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Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 1st October
2007
Present: Councillors Julia Sayce, Pete Barrass, Lizzie Clark
(until 8.30 p.m.), John Davison, Steve Gleadhill, Barbara Gravenor, Diane Hinchcliffe,
Norman Hooks, Melna Martin, Dave Porter, Mrs M Williams, Clerk
Also present: District
Councillors Argent, Dale and Drew,
Rebecca Dixon Hexham Courant
Apologies: Councillors Ian Hall, Tracy Warhurst-Walker,
County Councillor Ray Thompson.
Mrs Sayce opened proceedings by welcoming Steve
Gleadhill to his first meeting.
07/47 Declarations of Interest – None
07/48 Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September 2007 were agreed.
07/49 Matters Arising –
Christmas Trees - Dave Porter asked if Dennis Conley was aware that the Parish
Council now had to purchase the Christmas Trees and was assured that he was.
Yellow lines – it was noted that double yellow
lines had just last week been installed at Cross Street and on Birches Nook Road.
07/50 Public Participation
Local Government Re-organisation – Mrs Dale reminded Councillors that 4
years ago NSP had consulted parish Councillors on “belonging communities” but
it is now felt that the implications of these ”belonging communities” had
not, at the time, been made clear. The LSP is to consult Parish Councils further
on this subject and it was stressed that it was important to get the responses
right. Mrs Gravenor felt that the Parish Council should be represented on every
forum available to it to ensure that its views on the Local Government Re-organisation
were known.
07/51 Correspondence
The Correspondence received had been listed on the agenda.
Tynedale – A letter had been received regarding
the Comprehensive Equality Scheme. The General Purposes Group is to draw up a
response and individual councillors were invited to respond direct to Tynedale
on this subject.
NCC – a further consultation had been received regarding additional
site allocations under the Northumberland Minerals & Waste Development Framework.
One site in our area at Whittonstall had been identified and it was agreed to
respond re-iterating the concerns raised previously.
07/52 Finance
The Accounts for September had been circulated and were approved.
It was agreed to pay an invoice from Burlinson Print for the current issue of
NE43 news for £175.08.
Precept – a further amendment had been circulated and group convenors
were urged to advise the Clerk of any additions or amendments they wished to
make. The Clerk advised that because of Local Government Re-organisation she
felt that it would be unwise to reduce the precept. It was suggested and agreed
that the amount suggested for new office equipment be increased to £500
and that this sum should in fact be put into a “savings” fund.
It was agreed that the level of funding for the Youth Service
should be reviewed and consideration be given to funding the setting up of a
Youth Club for under 13s at SICA.
07/53 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and
Council Representatives
A paper on the Advisory Groups had been circulated and amendments were suggested
and approved: the Advisory Groups membership list will be re-issued. Mrs Dale
gave a brief explanation on the membership of the LSP and the Tynedale Community
Partnership and suggested that anyone interested in being a member of one of
the working groups should contact Richard Powell in Hexham.
a) Planning
The Planning Report - was tabled and was accepted.
It was explained that the development at East Ridley was within the boundaries
of the existing site.
The application regarding the removal of hedgerows was explained and confirmed
that the hedgerows would be replaced once the renewal of the sewers was complete.
The application for a wind turbine at Dere Street Farm was explained and accepted.
West Oak Farm – the application for the development
of this site had been refused and the developers had lodged an appeal. It was
agreed to respond to the Planning Inspectorate by repeating the comments made
to Tynedale earlier.
Railway Masts – it was noted that the masts would
be 15m monopoles and that the locations proposed by the Storm 29 Group and the
Parish Councils had been accepted.
Broomley Village – it was noted that there was
an open day at this development on 6th October.
b) Transport & Highways
Councillors Barras and Davison had met to discuss traffic issues. They tabled
a draft letter to be sent to various transport companies. It was felt that the
emphasis of this letter should be on the speed limit around the school and the
safety of pedestrians on the narrow pavements along the A695. It was also felt
that the letter should stress the long term aim of having a new river crossing
at Prudhoe to provide easier access to the A69. The letter should be copied to
County Highways. Mrs Sayce expressed reservations about asking transport companies
to re-route and re-time their vehicles’ journeys. It was stressed that
the letter had been toned down and that it was asking for co-operation from the
operators and their drivers. It was agreed that the letter should be revised
along the lines of the discussion and that prior to its despatch the Chairman
should approve it. The meeting was advised that the County had now received the
report from Faber Maunsell on proposals for a new river crossing at Prudhoe.
Parish Councils will be advised of this report.
Mrs Dale, as Governor of Broomley County First School
declared an interest in the debate, and suggested that if correspondence mentioned
the school, then the school should be consulted. She advised that Broomley School
can provide information on concerns of parents. Mrs Dale agreed to let the Parish
Council have a copy of the “Safe Routes to School” report which was
prepared some time ago.
Vehicle Activated Calming Signs (VACS) -
No one had been able to attend the meeting at Slaley on this topic.
It was suggested that the sites where these might be most effective are somewhere
between the station and the school and also near the butcher’s.
The next action on this topic should be:
Prices on the equipment to be sought
Consultation with Police and Highways on siting
A discussion paper to be drawn up for a future Parish Council meeting
It was felt that some residents would object to additional
road signs and that the concept would have to be “sold” to residents.
Care has to be taken when selecting the sites for these signs. The school governors
should be consulted on this proposal. Mr Barrass agreed to speak to the Head
Teacher about this issue.
A605 landslip – a report had been circulated giving
an up-date on this matter. The County have suggested that as the problem appears
to have stabilised no further action will be taken at present but the area of
concern will be continuously monitored for further movement.
It was reported that Batt House Road and the roads near the fords are to be
surfaced in the near future.
c) Footpaths & Environment Group
Norman Hooks advised that there was nothing further to add on the South Bank
Footpath as responses to letters to Allendale Estates and SITA were still awaited.
A paper had been tabled suggesting that the Footpaths & Bridleways
Group be merged with the erstwhile Environment Group. It was felt that the merged
group could then look at wider environmental issues.
d) Play Facilities Group
BEPA – nothing further to report, action is awaited from our solicitors
regarding forms to be completed in relation to requirements by the Big Lottery.
It was reported that one of the benches at Kate’s
Plain had been broken and suggested that future benches should have a central
support.
Kate’s Plain fence – still awaiting information
on increasing the height of this.
BEPA new access – nothing to report
e) Sensory Garden - nothing to report
f) Sports Facilities Group
It was agreed that a letter be sent to Allendale Estates requesting a meeting
to discuss several outstanding matters, including the Sportsfield/MUGA lease,
the improvements to the Eastern Sportsfield and the request for a new football
pitch and the proposed footpath along the south bank of the river.
It was noted that a meeting with the Sportsfield users is scheduled for 15th
October.
MUGA – The Football Federation have promised a grant of £73,000
which means that the costs of the improvements to MUGA are now largely covered.
The MUGA Regeneration Group is to Project Manage the construction of the new
facility. The Cricket Club is to manage the day to day usage of the new facility.
Cricket Field Grass Cutting
Mrs Sayce gave a brief report on her discussions with representatives of Broomley
School on this matter. It had been agreed at these discussions and the Council
endorsed the decisions that:
For the 07/08 season Broomley County First School would
be invoiced £400
for grass cutting and the use of the pitch.
For the 08/09 season Broomley County First School would
be invoiced £300
for the use of the pitch (this was felt to be in line with the charges made by
other locations for similar facilities)
The Parish Council will have to make arrangements for users of the small pitch
on Saturday mornings to be charged.
A comment was made that it was unfortunate that there
was not more sport in the schools’ curriculum. It was also felt that the
parish Council might be in danger for supporting sport which in other areas might
be paid for centrally.
It was felt that there is a need to find a way to increase the rents for users
of the sportsfields to ensure that all users of all the pitches pay for what
they use.
Snooker Club – it was asked if the Snooker Club
had been contacted recently. The building is becoming very overgrown. It is intended
to register an interest in this site with the Land Registry and when this is
done the Snooker Club will be advised. In the meantime, there is little the Parish
Council can do about this property.
g) Communication
It was agreed to publish an edition of NE43 News in December. Dave Porter offered
to put the issue together but stressed that he was unable to gather the information.
It may be only a 2 x A4 sides issue and will probably carry colour pictures of
the new Branch End Play Area development. The deadline for copy will be mid-November.
h) Council Representatives
Dave Porter had attended the most recent meeting of the Eastern Parishes Forum
and tabled a report on the meeting.
i) General Purposes
Appointment of Temporary Clerk – Mrs Sayce advised that she had contacted
Brian Elstob to cover Mrs Williams’ absence. He had declined so she had
contacted Mrs Mandy Senior who is currently Clerk to Matfen and Horsley Parish
Councils and she had agreed to cover Mrs Williams at the same hourly rate as
is paid to Mrs Williams.
The Council was reminded that when Mrs Williams decided to retire there will
be a need to appoint a new Clerk.
j) Policy Group
Local Government Re-organisation – A copy letter on this topic had been
received from the Eastern Parishes Forum. It was stressed that councillors should
be kept informed about this topic and Parish Councils should be consulted and
should respond to any consultation. It was agreed to ask Richard Powell of Tynedale
Community Partnership to attend the Parish Council in November to discuss Local
Government Re-organisation and the relationship between Parish Councils, Strategic
partnerships and “belonging communities”.
k) Parish Plan – nothing to report.
07/54 Other business
Flooding on New Ridley Road – the Clerk was asked to get an up-date on
this problem and report to the November meeting.
Sewage system renewal – the Clerk was asked to
write to Northumbrian Water and obtain a plan of the proposed works.
07/55 Date of Next Meeting - Parish Council 5th November
The meeting closed at 10.00p.m.
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