The naming of the Affordable Houses site in Slaley is not straightforward, see agenda 4g.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday March 12th 2007, 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies.None.
Present: Councillor Mrs L. Norris in the Chair. Councillors J.K. Robson, I.C. Hancock, T. A. Henderson, Mrs C. A. Brooks, Mrs A.S. Robson. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey. County Councillor Wm Purdue
Public: None. Slaley Notes: Jean Elphick, Courant Reporter: Lyndsey Wright. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Michael Elphick
2. Declaration of Interests.
Cllr. Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 20.
3. Minutes of February Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 289-293 + appendices 1,2 & 3 pages 294, 295 & 296).
Proposed by Cllr IC Hancock and seconded by Cllr TA Henderson the minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 18 12/2/07. Bottle bank in Slaley reply from Claire Lawson Recycling Officer – land owner has given consent for recycling bank to be sited on their land, could we gauge opinion of local residents. Clerk to consult immediate neighbours. Clerk to write to Philip Hindmarsh stating new tenants arriving soon who will need consulting, suggesting a 3 month trial, and asking who will clear up any broken glass or carry containers left on site.
b) 4c 18/2/07 Reply regarding reduction in annual charge for emptying bins. Mg Sanderson said alternative Thursday collections. Remittance Advice for £118.96 Reimbursement of pt invoice numbers 7014682/7014683.
c) 6a 12/2/07 E-mail reply from DC Massey ‘Government White Paper issue of “Strengthening the role of local Councillors” will be an ongoing debate and extends beyond the specific issue of Unitary Authorities for which NCC and TDC have submitted formal submissions’.
d) 6b 12/2/07 NCC N’land Minerals &Waste Development Framework further site submissions for the Site Specific Allocations and Policies DPD reply from DC Brian Massey saying unlikely that these site would get through Northumberland County Council and Tynedale Council system
e) 9 a,b,c,d, 12/2/07 Reply from Ian Kemp dated 16/2/07 re Core Strategy Examination. And a second letter dated 21/2/07 enclosing guidance notes, the Issues and matters for Examination and a draft programme for the Examination. A third letter dated 5/3/07 gives information on the hearing sessions 17th April – 25th April 2007. Mr Robin Brooks is the Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. All given to Cllr Hancock who drafted a reply, this was accepted by the meeting and 6 hard copies + an e-mail copy will be sent to Ian Kemp.
ei) Also from TC planning department LDF – Core Strategy: Minor amendments comments by March 23rd. given to Cllr Hancock
f) 11 12/2/07 financial contribution towards play facilities explained via e-mail from Cllr Massey where he explained that since March 2006 a secure planning permission has been subject to a financial payment of £1,088 per bedroom towards play facilities in the area.
g) 12f 12/2/07 Correspondence regarding name of Affordable Houses. Anything suggested by the PC with ‘Townfoot’ has been rejected ‘Paddock Close’ has been suggested by Two Castles. Cllr Norris to speak with Tania Naylor at TC.
h) 16 12/2/07 Meeting with Alan Bawn “Speeding in Slaley village/parish” Wednesday 24/1/07.
Report attached to February minutes needs amending after the Courant reporter made enquiries to the Camera Partnership. Amendment from Alan Bawn as follows.
Under 5h the agreement should refer to temporary speed limit flashing signs and not speed cameras. I am extremely sorry if I created a misunderstanding at the meeting. I suppose the confusion is caused by the camera Partnership being the initial commissioning agents. There is also a separate initiative, which I referred to at the meeting, where parish councils have gone direct to the Police (not the camera partnership) and purchased a speed radar gun for use by the Police within their Parish areas. This is however, a hand held device which has continuous police presence when in use. The Parish will, however, have to go direct to the police for this type of agreement.
i) 17 12/2/07 Parish Seat (14 11/12/06 page 276; 4a 13/11/06 page 267; 11 9/10/06 page 255)
Quote from Hexhamshire Hardwood English Oak £595.00, Iroko African timber £499.00. Carving Slaley Parish Council on back of seat £60.00. Quote from Michael Swanson English Oak £150.00 Installation quote from Trevor Golightly £140.00 + VAT wants to meet Kevin Allen and Clerk on site one morning to agree location. It was agreed to ask M Swanson for a cost for weather proofing and also wording ‘Slaley Parish Council’ Order the seat from him and contact Trevor Golightly to fit.
j) 20 a, b c 12/2/07: E-mail reply from Kevin Allen – slow signs no longer legal for Wooley road could do SLOW road markings if acceptable. Confirm SLOW road marking was required.
5. Public Participation. None
.
6. For discussion with County and District Councillors.
a) DC reminded the Councillors of the Parish Council Elections on Thursday May 3rd and suggested Slaley Notes mention this through the Courant column.
b) DC asked if a reply to the letter of December 18th regarding Slaley Hall Holiday Villa standard annual occupancy letter had been received. Clerk to write again.
b) CC reported that NCC land could become a popular place for wind turbines.
c) CC reported an expected increase in the cost of care workers.
7. Community Trust Report.
Report attached as appendix 1/120307 + e-mail dated 5/3/07 from Mr Elphick requesting confirmation of Councillors Individual Reports being used in a pamphlet. The Councillors discussed the suggestion of combining Parish Council Notice Board with the Interpretive Board and would prefer not to share. It was also agreed that the reports from Councillors Norris, Hancock, Massey and Purdue would not be altered for the pamphlet unless any alteration was agreed before publication. Mr Elphick who attended the meeting at Wark on 23/2/07 (see 20e February 12th minutes) re closure of rural post offices tabled a Consultation Response Form for consideration. This was accepted by the Councillors.
8. Correspondence.
a) Late letter of thanks from Gloria Corbidge, 2 Slaley Park for meal at Slaley Hall. Copy sent to Andrew Coney.
b) TC Selefest 2007 asking for a donation. It was agreed to send £50.00.
c) NCC’s submission for single unitary authority meeting 7th March. Cllr JK Robson attended , he was one of only three attendees.
d) NALC (now CAN) questionnaire Clerk and Councillors completed.
e) Community Action Northumberland (formerly NALC) ‘Safeguarding Vulnerable Users’ policy see 4/9/06 agenda 8i, page 246 and 9/10/06 minutes agenda 4, page 253. Training form completed for future training at Hexham rather than March training at Stannington.
f) Community Action Northumberland (formerly NALC) introducing Louise Currie as Community Initiative Officer who will organize a range of new opportunities for Parish Councils and Community Buildings Management Committee. A Quality Standards Scheme for Village Halls, free Health Check List was recommended. Subsequently requested, received and circulated.
g) Neil Pont, Tynedale Sports Council grant aid request for youngster sports grants. £50 given.
h) NCC TRO notification notices to be received by E-mail/ Post or Fax? Councillors decided e-mail.
i) Northumberland National Park and Countryside Joint Local Access Forum- Parish Pride – Public Rights of Way in Your Parish. + Review of Conclusive Map of Open Country and registered Common Land – Data of First Review. See 17 and 20 a below. Cllr Hancock will draft a reply for March 31st deadline. This document is mainly a reminder that there are two serious issues. 2009 Discovering Lost Way – employing people to unearth old used ways. Review of Conclusive Map does our parish map include all the open access land or does the map show land which should not be open access. Slaley map appears correct no action needed.
j) TC Revised refuse collection over Easter period poster placed on Notice Board.
k) CORE furniture wanted poster; TDC minutes of meetings January; The Sustainable Communities Bill Rally 26/3/07 Westminster; Northumberland Community News Vol 27 No 1 + ‘Our Common Land’ publication, CAN Village of the Year competition 2007 & VCS training & development; Wicksteed Leisure Mystical World catalogue; Clerks and Councils Direct Issue 50; Hexham Group NFU presents a talk by David Morris of RSDPB on Wading Birds in the North Pennines AONB
9. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Cheques to be signed.
No 292 Tynedale Sports Council (see 8g above) £ 50.00
No 293 Mrs P. Wilson annual PC expenses tel/postage/stationery etc £179.84
No 294 Tynedale Council (Selefest 2007) see 8b above £50.00
Proposed by Cllr CA Brooks and seconded by Cllr L Norris.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account Now CLOSED
c) Interim payments. None.
d) TC confirmation of 07/08 Precept
10. Current Planning Applications.
2007 0268 Single storey side extension & porch to front Townfoot Bungalow.
20070121 Micro Wind Generator attached to garage – Foresters Lodge, Trygill. Pending
20070073 Variation of condition No 4 on planning permission 20051282 – telecommunications monopole at Slaley Hall. Site visit with planning officer Mark Ketley where the Slaley Councillors were told that the original permission included the felling of trees on the site of the new mast. The application for the reduction in the exclusion zone for any further felling from 50 to 10 meters was because if a tree were felled in the exclusion zone the mast would have to be removed. Councillors understood the reasoning behind the request for the variation but were concerned about the impact on Garden Cottage should the exclusion zone be reduced on the land between the site and Garden Cottage. Councillors requested that the variation be reworded to preserve the trees between the mast and Garden Cottage. Mr. Ketley agreed to rewrite the wording of the application and re-submit. This has not been done. Clerk to ask for an update.
Decisions from Planning Authority
None.
11. Millennium Feature Landscaping work (13 12/2/07, 4a 8/1/07; 15d 11/12/06)
Place on April agenda. Clerk to ask Trevor Golightly if he knows of any old cobbles we could purchase.
12. Toddler Play Area in Slaley
a) Clerk to spoken with Kellett family and they remarked that they do not wish to sell any land near Townhead for a play area. The various options and rejections were once again discussed.
13. Parish Plan Annual Highways Report
Councillors happy with their individual allotted routes as circulated. Reports (preferably typed and e-mailed) back to Clerk by May 1st.
14. Annual Risk Assessment.
Draft circulated. Amendments from Cllrs Norris & Hancock agreed. A revised copy will be attached to the minutes as appendix 2/120307
15. Asset & Investment Register
Draft circulated after discussion it was agreed that everything be increased by 5%. Attached as appendix 3/120307
16. Communities & Local Government – a revised model code of conduct for local authority members. Cllr TA Henderson to read and answer by March 9th Report for meeting.
Currently four Model Codes: Local Authority; Parish Council; National Parks & Police Authority. The intention is to make one Model Code. There was nothing contentious and the new code will include bullying/patterns of behaviour; disclosure of confidential interests; criminal offences, bringing the position into disrepute; gifts and hospitality etc.
17. 4h 12/2/07, 7g 8/1/07 NCC draft Rights of Way: Improvement Plan for Northumberland – comments by 31st March 2007 Report by Cllr IC Hancock.
The draft is all about access and nothing about damage to wildlife or special sites. Ted Liddle, an enthusiastic rambler, of Hexhamshire, has sent photographs of the damaged Viewley BOAT to David Brookes asking for a TRO banning the use of motorized vehicles. Also See 19 d re Footpath 21 and 20 a BOATs report below. The comments supplied by the Councillors who read this document were typed and circulated. One suggestion was to pass the Network Upkeep to an organisation outside the Parish Council responsibility. The Clerk informed the meeting that the ROW network was a Government responsibility passing down to County, District & Parish level. Slaley had one instance of a member of the public who intended to make parking provision on the B6306, west of Townhead, because of something he thinks was said in July 1999.
18. Northumberland Strategic Partnership/ Tynedale Community Agreement Update.
Northumberland Strategic Partnership – Releasing the strength of our communities. Document entitled ‘A sustainable community strategy for Northumberland to 2021′. Cllr Linda Norris reported that there was nothing measurable in the document.
19. AOB.
a) Excavation machinery and workmen reported for possible building activity at Springhouse.
E-mail reply from Cllr Hancock 3/3/07 no sign of building work and another e-mail 7/3/07 stating that Komatsu were trialing a new piece of machinery at Ladycross for a few weeks
b) Date of April meeting one week later because second Monday is Easter Monday. Councillor holidays over the May AGM could have a bearing on voting in officials.
c) Clerk received a telephone call from a member of the public complaining of the refuse/litter/discarded items left at the Rose & Crown after the Hughes family vacated the premises. On Monday March 5th the PC Chairman viewed the site and suggested waiting until the village refuse collection of Thursday 8th March to see if a complaint needs reporting. It was decided to leave well along until the new tenant takes over.
d) Richard Ferguson still reporting Footpath 21 being used a bridleway and members of the public cutting back foliage to make riding easier. See 17 above. Also mess on the roadside near Footpath 21 of a timber-lorry traveling north going off the road when confronted with a second large vehicle traveling south.
e) Invitation to Councillors from Slaley Hall for Friday March 23rd to celebrate the opening of the Clubhouse Restaurant & Bar.
f) Eastern Tynedale & Castle Morpeth Parish Councils Forum next meeting is May 15th, Attendee to be confirmed at April meeting.
20. BOATs update
a) Spring meeting Monday February 26th.when the group discussed the draft Rights of Way: Improvement Plan for Northumberland (see 17 above) MK to produce a core document for all four parishes to add its own concerns). This core document not available on 12/3/07
b) As a group we have answered specific NCC questions with the help of photographs to prove how unsuitable Bridleway 13 and Footpath 12, which cross the Dipton Burn, are in being identified as a BOAT.
c) Sunday 11th March PW reported 2 trail bikes riding south passed St. Helens Whitley at 10.30 a.m. approx. Then a minimum of 7 trail bikes exited the B6306 from Hexham side unto the U8078 at 10.50 a.m. Richard Ferguson reported 12 trail bikes passed Holly Hill at 10.55 a.m. then turned right to Dukesfield. At 12 noon 2 land rovers (both short wheel base) came up High Clear lane passed Holly Hill into Slaley Forest. At 4 p.m. another two land rovers (one long wheel base) came from Whit House area and turned south into Slaley Forest. At 5 p.m. three boy racers were complained about by Stephan Sobell and RF for speeding on the Old Lead Road between Dukesfield and Holly Hill they eventually turned south into Slaley Forest and could be heard speeding somewhere in the forest. RF also reported evidence of trail bike activity during the late evening of Monday March 5th or during the daytime of Tuesday 6th March.
d) Kevin Allen NCC highways informed Clerk that although signs have been placed at the south end of the U8080 saying ‘Not suitable for vehicle traffic’ pot hole filling and plain-ing will be undertaken because NCC have an obligation to make the public road passable. I asked about the pending BOAT application of 60 foot wide on this route and he suggested we write to Mel Richardson at County Hall and ask if the route could be stopped up for vehicles other than Slaley Hall use.
e) Cllr Hancock reported a temporary Felling Restriction Order on the lane to the south west of Ladycross quarry.
Meeting closed at 10.30 p.m.
Date of April meeting one week late due to Easter Monday: Monday 16th
