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Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 5th December 2005
Present: Councillors Sayce, Chainey, Davison, Drew, Hall,
Hedley, Levitt, Martin, Wade, Warhurst-Walker.
Mrs M Williams, Clerk.
Also present: District Councillor Mrs A Dale, Hexham Courant
Reporter – Helen Compson, Sally Jones – Prudhoe Youth Services,
Mr P Scott.
Apologies: Councillor Barwick-Bell, District Councillor
Mike Collins, County Councillor Ray Thompson.
05/64 Declarations of Interest –
Mrs Sayce advised that one of the planning applications being considered
was for her home, 21 Crabtree Road.
05/65 Minutes
The Minutes of 7th November, were agreed as a true record.
05/66 Matters Arising –
It was noted that the County Council had started preliminary work on the
road surfaces of Apperley and Meadowfield Roads. It was hoped that the project
would be started properly in January. It was reported that there was no money
for repairs in the next financial year and that County Councillor Thompson
had expressed disappointment that the current works would not be as comprehensive
as had been originally hoped. It was hoped that the pavements in Apperley
and Meadowfield Roads would be repaired but this could not be guaranteed.
Mrs Dale asked about litter in the Station yard. A response
had been received from Network Rail advising that litter bins could not be
provided on railway properties due to on-going concerns about security.
05/67 Public Participation
Mrs Sayce welcomed Sally Jones to the meeting. Ms Jones was representing
George McCreedy of the Prudhoe Youth Service.
Ms Jones opened her remarks by saying that the Youth Service
was funded by the County Council but that this funding was being reduced
and that the youth service was therefore having to rely more and more on
grants from parish councils and others in order that it might continue to
deliver its service and plug the gap left by the shortfall in funds from
the County Council. Tynedale Council are also supportive of the youth service.
Ms Jones said that the youth club normally met on Tuesdays
in the Community Centre but that the community centre was only available
on 3 weeks a month. There are plans to take members out on the 4th night.
In the past, there has been a problem when SICA has cancelled youth clubs
sessions.
The outreach workers also regularly visit Stocksfield
on other nights of the week. As a result of requests from young people a
dance class has now been opened in Prudhoe. Young people from Stocksfield
do attend the East Centre in Prudhoe.
A discussion ensued on the provision of a regular venue
for the youth club which is currently attended by between 15 and 20 young
people. Suggestions were made for the “Canteen” at the Community
Centre (a possible venue for art and other similar activities), the Methodist
Hall. etc. It was also suggested that the young people might have access
to the computers. Mr. Scott offered to bring these suggestions up with the
SICA Management Committee and Mrs Sayce said that she would speak to the
Chairman of SICA, Norman Hooks.
It was suggested that young people might be asked to paint
the bus shelters and possibly boards at Kate’s Plain.
With regard to recent anti-social problems, Ms Jones suggested
that the problems might be reducing as the young people were becoming aware
of the ill-feeling that was being caused. It was noted that there had been
a lot of police activity recently, including a scheduled visit by the police
caravan to Branch End. It was also reported that meetings had been held at
the High School when the problems had been highlighted.
Mr Scott stressed that the residents were only asking
for peace in their own homes and said that that although there was a need
to keep matters in perspective there were real problems.
It was also stressed that there is a need to convince
succeeding generations of young people that bad behaviour is not acceptable.
Ms Jones advised that the benches ordered for Kate’s
Plain were ready for installation. It was however agreed that in the current
climate, residents would not be pleased if these were placed in Kate’s
Plain. Other options were being considered, but it was felt to be illogical
if young people were then encouraged to congregate in a different venue.
Concern was expressed that Stocksfield was not receiving
a quality service from the Youth Service. It was agreed there is a need to
try to keep on with the preventive work. It was noted that issue-based work
was being done in the High School and youth clubs.
It was noted that the “Big Yellow Bus” was
no longer in service.
Mrs Sayce thanked Ms Jones for attending the meeting.
05/68 Correspondence
An invitation had been received to attend a public enquiry about the North
East Regional Spatial Strategy – it was agreed that the Parish Council
had nothing further to add to this debate which would not be said by Tynedale
and the County Councils.
An invitation had been received from Tynedale Sports Council
to an Awards Ceremony on 5th December.
An invitation had been received to put an entry in Tynedale
Visitor. It was agreed to use the previous entry as a basis for an entry
for the coming year.
The remainder of the correspondence received had been
listed on the Agenda and was noted.
05/69 Finance
The Accounts for November had been circulated and were agreed.
The Auditor’s Report for the 04/05 accounts had
been received and was accepted. There were no matters requiring action.
A request had been received from the Eastern Parishes
Forum for a contribution of £10 towards administrative costs – this
was agreed.
05/70 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council
Representatives
a) General Purposes Group
Convening a new Councillor – an approach had been made to Mr
Porter who has yet to respond. The name of another possible candidate was
put forward, should Mr Porter decline the invitation. It was noted that an
article had been included in the current issue of NE43 News advertising the
vacancy.
A request had been received from Prudhoe & Stocksfield
Rugby Club for grant aid and it was agreed to grant £300.
A letter had been received from Tynedale Council regarding
proposals for Alcohol Designation Zones – the proposals were welcomed
but it was agreed that the Station Yard and the “Back Lane” behind
Mount View Terrace should also be included.
Results of Survey on Anti-social Behaviour in Guessburn
Area – a summary of the responses had been drawn up and circulated.
It was felt that in view of the earlier discussions with Sally Jones there
was no need to discuss the matter further. It was felt to be indicative that
the number of responders to the survey was similar to the number of concerned
residents attending parish council meetings. It was agreed that it was necessary
to continue to be aware of and monitor any problems.
Mrs Sayce was thanked for sending a letter to the Courant
on the current problems in Stocksfield.
It was reported that the police were trying to arrange
a meeting with representatives of the youth serve, the High School and the
Parish Council. It was agreed that Mesdames Sayce, Davison and Drew would
attend on behalf of the Parish Council.
It was suggested that a larger litter bin might be provided
by the westbound station bus stop and Mrs Dale is to ask Tynedale about this.
It was stressed that litter was not a problem caused exclusively by young
people and pointed out that the recycling area was also a mess.
Precept 06/07
A second draft of the precept for next year had been circulated.
It was agreed that the draft should be accepted. Two areas of funding were
however discussed in some depth.
Parish Plan – the necessity of actually carrying
out a Parish Plan was raised. However it was noted that most of the issues
raised in previous discussions on Parish Plans (1972 and 1996) were still
with us. It was agreed that funding for the exercise should remain in the
precept. The question of implementing any actions that arose from the Plan
was also raised.
Youth Service – after some discussion it was proposed
by Malcolm Chainey and seconded by Mrs Drew and agreed that the grant to
the Youth Service should be £6000 in 06/07. It was felt that there
should be a “value” approach to funding the youth service and
that currently a lot of money was being spent on “fire fighting”.
It was asked if the County Council should give youth a higher priority. It
was felt that the Parish Council should be aware of the number of young people
who regularly use the youth club at the Community Centre, and if at all possible
the numbers of young people from Stocksfield who regularly attend the East
Centre.
It was agreed that the contribution of the Baptist Church
to the work of the youth service in Stocksfield should be acknowledged.
b) Footpaths & Environment
Group
Correspondence had been received from the County Council with regard to the
extinguishment of various footpaths.
Footpaths – Tim Fish is to check the barrier
of the footpath adjacent to Kimberley Gardens.
Tyne Valley Rail Services – Malcolm Chainey
outlined the background to the Rail User Group’s campaign, details
of which had been circulated to councillors. He advised that the Community
Rail Partnership and Nexus had together commissioned a report on the West
Line – Newcastle to Carlisle. He alleged that passenger services on
this line were at risk and that a campaign was trying to engage the attention
of the Northern Group of MPs and the Transport Committee of the House of
Commons. It was said that writing to our MP on any subject ensured that the
concerns reached the in tray of the relevant minister.
c) Play Facilities Group
Branch End Play Area
It was reported that the “thermometer” at BEPA had been covered
in mud.
It was agreed to request the County Council to erect a
pedestrian barrier opposite the small gate at a cost of £593.20 plus
VAT.
Repairs small gate – Mrs Davison is to ask Tynedale
about the possibility of a cheaper installation costs.
BEPA Regeneration – The Group has applied to SITA
for £20,000. A photoshoot with the Engineering Company is to be arranged.
Customers at the Dr Syntax are arranging a fund raising event on Boxing Day.
The Group want to get the new facility up and running by the summer and it
may be necessary to reduce the specification of the improvements in order
to save on costs. Thompsons of Prudhoe and Denis Conley are to be approached
re the earth moving required.
Kate’s Plain
The Clerk advised that the insurance company will pay for the repairs to
the fence at Kate’s Plain.
It was agreed that the new litter bin would be sited behind
the basket ball post.
d) Sports Facilities Group
MUGA – it was noted that in order to meet the funders requirements
it was necessary to amend the constitution of the MUGA Development Group.
A paper had been circulated with the agenda and this was agreed with the
proviso that the phrase “any other irrelevant factor” be added
to the Aims.
e) Planning & Highways
It was confirmed that both Mrs Drew and Mrs Warhust-Walker were available
for the Planning Training Sessions on any Saturday in February.
Wind Farm – Correspondence had been received
regarding the proposals for a wind farm at Kiln Pit Hill. It was agreed that
the Parish Council held no corporate view on this matter and would make no
comment as a Council.
A695 Landslip – an up-date on the current
situation was tabled.
f) Communication
The next issue of NE43 News would be delivered with the Churches Together
Christmas Card.
g) Council Representatives
Nothing to report.
05/71 Other business
Comment was made about Christmas decorations around the village and how pretty
they looked.
A letter had been received about the Tynedale Council
Homelessness Strategy. Mrs Warhurst-Walker volunteered to look at this document.
05/72 Date of Next Meeting
9th January 2006
The meeting closed at 9.45 p.m.
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