08/01/2026 – Thornby Parish Meeting minutes

Thornby Parish Meeting

Date: 8th January 2026
Time: 19:30
Location: Village Hall
Attendees:

Peter Moyes (Chair)	G Goodlad
P Gates (Treasurer)	P Straiton
A Pallister (Minute taker)	S Straiton
M Hill
A Day
M Kingston
G Bennett
A Bennett
L Gibson

Apologies:

Apologies:	Guest attendees:
Miss Barlow	Cllr Christine Ware
B & I Brooks
Amanda Day
M Burdett
J & R Sherlock
L Moyes
R & A Carr
L Owens

---

1. Welcome and Apologies

The chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Apologies were noted. 

2. Minutes of the prior meeting 25th September 2025

The Chair summarised key points discussed at the prior meeting; there were no questions and PM asked if attendees agreed these were a true and accurate record. A Bennett proposed the minutes be approved and this was seconded by G Goodlad. PM duly signed the minutes as an approved record and these will be posted on the village website and placed on the notice board.

3. Matters Arising

Police Speed Van – PM advised that the police had shared some data in respect of their speed monitoring in Thornby. The van was situated in Thornby on fifteen occasions between January and November 2025. These visits caught 74 vehicles travelling at greater than 35mph. Data is also available showing the types of vehicles travelling through the village and the percentage travelling at speeds in excess of the 30mph limit. It was agreed that this information is useful and can be used to provide evidence in support of efforts to install speed calming measures. PM will revert to the Police and ask for a quarterly update.

4. Finance

PG reported that two batteries had been purchased for the SIDs. A laptop has been purchased for the village, which will largely be used for processing data by the traffic working party. It was noted that the electricity bill for the last quarter was £217 which shows an increase in costs. PG will be sourcing alternative suppliers in an effort to keep costs down. Street lamps are on an un-metered supply.

The bank account balance stands at £4,390.00. Upcoming expenditure will amount to £1,018.15; this is for
two new solar panels ordered from Elan City to change the battery operated SIDs to solar power, as agreed at the previous meeting. The total cost for installing the two SIDs, plus an additional pole to carry the solar panel, will be £1768.00. PG confirmed that a further Police Commissioner’s Grant of £1881.00 had been awarded to the village to assist with the costs of these devices.

PM asked that thanks to the Police Commissioner’s office, be recorded in the minutes, on behalf of the village.

PM thanked PG for his work as Treasurer for the Parish meeting.

Compass Energy: PM provided an update. This loyalty scheme is based on the collective volume of oil
purchased from Compass Energy by village residents. In 2025, there were 29 households buying a total of
£81,522 litres of oil. At the end of October the village received a payment of £448.16. It was agreed that this is a useful sum of money to receive into village funds.

Precept request 2026/2027:
PM explained how the precept is calculated; it is based on Council Tax bandings. The amount of precept
requested impacts household council tax. Over the last two years, Thornby has requested a precept of £2000 and the proposal for 2026/27 is to retain the current level of £2000. PM asked attendees to vote on the proposal to request £2000, and this was approved by a majority vote. To finalise this process, the Chair and minute taker have to sign the request form on behalf of the village and return it to WNC.

5. Traffic Working Party – update

A quote of £1768.00 had been obtained for two new solar SIDs, plus a pole to hold one of the solar panels. The grant received amounted to £1881. PM expressed thanks to Lucy Owens for her efforts in securing this grant.

PM reported that he had met with Kier to discuss the re-siting of the pole on the main road to position a new solar SID; he is currently awaiting a price and an installation date. Once this is done, the village will have four solar powered SIDs, which will remove the need for battery changes.

SS asked who decides where the SIDs are situated. This is decided by the Traffic Working group in liaison with PM. Once the solar powered SIDs are in place, these cannot be moved, and therefore they have been placed where the old battery powered ones had been most effective.

There was a discussion about the data gathered from the SID on the triangle near Thornby House, it picks up traffic inside the 30mph area. If it had been sited near the entrance to the village and the 30mph sign, it picks up data from traffic before it enters the official 30mph zone which skews the data.

PM asked if the dragon’s teeth on the south side of the village was making any difference, it is not thought to be having much effect.

PG suggested perhaps adding an additional sign on the south side of the village, asking motorists to slow
down, might help.

Representatives of Kier group are visiting Thornby at 1pm on 26 January to do a Parish walkabout, anyone is welcome to join. They are keen to hear about issues on highway matters. Issues that Thornby plan to raise are:

• Drainage at the bottom of the dip on the A5199
• Signage outside the village, specifically the 30mph sign on the south side of the village
• The noisy road surface
• The condition and maintenance of the footpaths

LG asked if any reflective signage or mirrors can be used to aid access in and out of driveways. CW suggested raising this with Kier, adding that the highways department don’t like the mirrors anymore but may be able to suggest alternatives.

6. Road Signage update – A5199/Northampton NW Relief Road

PM gave a synopsis of issues relating to this new signage and the action taken to date. The relevant
department at the Council were proving to be extremely poor, and not replying to correspondence. CW
confirmed she is chasing responses on Thornby’s behalf. T

here is a significant increase in volume of traffic following the surveys undertaken in the summer of 2025. On Creaton to Guilsborough section, it had shown that 42,696 vehicles had been along this stretch of which 177 were HGVs and 1,172 were LGVs. 2% of these were travelling at speeds in excess of 68mph, so over the national speed limit. AB advocated for fixed speed cameras being reintroduced. GG asked if the A508 may be used again to direct heavier vehicles to the A14 and onto the M1 and M6, it was not thought this would be done, as the Highways dept has decided the A5199 is adequate.

CW recommended that Thornby used the relationship established with Kier to help with ideas and solutions for traffic calming but also to look at the next set of survey data when it comes out. It was felt the initial data would be flawed as it was done when the road along Spratton Sands was closed and also in the school holidays.

The meeting agreed there is a need to keep pressure on the relevant authorities. CW suggested waiting to obtain the new survey data first and then regroup, also suggesting this is taken to Stuart Andrew MP to enlist his help. CW added that she has given Highways one week to supply the new survey data.

7. WNC and Daventry constituency updates

CW explained that the local plan for building is now out in draft and the government has increased the targets for housebuilding. 9,800 sites have been identified for building by 2043. At the moment Thornby is listed as a small village and is unaffected. However, Naseby, Guilsborough and Spratton are affected. There are a lot of questions being asked about the plan and CW reported rural areas are getting a lot of pressure to build, and are naturally unhappy. CW urged each Parish to submit their views into the consultation about this plan. It is a one time opportunity because once this is in place, it lasts until 2043. Natural curtilages could get merged and CW along with others is keen to protect this. The final plan goes to the inspector of planning for approval.

A northern orbital road is on the plan and is a cause for concern.

CW reported that the Council budget for 2026/2027 is out for consultation, at the moment, this includes a
Council Tax increase of 4.99% and the Garden waste bin annual charge will increase to £80 per household,
which represents an increase of 33%.

Parking charges are due to be implemented in Daventry and Towcester, which has caused great outcry and 8000 signatures have been received in opposition to this. There is great concern for the economic impact on these small towns, where to date, parking has been free.

WNC are reporting an overspend of £11.8m, much of this is a result of spending on Adult and Child Social Care.

CW informed the meeting that she is taking on an additional role on the Non Strategic Planning Committee.

PG asked how the Reform led Council is performing. CW advised that they are getting to grips with the fact that it isn’t like a typical business and some of the administrators are working very hard.

PM thanked CW for attending and for her support.

8. NCALC – Climate and Nature Champion:

PM explained that the NCALC is seeking a volunteer from Thornby for this role. In addition, the Police liaison role, previously fulfilled by MH, is still vacant and volunteers are urged to speak to PM about these positions which are not too onerous and only require a few hours per month.

9. Village Events:

PM explained that this is a standing agenda item, to ensure everyone is aware of what is taking place around the village. On 10 January there is a walk from 2pm to 3pm, organised by United Church Walks, who organise a village prayer trail. Various villages and parishes take part. Details can be found on the Thornby Facebook page.

13. Correspondence:

PM listed the various items of correspondence received since the last meeting as follows:

• The Council’s budget consultation opens on 3rd February and villages are encouraged to engage in the consultation.
• PM advised that each year, villages are asked to provide data for the Rough Sleeping estimate, this took place on 11th December 2025 and the Parish is required to notify if there are any rough sleepers in the village. Zero persons were recorded for Thornby.
• The Association of Local Councils were provided flooding awareness training to villages. It was agreed that this was not applicable to Thornby, given the village is sited on higher ground.
• There is to be a consultation on transport in the area as well as a seminar to encourage people to give up smoking.
• Local MP Stuart Andrew emailed his good wishes for the New Year and an offer of help where he could for village issues.
• PM advised that there are a variety of county initiatives taking place.

All consultations and council information can be found on the WNC website.

14. Any Other Business:

Andy Day raised the point about the new process for disposing of rubbish at the local tip. Several attendees reported that they had used the new online booking system and found it had worked well and the tip had not been overly busy. It was noted this may be related to the time of year.

CW added that she is hearing anecdotally that households are leaving items at the roadside next to their
recycling bins to see if this is taken away.

AP raised the issue of increased fly-tipping in the area, which is likely to get worse, particularly as people now have to make appointments online to visit Brixworth tip. The meeting agreed that fly-tipping is becoming a more serious issue and is on the increase. CW advised that instances of fly-tipping should be reported to the Council, there is an online process for doing this.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.59pm.