The Minutes of Slaley Parish Council June 2005
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday June 13th 2005, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue, & Councillors D.G. Baynes & Mrs A.S. Robson.
Present: Councillor A.J. Weir in the Chair. Councillors, J.K. Robson, I.C. Hancock, Mrs L. Norris, District Councillor B.W. Massey &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: Lesley Woodhouse & Ian Clarke, Slaley Notes: Jean & Michael Elphick. Courant Reporter: Lyndsey Wright. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Nigel Sanger.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillor Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 15
3. Slaley Hall Holiday Villas 7.34
The news that 17 of the Holiday Villas were unlawful and were outside the “holiday only” occupancy planning regulations for which they were built on a green belt site instigated a meeting between TC Chief Executive, Richard Robson, Chief planning Officer, Helen Winter and Andrea Brown, deputy solicitor for TC with District Councillor, Brian Massey, Slaley Coucillors A.J. Weir and IC Hancock with Clerk, Pat Wilson. A verbal report of that meeting was given and a lengthy discussion followed. “Holiday only” restrictions on the remainder of the 48 ‘villas’ could not be guaranteed as watertight. Presently the restrictions are that any new purchaser may purchase 13 weeks each year of a villa, therefore in theory a family of four may purchase the full 52 weeks. It was decided to speak with the Local Government Ombudsman, Cllr IC Hancock agreed to undertake the initial request. Clerk to inform TC Chief Executive of the action requested by the meeting because the reasons given for the error were unacceptable.
4. Parish Councillors Expenses – “allowance scheme” circulated May 8.04
4a 9/5/05, 6b 11/4/05; 6b 14/3/05 Parish Councillors Expenses – reply from John Copping TC Finance Director. Before allowances can be paid an “allowance scheme” must be established, and costs must be met from the parish precept circulated – it was agreed to take no further action with this. The Clerk to reimburse ‘paper’ to the Councillors with e-mail facilities.
5. Matters that the District Council can assist with. 8.14
a) See 7c below.
b) Oil containers from parish litter pick April 3rd still not collected despite assurances from Keith Gray.
c) New litter bin at Millennium Feature is not being emptied despite an e-mail to Keith Gray 14/2/05 (as reported under AOB)
d) TC Environmental Health (Philip Soderquest) was suggested as an alternative to the Enforcement Officer for certain planning problems.
6. Minutes of May Parish Council Meeting circulated:
The minutes (pages 158-160). Approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr IC Hancock, seconded by Cllr Mrs L. Norris.
7. Matters Arising:
a) 4b 9/5/05, 8h 11/4/05: TC Planning Department – Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) – Lucy Greenfield invited and accepted June meeting – needed to cancel because of full agenda. July invite.
b) 11b 9/5/05 Millennium Seat at the Townhead still under the legal ownership of Townhead fields. The Parish Council instructed by the landowner to instigate immediate transfer of land and wall to the Parish Council ownership.
c) Mr M Tully, Garden Cottage, Slaley Hall telephoned the Clerk and reported that the telecommunications tower refused planning permission and erected temporarily earlier this year was still in place. A male member from Tynedale Planning had telephoned the Clerk and confirmed that this was known to the department and would be dismantled. The District Councillor to assist with this.
d) New Licensing Law registration was confirmed as completed for the Commemoration Hall.
8. Public Participation:
Mr E Elphick produced a written report on Childcare proposals at Slaley Commemoration Hall. Appendix 1-130605 A lengthy, often acrimonious and un-informed discussion followed. It was the feeling of the three Councillors, not on the Hall Management Committee, that Slaley School was the proper venue for such an activity. They also questioned if a commercial business was a proper use for a community building. A public meeting was suggested as a means of deciding the outcome however the final decision on this issue will be taken by the Hall Management Committee or the Trustees of the Hall. Clerk asked to produce information recorded to the Parish Council on child-care and circulate.
9. Correspondence:
a) Thank You for grant from Air Ambulance.
b) Reply Janet Burns – No Minor Authority ‘School Governor’ to serve on local school governing bodies – copy sent to Healey & Blanchland Councils.
c) E-mail Vicky Law “Housing Needs” circulated. Scott family have indicated no Shotley Low Quarter. It was agreed by the Councillors to support Healey & Blanchland but reject Shotley Low Quarter.
d) TC. Carden Cottage renamed to Drapers Cottage.
e) E-mail Ian Clarke re Premier Leisure Clay Pigeon Shooting circulated
f) TC June 2005 Tynedale Local Development Framework Update from March 2005. (Comments by July 25th)
1) Core Strategy Issues & Options
2) Statement of Community involvement draft for consultation
3) Core Strategy Issues & Options Sustainability Appraisal
All to read via circulation Cllr Weir to read first.
g) NCC Northumberland Minerals & Waste Development Framework. Statement of Community Involvement – Submissions Proposals by July 2005. Cllr Hancock to read and report.
h) Regional Forest Strategy N-E of England circulated Cllr Norris found very interesting.
i) NALC Training July dates; Record Updates; Pointers to Good Practice etc.
NCC Highways issues – Responsibilities & Contacts; TC May bank Holiday Refuse
Collection (placed on Notice Board); Citizens Advice Bureau – Incorporation The transfer
31/5/05; ET&WCM Parish Councils Forum minutes April & May etc; SMP playgrounds;
ADAPTability June 2005; Shaw & Sons; AON Local Councils Insurance Policy;
10. Current Planning Applications:
20050610 Certificate of lawfulness 17 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050607 Certificate of lawfulness 18 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050606 Certificate of lawfulness 46 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050604 Certificate of lawfulness 47 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050603 Certificate of lawfulness 53 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050562 Certificate of lawfulness 5 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050557 Renewal of temporary planning permission for permanent use of land as outdoor pursuits area etc. Slaley Hall. Concerns see appendix 2-130605
20040313 Variation condition 3 to allow upvc windows at The Old School
20050452 Double Garage Sandybraes pending
20050295 Construction of extension to existing rear dormer – Rosyth pending
20050220 Conversion of barn to residential and removal of adjacent
farm building Trygill Farm pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20050149 Conservatory to west, L shaped conservatory to north + increased
height of boundary wall. Slaley Village Garden Cottage granted
20050383 Conservatory & Boot room Meadow Rise granted
20050329: 13.75 metre high flagpole antenna, transmission dish
& associated cabinets on the floor – Slaley Hall Hotel granted
11. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Cheques to be signed
No 238 NALC 05/06 Subs £86.30
No 239 P Wilson Slaley share of BOATs expenditure 1/1/05-30/4/05 £19.39
Proposed by Cllr Mrs L Niorris and seconded by Cllr IC Hancock.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £498.38.
c) The Clerk reported that depreciation should not be shown each year, it was simply a register of the value of current assets as a record for changing Councillors and Clerks. Page 2 of Annual return was signed by Chairman.
d) The Statement of assurance was re-presented and Page 3 of Annual return was signed by Chairman.
e) Margaret Weatherley has carried out the internal audit.
12. Community Trust Report & Discussion by Nigel Sanger/ Slaley School Grounds. 9.20
Mr Sanger reported that the latest talks with the Local Education Authority had produced an offer of FREE Insurance to the Community Trust for taking over the running of the school grounds. An initial discussion between Mr Sanger and Marg Rastall, Chair of Governors, was promising. However the Governing Body of Slaley School would need to agree and sanction the proposals of the Community Trust. Mr Sanger claimed that the first school is no longer seen as an asset for many people once their children leave Slaley School. There are few parishioners on the Governing Body. The Community Trust has established that there are people who can be appointed to carry out a Risk Assessment.
Mr Sanger asked for the involvement of the Parish Council in ways such as (a) grass cutting; (b) providing (and paying yearly charge for emptying) a litter bin at the school; (c) providing the name for an emergency contact for the school grounds or (d) groundwork duties such as someone to undertake a weekly health and safety check of the grounds. Parish Council Chairman, Dr. AJ Weir, thanked Mr Sanger for his report and hoped that the Community Trust would be able to open the school grounds to the public in time for the school holidays this summer. Due to work load the Parish Council would not be able to assist with anything other than small items, such as the litter-bin. On adoption of the Parish Plan in January 2004 the Parish Council had always anticipated that the main activity of the Community Trust would be to re-open and run the school grounds for the community.
13. Dog Fouling Review (as per yearly planner) Appendix 2 130605 9.30
Dog Fouling is once again being reported in the village. Including at the entrance to a Councillor’s home. The dog bin is being used and emptied. Slaley Notes to request dog owners to take more care and to inform the public that Councillors will soon be given the authority to fine a dog owner £1,000 (or an agreed by-law alternative fixed fine) if their animal is seen fouling in the village.
14. A.O.B.
a) Cllr Mrs L Norris asked if the ET&WCM Parish Councils Forum could be circulated and any suggestions for future discussion could be noted.
b) A photograph of the toddler play area at the Holiday villa site at Slaley Hall was shown to the meeting. 17 of these villas are now private residences and part of the community the Clerk was asked to write to Lynn Gordon, Secretary to the Acting General Manager at Slaley Hall and seek clarification for the use of these play areas by families elsewhere in the parish.
15. BOATs Update (without Councillor Norris)
a) At the May meeting of the 4 Parishes BOATs Sub-committee, David Francis attended and advised on certain legal matters. Terms of Reference for the Committee had been drafted.
b) A 21 page document from the Committee for National Parks had made proposals to the Government Standing Committee to ban all recreational motor vehicles from the Parks, this is due to be discussed for part 6 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill (NERC).
Date of July meeting: Monday 11th July 2005. Meeting closed at 10.05 p.m.
