After the August parish walkabout which this year was The Trygill Art Trail, the Parish Council was joined by Inspector David Thornhill. Read more about his visit under A Special Discussion.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday August 10th 2009, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
The annual walk-about preceded the August monthly meeting, which this year is the Trygill Art Trail. Slaley Parish Councillors met at Slaley Commemoration Hall at 7 p.m. Report attached as appendix 1/100809
A Special discussion began at 8 p.m. with Inspector David Thornhill of Northumbria Police. Members of neighbouring parish councils were also invited.
Attendance for this: Healey: Monica Gibbs.
Shotley Low Quarter: Jackie Stevens & Will Smith – apologies.
Blanchland: Michael Kennedy & Alice Ellison – apologies.
Hexhamshire: David Short.
Public: Richard Ferguson
Inspector Thornhill gave a very thorough presentation on his sector, which is the new West Tynedale. Levels of crime dictate the level of resources. Re-organisation has allowed flexibility there are now fifty police officers working 24/7. Neighbourhood Beat Managers (NBM’s) and Community Support Officers (CSO’s) were explained, the NBM for our area is PC Iain Robertson. CSO’s have fewer powers than a normal police officer and are there to engage with the community and help with anti-social behaviour (ASB). The CID works out of Hexham and has a good working relationship with this area. West Tynedale is still one of the safest places to live in the County. April 1st – August 10th 100 incidents reported for our area. Each morning the reported incidents are gone through and crime related incidents or criminal damage are allocated resources. Comparison of crimes between this year and last was made because there is an increase in reported crimes in the Slaley/ Hexhamshire area, this is causing concern and crime prevention is a top priority. The success of operation ‘Park View’ (traffic officers) and operation ‘Cherry’ (undercover handlers) was explained. Farm-watch was discussed, news of current trends need to get into the farming community – lights seen across fields, poaching, anything that should not be there all needs reporting to the police then a pattern emerges and action can be taken. Automatic number plate recognition was explained. Questions included calls to the Call Centre (Ponteland or South Shields) where Slaley has not been heard of or the length of time before speaking with an officer seemed excessive. These calls are important and produce an audit trail, which eventually helps the police catch criminals. Target time for connection to a police presence is thirty seconds then the reports are prioritised. A direct call to 999 (emergency only) connects you to the correct police force in ten seconds then there is a national target of one minute to allocate an officer who should arrive at the crime scene within fifteen minutes. Inspector Thornhill strongly recommended that 999 should not be used for anything other than emergencies. David Short asked ‘how quickly a response to the telephone number given on notices in the area could be expected for a complaint about activity on a BOAT? Inspector Thornhill indicated, “telephone reports of illegal usage of vehicles on or near a BOAT would not necessarily produce an immediate police presence. A build up of these reports would however instigate a police presence from time to time”. Drugs and drug related crime is a concern for all parents of young people – Inspector Thornhill acknowledged this fact and said that many drugs were discovered at the Police Station when arrested individuals were asked to turn out their pockets. There being no further questions Inspector Thornhill was thanked for his time and he offered to return if we had more concerns he could help with.
Agenda for the greatly reduced monthly business.
1. Apologies: Councillor Ms M Palmer &, Mrs A. S. Robson.
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs C. A. Brooks, S. Davison, Mrs L. Norris & County Councillor C.W. Horncastle. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: Richard Ferguson. Courant Reporter: Rebecca Dixon. Slaley Notes: None. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Michael Elphick.
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
County Councillor Colin Horncastle for agenda item 7.
3. Minutes of July Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 537- 543 + appendix 1 page 544, appendix 2 page 545, appendix 3 page 546, appendix 4 page 547 & appendix 5 page 548). Proposed as a true record by Cllr. CA Brooks and seconded by Cllr. L. Norris the minutes were approved and signed
4. Matters Arising.
a) 2 13/7/09 Stephen Rickitt confirmed by e-mail that notification of Byway 44 decision had been moved to “not as desperate as the others pile”. He would attempt to get letters out during July.
b) 12 13/7/09 NHS Foundation Trust to develop hospital services acknowledgement of the PC’s comments (letter) then e-mail circulated 6/8/09 informing us that the commissioning board will consider responses on Thursday August 20th.
c) 7b 13/7/09 Confirmation by e-mail from Colin Horncastle that any meeting between school staff and a representative from the Hexham Partnership would not take place until September at the earliest.
d) 8f 13/7/09 Public Forestry Estates Consultation. Draft circulated to Councillors Hancock and Brooks. The combined responses will shortly be ready to be circulated for approval
5. Correspondence.
a) NHS Swine Flu updates circulated by e-mail 20/7/09, 27/7/09, 7/8/09
b) Rural Community Network e-mail dated 27/7/09 circulated to all asking for individual e-mail address to be provided. Those Councillors present wished to receive this direct.
c) E-mail: Rural Services Weekly Rural Focus 31/7/09.
d) E-mail from Brian Massey 28/7/09 re possible dates for a get -together as a preliminary to forming a Community Forum. Councillors Hancock & Brooks hope to attend.
e) Review of NALC & Members via e-mail. Draft response by Clerk, amendments made by Councillors Hancock and Norris. Accepted at the meeting.
f) NCC Car Parking Questionnaire to be circulated.
g) Circulated by e-mail 14/7/09 NALC Local Council Awards. No nominations.
h) Circulated from DF 17/7/09 Defra – Review of Biodiversity duty introduced with the NERC Act 2006. DF has asked Defra when they originally notified PC’s of this new duty. (Could this have anything to do with the DB BOATs consultation?) Cllr Hancock to look at this and complete.
i) Circulated by e-mail 22/7/09 Independent member of the Standards Committee for Northumberland National Park Authority.
j) Forestry Commission: Who we are, what we do letter + 8 page leaflet + woodland grants. + e-mail of 28/7/09 saying they were sorry I wasn’t able to attend the consultation event in Hexham on 10/7/09 (Clerk was there)
k) E-mail 6/8/09 from David Francis: NALC’s Direct Information Service (17 pages) pages 8/9 cover Defra unveils broadband package. Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill proceeding through parliament. Subscription form by e-mail £90 + Vat = 26 issues or hard copy £105 (no Vat?) Copy sent to Chairman. Circulate this e-mail to other Councillors at meeting.
l) E-mail dated 29/7/09 re NCC an invitation to join the National Highways and Transport Survey. Unique Log-in information provided.
m) E-mail dated 31/7/09 re Rights of way Officers Areas (full colour map of Northumberland) Blanchland, Shotley Low Quarter, Healey & Slaley are in Section 6 with Neil Dawson 01670 534258. Hexhamshire meanwhile is in section 3 under Tim Fish.
n) E-mail from Amy Copley a Town Planning Masters student at Newcastle University re affordable housing. It was agreed that a copy of the March 2009 reply to student, James Whitley be sent by e-mail.
o) E-mail from Dave Smurthwaite re Junior Cricket coaching August 10th – 14th Poster on parish notice board & Hall window.
p) Community Action Northumberland – Recipient Update form. Slaley to request 4 hard copies a year rather than e-mail.
q) Lloyds TSB improving our services for our customers leaflets; Shaws advertising leaflets of books for local councils; Tynedale Hospice at Home DVD. Dr. Bill Cunningham of Corbridge Health Centre speaks as does Edna Hardy (formerly The Strothers). Cllr Hancock suggested this was offered to the public through the parish newsletter. Cllr Brooks will mention in newsletter.
6. Financial Report.
a) Audit: Audit date 31st July 2009. Papers forwarded to external auditor
b) Cheques to be signed:
No 382 Alex Evison grass cutting July 24th £95.63 (see notes on weed control -Councillors agreed to the recommended product).
Alex Evison grass cutting August 5th £96.15 + £191.78 (see notes on more regular cutting of B6306 top of showfield section – Councillors decided this was not necessary)
Proposed by Cllr L. Norris & seconded by Cllr C. Brooks the cheque were signed.
c) Interim Payment: None
d) Payment into Bank None
7. Current Planning Applications.
* a planning application in the Hexham Courant under Slaley was Northern Electric to raise the height of two poles. A query was sent to Planning Department, this was a miss- print the parish was Shotley Low Quarter. Weekly lists can now be viewed on http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4390
20050591: Conversion of existing garage to annex & construction of detached garage. Peel Flatt Cottage. No objections
20050515: Conversion of extension of integral garage, conservatory extension to living room & kitchen glazed extension to staircase & new portico to main entrance & installation of 4 dormers. Moorland View.
20090410: Two storey extension to side. Linnel Hill. No objections,
20080046 Internal refurbishment – Slaley Hall Pending.
Decisions from Planning Authority
20090396: Roofed silage clamp Flothers Farm. Granted
20090162 OUTLINE Construction of 78 holiday lodges, Slaley Hall Withdrawn?
8. A.O.B.
a) Chairman received an anonymous letter about the unreliability of the Consett – Slaley bus service. Cllr Brooks recalled a previous problem. Cllr Hancock to find old correspondence about this and circulate. Slaley Notes to ask for more information before a complaint can be made.
b) Distorted account in the Hexham Courant about the Hall playing area. Cllr Hancock provided a correction, this was printed in August 7th issue.
c) Telephone call from T Henderson Wooley about Microlight flying at Wooley. No reply to the PC letter to Mike Hales, National Low Flying System Manager, RAF Wittering of June 12th 2009, or to RS, Enforcement Officer dated May 20th 2009. Clerk requested to re-ask planning and RAF Wittering for comments.
d) Telephone call to Clerk Friday August 7th evening from Martin Nichol of Stocksfield Post Office to say the mobile Slaley Post Office Van had a cracked windscreen which had been taken off the road Friday (August 7th) and there would be no Post Office Van service on Saturday morning. Clerk requested to request details of the Post Office back up plan policy.
e) PC Clerk is auditing School Fund accounts and asked the School Secretary for any information on how the school grounds open to the public has worked. The following was some of the reply:
Mr & Mrs B Johnston immediate neighbours reported a child playing on the School building roof.
Little Badgers childcare toys left out one evening during the hot weather of May. All had been damaged the next morning.
Soft Play railings damaged.
Alcoholic bottles found in school hedge by school staff.
Bottle opener found on school grounds by school staff and brought inside school – stored in evidence tin.
Shed roof damage School needed immediate repair so contacted David Clark who did repair immediately.
School burglar alarm set off 3 a.m. school teacher Mrs Rachel O’Neil at Reaston View alerted by Police and she had to get up to school and reset the alarm while her husband had to stay at home to look after their children.
Willow Dragon planted on school grounds by Ruth Thompson of Mickley funded by FOSS and Dr. Albert Weir, March 2004. This needs annual cutting back. Members of the community have been contacted and non were able to help. Request for help was sent to the Slaley Notes reporters on two occasions but no report and request for help appeared in the Courant. Fencer and parent, Mal Johnston of Todburn, has offered to try his hand and cut the dragon back since a child got hurt on the overgrowth. After discussion the Councillors decided this was not something the PC could fund and unless an official letter is received from the school asking for help the general feeling was that the PC could not get involved.
f) Mr Ferguson asked about salt bins. Salt for winter use gets dumped in heaps and during snow gets covered over. The remaining heap is gradually covered over with weeds/grass although the remaining salt has killed young shrubs at Holly Hill. Would the parish council look into providing salt bins at strategic points in the parish? e.g. Rye Hill bank, Palm Strothers bank, Ladycross bank, Holly Hill bank, Curlew bank, Wooley road end, Peel Flat corner, Blackburn bank etc. Clerk asked to contact Highways for information on provision.
9. BOATs update.
BOATs consultation document from David Brookes the consultation is asking for effort to control the use of BOATs by different approaches. (See 5h above Circulated from DF 17/7/09 Defra – Review of Biodiversity duty introduced with the NERC Act 2006).
Meeting of Joint committee Wednesday August 12th.
10. Date of September 2009 meeting.
Monday September 14th. Apologies from Councillors Hancock and Davison for the September meeting. There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.20 p.m.
