This week in West Northamptonshire:

• The Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss a new premises licence application for The Vault Cocktail Lounge in Towcester.
• The Senior Appointments Committee met to discuss the appointment of a Director of Public Health, but the public were excluded from the meeting.
• The West Northamptonshire Schools Forum meeting was cancelled.

Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee - Monday 19 May 2025

The Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene on 19 May 2025 to consider a new premises licence application for The Vault Cocktail Lounge, located at 130 Watling Street East, Towcester NN12 6BT. The sub-committee was asked to determine the application in accordance with section 18 the Licensing Act 2003¹. Objections from local residents included concerns about noise disruption, potential invasion of private parking, and waste management. Mr Anthony Walker submitted the application requesting permission for the sale of alcohol, live music, and recorded music, with proposed hours until midnight, Monday to Sunday. Following discussions with Mr Walker, amendments were requested to extend the opening hours to 00:30 to allow for drinking-up time. Further amendments were made after discussions with the Environmental Protection team, including restricting access to the outdoor courtyard area and limiting the use of recorded music.

One local resident, Brian Bollen, raised concerns about noise disruption, potential invasion of private parking, and waste management. He described the prospect of the licence being granted as a combination of disbelief and utter dismay at the prospect of wholesale destruction of what little peace and quiet exists in this vicinity. Another resident, Colin Clayson, objected to the application on the grounds of noise and disturbance to the residential Moat Lane Conservation Area². The report pack indicated that Mr Walker agreed to several conditions with the Environmental Protection team and the police, including restricting access to the outdoor courtyard area, playing recorded music at background levels only, and holding live music performances indoors only.

The sub-committee was reminded of its duty to consider the application on its own merits, based on the licensing objectives and the South Northamptonshire Statement of Licensing Policy 2020 – 2025.

Senior Appointments Committee - Friday 23 May 2025

The Senior Appointments Committee met on Friday 23 May 2025 to discuss the appointment of a Director of Public Health (DPH). The meeting was held at One Angel Square, Northampton.

The appointment process was to be conducted in compliance with the council's constitution, specifically section 9.5 Staff Employment Rules. The report pack notes that if the panel decided that there was no suitable candidate, the post would have to be re-advertised.

The press and public were excluded from the meeting because the discussion was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined by Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972¹ and paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A to the act.

This week in West Northamptonshire:

• The Local Pension Board met, but no video or transcript was provided.
• The Council meeting included the election of a chair and vice-chair, and the allocation of seats to committees based on political balance.

Local Pension Board - Wednesday 14 May 2025

The Local Pension Board met on Wednesday 14 May 2025, but no video or transcript was provided.

Council - Thursday 15 May 2025

The West Northamptonshire Council meeting scheduled for 15 May 2025 included the election of a chair and vice-chair, the appointment of a leader, and the allocation of seats to committees based on political balance. Councillors were also expected to note the names of the leaders and deputy leaders of the political groups, as well as the members of the Cabinet.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of the Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council, followed by the appointment of the Vice-Chairman.

Appointment of Leader of the Council

The council was expected to appoint the Leader of the Council.

Committee Proportionality and Appointments

The council was scheduled to discuss committee proportionality and the appointment of members to committees and other bodies. According to the report pack, the council is required to allocate seats on committees and sub-committees to political groups to give effect, as far as possible, to a number of principles:

• Not all the seats on the Committee or sub-Committee are allocated to the same political group
• The political group having a majority of seats on the Council should have a majority on each Committee and sub-Committee
• The number of seats on the Council’s Committees and sub-Committees allocated to each political group bears the same proportion to the total number of such Committee seats as the number of members of that group bears to the membership of the full Council
• Seats are allocated on each Committee and sub-Committee in the same ratio as exists on the authority.

The report pack notes that the council may only depart from these principles if no member votes against it.

The report pack also clarifies that these political balance provisions only apply directly to committees and sub-committees, and not to the Cabinet, Cabinet sub-Committees, joint Committees that exercised functions of the Cabinet, and the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The report stated that following the election on 1 May 2025, the political makeup of the council was 42 Reform UK, 17 Conservative, 9 Labour, 6 Liberal Democrat and 2 Independent councillors (un-grouped).

The following table shows the proposed allocation of seats between the committees:

*both Committees share the same membership.

Calendar of Meetings 2025-26

The council was scheduled to approve the calendar of meetings for 2025-2026. The draft calendar included dates for full council meetings, cabinet meetings, scrutiny committee meetings and other committee meetings.

This week in West Northamptonshire:

• The Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss a reserved matters application for a warehouse and distribution unit in Daventry.
• The Planning Policy Committee was scheduled to discuss the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area, and the Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan.
• The Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss an application to renew a private hire vehicle driver's licence.

Strategic Planning Committee - Tuesday 22 April 2025

The West Northamptonshire Council Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on 22 April 2025 to discuss a reserved matters application for a warehouse and distribution unit in Daventry. The committee was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of their previous meeting. No video or transcript was provided for this meeting.

The committee was scheduled to consider application 2024/4534/MAR, a reserved matters application for Apex Park Phase 4 Site B on Entwistle Road, Daventry. The application from Prologis UK Ltd, seeks approval for access, layout, scale, appearance, and landscaping for a warehouse and distribution unit, including ancillary offices, landscaping, parking, and associated infrastructure. This is pursuant to condition 26 attached to hybrid planning permission DA/2019/0366.

The application site is a greenfield site with outline permission for industrial/warehouse development, allocated in the development plan for such use under Policy EC7. It's currently undeveloped, comprising a field bounded by mature hedges and trees. A bridleway (VB9) crosses the eastern edge, linking to the footpath network over an old rail bridge to the east at the Middlemore residential estate. A permissive footpath runs along the southern edge, forming part of a network around the outer edge of Apex Park.

The proposal involves the construction of an 8782.5sqm industrial/warehouse unit on a 3.91-hectare site, including 8009sqm of warehouse space and 472sqm of office space. It will also provide 71 parking spaces and a shelter for 30 bicycles. Extensive landscaping and remodelling are planned, including surface water attenuation ponds and an extension to the existing permissive footpath network.

The committee was scheduled to approve the minutes from the meeting held on 18 March 2025.

Planning Policy Committee - Wednesday 23 April 2025

The Planning Policy Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area, and the Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan. No video or transcript was provided for this meeting.

The committee was expected to consider the recommendations of the independent examiner on the Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Development Plan, and decide whether to send the plan to a referendum. They were also scheduled to discuss and agree to consult on the draft Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.

The Planning Policy Committee were scheduled to discuss the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area Review Report. The report pack noted that the council has a statutory duty under the 1990 Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act to review its conservation areas. The section of the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area that is subject of this review was designated as a conservation area in 1995 and has not subsequently been reviewed. It has no up-to-date conservation area appraisal and management plan.

The report pack stated that in West Northamptonshire, the entirety of the Grand Union and Oxford Canals have been designated as Conservation Areas, with the exception of the length of the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal from where it passes under the M1 Motorway to where it meets the River Nene in the centre of Northampton.

The Planning Policy Committee were scheduled to consider the Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan Report. The report pack summarised the process which has been followed to produce the Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Development Plan (STNDP) and presents the outcomes of the independent examination, including the Examiner’s recommendations.

The report pack noted that the Localism Act 2011 provided for a new neighbourhood planning regime that included Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs) that are a plan making power allowing local communities to shape development in their area. When “made” (or adopted), NDPs form part of the development plan alongside the Council’s currently adopted Part 1 and Part 2 Local Plans.

The report pack stated that the draft NDP was published by Northampton Town Council for public consultation under Regulation 14 between 18 August 2023 and 30 September 2023. Following submission of the STNDP to West Northamptonshire Council in July 2024, the plan was published for formal Regulation 16 consultation. The consultation period ran from 14 October to 1 December 2024.

The report pack stated that the referendum will take place on 19 June 2025 and will be held at two polling stations:

• Semilong Community Centre, Norfolk Terrace NN2 6HS
• Alliston Gardens Youth & Community Centre, 2 Adelaide Street, Semilong NN2 6AR

Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee - Wednesday 23 April 2025

The Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to convene on Wednesday 23 April 2025, to discuss an application to renew a private hire vehicle driver's licence. No video or transcript was provided for this meeting.

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application to renew a private hire vehicle driver's licence. According to the agenda, the report pack contained information relating to an individual, which is why the press and public were scheduled to be excluded from this part of the meeting, as per the Local Government Act 1972.

This week in West Northamptonshire:

• The Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee convened to discuss applications for new private hire and Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's licences, and whether to exclude the press and public from the discussions.

Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee - Wednesday 09 April 2025

The Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss applications for new private hire and Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's licences. The agenda included four applications for new private hire driver's licences and one application for a new Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence. The Sub-Committee was also expected to decide whether to exclude the press and public from the meeting while these applications were discussed. No video or transcript was provided for this meeting.

Applications for New Driver's Licences

The Taxi & General Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to review five applications for new driver's licences: four applications for the grant of a new Private Hire Driver’s Licence, and one application for the grant of a new Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence. The report pack contained background information on each of the applications.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Sub-Committee was asked to consider excluding the press and public from the meeting during the discussion of the applications for new driver's licences. According to the agenda, the report(s) contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, which relates to information about individuals.

This is a common practice in licensing sub-committees, as the applications often contain sensitive personal information about the applicants. The Sub-Committee had to balance the public interest in transparency with the need to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. As was discussed in the email from 2024-06-25, the council aims to ensure that its taxi and private hire licensing policies are effective in providing safe and dignified travel for all residents, regardless of their protected characteristics¹.