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Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 1st December 2008
Present: Councillors Pete Barrass, John Davison, Pete Duncan,
Steve Gleadhill, Ian Hall, Diane Hinchcliffe, Norman Hooks, Melna Martin, Dave
Porter, Katharine Russell (left at 8.30 p.m.) Julia Sayce, Mrs M Williams, Clerk.
Also present: County/District Councillor Mrs Anne Dale,
Mrs G Brown (Hexham Courant),
Ms Helen Morris.
Apologies: District Councillor Colin Argent
Not having been at the November meeting, the Chair, Ian Hall, welcomed Mrs
Russell and Mr Duncan to the Parish Council and asked if they would like to join
one of the sub-groups.
08/68 Declarations of Interest
Mr Duncan declared an interest in the discussion on the proposals for the development
at Stocksfield Hall. Mrs Dale advised that she had an interest in this discussion.
Mrs Martin declared an interest in one of the planning applications.
08/69 Minutes
The Minutes were agreed with some minor amendments and signed by Mrs Martin.
08/70 Matters Arising
Double Yellow Lines – Mr Hooks requested that a letter be written to the
County requesting that the double yellow lines at the corner of the A695 and
Mount View Terrace be refreshed.
Branch End Toilets – Mrs Dale clarified the statement made at the November
meeting by advising that under “Quirk” rules the Branch End Toilets
could have been transferred to the Parish Council but that as Government Funding
under this scheme is now exhausted no money to support its development would
follow the transfer. She further said that under such a scheme there would have
been no restrictions on future use. Steve Gleadhill pointed out that the Parish
Plan had identified this site for community use. Mr Davison asked why we need
the toilet site. Mrs Dale advised that under the rules governing the change to
the new Unitary Authority Tynedale had severe restrictions on how existing funds
can be distributed prior to the end of March. Mr Gleadhill advised that the proposed
Charter currently being drawn up between local councils and the new Northumberland
Unitary Authority contained a clause on the transfer of community assets which
needed clarification.
Mrs Dale advised that the County has to find £29m cutbacks in next year’s
budget and that these will mean a 20% reduction in expenditure across the board
in all departments. She said that she will continue to fight for services to
be delivered.
08/71 Proposal to develop office accommodation at Stocksfield Hall
(Mrs Dale left during this discussion)
The Council had received notification of a proposal to build office accommodation
at Stocksfield Hall for the Engineering Business. Although a planning application
had yet to be submitted, a public consultation event had been on the proposal.
In addition an event had been held for the current occupants of Stocksfield Hall.
The proposal had also been discussed at the Newton & Bywell Parish Council
meeting at which members of Broomley & Stocksfield Parish Council Planning
Group had been present.
A letter had been received from Prof. Madeley commenting on the proposals.
Dave Porter briefly outlined the position as he saw it:
- No formal planning application on the proposals
had as yet been submitted.
- The Engineering Business has its main office at Broomhaugh,
Riding Mill where it employs around 80 people. It also already employs around
75 at Stocksfield Hall. It has outgrown its current office space. The Engineering
Business wishes to expand and move its business to Stocksfield. Over the next
five years it would hope to increase the number of employees largely young engineering
graduates) to around 300.
- There are a number of issues to consider
- It is thought that
currently only a few of the employees live in Stocksfield.
- Extra traffic coming
from the A69
- Large increase in office space
- New car park will hold 260 vehicles
and is on the green belt.
- Suggestions have been made to the architect to build
a second entrance to the site north of the current entrance.
- Perhaps the Engineering
Business would pay their employees to use the trains.
Other comments made in the meeting:
- The proposed new car park will be landscaped and “hide” the
cars and will have a permeable surface.
- New buildings will be lower than the existing buildings
Mrs Morris said that she was keeping an open mind on the proposals but that
as yet she cannot see the pluses for the area. She advised that she had been
told that the new building will be higher than the current ones but was unsure
whether this would block the view from her property.
Mr Duncan said that the Engineering Company is now part
of an international business. He said that the directors have roots in Tynedale.
He went on to say that this was a world class, highly prestigious company and
that it could be argued that its presence would be a “feather in Stocksfield’s cap”.
He said that at present one would not know that there were 75 people working
in the current office. He felt that most people would not be aware of the new
build as it is tucked away from the main envelope of the village. He said that
personally he supported the proposals in principle and felt that Stocksfield
as a community could benefit from the development. He acknowledged that increased
traffic and access was a problem.
Mrs Sayce said that she felt that pupils from Prudhoe Community High School
would benefit from the presence of such an employer in the area. She said they
already benefit from the presence of the Specials Laboratory. Such companies
provide opportunities for high calibre employment for our young people.
08/72 Public Participation
Drains & gullies – Mrs Dale said that she had received a lot of complaints
about the current state of the drains and gullies. She had contacted the chief
Executive of the County Council and asked what the County’s liability was.
She pointed out that funding for repairs has been cut.
Mr Hall advised that the junction of Meadowfield Road and Cade Hill Road was
in a particularly poor condition (the original cobbles are showing through the
surface and there is a bad dip next to the entrance to Harnham House.
Parking – Mr Hooks raised concerns about cars
parking on the footpath near the School and the Sportsfield. He said that this
was a particular problem on Saturdays and that parked cars made it difficult
for pedestrians, particularly those with push chairs or mobility scooters to
use the pavements. It was noted that only the police can prosecute the offenders.
It was also noted that this was a problem outside Branch End Play Area. It was
agreed to put an item in the next issue of NE43 News asking residents not to
park on the pavement.
Development at Burnside Yard - Notification had been received that the most
recent planning application had been withdrawn. It was however felt that that
there will be a new application in due course. Concern was raised about the current
condition of the site and it was agreed to write to the Planning Department Enforcement
Officer regarding the fact that the road has not been surfaced, with the result
that the kerbs are very high and drains our standing proud of the surface. It
was felt that this was causing inconvenience to residents.
It was also agreed to write to Building Control pointing out that the former
joiners workshop was now in a dangerous condition and that this was affecting
the property adjoining it.
08/73 Freedom of Information Act
Correspondence had been received from the Information Commissioner’s Office
on 1st December. This required parish councils to accept a new model publication
scheme and to publish the details of the Guide to Information available under
the scheme by 1st January 2009.
The documents were tabled at the meeting.
Steve Gleadhill proposed and Norman Hooks seconded and it was agreed that
the recommendations be accepted, and the Model Publication Scheme be adopted.
It was also agreed that a letter be sent to the Information Commissioner commenting
on the short notice given to implement this adoption.
08/74 Correspondence
The correspondence received had been listed on the Agenda and was noted.
Tynedale - a letter had been received regarding the Site Allocations Options.
It was agreed that the Parish Council should write to Northumberland and register
the fact that we wish to be consulted on future planning applications.
Tynedale Sports Council – an invitation had been
received to the Awards evening. Stocksfield Netball Club and two other residents
had been nominated for awards. Mrs Sayce volunteered to attend the ceremony.
Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership – a letter
had been received advising that it was proposed to erect a Railway Service Information
Board in the east bound bus shelter near the Station. It was noted that there
were no costs to be incurred by the Parish Council. It was agreed to write accepting
the proposal and stating that there should be a second board in the west bound
shelter in due course.
08/75 Finance
The accounts for November were accepted.
The Bank Reconciliation for October was noted.
Additional Cheques –
It was agreed to pay:
B Stewart £229.00
SRC £402.81 (Parish Plan)
Guy Rawlinson (BEPA) £1686.62
Neat Ideas (Colour Printer) £234.99
08/76 Auditors Report
The Finance & General Purposes Group had examined the report from the Auditors
and accepted the recommendations.
It was however, agreed that the Fidelity Guarantee should stand at its current
level.
Steve Gleadhill suggested that the Finance & General
Purposes Group review the accounts quarterly and warn the council on over/underspend
against budget.
It was also agreed that the Financial & General Purposes Group should
review the effectiveness of the Internal Audit as per the “Pegswood” model
which they had studied.
Councillors accepted the Finance & General Purposes
recommendation which had been circulated.
08/77 Parish Plan
All those who were involved in the development of the Parish Plan were congratulated
on their work so far and thanked for their efforts.
Mrs Martin said that the interviewers who had conducted the survey for the
Plan had been very courteous.
Mr Duncan gave the background to the paper which had been circulated. He said
that statistically the survey was as good as if everyone resident had been interviewed.
He said that members of the Lower VI at Prudhoe Community High School had been
interviewed and that they were quite keen on having a gym provided.
Mrs Dale pointed out that the new ICT suite at Broomley School had now been
opened.
The full details of the survey and the recommendations of the plan will be
published in the final report which will make up the Parish Plan.
08/78 Community Development & Village Show
A letter had been circulated in November outlining SICA’s suggestions to
hold a Village “Show” in 2009. Mr Hooks said that there would be
costs involved in setting this up and asked the Parish Council to underwrite
these. It was hoped that the eventually cost to the Parish Council in staging
such an event would be NIL. It was stressed that there would be an initial public
meeting to gauge interest in arranging such an event, but that should residents
not support the idea then it would not happen. Mrs Sayce pointed out that Churches
Together had already booked a “Freshers’ Fair” in Sept. 2009.
08/79 Youth Service Agreement
A letter had been received from the County regarding the provision of Youth Services
in Stocksfield.
At present it does not appear to be a Youth Club operating at SICA. The youth
engagement strategy in Stocksfield appears to have failed. Mr Duncan said he
had spoken to young footballers who were not aware that the Youth Project operated
in Stocksfield. Young people should be asked what they want. It was agreed to
ask the County Officer to attend the meeting in January and to write to him in
the meantime saying that Councillors did not believe that the youth service was
currently delivering the expected service in Stocksfield.
[Suspension of Standing Orders –it was agreed
that Standing Orders should be suspended and the meeting should continue until
10.00 p.m.]
08/80 Rifle/Snooker Club
Councillors had met with the representative of the Rifle/Snooker Club and a paper
on these discussions was tabled and accepted.
08/81 Cricket Club – Water Supply
A paper outlining the current problems at the Cricket Field and Cricket Club
with regard to field drains and drainage had been circulated and was noted.
08/82 2009/10 Precept.
The changes made to the Precept document had been circulated. It was suggested
that the precept should be increased by 5% on that agreed for 2008/09. This would
set the precept for 2009/10 at £54,400. Pete Barrass proposed and Steve
Gleadhill seconded and it was agreed that the Precept for 2009/10 should be £54,400.
08/83 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) Sports Facility Group
MUGA Management Agreement – a draft of this agreement had been circulated
Norman Hooks proposed and Steve Gleadhill seconded that this be accepted with
the addition of a clause concerning issues of concern which might affect forward
planning.
b) Finance and General Purposes Group
The Finance & General Purposes Group Report had been circulated and was accepted.
Requests for funding by Stocksfield Scouts and the Methodist Church had been
received and recommendations would be made to the January meeting.
c) Transport & Highways
Station Car Park – nothing to report
Railway Masts – nothing to report
Drains & Gullies – Mrs Dale said that the County cannot keep cutting
services back and said that this issue would come up when the County was discussing
its budget.
d) Footpaths, Gardens & the Environment.
Nothing to report.
New Walks Leaflet – it was suggested and agreed that the £200
share of the Calor Village of the Year prize be used as a contribution towards
the cost of the new walks leaflet.
(Pete Barrass left the meeting)
e) Local Government Re-organisation
A meeting had been organised in Hexham by NALC and a brief paper was circulated.
Proposed Charter between the new Unitary Authority and
Parish Councils – this
had also been discussed at the meeting in Hexham. Mrs Sayce and Mr Gleadhill
had looked at this and their comments were circulated. Mr Gleadhill felt that
overall this proposed Charter was a good document. It was agreed that Mrs Sayce
and Mr Gleadhill should finalise their comments and that they should be returned
to County.
f) Planning
The Planning Report for November had been circulated.
It was noted that the most recent planning application
for the development at Burnside had been withdrawn. It was agreed that letters
should be written to Tynedale Building Control and Planning Enforcement regarding
the delays to the development of this site. Of particular concern were the condition
of the former joiners shop and the road surface which has left very high kerbs
and “proud” drains.
It was agreed to ask Colin Argent to up-date councillors at the January meeting
on flooding on New Ridley Road. It was noted that Tynedale is negotiating with
landowners over this problem.
g) Communication
The draft of the latest edition of NE43 News was tabled. This will be returned
from the printers by 10th December and will be distributed week commencing 14th
December with the Parish Christmas Card.
h) Play Facilities
Branch End Play Area – complaints had been received about parking on the
pavement outside BEPA.
John Davison is to look at possible solutions to this problem.
Contact is to be made with Kompan regarding the provision of goal posts.
Kate’s Pain – tyre – as no response
has been received from Stanleys regarding the removal of the tyre, other scrap
merchants are to be contacted.
i) Sensory Garden - nothing to report
k) Policy Group
The Clerk is to draft a response to the Dept. for Communities & Local Government
confirming the adoption of para. 12b in the revised Code of conduct.
l) Council Representatives
m) Parish Plan – see 08/77 above
08/84 Other business -
08/85 Date of Next Meeting - 5th January 2009 in the Mary Clayton Room at
SICA
The meeting closed at 10.30 p.m.
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