Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 5th February 2007
Present: Councillors Sayce, Barwick-Bell, Chainey, Drew,
Hall, Hedley, Levitt, Martin, Porter, Wade, Warhurst-Walker,
Mrs M Williams, Clerk
Also present: District Councillor Dale, Ms L Clark
Apologies: Councillors John Davison, District Councillor Mike Collins,
06/83 Declarations of Interest – None
06/84 Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting held on 8th January 2007 were agreed as a true
record.
06/85 Matters Arising –
Fence at Hall Farm Close – Mrs Dale advised that this fence had not
been adopted by Tynedale and although they had mended it some time ago it
was now up to the Parish Council to mend it. It was agreed to ask the residents
if they wanted this fence repaired, and if so to do so at the Parish Council’s
cost.
Youth Service – once again it was asked what the Parish Council
is paying the Youth Service to deliver. It was pointed out that the outreach
workers were very effective. The members of the Planning & Highways Group
at their recent meeting had expressed disappointment at the presentation
made by Sally Jones. It was felt that there was a need to debate the level
of funding to the youth service before the 08/09 budgets are discussed and
set. It was suggested that the youth service might use their mini bus to
collect young people who are going to the Prudhoe Skate Park.
06/86 Public Participation
Hedge trimming – concern was expressed over the following and it was
agreed to write to the various parties requesting that action be taken:
Field opposite school – vegetation on road
side needs cutting back and broken
branches removed.
New Ridley Road – near golf course – trees
need cutting back.
Fence/hedge opposite end of Cade Hill Road – fence
needs re-instating
Parking – concern was expressed that the post
man who empties the mail box at Branch End Post Office on occasion double
parks thus causing a traffic hazard.
06/87 Correspondence
Correspondence received since the January 2007 meeting had been listed on
the agenda and was noted.
A letter had been received from a resident thanking the Parish Council
for repairing footpaths in the Guessburn Area.
Correspondence had been received from the Communities and Local Government
Office regarding revisions to the Code of Conduct. Councillors were requested
to send comments and response to the Clerk by 20th February.
A letter had been received from the NHS Care Trust in response to a query
from the Parish Council. Councillors expressed concerns that services at
Hexham Hospital are apparently being down-graded. Mrs Drew advised that she
is now a member of the Northumbrian Healthcare Forum for Patients and is
due to attend a workshop shortly and report back to the Parish Council next
month. It was reported that similar concerns had also been raised at the
Eastern Parishes Forum. Concern was also raised about the lack of local public
transport to other hospitals in the Trust at Wansbeck and North Tyneside.
Mrs Dale is also to pursue the concerns with Tynedale. It was agreed to ask
Tynedale to include the Hexham Hospital issue on the agenda for the next
Parish Council Forum. There are also concerns that care facilities in the
County are not sustainable
A response had been received from Tynedale to an early enquiry re materials
and design to be used in extensions and other buildings.
A letter had been received from the County regarding
Site Submissions under the Minerals & Waste Development Framework. A
response is to be sent to County expressing concern over levels of traffic
generated and disturbance to neighbours and residents should any of these
proposals come to fruition.
Other correspondence was listed on the agenda and was noted.
06/88 Finance
The accounts for January had been circulated and were accepted.
The spend v budget report to date had been circulated and was noted
A report on expenditure on youth had been circulated and was noted and
is to be debated prior to setting the 08/09 precept.
06/89 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) Communication
Dave Porter explained that all e-mail addresses “@stocksfield.org” had
now been deleted and that this should eliminate the large quantities of “spam” being
received. Councillors wishing to have their personal e-mail addresses included
on the website should contact Dave Porter.
NE43 News – it was noted that items for inclusion
in the next edition should be forward to the Clerk at the earliest opportunity
and preferably prior to 20th February.
Information Card – it was agreed that this
should be up-dated in its current format after the local elections in May.
It was also noted that the contents of the Card would be included on the
website and up-dated continually. The Card would include information about
the website.
b) Council Representatives
Mr Hooks and Mrs Robson had attended a meeting of the Local Access Forum
on behalf of the Parish Council. Their report on the meeting had been circulated
and they were thanked for attending.
Eastern Parishes Forum – the Minutes of the
most recent meeting had been circulated. The next meeting is scheduled for
20th February.
SCA Forum – The minutes of the most recent
meeting, which Ian Hall had been unable to attend had also been circulated.
The next meeting is scheduled for April.
Hexham Hospital - Mrs Drew is a member of the Patients
Forum and will raise the Council’s concerns at the next meeting and
report back.
c) General Purposes
Local Government Re-organisation – after a brief discussion it was
agreed to write and say that the Parish Council supported the proposal put
forward by the District Councils for two unitary authorities in Northumberland,
stressing the different needs of the rural and urban communities of the county
and highlighting concerns that unless the services managed by the authorities
are sufficiently funded then no progress will be made.
Annual Parish Meeting – a further debate about
the subject of the Meeting was held and it was agreed that the suggestion
for a debate on the services and facilities currently available should be
held and providers offered the opportunity to showcase their groups.
Land adjacent to 15 Branch End Terrace – it
was agreed that arrangements would be made for councillors to meet representatives
of the Land Registry.
d) Planning & Highways
The Planning Report for February had been circulated and was noted.
A supplementary planning report had been circulated and the contents noted.
It was agreed to write to the relevant residents on Cade Hill Road expressing
concerns about parking too near the apex of the blind summit on that road.
A response had been received from the County to
the Parish Council’s
request for a bus shelter the west bound bus stop at Branch End. It was noted
that the County had identified no suitable site for this shelter and a letter
is to be sent to the resident who had made the original request.
Cinderpath past St John’s Church – it
was noted that that County Footpaths Officer had looked at the condition
of this path and that it was not felt to be too much of a problem. This is
to be monitored.
New Tyne Crossing – The consultants are to
be invited to the March meeting to give the Parish Council a presentation
on this subject.
Burnside Site – it was noted that this development
site was advertised for sale again.
e) Parish Plan
Arrangements are to be made for Councillors to meet a representative of Community
Action Northumberland in order that this project might be progressed.
f) Footpaths & Environment Group
It was noted that the extension of the path along the Guessburn toward the
A695 had been completed by the County.
Hanging Baskets – Tynedale are once again
to offer hanging baskets to parishes and this offer is to be taken up.
Spring Clean – this will be held on 21st April
and will be advertised in NE43 New and SCAN.
g) Play Facilities Group
Branch End Play Area – Ian Hall tabled the report from the Play Facilities
Group. He also tabled suggested layout for the new part of the play area.
It had been suggested that the toddler area and the new area be combined.
This suggestion was not received well by councillors and Mr Hall is to take
advice from Anne-May Pottage of Tynedale. It was suggested that Kompan is
the favoured contractor. It was also said that there had been requests for
goal posts to be provided.
The Play Facilities group is to make a recommendation
on the preferred supplier and the cost of the new area. A response to Tynedale
Play Strategy had been returned.
h) Sensory Garden
Nothing to report
i) Sports Facilities Group
Concern had been expressed at the repairs to the footpath from the Sportsfield
Car Park to the School following work by NEDL. NEDL are to be contacted and
requested to replace the “zig zag entrance.
Sportsfield Grass cutting
It was agreed that the County Council should cut the grass in the coming
season.
It was agreed that the County be advised that parish Council does not
wish Sportsfield grass cutting to be included in future grass cutting tenders
issued by the County.
Recycling Area – it was agreed to order a
load of hard-core for spreading on this area.
MUGA – the Run Raffle at the end of December had raised around £700.
06/90 Other business - None
06/91 Date of Next Meeting - 5th March 2007
The meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.
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