At the May monthly meeting concern was expressed by a member of the public at the lack of a play area for young children. See agenda item 5
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council Monday May 11th 2009, in Slaley Commemoration Hall, at approximately 8.00 p.m. after the Annual Parish Meeting.
1. Apologies. Councillors Mrs A. S. Robson, S. Davison,
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs C. A. Brooks, Ms M Palmer, Mrs L. Norris & Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. County Councillor Colin W Horncastle.
Public: Rachel Scott (for item 5 only). Courant Reporter: None. Slaley Notes & Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Apologies Michael Elphick.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Cllr. Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 10.
3. Minutes of April Parish Council meeting (circulated pages 511-515 + appendix 1 page 516, appendix 2 page 517, appendix 3 page 518, appendix 4 page 519 & appendix 5 page 520)
Proposed as a true record by Cllr. M. Palmer and seconded by Cllr. C.A. Brooks. The minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising
a) 4a 20/4/09, 4a 9/3/09; 4b9/2/09, 4d 12/1/09, 17a 8/12/08 Three bed-roomed Council House not eligible for a family with 5 children deferred from May meeting due to absence of Cllr Davison and no room sizes provided. Deferred to June meeting for same reasons.
b) 4e 20/4/09, 6d 9/3/09 “Narrowing the Gap” consultation on education. Responses were collated onto the Consultation response form discussed and agreed.
c) 5 20/4/09 planning application 20090162. 78 Holiday Lodges, Slaley Hall.
Slaley Parish Council reply attached as appendix 1/110509. Several more copies of parish replies received. Planning Officer, Susannah Buylla has replied to both of the Clerks letters. A copy of the initial letter to the application agent has been received if this becomes available to the public the parish council will circulate. CC Horncastle reported on the restructured planning department, the loss of staff and the increased workload.
d) 7b 20/4/09 Request for financial & manual help by St. Mary’s Parish Church circulated by e-mail for the April meeting – The letter was discussed and it was felt that the support (financial & time) of the parish church was up to individual parishioners; it is their choice. The PC can support specific Church projects but should not be making a contribution towards national church funds. Keeping the churchyard in good order is a parish matter and the PC would be within its remit to help the churchyard financially from the Precept. It was decided to re-look at the correspondence in June and decide if more information was needed before replying.
e) 7n 20/4/09, Local Works. Campaign to implement the Sustainable Communities Act. Circulated Councillors who saw this agreed to support the Early Day Motion 1064 Local Spending Reports and the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. Early Day Motion Number 1010 the Green Energy Bill.
f) 7o 20/4/09 Equality & Human Rights Commission Public sector Duties. Equality Bill into force 2011. Circulated. It was felt that this would have little effect on our Parish Council, however, page 4 says the 5 steps must be taken i.e. we must gather information and publish our plan and consult “stakeholders”, it is to be hoped that NALC would provide guidance.
5. Public Participation
A £56,000 grant to Hexhamshire Parish Council for a new play area was the concern of one parish resident and the question was asked if this grant was money originally established from planning permissions from new houses in Slaley especially for a Slaley play area. PW explained that the article on Friday April 3rd said the grant had come as part of the Government’s Play Fair scheme administered through NCC. There was however a problem with the Hexhamshire site as the lease on the site is due to expire in five years time (2014) and the diocese was not negotiating a renewal of the lease at present. A letter was handed to the Parish Council asking what had happened to the money allocated for a safe play area for the children of Slaley Parish. Cllr Horncastle confirmed that the money was still earmarked, however, it was unlikely that it would remain so indefinitely if Slaley were unable to find a suitable site. Using the money for something other than sport and play provision was questioned for example donating everything to the First School to improve their facilities. Small children playing on the Commemoration Hall grass was argued over. It was pointed out that this was a matter for the Commemoration Hall Management Committee not the Parish Council. Some unknown person had apparently indicated to parents supervising their children playing in the Commemoration Hall grounds that this was unsatisfactory. Cllr Palmer said she would ask that this be discussed at the next Management Meeting. PW asked if there was any mileage in trying to reopen the 2004 proposals to purchase land for parking at the north of the Hall thus releasing one area of grass for safe play. The answer was negative. Cllr Horncastle remarked that should Slaley have as much as £1m without a site the money was useless. Someone had to be prepared to release land. The money was tied up in legal 106 agreements. He was attending meetings called Extended Services and Community Schools on sport and play provision and would report back.
6. Correspondence
a) Major Public consultation on NHS Proposals circulated by e-mail 6/5/09 – Emergency care on A19 (see 6k 9/3/08, page 504 minutes (circulated by e-mail 5/3/09) Public Meeting at Hexham & Northern marts June 23rd 2009. 10 page questionnaire & 28- page information booklet. The Councillors, after discussion, suggested that firm evidence needs to be established that ambulance times cannot be met. Traffic at different times of day will play an important factor. Visiting the patient should also come into our answer. CC Horncastle said this was being discussed at Morpeth. The ‘state of play’ of the Community Forum was questioned, if was decided that if Hexhamshire was unable to discuss this then maybe Slaley should rejoin ET&WCMCF when the subject became an agenda item.
b) NCC letter re draft Statement of Community Involvement for the N’d LDF + Northumberland Local Development Framework Comments Form (26/6/09) + N’d LDF People & Planning. Statement of Community Involvement: Statement of Representations – Regulations 26 (56 pages) + N’d LDF People & Planning. Statement of Community Involvement (48 pages). Comments discussed and attached as appendix 2/110509 (See Parish Council minutes 8/12/08 agenda item 8f & 12/1/09 agenda item 8 – in light of Policy NE12 from the Tynedale LDF we need to try and resolve these issues through the N’d LDF).
c) E-mail circulated 1/5/09 from NHS re Swine Flu information with a request to be placed on web site. Michael Elphick, editor of the website decided not to put the information on the website because the information should arrive to all households shortly.
d) E-mail circulated 27/4/09 re Changes to the Mobile Library Services. Poster with Slaley Village mobile library times was placed on the PC notice board. News-sheet also has times.
e) E-mail from David Francis circulated 27/4/09 re Councillor fuel allowance + 17 pages on car allowances.
f) NCC European Parliamentary Elections 4/6/09 circulated by e-mail 26/4/09 Poster on PC notice board.
g) Lloyds grounds maintenance quote information circulated by e-mail 26/4/09
h) CAN Spring meeting 13/5/09 circulated by e-mail 26/4/09
Invite to NCC Area Committees + timetable.
i) Letter (4 pages) from NCC re Important changes to your Garden Waste Collection Service re £20 per bin charge. The letter does say there are no proposals to change the areas where this service is provided. Therefore this does not affect Slaley parish.
j) Slaley School May 2009 Newsletter circulated by e-mail 6/5/09
k) Weekly digest circulated by e-mail 6/5/09
l) Archaeology in Northumberland Volume 18 + The Otterburn Ranges “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Kompan Playground Living advertising brochure; Clerk 7 Councils Direct May 2009; Lloyds TSB an update on banking since the acquisition of HBOS.
7. Financial Report
a) Cheques to be signed:
No 373 Came & Co. insurance £290.47 quote circulated by e-mail 6/5/09
No 374 NALC Annual Subscription £103.89
No 375 Alex Evison – First grass cutting of season £189.30
Proposed by Cllr L. Norris and seconded by Cllr M. Palmer the cheques were signed
8. Current Planning Applications
20090260 Retrospective – Construction of open top silage pit. White House (not as plans – two statements were untrue. The building is visible from the highway and it is not dug into a bank side). Because of its prominent visibility the planning department must be asked if neighbours have been consulted i.e. The Palms, and Holly Hill properties.
20090195 Construction of two-storey side extension single-storey rear extension, a front entrance canopy. Demolition of existing garage and widening of existing access.
Aultmore, Slaley village. Concerns over size, lack of garage, proximity to immediate neighbour.
20090162 OUTLINE Construction of 78 holiday lodges, Slaley Hall (see agenda 4c above and appendix 1/110509) objections.
20090082 Resub.det. annexe in association with main dwelling Pinetops Hearing 14/5/09
20080046 Internal refurbishment – Slaley Hall Pending.
Decisions from Planning Authority
9. A.O.B.
a) Cllr Margaret Palmer asked if she could be included on the planning application circulation list. (agenda item 12, page 372 of December 10th 2007 minutes & 7b (Brian Massey) page 379 January 14th 2008 minutes). Cllr Hancock checked the updated Standing Orders. Cllr Palmer will be added to the circulation list. Cllr Hancock suggested that comments should probably be e-mailed to the Clerk to save time.
b) E-mail from PC Iain Robertson while on sick leave following an ankle operation his replacement is PC 8493 Sue Cockburn, tel. 03456 043 043 ext 61549 or 69191. e-mail: susan.cockburn.8493@northumbria.pnn.police.uk PC Dougie Kidd also a colleague introduced himself at the beginning of the AGM
c) The invoice for administration costs and hire of room for the Community Forum meeting with Susui Goncu on March 3rd have been misplaced at County Hall. Susi requested a further invoice with PC bank account information for a direct payment into our bank.
d) E-mail sent to Slaley notes and Newssheet editors with the Stocksfield telephone number of Martin Nichol 01661 842110 as the telephone number to contact when the Post Office Van does not arrive. (Customers have been telephoning Slaley Village Shop for help!) Cllr Brooks asked to make this Post Office Van in the newssheet as some people though I meant the mail van.
e) Cllr Hancock had reports from two separate members of the public relating to concerns about an aircraft landing strip near East Woodfoot and a tarmac track into the field/wood. After speaking with a member of the Baynes family, an immediate neighbour to the field in question, the Clerk learnt that it is the Baynes family who has mowed the strip for a parishioner to land his aircraft. Cllr Hancock will report back to the concerned parishioners.
f) E-mail from Michael Elphick saying he has not forgotten the website re-design, he is just too busy at the moment.
g) A small portion of the Information Board has been damaged by a sharp instrument. Clerk to contact Marcus Bryon for suggestions on a protective cover for the damage.
h) The hedge at Greencroft is growing onto the public footpath and causing a prickly obstruction.
Clerk to write the normal letter.
i) The Chairman reminded the Councillors that when the electricity went off at the April meeting they had not discussed the increase in Clerk’s salaries. This would need addressing.
10. BOATs Update.
a) The 4 Parishes BOATs Joint Committee met with Russell Stephenson on May 6th and discussed the trial through the Magistrates Courts to determine the Espershields and Winnows Hill BOAT downgrading and diversion. It was agreed to send a letter to NCC re-affirming their support for the NCC proposals.
b) Byway 44 will be discussed through the Magistrates courts on May 20th
11. Date of June meeting: Monday June 8th
There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.50 p.m.
