The leader of Northamptonshire County Council has said residents must next year face the first increase in council tax since 2011.

Bosses at County Hall revealed plans to save £35 million from their annual budget this week.

Alongside possible plans to introduce fees for using council tips, the council announced a planned tax rise of just under two per cent. The rise, which would take the cost of a band D council tax bill up to £1,048 a year for services such as highways maintenance and libraries, would be the first increase implemented by the authority in three years. Cllr Jim Harker said the rise was needed.

He said: “This is a continuation of the challenge we’ve had to put up with for quite some time. But we’re protecting front line services and keeping the county council’s tax bills the lowest on the country.”

This year, the county council must cut its budget by £35 million.

Over the next five years, the total to be saved by the authority will add up to a £128 million. That comes on top of £177 million of savings already made by the council over the past few years.

Cllr Harker said: “We face a mammoth task of reducing our budget. We do have to make a lot of savings, but that won’t be at the expense of front line services.”

It has been backed by the authority’s opposition who argued the rises should have been implemented earlier.

Labour group leader, Cllr John McGhee said: “I think the rise is too little too late. Had they done this in the past, they could have protected some of the services and perhaps they wouldn’t be in the state they are now.”

The River Nene Regional Park has produced a plan on how to improve the river and its ecosystems, and on Friday December 6 staff were at Daventry Country Park asking people for their ideas on problems and solutions for the river.

The Nene and its tributaries provide essential services including drinking water, irrigation, habitats for wildlife and places to enjoy and play. Pictured are Dr Simon Newell, Georgina Forbes and Victor Tzikas.

Daventry and District Housing joined with South Northants Homes to deliver Strive – a start up course aimed at residents who have a vision of running their own business.

The contenders pitched business ideas to a panel of judges made up of representatives from DDH, SNH and Grand Union Housing.

In total, 17 residents completed the 12-week course in the hope of gaining an investment of up to £1,000 to boost their venture.

With Christmas Day fast approaching our photographers and readers have been out taking pictures of our festive preparations.

Here are some of the best from the past days.

A Daventry man has lost his fight for life more than four weeks after being seriously injured in a road accident.

Peter Crocker, 63 and from The Cherwell, died on Thursday last week. He was left in a critical condition after being involved in a collision with a car on Monday, November 4 on the Waterloo/Tavern Lane roundabout in Daventry town centre.

Speaking to the Daventry Express, Mr Crocker’s brother Steve, 61, said: “He was the most generous, the kindest, the most loving man you could have met. He was funny and lively and great to know.

“He was a fantastic brother to myself and Rob and his sister Penny when she was alive, and a good friend too. Pete was always there whenever you needed him and we were always there for him.

“We used to go fishing together, and when the three of us brothers were younger, we went ferreting and shooting.”

Mr Crocker was born in Wardington and after living in Ratley, Warwickshire, moved to Daventry in his 50s.

Steve said: “He worked for Rangemaster in Leamington since the early 1970s. He once took retirement, but soon ended up working there again. His colleagues all loved him to bits, they’re all devastated.”

Mr Crocker had been crossing the roundabout at the top the The Hollows at around 12.15pm on November 4 when a black Vauxhall Vectra collided with him and a 63-year-old woman, who received only minor injuries.

Mr Crocker was flown by air ambulance to hospital, but failed to overcome his injuries.

Steve said: “I want to thank all the staff at the Coventry Walsgrave Hospital in critical care for all the work they did for Pete. We can’t thank them enough, and they treated us and his friends wonderfully.”

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information should call them on 101.

RESIDENTS living on The Grange in Daventry have been left angry after sewage came out of the drains and into people’s front gardens.

The sewage came out of the drains at Eden Close on Friday morning. One resident Derek Childs said: “I woke up, opened the curtains and saw all sorts of things in my front garden from toilet roll and waste. The smell was absolutely horrible.

Emma Staples from Anglian Water said: “We’re sorry residents of Eden Close experienced sewer flooding in their road on Friday. This was because of a sewer blockage caused by cooking fat, wet wipes and other unflushable items being wrongly placed in the sewers.

“Our engineers were out over the weekend to jet the sewers and clear the blockage but we would urge everyone to keep drains and sewers clear by letting fat cool and scraping it in the bin, and disposing of wet wipes in the bin rather than down the toilet.”

A prolific family of car thieves have been ordered to pay back a quarter of a million pounds of their criminal gains.

On Friday at Northampton Crown Court, the judge ordered the family, to pay back £253,322 or face longer prison terms.

The family, Martin Warren, his partner Jacqueline Neal, and their two sons Christopher Neal and Jason Warren, all from Crawshaws Road in Birmingham, were originally sentenced in February 2013.

They ran a criminal business, with Land Rovers being stolen, netting them in excess of £1 million between 2005 and 2010.

The investigation, which began in August 2010, revealed Land Rovers had been stolen from across four counties, including in Newnham and Lower Boddington.

In February Martin Warren, 52, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal, convert and conceal criminal property. He was sentenced to nine years in jail. Last week, at a proceeds of crime hearing, he was ordered to pay back £159,928 within 30 months.

Jacqueline Neal, 53, was found guilty of conspiracy to convert and conceal criminal property. She was sentenced to two years and nine months. And must now pay back £78,154 within 20 months.

Christopher Neal, 30, was found guilty of conspiracy to convert and conceal criminal property. He was sentenced to two years and ordered to pay back £12,842 in six months.

Jason Warren, 22, was found guilty of conspiracy to convert and conceal criminal property. He was sentenced to one year and six months and has now been ordered to pay back £2,397 within four months.

Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Adam Simmonds, said: “So far, through our Proceeds of Crime Act grants scheme, we have supported a wide range of schemes and organisations who are using the money to help tackle the blight of crime in their communities or give victims the help and support they need.”

A 50-YEAR-OLD man was injured after he was the victim of an attempted robbery in Daventry.

It happened on Friday December 13 between 1am and 1.10am.

He was walking his dog along the path near to the iCon building. He heard a rustling in the bushes and noticed a man standing to his left.

The man punched the victim in the head and demanded he hand over his wallet and phone. The victim refused and then noticed another man. After a struggle the two offenders ran off empty handed.

One of the attackers is described as a white man, aged 29-32, 6ft 1in, with dark hair and of heavy build. He was wearing black trainers, a red T-shirt and a black hooded top.

The other is described as a white man, aged 18-24, 5ft 10in, with cropped mousey blonde hair and of athletic build. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a dark hooded top and silvery white trainers.

The victim suffered cuts to his head.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Daventry Express has sent its photographers across the Daventry district to take photos of Christmas productions at schools and nurseries.

Some of these, alongside photos submitted by readers, will be featured in tomorrow’s (Thursday) Daventry Express.

The remaining photos will be in the paper on the Boxing Day edition of the paper.

A coroner has confirmed she will write to an NHS Trust urging that lessons are learned in the treatment of depressed patients after a father-of-one committed suicide, despite his desperate family’s pleas for him to undergo specialist treatment.

Bernard Boland hanged himself on 23 December last year at Berrywood Hospital in Northampton, after suffering Bi-polar disorder and severe depression for 30 years.

The 70-year-old’s daughter, Lisa Benge, has now instructed medical law experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether more could have been done by staff within Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to give her father the treatment he desperately needed.

During an inquest at Northampton Coroner’s Court held on Tuesday senior coroner Anne Pember, heard how Mr Boland’s depression had previously been successfully controlled by receiving regular electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – where electric shocks are transmitted to the brain that are known to improve mood.

However, on 5 December 2012, Mr Boland’s condition worsened and he admitted to doctors and his family that he had tried to hang himself at home a few days previously and still felt like he wanted to take his own life.

A consultant told Lisa she considered her father to be high-risk and that he needed immediate admission to Berrywood Hospital but the Crisis Team, who assessed all urgent referrals, said Mr Boland could be treated at his home in Welford with drugs, despite Lisa’s pleas that ECT was the only treatment that could help.

It was not until 15 December, 10 days later, that Mr Boland was finally admitted to Berrywood after his condition worsened and he was eventually given ECT on 21 December. However, it was too late and two days later he hanged himself in the shower in his bedroom with his pyjamas.

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict quoting that “insufficient attention was paid to Bernard Boland’s daughter’s view that he had responded to ECT”. She also confirmed that she will write to the CEO of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust asking that lessons be learned, not only in the hospital but in relation to community care, to cover ECT provision and consideration to the views of the family.

Scott Tolliss, a medical law expert at Irwin Mitchell representing Lisa, added: “This is a tragic case that left a family devastated by the loss of a loving husband and father just days before Christmas.

“Lisa understandably wants answers about whether more could have been done by health professionals in the weeks leading up to her father’s death to protect him and it will also give her some comfort to know improvements have been made by the Trust to protect future patients’ safety following the Coroner’s recommendations.

“We will now continue to work on the family’s behalf to gather information to help provide these answers and hope that the Trust will work with us quickly and amicably so the family can begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.”

Our photographers and readers have been out and about snapping pictures of the week’s events.

Here is a selection of some of them.

An aircraft crash near Canons Ashby House was due to engine failure after the pilot performed a steep left turn.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigated the crash, involving a 1930 Gipsy Moth on August 12.

The pilot of the plane was Giles English. He and his passenger, an 11-year-old boy later named as Oliver Nuttall, were left with “serious injuries”.

The report, following an interview with Mr English, states the engine had been “consistently reliable” and there was no identified reason for it failing.

The report states: “The aircraft was performing a steep turn to the left when the engine stopped.

“It entered a spin and, while the pilot was able to recover from the spin, during the subsequent forced landing the aircraft struck a grass bank and was extensively damaged.”

A proposal to build 450 new homes on fields to the north of Daventry has been unveiled.

The development proposal from Landform is for Mickle Well Park – land to the north of Lang Farm between the A361 and Welton Lane.

The issue was raised at Daventry Town Council on Monday night.

Cllr Ron Fox told the Daventry Express: “The developer approached the clerk and mayor last week to raise the issue.

“It was put on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, but we don’t have a lot of information at the moment so we couldn’t really come to a conclusion.

“We decided to ask the developers for an informal meeting to discuss the proposals. We’re also going to invite Welton Parish Council along as well as the site affects their village too.”

The site has been highlighted as a potential area for housing, but DDC’s strategic plan will favour the ‘Church Fields’ site along the B4036 near the country park.

The proposal is not yet at the stage where the developer is drawing up a planning application.

The proposal shows 450 homes could be built on the site over seven years in five phases.

The masterplan shows the new estate would, alongside the homes, include land for allotments and public open space, plus balancing ponds and green buffers along the northern and western edges.

Access would be via a single new roundabout on the A361, north of the current Middlemore roundabout. Foot and cycle paths would link the new estate to Lang Farm, and there is a proposed bus and emergency services only access too.

A number of primary schools in the Daventry district are above the national average, the latest government school league tables have revealed.

The statistics revealed that, as an average, 75 per cent of pupils were achieving level 4 in reading, writing and maths. And 21 schools out of 33 in the Daventry district exceeded this.

Top of the table are Naseby Primary School with 100 per cent of pupils achieving the standards. They were followed by Yelvertoft Primary School with had 92 per cent and Kilsby Primary School and The Bliss Charity School in Nether Heyford closely behind.

With 90 per cent of children reaching level four were Barby, East Haddon and Guilsborough primary schools.

At Boddington 
89 per cent of pupils hit the targets while at St Mary’s in Aston le Walls, 88 per cent reached level 4.

Harpole Primary School had 87 per cent of pupils reach the targets while the schools in Byfield and Kislingbury had 86 per cent. Crick Primary School and Brixworth Primary School had 85 per cent and 84 per cent of pupils get level four.

Some 83 per cent of pupils at Welton Academy and Brington Primary School achieved level four with 82 per cent at Weedon Bec Primary.

West Haddon Primary School saw 81 per cent of its pupils get level four with 80 per cent of youngsters at Newnham Primary School.

Flore Primary School and Badby School were the final two above the national average with 79 and 77 per cent respectively.

Pattishall and Braunston Primary Schools were just below the average with 73 and 72 per cent. The Grange School was the top ranking of the town’s schools with 72 per cent.

Some 71 per cent of pupils achieved level four at the primary schools in Bugbrooke, Chipping Warden and Woodford Halse. Ashby Fields Primary School and the DSLV Academy, both in Daventry achieved 64 and 62 per cent.

At both Staverton and Long Buckby Junior Schools 60 per cent reached level four.

The district’s schools were completed by The Abbey Junior School and Falconer’s Hill Junior, both in Daventry, who got 56 and 51 per cent of pupils reaching level four respectively.

The average across Northamptonshire as a whole was 72 per cent.

The Daventry Express has been out and about taking pictures of Christmas productions at schools and nurseries across the area.

Here are a few of them. There will be more published in the paper on the Boxing Day edition.

Community stalwarts and those who go above and beyond the call of duty were recognised at the second annual Star Awards.

Organised by Daventry and District Housing (DDH) the awards were presented in a special awards night on Wednesday last week at the Daventry Court Hotel.

Jamie Over, 26, an activity coordinator volunteer at DDH, scooped volunteer of the year after d helping residents of a sheltered housing scheme in Daventry. He arranged a number of events, including a coffee morning attended by more than 40 guests, including Chris Heaton-Harris MP.

Mr Over said: “I was really honoured to have won award. I am always happy to help people in my community, and I don’t expect any reward, but it is nice to know that my actions haven’t gone unnoticed.

“I think that winning a Star Award has opened up a lot of opportunities for me and increased my chances of getting the job I want.”

DDH tenant of the year, Sharon Moore, was recognised for her community work, especially the help she gives to running a community group for local people with disabilities.

Come and Play Woodford Halse won the community project of the year award having raised £20,000 to supply and fit a new play area in the village.

Winners were selected by a panel of judges made up of representatives from DDH, Lovell, the Daventry Express, Cummins, Daventry Volunteer Centre and Daventry District Council.

Caroline Godsell, resident involvement officer at DDH, said: “The Star Awards are all about acknowledging the work of individuals and groups who make a positive impact on their community and the lives of local residents.

“All of the nominees selflessly dedicate their own time to make a difference in the community and it was great to be able to help give them the recognition they deserve.

“We would like to say a big thank you to all the judges who in turn volunteered their time, and congratulate all the winners and nominees. We hope that their stories and successes will inspire a new wave of volunteers to get involved next year.”

Daventry District Council will be closing over Christmas and New Year from Wednesday, December 25 until Thursday, January 2.

Essential services, such as waste and recycling collections and street cleaning, will continue. The decision to close the council’s non-essential and back office services is in response to low demand for services during this period. Employees will take leave from their existing entitlement.

DDC will close as normal at 5pm on Christmas Eve, reopening at 8.30am on Thursday, January 2.

The civic offices in Lodge Road will remain accessible to visitors of Jobcentre Plus and Northamptonshire County Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Service, which will each operate different working hours over Christmas.

A disabled boy from Daventry was among specially invited guests to help the Duchess of Cornwall put up the Christmas tree at Clarence House.

Daniel Ball, 12, who lives in Peartree Close on Ashby Fields, was one of 12 youngsters with life-limiting conditions who receive help from Helen and Douglas House in Oxford, who were invited down to London by the Duchess.

Daniel has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which causes muscle degeneration. He said: “It was an extremely good day.

“We decorated the tree and the soldier put a decoration up with his sword. I got to hold his sword, but it was blunt!

“There were sandwiches – Marmite, salmon or egg – and homemade crisps, which were all very nice.

“The Duchess was very nice too. Her house was big and everything looked very expensive.

“Everything was good!”

The Duchess’s assistant equerry, Lieutenant Frederick Lloyd George, great great grandson of the former Liberal Prime Minister and an officer in the Welsh Guards, saluted the youngsters as they entered the room and allowed them to try on his bearskin.

Daniel’s mum Linda said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that the Duchess and Clarence House do this.

“And the Duchess talked to all the children and got down to their level as well to ask them questions.

“The Duchess is the patron of Helen and Douglas House, so that’s why she invites the children, who are picked by Helen House based on who they think will benefit the most from the trip.

“Who else gets a chance to go inside somewhere like Clarence House, meet the Duchess and decorate their tree? It’s wonderful really.”

POLICE are reminding people to make sure they remove all valuables before leaving their car, after property was stolen from two cars parked in the Brampton Valley Way car park, Spratton Road, Brixworth, on Sunday.

Between 2pm and 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon (December 22), thieves broke into two vehicles parked in the car park. A Black and Decker drill was stolen from a blue Daewoo Matiz and a purse was taken from a black Peugeot 307.

A teenager was seen acting suspiciously in the area shortly before the thefts were discovered. He is described as white, in his teens, wearing a black coat and grey trousers. He was riding a pink pedal cycle and was seen riding along Brampton Valley Way towards Chapel Brampton.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

FURTHER strikes will be carried out by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has announced industrial action on New Year’s Eve, between 6.30pm and 12.30am on New Year’s Day, and between 6.30am and 8.30am on Friday, January 3.

People are advised to take extra care in the kitchen, as 50 per cent of accidental house fires start there, check electrics, appliances, cables and plugs, make sure all Christmas decorations are safety compliant, don’t leave candles burning unattended and turn off Christmas lights when you leave the house or go to bed, and never use smoke alarm batteries to power Christmas toys and games.

The county’s chief fire officer has said contingency plans are in place for the strikes.