granted to West Northamptonshire Council by the College of Arms, a centuries-old authority which acts for the Crown on all official heraldic matters.

In a highly traditional process that has taken nearly two years to complete, the Arms have been granted by the Kings of Arms, the three senior Officers of Arms, who act on behalf of the Crown and were subject to the approval of the Earl Marshal, who has overall responsibility for the College of Arms within the Royal Household.

The design has been specially drawn to reflect and represent West Northamptonshire’s proud history and heritage, taking a number of elements from the Coats of Arms of the former Northampton Borough, Daventry and South Northants districts and county.

The new Coat of Arms was presented to Council last night by Councillor André González De Savage, the outgoing Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council and Cllr John Shephard, WNC’s new Chairman for the year ahead.

Cllr González De Savage said: “We are honoured to be granted a Coat of Arms for West Northamptonshire. As a new authority bringing together communities of the previous districts and boroughs, it will play a really important role as we continue to develop our new identity of West Northamptonshire and promote civic pride and a sense of place and belonging among residents.”

Cllr Shephard added: “Our new Coat of Arms is not only an official symbol of authority for West Northamptonshire but is also a powerful statement of local patriotism and how our area is deeply rich and rooted in tradition, history, and heritage. It is an emblem for all of us to be proud of and we hope residents across our area will fully embrace it as part of the true identity of living in West Northamptonshire.”

Key elements of the Coat of Arms include the following:

  • A Golden Lion, taken from the arms of Northampton, with a scallop shell on its foot in reference to the arms of the Spencer family who have owned Althorp for 500 years
  • A Black Bull, from the county council arms, signifying Edward IV’s historic marriage at Grafton, with an iron collar representing agriculture, leatherwork and shoemaking and a horseshoe at its foot in reference to the area’s history of metalworking, horseracing at Towcester and horsepower of the motorcars at Silverstone.
  • A crest featuring a white castle from the arms of Northampton, on a ring of red roses symbolising county history and wheatsheaves representing the area’s many rural settlements and agricultural heritage
  • The shield features four traditional rose symbols of Northamptonshire representing Daventry, Brackley, Towcester and Northampton, wheatsheaf for agricultural heritage and a lion’s face in allusion to the lions in the respective arms of Northampton and South Northants and the common seal of Brackley. Lines across the shield represent Watling Street (straight) and Grand Union Canal (wavy).

The green and gold, considered interchangeable in heraldry, also reflect the colours used by the previous district and borough authorities alongside the traditional county red rose of Northamptonshire.

Find out more about WNC Coat of Arms on our website.
Contact Information

West Northamptonshire Council Communications Team
communications@westnorthants.gov.uk