Our Finances are looking good with just over £1000 in the bank but then we paid Janet's mailing expenses. Discussed installing a community noticeboard, future events, road surfaces, re-installing a postbox, litter and the response to the application to vary the opening hours of 123 Headlands. Over 100 objections had been sent to the Council.
February 2009 - Visit by The Mayor & Cllr Henson

Thursday 12th February 2009 - South West Kettering Safer Community Team
Janet attended this meeting of parties interested in a Safer Community - Police, Environmental Health, Council, Neighbourhood Watch members and residents.  The Police collect "issues" from residents over three months and the Panel chooses which to address for the next three months.  From November, the Police have been addressing speeding in Headlands but came to the conclusion that it was not an issue as less than 3% of the traffic go over 30mph.  It only seems fast to us watching on the pavement.  Notices are up on lampposts and they will continue to monitor the situation.
The Meeting choose as the Police's priorities for the next 3 months : Speeding on London Road; corner parking in the Hawthorn/Argyll area;  and youths gathering in inappropriate places (esp Northumberland Street).

Monday 2nd February 2009 - Kettering Forum
Kevin attended the Kettering Forum at which crime statistics were delivered for April to December(3% down over all Kettering, 13% down in the HARA area); the Town Centre Action Plan Preferred Options were discussed; the residents parking issue aired; a new 8-8 Health Centre is planned for School Lane; and it was noted that the A14 is to be widened between Juctions 7 and 9 between 2010 and 2012.
Friday 30th January 2009 - Open Forum
Northants County Councillor Eileen Hales spoke to 48 members about her work with the County Council, followed by PCSO Nadia Norman who gave a very lively report about her role in the police and the decrease in crime statistics. Members raised the question of lack of visibility on corners due to parking and HARA will see what we can do to follow this up. The meeting ended with over an hour of chat amongst ourselves and a good time was had by all, with the wine flowing freely and almost all the nibbles finished.
Sunday 18th January 2009 - Committee meeting
Discussed the current planning applications; arrangements for the Open Forum; follow up from the November meeeting; our request for a Post Box in Hawthorn Road has been turned down - but we will keep trying.
 
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Sunday 30th November 2008 - Committee meeting
Two new members joined the Committee - Ron Dilley and Bob Wakefield. Agreed to apply for a grant from Northants County Council to instal a community noticeboard in the area; thanks to our intervention KBC have recognised that The Drive does NOT want parking restrictions imposed; discussed the possibility of a one-way system; we will discuss the future of the fire station site with Bishop Stopford School.
Friday 21st November 2008 - AGM, Talk by Philip Hollobone MP, Social
42 members attended our first AGM at Hawthorn Road School. We ratified the adoption of our Constitution on 15 June; the committee were re-elected and we heard a report from our Chairman and Treasurer. We have got off to an excellent start, we thank KBC, our Councillors Larry & Jenny Henson for grants and their support, and are being involved in consultations.
Philip Hollobone MP gave an insight to local affairs including the horrifying fact that North Northamptonshire has the lowest p.c. spend on health and police. The Planning Application process is being improved, thanks to our input. We have a unique area - with one of the oldest tin churches in the country, the special community of Hawthorn Road and the proximity to the Station - yet with interesting challenges in incorporating one of Kettering's top Secondary Schools. Mr Hollobone felt that the fact that HARA exists will help the Council represent the local community better.
We finished the evening with wine and excellent nibbles and a chance to chat to other members, our speaker and our guests - Mayor Jenny Henson, Cllr Larry Henson and Cllr Scott Edwards.
Monday 3rd November - Kettering Forum
Lynda attended the Kettering Forum to hear the results of the Council's consultation on whether to impose Parking Restrictions in Broadway, Hawthorn, Glebe, Argyll, Garfield, Roundhill... Our area sent in a petition of over 500 names against the proposals and over 40% of the members also responded by returning their questionnaires. Residents Parking will not be imposed on this area.
Sunday 19th October - Committee meeting
Finalised details for our AGM, drew up Newsletter, discussed KBC's proposal to implement Parking Restrictions in the Station Zone.   Discussed the Council's Development Plan - we can have input into the Headlands Site Specific Development Plan when they start consulting early in 2009.
Friday 10th October - KBC Parking Restrictions meeting
Kevin, Janet and Lynda attended KBC's consultation evening for residents in the Station Zone.   Our Council have sent all residents in the Zone a questoinnaire asking if they would like restricted parking.  There needs to be a positive response by at least 60% of the residents before it will go ahead.  The streets affected are Queensberry Road, The Crescent, and The Grove - all of whom DO want restricted parking.  Also affected are Broadway, Hawthorn Road, Roundhill Road, Garfield Street and Argyll Street - most of whom seem NOT to want restrictions imposed.  We encourage people to complete their questionnaires by 31st October which is the deadline.   Also going round are petitions.

Saturday 4th October - meeting with Cllr Hales
Northants County Council Counciller Eileen Hales met the Committee to discuss her remit and how we can work together.
Saturday 4th October - Litter picking
16 HARA members, 4 Police Community Support Officers and 3 Kettering Muslim Association members met outside 123 Headlands and had an hour's litter picking under the guidance of Dave Clarke, Kettering Borough Council.  9 large bags were filled, the place looks tidier and we all had a good time chatting to other members, the police and the KMA.   The KMA kindly invited us in afterwards and plied us with warming hot drinks and lovely biscuits.
Saturday 4th October - committee meeting
Discussed various planning applications and the consultation on the Town Centre Action Plan.
Wednesday 1st October - KBC Task and Finish Group
Kevin and Mary attended the Council's working party to look into the planning application process.  The meeting was chaired by Philip Hollobone MP and was a very useful evening with everyone having a lot of input and suggestions.
Monday 22nd September - Meeting with Council
The Committee met Cllr Hakewill, Leader of the Council, Cllr Terry Freer and council officers to discuss HARA and preserving the character of the area.  A good meeting with useful contacts emerging.
Sunday 21st September - Committee meeting
Finalised details of the litter pick, discussed the Kettering Town Centre Structure Plan.  Grant of £300 received from Kettering Borough Council.
Kettering Forum
HARA has been invited to join the Kettering Forum and Kevin attended this meeting.  The Forum is an opportunity for Councillors and representative bodies to discuss issues of common concern.
early September - Town Centre Consultation
Members of HARA and members of the committee attended various workshops run by KBC to discuss the proposed Area Action Plan for the Town Centre.
Sunday 14th September - Committee meeting
Equal Opportunities Policy and Health and Safety Policy adopted.  Newsletter to members and membership card approved.  Dates of full meetings fixed.
Thursday 31st July - Kettering Civic Society
Kevin, Janet, Alison and Rebecca met Paul Ansell, Chairman of Kettering Civic Society.   We broadly have the same aims and are fighting to preserve the character of the area but it appears that we will not tread on each other's toes.
Sunday 20th July - committee meeting
Bank account now open, 60 subscriptions received; applied for a Grant from KBC; discussed the isses of concern raised by all members on their subscription forms and decided the three highest priorities are : road surface, post box (to replace Hawthorn Road one), street cleaning/litter.
Thursday 19th June - Philip Hollobone MP
Kevin, Mary, Rebecca and Neil met our MP with talk ranging over a wide variety of issues.  Mr Hollobone gave us lots of useful contacts.
Wednesday 18th June - Kettering Voluntary Network
Janet met an advisor with KVC who could have helped us set up constitution etc etc - all already done.  Various pointers for action and help offered.

Sunday 15th June - committee meeting
Neil Whiteley welcomed and appointed treasurer; bank mandates completed; headed paper approved; website approved; constitution approved subject to minor changes to be clarified with John Wilson; letter to residents approved.

Monday 9th June - first committee meeting
Name - Headlands Area Residents Association - chosen;
Website name & e.mail address chosen;
Boundary of area covered decided upon;
Aims of the Group outlined;
Constitution drafted;
subscription of £5 per household decided;
note to all members drafted.
Wednesday 4th June 2008 - meeting
A meeting of 40 residents was held at which it was decided to set up a Residents Association.  A committee was appointed and powers were delegated to that committee.  It was agreed not to pursue any legal process with the Council regarding the poor handling and poor planning application process but to write to them and try to change the process for future applicants.