Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 5th October 2009

Present: Councillors Pete Barrass, John Davison, Steve Gleadhill, Ian Hall, , Norman Hooks, Melna Martin, Dave Porter. Katharine Russell. Mrs Margaret Williams, Clerk
Also Present: County Councillor Anne Dale

Apologies: Pete Duncan, Diane Hinchcliffe, Helen Morris, Julia Sayce

09/43 Declarations of Interest - Mrs Russell declared an interest in discussions on the Welton Close Play Space. Mr Gleadhill declared an interest in discussions on the development at Burnside.

09/44 Minutes
The Minutes of 7th September had been amended prior to the meeting and the amended version was accepted and agreed.

09/45 Matters Arising
Mr Gleadhill raised the question of the road into the development at Burnside. He pointed out that one of the conditions of the planning permission was that the road should be made up prior to the development being started. This had not been done. Mrs Dale advised that she is to have an on site meeting with officers from the County Council.

09/46 Public Participation
Double yellow lines outside Sportsfield Entrance – Mrs Dale advised that this project was going through and will be put on a list for action.
A complaint had been received about horse muck on the roads but it was accepted that there was little that could be done about this problem. It was also noted that complaints had been received about riders riding abreast on the roads.

09/47 Correspondence
Correspondence received since the September meeting had been listed on the agenda and was noted.
The Boundary Committee – Councillors felt that no response on the Electoral Review of Northumberland was required.

09/48 Finance
2010/11 Precept - Mr Hall reminded members that request for grant aid should be received prior to the precept being set. Mr Hall also urged Councillors to think about the Precept and to have a clear idea of the activities that the Parish Council should be supporting. He suggested that the Parish Plan should be referred to when setting the Precept for next year. It was also noted that funds for youth work should be targeted at specific work in Stocksfield.
Accounts presentation – The Finance & General Purposes Group and Pete Barrass had met with the Clerk to discuss this and had agreed a course of action. The Clerk advised that at present she was transferring data from the previous package to the new one and hope to have all in order by the November meeting.
September Accounts: The Accounts for September were agreed. Bank Reconciliation and Spend v Budget were deferred until the completion of the data transfer to the new system.
Additional Cheques- The following were agreed for payment
Abacus Playground (repair wetpour BEPA) £649.75 (inc VAT)
Ian Nichol – Community Garden BEPA - £2750
Dambach - VACS – part payment - £2446.38 inc VAT

09/49 Brief Reports from Advisory Groups and Council Representatives
a) Proposal to set up a Development Trust
Ian Hall had drawn up a paper which had been circulated prior to the meeting.
During the discussion the following points were made:
There is a need to avoiding confusing the Parish Plan Action Group with the proposal to set up a development trust.
There is a need to ensure that the Parish Council is not marginalised
There is money available to development trusts not available to Parish Councils.
The following agreed to be members of the initial development group:
Ian Hall Pete Duncan Steve Gleadhill
Norman Hooks Anne Dale
Mrs Dale offered to get the Prudhoe Constitution as an example.
It was suggested that certain members of the community might be targeted to join the steering group. It was stressed that there was a need to have a balance of members.
The Group is to meet and formulate the next steps.
b) Parish Plan Action Group
Two papers had been circulated – the first drawn up by the Clerk and a later one by Steve Gleadhill. It was stressed that this group would have a different purpose to the Village Development Trust Group.
The main purpose of this group would be to prioritise the Actions arising from the Parish Plan.
There should be an Action Group Agenda item for Parish Council meetings for the next 12 months.
It was agreed that the following would be members of this Group:
Ian Hall Steve Gleadhill Pete Duncan Melna Martin
The Clerk is to suggest dates for an initial meeting of the Group.
The Action Group is to suggest a name for the Group.
c) Planning
The Planning Report had been circulated.
Airport Noise – the Clerk had received a complaint from a resident and the matter had been considered by the Environment Group who felt that there was nothing to answer. The Clerk advised that she had been in touch with Newcastle Airport who were in direct contact with the resident concerned. Mrs Dale was also in touch with the resident.
Opencast proposals for Hoodclose Whittonstall
A scoping report had been received on proposals to develop an opencast coal and fire clay scheme near Whittonstall. The Environment Group had looked at this briefly. A discussion ensued when the following points were made:

• Firstly councillors expressed sympathy for Whittonstall and the Parish of Shotley Low Quarter in that they had been dealt a double blow – an application for a windfarm development and this scoping report for an opencast mine. It was felt that this was too much for one village.
• It was felt that UK Coal were proposing this development for purely commercial reasons. However it was stressed that planning consultations could not consider the commercial aspects of applications.
• It was stressed that at present no planning application had received for the opencast proposal but it was felt that this would be submitted in December. However, Mrs Dale suggested that should the application fall within the polices of the Local Mineral Plan then it is likely that the County Council will approve the proposal. It is thought that the scoping plan as it stands will fit in with the current Local Mineral Plan.
• It was stressed that should the Parish Council decided to oppose the application and if there should be a public enquiry and/or a planning appeal then there would be financial implications for the Parish Council.
• The Whittonstall Action Group and Shotley Low Quarter Parish Council have to decide how far they should go with their objections.
• There is a need to look at the grounds for objection – the current Local Development Framework, the current County Council Mineral Local Plan and the Sustainable Communities Strategy. Is the Parish Council opposing the proposals for good reasons or just “nimbyism”? Any objection should be refer to the Sustainable Communities Act. There is pressure that can be put on relating to “belonging communities” and sense of place and localism.
• It was agreed that developments of this nature should be discussed by the East Tynedale Community Forum but that individual Parishes Councils should write to support Shotley Low Quarter.
• Within Broomley & Stocksfield Parish the communities most greatly affected will be Kipperlyn and Apperley.
• The Environmental Impact of the proposal has wider implications than just the immediate area.

Norman Hooks proposed and Katharine Russell seconded that the Parish Council should object to the proposal to extract coal by opencasting from Hoodsclose near Whittonstall. This was agreed unanimously but it is noted that 4 parish councillors were not present at the meeting.

• It was agreed that the above motion should be taken to the next meeting of the East Tynedale Community Forum.
• It is important that the next time the Mineral Plan is put out to consultation then local issues must be commented on.
• What planning gain can be made?
• It was agreed that as a public meeting had been held in Whittonstall then there was no need to hold one in Stocksfield at present. It was noted that all those who attended the meeting in Whittonstall objected to the proposals.
• It was agreed that the Parish Council should write to Shotley Low Quarter Parish Council expressing support for the Whittonstall Acton Group and their objections to the proposal to develop an opencast mine at Hoodsclose.
• It was agreed that the Parish Council had no comment to make on the scoping report.
• Mrs Dale advised that Public Information Exhibitions would be held at the Anchor Whittonstall and at Ebchester.

d) Communication
Parish Information Card – A paper had been circulated following discussion on this topic at the last meeting. The general consensus was that residents are still happy to have an information card by the phone.
The following were agreed:

• That a new Information Card be produced (Vote 7-1)
• That such a card would be produced early in 2010
• That the format would be smaller than previously – probably the size of the current walks leaflet.
• A small group is to meet and make recommendations at the November meeting.
• Members of the Group: Melna Martin, Norman Hooks, John Davison, Katharine Russell

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

e) Policy Group – nothing to report
f) Play Facilities
Welton Close Play Space – A further letter had been received from a resident. Mrs Dale offered to get advice from County on progressing this.
Play Area Inspection Report – will be discussed at the November meeting
g) Community Garden
The construction work was now complete. Melna Martin was thanked for her efforts in arranging for Egger to supply the bark. The Group is to write to Egger and thank them for their support. Melna Martin had a slight concern over the possibility of a trip hazard over the wooden edge of the path. This was not felt to be a great risk.
h) Finance & General Purposes Group.
Christmas Trees – Ian Hall is to speak to the head teacher at Broomley School tomorrow. It was felt that the two trees in the school grounds do not lend themselves to hanging lights on.
John Davison proposed and Katharine Russell seconded that this year two trees be provided as previously.
In Favour 4 Abstention 1 Against 2
The proposal was agreed.
Remembrance Day – The Clerk confirmed that she had written to Albemarle Barracks requesting that as soldiers from the barracks had participated in the service last year, we would welcome the support of a small detachment at this year’s service. She had also had discussions with the Police who will send a wreath and an officer to ensure that those attending the service are safe. Passing motorists will be encouraged to slow down as they pass the War Memorial.
Everyone attending is invited back to SICA for refreshments and where the Local History Society is to put on an exhibition illustrating their project to find out about those listed on the WWI memorial roll.
External Auditor’s Report – The Group is to consider this and report back to the November meeting.
Branch End Toilet site – discussions on this topic to be deferred to November.
Rifle Club – Ian Hall has tried to get in touch with officials and is to make another attempt.
i) Transport & Highways
Station Car Park – the notes on the previous meeting had been circulated. Norman Hooks advised that matters had progressed since this meeting on 17th September,. The most recent report to the DfT had been sent highlighting concerns by the failure of Northern Rail to put the project to their Board; the request by Northern Rail for a funding agreement with the County and the failure by Northern Rail to supply County Highways with a lighting diagram for the station. Contact had now been made with the newly appointed Head of Stations & External Relations for Northern Rail. The business case had now been signed off and should now go to the Northern Rail Board meeting on 15th October. The Funding Agreement had been sent to county and no problems were foreseen. It is thought that the contractors should be able to start work shortly after that. A letter is to be sent from the Parish Council to Northern Rail formally accepting JMD as the contractor. On the north side of the station County Highways and the Environment Agency have come to an agreement with regard to drainage.
The next meeting with the Parish Council, County and railway officers is scheduled for 15th October.
Norman Hooks also reported that Martin Nichol is negotiating with Northern Rail to sell train tickets in the shop. Martin Nichol thinks that this will be a popular service.
Steve Gleadhill expressed thanks on behalf of Councillors for all the work that Norman Hooks, and other members of the Council and County Council officers had done to get so far with this project.
Drains & Gullies – Northumbrian Water have dug up the road near the Baptist Church to repair the drain. The drain at the end of New Ridley Road still needs repairing.
Parking outside BEPA – the County officer had suggested that the minimum cost of supplying a 20 m lay-by would be £40K plus the cost of a retaining wall and any work required as a result of needing to divert underground utilities.
Speeding New Ridley Village – The Clerk advised that this problem had been brought to her attention at the Festival. Mrs Dale said that the Police had been using the “speed gun” in several places recently including New Ridley. She is to see if repeater signs can be erected in New Ridley.
Sportsfield Parking – The traffic warden is to patrol this area on Saturdays to see if the problem of parking on the pavement can be alleviated. The Sportsfield Management Group is to ask the Footballers to advise supporters and visiting teams about the concerns over the safety of pedestrians caused by parking on the pavement. It was noted that the grassed area where the Water Company had done some work had been cut by a resident.
A quote had been received from Matta to provide a surface for temporary parking. It was thought that providing extra car parking on the field would mean that others will park on the pavement.
Tyne Bridges Study – Dave Porter felt that the report to the East Tynedale Community Forum had been meaningless. Mrs Dale suggested that the County had also felt that this had been a meaningless report. Councillors wondered if the questions posed for the survey/study had been correct.
j) Footpaths Gardens & Environment
A brief report on the meeting of the Rights of Way Group had been circulated. Much of the discussions at that meeting had been on the Opencast proposals for Whittonstall and the problem of aircraft noise.
Other matters included:
The provision of a dog bin on the area of Ridley Mill. The Environment Group had rejected this suggestion on the grounds of cost.
Community Landscape Character Statement – this is to be deferred until February
k) Community Development
Stocksfield Festival – this had been a very successful event. Income had been around £5500 and it is expected that the profit will be around £1200. The AGM will be on 7th October. Everyone is welcome to attend. Norman Hooks is happy to pass on comments and views.
l) Sports Facilities – nothing to report
m) Policy Group – nothing to report
n) Council Representatives – The next meeting of the East Tynedale Community Forum is 7th October.

09/50 Any Other Business
Clerk’s Salary – (The Clerk left the meeting during this discussion)

09/51 Date of next meeting - 2nd November

The meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.