Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 6th April 2009

Present: Councillors Pete Barrass, John Davison, Pete Duncan, Ian Hall, Diane Hinchcliffe, Norman Hooks, Melna Martin, Helen Morris, Dave Porter, Katharine Russell, Julia Sayce.
Also Present: County Councillor Anne Dale

Apologies: Steve Gleadhill

The Chairman opened the meeting by requesting that Councillors observe a Minute’s Silence to mark the death of Tommy Miller who had been both a Parish and District Councillor.

08/124 Declarations of Interest – Mrs Russell declared an interest in discussions on the Welton Close Play Space.

08/125 Minutes
Acceptance of the Minutes was proposed by Julia Sayce, seconded by Norman Hooks and agreed.

08/126 Matters Arising
Tetrapak Recycling – a response had been received from Tynedale regarding the provision of a recycling facility for Tetrapaks and in view of this response, it was agreed to take the matter no further.

Repairs to Footpath 13 – it was believed that repairs to this path would be undertaken shortly. Mrs Dale is to have a meeting with the relevant authority,

Double Yellow Lines – provision of double yellow lines at the entrance to the Sportsfield and at the junction of Painshawfield Road and New Ridley Road are in hand.

Riverside Walk - it was agreed to write to the County Council supporting the proposal that this path be kept open.

Mount View Terrace – had been resurfaced and Norman Hooks reported that Highways had “enjoyed fixing” this section of road.

08/127 Public Participation
Diane Hinchcliffe reported that she had received complaints from pedestrians (particularly those with buggies) that their access to the pavement outside Whitelaws the Butchers was prevented by vehicles parked on the pavement. She also advised that bus drivers were complaining about parked cars in the lay-by. Mrs Dale offered to ask the police to look into this problem, care needs to be taken to avoid upsetting the butcher’s customers and thus affecting his trade, and also into the problem of speeding traffic along the A695, particularly bikers at weekends. It was noted that there continued to be problems with vehicles parking on the pavements particularly outside the Sportsfield and BEPA.

Pete Barrass advised that the seats of the toddler swing at BEPA were splitting and also that the willow tunnel had been repaired.

Ian Hall advised that concerns had been raised with him over the condition of the hedge/trees bordering the field opposite the school. It is alleged that vehicles driving close to the roadside have had wing mirrors damaged. This is to be raised with the Estate and in addition Mrs Dale offered to check with County.

08/128 Correspondence
Correspondence received had been listed on the Agenda and noted.
It was noted that the closing date for nominations to the JLAF had now closed.
Information received from Tynedale regarding Flood Protection is to be posted on the website.

08/129 Finance
March Accounts – queries were responded to and the accounts were agreed.
Mrs Dale had been asked if the balance of funds in the Kate’s Plain Regeneration Group bank account could be transferred for use at Branch End. No funds had been received to date but it was agreed that when they were received they could be used towards work at BEPA.

Opening of an additional bank account – It was proposed by Norman hooks and seconded by Ian Hall and agreed that a second account be opened with the Unity Trust Bank. It was also agreed that the current cheque signatories would be the signatories for the Unity Trust Bank account.

Acceptance of the resolution was proposed by Pete Barrass and seconded by Diane Hinchcliffe and agreed.

Resolution:

• Broomley & Stocksfield Parish Council (the Council) wishes to open an account with Unity Trust Bank plc (the Bank) and produced to the meeting a copy of the Bank’s terms and conditions for operating an account.
• The Banks terms and conditions are approved and the Council appoints the Bank as its Bankers.
• The Banks terms and condition may vary from time to time, and the Council agrees to be bound by them
• The Mandate for the operation of the bank accounts, payments instructions and banking services be provided by to the Bank and that amendments to the Mandate may be made by any Council member, or by the Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer of the Council, who is known to the Bank as being authorised by the Council to do so.
• The Bank is entitled to rely upon this mandate until it receives a later mandate amending it.
• The Bank will be notified in writing of any change in Council members or officers of the Council by any Council member or other officer known to the Bank as being authorised to do so
• The Council members acknowledge that they shall be jointly and severally liable for any liabilities of the Council to the Bank.

08/130 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) Annual Parish Meeting - the draft agenda had been circulated and was accepted.
b) Parish Plan – Steve Gleadhill and Pete Duncan had started work on the presentation on the final draft of the Parish Plan to be made to the Annual Parish Meeting. All those who had attended the meeting on the Priorities were thanked for their contribution.

c) Community Development
Stocksfield Festival – it was reported that there was a good committee for this event and that plans are now progressing. As plans are progressed and finalised the entry on the website will change. Some events are well on the way in terms of planning.

d) Sports Facilities
MUGA – The quarterly report on use to the end of March was tabled. It was noted that the bad weather had affected usage in three weeks. It was agreed that use of MUGA should be promoted to local sports clubs, schools, Parish Magazine, etc.
The floodlighting is to be “tweaked” in an effort to ensure that it does not blind motorists.
The MUGA Management agreement had been agreed.

e) Communication – all those who had contributed to NE43 News were thanked for their contribution.

f) Transport & Highways
Improvements to Station Car Park – Notes on meetings with the railway companies and the County Council had been circulated and Norman Hooks advised that a further meeting had been held on 1st April. He said that the main points to come out of the meetings are:

• Concern that Northern Rail and their contractors do not finish the job on time and thus jeopardise the payment of the grant. A penalty Clause should be included in any contract with Northern Rail. It was agreed that David Francis and the County should be asked for their advice on such clause.
• Network Rail own the land and Northern Rail lease it from them.
• Northern Rail would be unhappy if their own approved contractors do not do the work.
• Northern Rail will charge a management fee.,
• The Main beneficiary of the project is the railway and there should be an increase in passenger numbers.

Railway Masts – no news
Drains & Gullies – It was noted that the road had collapsed outside the Quaker Meeting House and the Baptist Church. The blockages in the drains on this section of road need clearing.

It was felt that the County needed to change its “culture” on the maintenance of highways. The matter had been discussed at the Eastern Parishes Forum.

Re-siting VACS – a brief discussion was held on which sign should be moved. It was agreed that moving the VACS would not be easy for the Handyman to do and that the cost of employing an approved contractor could be expensive. It was proposed by Melna Martin and seconded by Diane Hinchcliffe that a price should be sought for obtaining a third VACS and agreed in principle to purchase a third machine. It was reported that 6/10 vehicles activate the machine. Mrs Martin reported that speeding on new Ridley Road and on the A695 had been brought up at the recent meeting of the Police Forum.

Request for road signs on Mount View Terrace – a request had been received from SICA asking for the road signs at the junction of the A695 and Mount View Terrace be replaced. After some discussions it was agreed that the County Council be asked to provide new street nameplates (one for each side of Mount View Terrace) which would read:

Mount View Terrace, leading to Guessburn and South Parade (no access to Ridley Mill)

It was also agreed that the County be asked to replace the “No through road sign”. Mrs Dale offered to organise this.

A letter is to be written to County advising that it was felt that some SATNAV systems appeared to advise that there was a through road to Ridley Mill and asking them if they could bring to the attention of the providers that this was not so. It was felt that this might be a software problem.

Road between second ford and the B6309 – concerns had been raised about the increasing narrowness of this road and fears for the safety of pedestrians.

Parking on the pavement outside BEPA – this matter had been discussed earlier.

Second Ford – advice had been received from County that this would remain closed at least until September.

Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership stakeholder meeting – Ian Hall offered to attend the meeting on 14th April.

[Suspension of Standing Orders –it was agreed that Standing Orders should be suspended and the meeting should continue until 10.00 p.m.]

g) Footpaths, Gardens & the Environment – nothing to report.

h) Play Facilities
Welton Close Play Space – a letter had been received from a resident regarding the use of the play space at Welton Close and requesting a notice be erected stating no ball games and giving restricted times for use. After some debate it was agreed that a poll would be taken on the views of residents and Pete Duncan offered to draw up a questionnaire.

i) BEPA Community Garden - Melna Martin reported that discussions and planning are still ongoing and that snowdrops had been planted. It was agreed that the banks should be seeded even if only temporarily.

j) Finance & General Purposes
The F&GP Report was circulated and the comments noted and endorsed.
Branch End Toilet site – It was agreed to set up a working party to discuss this site and make recommendations. Pete Duncan is to lead this group.
Calor Village of the Year – the presentation to the judges went well. Norman Hooks and Margaret Williams were thanked for preparing the presentation and thanks were extended to all, including Steve Gleadhill, Pete Duncan and Diane Hinchcliffe who had taken part in, and attended, the presentation. It was noted that farming should have been included in the presentation.

k) Planning
The Planning Report had been circulated.
Stocksfield Hall – a revised plan had been submitted for re-consultation and the Parish Council’s response had been included in the report. There are still concerns about the future level of traffic on the Bywell Road generated by the increased number of employees on the Stocksfield Hall site. The revised plan reduces the size of the proposed building. Dave Porter had attended the Tynedale Development Control Meeting when the original plan had been discussed. He felt that the plan had been passed without reference to comments to the comments from the Parish Council and some concerned residents. He felt that parish councillors had wasted their time studying the documents and make comments. He said that councillors have to consider what is best for Stocksfield when considering planning applications. It was agreed that in due course, County Planning Officers would be asked to meet parish councillors (and also perhaps the Eastern Parishes Forum) to discuss what is expected from parish councils. Thanks were extended to the Planning Group for putting forward detailed responses to the proposals for Stocksfield Hall.

l) Policy Group -
Boundary Review – Mrs Dale offered to let councillors have more information on the proposals.

m) Local Government re-organisation.
NSP Standing Conference – Julia Sayce circulated a paper on this conference.

n) Council Representatives
Eastern Parishes Forum - it was noted that under the local government re-organisation the Eastern Parishes Forum had ceased to exist. It will however, become the East Tynedale Community Forum. There had still been no response from Faber Maunsell regarding the Tyne Crossing Study.

New Councillor Training – Katharine Russell and Helen Morris had attended this.
Community & Extended Services Meeting – a report from this meeting at the High School had been circulated.

08/131 Any Other Business
A request by the Clerk to increase her salary by 2p per hour from 1st April 2008 in line with national guidelines was agreed to.
Mr Hall and Mrs Williams gave their apologies for the meeting on 11th May.

08/132 Date of Next Meeting
11th May 2009 in the Richardson Room of the Community Centre

The meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.