Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 6th March 2006

Present: Councillors Sayce, Barwick-Bell, Chainey, Davison, Drew, Hall, Hedley, Levitt, Porter, Warhurst-Walker.

Mrs M Williams, Clerk

Also present: District Councillor Mrs A Dale, County Councillor Ray Thompson, Hexham Courant Reporter – Helen Compson

Apologies: Councillors Mrs Martin and Mrs Wade, District Councillor Mike Collins

05/91 Declarations of Interest –
Councillor Chainey as a Director of the Tynedale Community Rail Partnership, declared an interested in the item on the Tyne Valley Rail Study.

05/92 Minutes
The Minutes of 6th February 2006, were agreed with minor amendments.

05/93 Matters Arising –
Mrs Dale advised that under the terms of the LAA, Stocksfield had been included as one of the 'belonging' communities of Prudhoe as the Parish came into the hinterland served by Prudhoe Community Partnership. In any prospective funding/service package Stocksfield would "belong" to Prudhoe.

05/94 Public Participation
Mr Porter advised that he had received a complaint that the honeysuckle from No.3 Brumwell Court at Kate’s Plain had been chopped back. It was also suggested that some of the stumps behind the fence at Brumwell Court needed to be cut back to below ground level and there were still some metal fencing to be taken out.

Comments had also been received from a member of the public to the effect that areas of the parish were in a poor condition. Mr Chainey is to review the handyman’s contract and Mrs Davison is to look at Kate’s Plain and Branch End Play Area to review these concerns.

It was reported that a hedge on Mount View Terrace was growing over the pavement.

05/95 Correspondence
Correspondence received was listed on the agenda.

A letter had been received from NALC regarding various training events.The Clerk is to attend the event on 15th March and Mr Porter the event on 29th March.

A letter had been received from the County Council regarding the Waste Development Framework. No comment was to be made on this, however Mr Chainey had all the documentation should anyone wish to look at it and any comments may be made to County or District Councillors.

Hanging Baskets – a letter had been received from Tynedale offering plant material and hanging baskets. It was noted that the responsibility for maintenance would have to be with the Parish Council. It was agreed to ask businesses on the Main Road if they would take and be responsible for hanging baskets. The question of public liability for the baskets was raised.

05/96 Finance
The Accounts for February were noted and accepted. The report on spend against budget for the year to date was noted. Additional cheques were agreed for
Post Office Counters - stamps
Playdale (although it was noted that this would not be paid until the work Was completed)
CCN – for the Parish Plan Training Day.

05/97 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) General Purposes Group
Annual Parish Meeting – the draft report was circulated. County Councillor Thompson agreed to write an additional paragraph on the proposals for changes to the education system. Mrs Drew agreed to write an additional paragraph on the appointment of an "ASBO" officer at Tynedale. The speaker for the Annual Parish Meeting still had to be confirmed.

Parish Plan – Mrs Sayce advised that there had been a preliminary meeting to discuss the development of a Parish Plan. It was noted that it was unlikely that there would be any major input from either the High school or Broomley School at this stage. The next meeting of the Group is on 29th March. It is hoped that a steering group of 12 people will be formed. It was hoped that some of the younger residents of the parish would be able to join the steering group or take part in some other way. It was agreed that three people would attend the Parish Plan meeting at Stannington on 20th March. A draft article on the Parish Plan was included in the current issue of NE43 News – any ideas or amendments should be given to Mrs Sayce as soon as possible. County Councillor Thompson said that parish plans were currently very topical and urged that as much effort as possible be put into the project.

Spring Clean – The skip would be at the Sportsfield Car Park during the last week of April. Councillors were disappointed to note that in recent weeks a fridge/freezer, a microwave oven and a vacuum cleaner had been left at the re-cycling area.

Royal Garden Party – Mrs Sayce was nominated to be put forward for the draw for this event.

Training Policy – a proposal for a training policy had been tabled and this was agreed.
It was noted that the Northumberland Playing Fields Associations were to run a course on play area inspection which might be useful for the handyman to attend. It was also noted that seminars on Big Lottery Funding were to be arranged.

Funding requests - it was agreed to refer requests for funding from Vitalise and the NTC to the General Purposes Group.

Play Area Bye-laws – a letter had been received from Andrea Barker, a solicitor at Tynedale regarding the introduction and enactment of bye-laws.
The following points were made by councillors:

• We have tried in the past to create bye-laws for Branch End Play Area. Initially the police had been keen on this idea. If we are to pursue this course of action we need to know why the proposal was turned down the previous time.
• The possibility of introducing bye-laws should be explored and the situation pertaining to the introduction and the consequences thereof should be fully understood.
• Before any new equipment is installed at Branch End (particularly phase II for older children) councillors should be prepared for any consequences.

A letter had been received from Tynedale regarding the introduction of the Alcohol Designation Zones and it was agreed that these need to be monitored.
It was agreed that Andrea Barker (Tynedale) should be invited to the June meeting of the Parish Council to discuss byelaws.

b) Footpaths & Environment Group
The Footpaths & Environment Group had not met – the next meeting of the group is 10th April and any concerns for discussion at this meeting should be addressed to Mr Chainey. The Footpaths Group will look again at the provision of a handrail on the path from New Ridley Road to Tynedale Gardens, although it was felt that the path was too narrow to install a hand rail.

Tree Preservation Order - a request had been made that the trees in the field to the east of Kate’s Plain should be the subject of a tree preservation order. This is to be set in motion, after advising Allendale Estates.

Ash Saplings at Kate’s Plain – concern about their potential height was raised again.

Trees in the coppice at Branch End Play Area – Mrs Sayce is to seek advice from Peter Askew about coppicing.

Tubs & Planters – a proposal to install tubs/planters was agreed although it was suggested and agreed that the overall height should be 60 cm and that the one proposed for outside Branch End Play area should be square rather than oblong.

c) Play Facilities Group
The Report of the Play Facilities Group was tabled.

Kate’s Plain – apart from the points raised further there was nothing to report.

Branch End – revised plans for the new equipment were tabled. Mrs Davison briefly outlined how the re-launched Big Lottery Fund works. Mr Hall is to chase Hanson regarding possible funding for this project. Mrs Warhurst-Walker is to be advised what is required in the way of earth moving so that she can discuss this with Dennis Conley. It was felt that the Twist needed another coat of preservative and the moss should be cleaned off the wet pour surface.

d) Sports Facilities Group
Crowd Barriers for Football Pitches – Mrs Sayce had met with representatives of the Football Clubs to discuss this. It was agreed that subject to agreement by Allendale Estates, there was no problem about putting up sponsorship boards on the boundary fence of the eastern Sportsfield. It was not thought that planning permission was needed for these boards. It was noted that the possibility of re-arranging the pitches on the eastern field had been raised and it was also agreed that the level of rent for all users of the Sportsfields need to be re-negotiated.

Sportsfield Grass Cutting – this is to be left until the April meeting.

MUGA – a decision from SITA is expected in the middle of March regarding funding. The Clerk raised concerns about the safety of the current fencing at MUGA.

e) Planning & Highways
The Planning & Highways Report had been circulated.

Hexham Swimming Pool – the planning group had felt that the proposed new pool should have six swimming lanes. However, comments in the press had suggested that this was now to be included in the design and the Parish Councillors had no further comments to make on the proposals for the new pool.

Apperley Road – Mrs Drew advised that when the road was re-surfaced a couple of the manholes had been tarmacked over. These have now been uncovered but not resealed.\

Gullies – concern was expressed once again that the gullies outside the Baptist Church were blocked and water was flooding down and across the road.

Water Main Works at Birches Nook – Mr Hall asked whether the residents and businesses should have been advised that this work was to be undertaken.

Brettonby Avenue – County Councillor Thompson advised that this area had suffered from a number of power cuts recently and that there was a danger that Branch End Surgery could lose data when the power went down. Residents are getting increasingly exasperated about these power cuts. Mr Thompson advised that NEDL are to produce a report on the situation.

Former Quoits Area – County Councillor Thompson advised that the County Council is to look into the ownership of this site.

Birches Nook Parking – nothing has been resolved as yet.

Burnside Yard development - Councillors once again expressed grave concerns about the safety of the entrance/exit to this development. It was felt that the number of dwellings in the development would considerably increase the number of vehicles entering and leaving the site, both during the construction period and subsequently (not just the vehicles belonging to the residents but also potentially supermarket delivery vehicles and the like). It was felt that pedestrians and school children passing this driveway could be at risk from vehicles leaving the site at speed. It was pointed out that pedestrians walking to and from Broomley School and Stocksfield Station have no alternative but to use the pavement at this point, there being no pavement on the other side of the A695. The developers are urged to ensure that the level of the roadway leaving the site is equal to that of the A695. This levelling must be completed before major construction work commences.

Previous comments on this development were re-iterated.

It was noted that the Forge was now for sale and felt that in the light of this development these plans might come back to the Parish Council for further comment.

Dere Street Farm – it was noted that the plans for this development had been approved conditionally.

Broomley Village - play area – following the report by the Clerk that it was understood that the proposed play area at the development at Broomley would not become the Parish Council’s responsibility, Mrs Dale advised that Tynedale were looking into this matter.

f) Communication
Website – Dave Porter advised that the re-design of the website had not got as far as he had hoped. The new site is still building and he hoped it would be ready for launch on 1st April. It was agreed that photographs of councillors, their name@stocksfield .org e-mail address and a contact phone number would be published on the site. Mr Porter explained how the new e-mail system would work and offered to help those who were having difficulties. It was suggested that the website should be linked to other local sites and that there should be a 'Young Stocksfield' page. Once the new website was published it was hoped to launch it at the Annual Parish Meeting on 24th April.

NE43 News – a draft of the latest issue was circulated. It was suggested that a "trifold" might be considered for future issues.

g) Council Representatives
Some Councillors had attended the recent launch of the Tyne Valley Rail Study. A summary of the report had been circulated. It was agreed that this was a sensible report and the Council agreed to support it as a body and that individuals would also support it. The need to support and use the railway was stressed.

05/98 Other business
Nil

05/99 Date of Next Meeting
3rd April 2006
24th April Annual Parish Meeting
8th May Parish Council Annual General Meeting

The meeting closed at 10.25 p.m. The Chairman apologised for the lateness of the hour.