Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 2nd February 2009

Present: Councillors Pete Barrass, Pete Duncan, Steve Gleadhill (left early), Ian Hall, Norman Hooks, Melna Martin, Helen Morris, Dave Porter, Julia Sayce. Mrs M Williams Clerk.

Apologies: Diane Hinchcliffe, John Davison, District Councillor Eileen Drew, Colin Argent, County Councillor Anne Dale

Mr Hall, Chairman, opened the meeting by welcoming Ms Helen Morris as a Parish Councillor.

08/101 Declarations of Interest - None

08/102 Minutes The Minutes were agreed subject to a minor amendment,

08/103 Matters Arising
It was agreed that the “spare” dog bin should be re-sited somewhere near The Common on Meadowfield Road.

08/104 Public Participation
A request to provide a recycling bin for Tetrapaks had been received and it was agreed to write to Tynedale to ask for such a container to be sited in the Sportsfield Car Park.

Verge New Ridley Road - Batt House Road Junction to Hedley Road End. Residents are have asked that this verge be cut back further than at present. It was felt that grass cuttings are no longer being thrown into this verge and that residents are using the brown bins for garden waste. It was agreed that Martin Stewart be asked to cut back a short stretch of this verge to the hedge.

08/105 Parish Plan
Steve Gleadhill said that since the January meeting of the Council he and Pete Duncan had received responses to the draft plan which will be incorporated into the final document. It was suggested that some of the font colours would be changed to ensure that the document was readable by those with visual impairments.

He went on to say that the Parish Plan would be launched at the Annual Parish Meeting and that that meeting would be used as the feedback event before the Plan was finalised and printed and published. Participants in drawing up the Plan (other than Parish Councillors) would now be consulted to see if they had any additional comments on the Plan. An inconclusive discussion was held regarding the number of hard copies of the plan were needed. It was agreed that a price would be sought for printing 150 copies. The question was asked if the whole document needed to be published on line or just an Executive Summary with a link to the full document. There is a need to discuss the need for an Executive Summary.

Steve Gleadhill and Pete Duncan stressed the need for the Parish Council to draw up an Action Plan one the Parish Plan had been published. They stressed that there was also a need to monitor the progress of any Actions agreed.

Councillors were asked to review the list of priorities in the draft of the Plan and to let Steve Gleadhill and Pete Duncan have their views on this list by 12th February.

It was agreed that the priorities would be debated in March.

08/106 Advisory Groups
It was suggested that now we had a number of new councillors NALC should be asked about arranging a training course.

It was also requested that new councillors should consider where their interests lie and perhaps attend meetings of the Advisory Groups to see which they would be interested in joining. Dave Porter is particularly keen that the number of members on the Planning Group be increased. Katharine Russell had suggested that she might be interested in joining this group and Dave Porter is to advise her of the date of the next meeting.
(Steve Gleadhill left the meeting at this point.)

08/107 Correspondence
Correspondence received had been listed on the Agenda and noted.
It was agreed that no comment would be made to the department for Transport.
The entry for Tynedale Visitor was approved.

08/108 Finance
January Accounts – queries were responded to and the accounts were agreed.

Bank Reconciliation – the Bank Reconciliation was noted and accepted, however councillors asked the Clerk to give an explanation of the process.

Spend v Budget – this was noted but it was felt that until the year end it was not possible to make a meaningful comment.

It was suggested that in general councillors needed to understand the accounts better – in particular a list of funds/accounts was to be provided.

Additional cheques - it was agreed to pay Tynedale £1104.49 for grass cutting.

Payment of final grant to Youth Service - as nothing had been heard from the Youth Service no payment would be made.

Northumberland Theatre Company – The Finance & General Purposes Group are to consider a grant to this organisation.

Additional Bank Account – The Clerk had asked Councillors to consider opening a second bank account with a separate bank to try to ensure the security of funds held by the Council. It was agreed in principle that a second account should be opened and the Clerk is to investigate further the Unity Trust Bank and Northern Rock.

08/109 Calor Village of the Year
Norman Hooks advised that judges are to visit on 25th March and advised of preliminary plans for this visit.

08/110 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) Transport & Highways – nothing to report
Station Car Park – it was not expected that anything would be heard about the funding application until the end of February.
Railway masts – nothing to report
Drains & Gullies – correspondence circulated.

b) Footpaths, Gardens & the Environment
A Report on the Rights of Way Group meeting held on 26th January had been circulated.
Footpath 13 – information on the repairs to this path is to be sought.
Spring Clean Up - It was the feeling of the RoW meeting that a one-off clearance of litter of the type attempted in recent years has little long-term benefit. Suggestion included:
(i) encouraging and supporting groups of residents to take responsibility for specific areas near their homes by carrying out regular clear ups.
(i) since some litter is caused by wind-blown refuse from wheelie bins – use NE 43 to encourage residents to clear up such litter from their own properties.
It was agreed not to hold a specific spring clean event this year.
The head teacher at Broomley School wishes to involve her pupils in efforts to improve the village environment. It was suggested that a poster campaign be started to publicise litter problems using posters designed by the children—with prizes to be awarded on ‘Village Festival’ Day. This idea is to be encouraged.
River Watch Group – It was agreed to pay towards the cost of residents wishing to attend the Course to be run to train volunteers in monitoring the health of our rivers and streams
Claim for public ROW along Tyne from Eltringham to Merryshields
Prudhoe Pathforce are currently collecting written witness statements, many from residents of Mickley & Stocksfield, to claim a public ROW across the railway line at Eltringham, along the river bank crossing the Bellasis Burn (our Parish boundary) continuing on to join the existing ROW near Merryshields Farm. This claim follows attempts by the landowner at Eltringham Farm & Network Rail to close access at the eastern end of this route. The ROW & Environment group regret the ‘knock-on’ effect this claim could have on the tenant farmer at Merryshields failure to pursue this claim will result in this very attractive and much-used riverside path being ‘lost’. This would also effectively rule out our long held wish to create a riverside path through to Bywell Bridge. Councillors were asked to support the claims that this path had been used for many years. It was agreed to support Prudhoe Pathforce in their claim this public right of way.
Seat at the second Ford – this had been badly damaged, probably by a vehicle running into it from the icy road. It was agreed that in any case this seat was in a very poor condition. It was agreed to purchase a new seat made from recycled products at a cost of £443.11
It was also agreed to provide a litter bin at the Fords.

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

c) Play Facilities
Branch End Play Area – the access ramp is now complete.
Kates Plain – nothing to report – this to be debated in March.
Play Area Inspections – the suggested actions required following the RoSPA report was tabled and accepted.

d) BEPA Community Garden – Paul Revill is to be asked for his “vision” for the Garden. It had been suggested that the permanent features of the Garden be installed prior to any planting being undertaken. There is to be a sale of “unwanted” Christmas presents on 14th February.

e) Finance & General Purposes
The F&GP Report was circulated and the comments noted
Grant to Methodist Church – the recommendation of the group was discussed and Melna Martin proposed and Julia Sayce seconded and it was agreed on a vote (8 for – 2 abstentions) that £500 be granted to the Methodist Church.
Budget – the group will report on Budget v Spend in March.
Risk Assessment – Ian Hall gave the background to their discussions.
Royal Garden Party – Ian Hall, as Chairman, was nominated for the draw to attend this event this year.

f) Planning
The Report had been circulated.
Statement of Community Involvement – Pete Duncan had drawn up a response to this consultation and was thanked for his contribution.
Tynedale Planning Forum- notes on the latest meeting had been circulated. Mrs Sayce commented on the notes and stressed that it was useful for the Parish Council to be represented on future Planning Forums.
Broomley Conservation Area consultation – this is to be discussed at the next meeting of the Planning Group.

g) Policy Group
Eastern Parishes Forum – The Minutes of the most recent meeting had been circulated. Dave Porter requested that comments on the Forum’s constitution be passed to him. The Council expressed appreciation of the work carried out by Adrian Hinchcliffe on behalf of the Forum.

h) Local Government re-organisation.
Pete Barrass had attended the NCC meeting to discuss the unitary authority’s budget. His notes on the meeting had been circulated. One point that came out of the meeting had been that it was likely that residents would have to pay for the “Brown” bins to be emptied. It was felt that this may be counter-productive.

i) Sports Facilities – deferred to February
Sportsfield Management – the report of the Group was circulated.
MUGA – A report on the usage of the facility was circulated. It was felt that the lighting of the court was still a problem. It was asked if a street light was needed at the entrance to the car park. Parking on the pavement outside the sportsfield car park was a problem at busy times. Suitable signs are to be sourced.

i) Communication – information for NE43 News and the Annual Report was requested.

k) Council Representatives
Eastern Parishes Forum – It was reported that the Report on the Tyne Crossing had still not been received. Dave Porter is to contact Adrian Hinchcliffe and say that Broomley & Stocksfield Parish Council is concerned at this delay.
Prudhoe Community Partnership Transport Meeting no one from the Parish Council had been able to attend.

l) Community Development
Stocksfield Festival – notes on the initial meeting of the Festival Committee had been circulated.

08/111 Any Other Business
The Clerk, Margaret Williams, had requested leave of absence in May. She had arranged for cover for the Annual General Meeting and her request was agreed.

08/100 Date of Next Meeting: 3rd March 2009 in the Richardson Room at the Community Centre.

The meeting closed at 10 p.m.