If you want to know what the menu for the Post Christmas lunch will be see agenda item 13.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday October 11th 2010,
in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies: Councillor I.C. Hancock.
Present: Councillor Mrs C. A. Brooks in the Chair. Councillors Mrs A. S. Robson, Ms M. Palmer, S. Davison & Mrs L. Norris. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. County Councillor: Absent. Public: None. Courant Reporter: Rosalind Saul. Slaley Notes: None. Community Trust: Apologies Catherine Lincoln. Northumbria Police: None
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
None.
3. Minutes of September Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 634-638, appendix 1 page 930, appendix 2 page 640 and appendix 3 page 641).
Proposed as a true record by Cllr. L. Norris and seconded by Cllr. A. Robson. The minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 4e 6/9/10; 13b 9/8/10; 10 12/7/10; 14 14/6/10 Wooley Road Bus Shelter.
A risk assessment has been provided by Mr Golightly for Option 2 of the removal of the bus shelter. The area will be coned off while the relocation is attempted and two people will assist Mr Golightly in the interest of the public and motorists. A copy of his additional insurance cover to cover this work was also provided. The Councillors present were unanimous in asking Mr Golightly to go ahead with the removal of the bus shelter to his property where repairs will be undertaken. Clerk to confirm this with Cllr Hancock before issuing instructions to Mr. Golightly.
b) 8a 6/9/10 wind blown leaves at No 1 South Park. After a second letter the Clerk has spoken with a daughter of the complainant who offered her son to gather up the leaves and place in black plastic bags if the refuse lorry would take them away. Clerk spoken with Adam Keen who said this would be setting a precedent and could not be repeated. However he was prepared to do a once only 20 bag (maximum pick up) for a special price of £15. After discussion the Councillors agreed that the PC could not authorise this work for one person in the parish. The family of the lady in question should take responsibility for disposing of the leaves at the FREE Amenity Site in Hexham.
c) 8q 6/9/10: Reply on the Trading in Public Places consultation attached as appendix 1/11010 page 647.
d) 12 b & c 6/9/10: Where to Buy Locally leaflet & Business Directory updated and circulated by e-mail. A request for updates made in Slaley Notes column of the Hexham Courant September 17th & the October newsletter. Alterations included and reprinted. Another alteration just come in 11/10/10
e) 12 d 6/9/10 Copies of updated leaflet and directory on display in Village Shop, Travellers Rest, Commemoration Hall, Notice Board and other outlets. Another alteration just come in 11/10/10 which could make the newly printed copies out-of-date. E-mail from Wendy Donnelly who had tried to find the leaflet and Directory on the web site. Clerk explained she had a problem with moving a pdf file onto the web, which obviously had not worked. An e-mailed copy had been sent to Ms Donnelly and received.
f) 15 c 6/9/10 A reminder sent through Parish Newsletter & Slaley Notes for audited accounts accompanying any request for grant aid has produced an e-mail from Jim Bailey, Chairman of Slaley Show Committee. Circulated by email. The Councillors did not consider this a balance sheet because there was no brought or carried forward therefore no balance. Without a copy of accurate accounts no grant would be considered.
g) 18 c 6/9/10 Reply from Vicky Crofton, Monitoring & Enforcement Officer re Trygill Farm Cottage. Vicky reported that a lot would depend upon the scale of operation in determining if a planning application for change of use was needed. Vicky is making further enquiries and checking earlier permissions.
5. Public Participation.
None.
6. Community Trust Report.
Community Trust report of 3/10/10 read to the meeting and attached as appendix 2/111010, page 648.
Correspondence between the Community Trust Secretary (Catherine Lincoln) and the Parish Council Clerk regarding a proposed CT Ladycross stone replacement for the Parks Side sign. (see agenda item 5q (page 620) 12/7/10 minutes). A subsequent telephone call resulted in the PC Clerk asking why the CT did not have insurance cover. The planters at Townhead belonged to the CT, if someone tripped over the planters – a child or a visitor especially on a winter evening during a power cut, a claim could be made against the CT. The same would apply with a stone sign at Parks Side. CL said she would speak with CT Treasurer, Margaret Weatherley about this.
Clerk confirmed this by e-mail to CT members Catherine Lincoln and Jackie Green. Jackie has since removed the planters until the insurance is sorted. Catherine is proposing that the PC may wish to add to its insurance policy? The Councillors discussed this and were unanimous in deciding that the CT should have its own insurance and items they provide and pay for in the parish should remain the responsibility of the Community Trust unless it is a joint venture (like the play/sport facilities within the school grounds) where prior agreement has been reached that insurance responsibility lies with the Parish Council.
7. Matters for Discussion with County Councillor.
None.
8. Correspondence.
Hard Copy
NCC: Northumberland Parking Strategy – 12-week public consultation commences 27/9/10 (also by e-mail see 8? below). Individuals should be encourage to complete this rather than a PC response.
NCC: NCC/Parish & Town Council Meetings 11-14 October – discussion items.
Report on the work of Tynedale Hospice at Home 2009-10 + Invitation to Tynedale Gift Fair supporting THatH.
Glasdon advertising brochures; Cleveland Land Services working with Notts Sport the leading artificial sports, play and landscape surfacing. CPRE Overview Autumn 2010; Wicksteed Catalogue.
Emails:
a) 27/9/10 Neil Dawson: Revised Informal consultation on public footpath through Peel Flatt. Additional correspondence by e-mail 10/10.
b) 27/9/10 Mike Bird: Council Tax Referenda – NCC Administration response not a NCC response (4 pages). Council tax referendums were reported, although not acted upon in September (see 8m 6/9/10 minutes). Clerk recommended Councillors to read. Councillors decided that no action was needed little impact would be felt by small parish councils.
c) 27/9/10 David Francis: Help us find county Broadband gaps. (see Susi Goncu email of 6/10)
e) 27/9/10 Joanne Butler: Invitation to Northumberland Care Trust, Community Services Board meeting held in public on 24/9/10 (sent to Clerk 14/9/10 during her annual holiday).
f) 27/9/10 David Francis: View NCC flood plan on line.
g) 27/9/10 Beverley Bowery: Petition Tynedale Magistrates Court Closure – requested an answer to three questions. Clerk replied.
h) 27/9/10 Sue Andrews: Laserjet printers free to a good home.
i) 27/9/10 RSN: Parish Newsletter September.
j) 27/9/10 RSC: Weekly Rural Digest 13/9/10 & 27/9/10
k) 27/9/10 Katie Pringle: Public consultation on assessment of pharmacy needs (6 attachments).
l) 27/9/10 NCC: Northumberland Parking Strategy 12-week public consultation (see 8? above)
m) 6/10/10 Susi Goncu: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust meeting in Hexham 19th October focus on improving services etc.
n) 6/10/10 Katie Pringle: NHS North of Tyne – One jab – double flu protection – press release.
o) 6/10/10 David Francis: Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity – seems to be saying only PC material on PC owned notice boards + only PC material in community newsletters. The Councillors decided there was no need for a letter to our MP, Guy Opperman, to report how silly this is – a lot depends upon interpretation of the wording.
p) 6/10/10 Susi Goncu: copy of correspondence from Simon Robertson regarding the Broadband survey.
q) 8/10/10 NALC: Clerk & Councillors Training dated. Allotments – Play Areas – Playing Fields information event to include – administration, maintenance, accident recording, insurance requirements external contracting and day-to-day running aspects. Tuesday 16th November Tynemills Depot, Hexham. 10 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. Chairman, Ian Hancock & Clerk will attend although they wish to avoid the Allotments training if possible.
r) 9/10/10 NALC: AGM on Saturday 23rd October – 6 attachments agenda, annual report + papers A,B,D,E.
s) 11/10/10 Standard Committee: Invitation to Chairman for meeting on October 18th.
t) 11/10/10Rural Intelligence Foundation: a new research centre and independent think-tank for the benefit of rural people.
U) Clerk received an e-mail from Riding Mill Clerk regarding the draft NCC policy on “habitual & vexatious complaints policy”. David Francis is apparently looking at this and intends doing something at Parish level.
9. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed
Cheque No 420 Alex Evison grass cutting £89.65
Cheque No 421 Northumberland County Hall – street light unit at Parks Side £1233.75 (Vat is £183.75). This is part of the Beacon grant.
Cheque No 422 BDO LLP (annual audit) £141.00
Cheque No 423 Alex Evison last grass cut in October £89.65
Proposed by Cllr. L. Norris and seconded by Cllr. AS Robson – the cheques were signed.
b) Interim cheque: None
c) Income: Second half of Precept £3517.00 paid into PC bank account (confirmed by bank statement)
d) Audit: The annual return was presented to the Council together with the audit opinion which was that some expenditure was coded to S137 when it could have been coded to S142 (website & base for Information board). This was accepted by the council.
10. Current Planning Applications.
20100566: Construction of a micro wind generator – Wooley House Pending
20100536: Advertisement consent for two replacement non-illuminated signs at Springhouse County park and one new non-illuminated sign at the junction of the B6306. Pending
20100585: Double garage to south elevation at 52 Slaley Park Pending
*20100015: Certificate of lawfulness for proposed timber stables block / store. Moorlands, Lead road. Pending
* A letter has been written to Planning asking if a decision has been made.
Decisions from Planning Authority
None.
11. Update netted games/play area within school grounds.
a) E-mail 8/9/10 from CL reporting to DR at Slaley School the final report on consultation.
b) E-mail 9/9/10 from CL to DR at SS asking for an invitation to the September meeting with Parish Council members.
c) E-mail circulated 24/9/10 from CL report of meeting on 22/9/10 attended by MR, DR & JS (School); ICH, CAB (Parish Council); CL (Community Trust).
d) E-mail circulated 26/9/10 from CL with a briefing for Slaley School governors.
e) E-mail circulated 6/10/10 from Slaley School Governors via Marge Rastall following on from the Governors meeting of September.
12. Parish Plan Action Plan October Update
Circulated and attached as Appendix 3/111010, page 649.
13. Post Christmas Meal for Elderly.
a) Telephone calls had to be made to both The Travellers Rest Inn & Margaret Palmer on Thursday October 7th to see if a reply could be available for Monday 11th. The TR had lost its letter so a replacement was hand-delivered by Clerk lunch-time on Thursday 7th.
Cllr. Palmer was thanked for her offer of a Commemoration Hall luncheon, however due to the number of helpers required to set up, serve and clear away a stress free meal at The Travellers Rest Inn was considered the best option.
A sample Menu from the TR was tabled: Soup. Char-grilled chicken with tarragon cream sauce, vegetables & potatoes. Sticky Toffee Pudding. Tea or Coffee. At £12.00 per head. After discussion the Councillors decided to go with this menu and advertise the event as a Post Christmas Lunch, 12-noon on Friday January 21st. There is no adult age restrictions for this meal. As in previous years all bookings should be made through the Clerk by Friday January 7th 2011. Drinks will be paid for individually.
14. BOATs update
Notification from NCC that as from October 8th certain BOATs through Slaley Forest will be either closed for 18 months or have limited motor cycle access between May 1st and 30th September. Monitoring this is something that needs to be addressed.
A meeting of the Joint Committee has been arranged for Monday November 1st
15. AOB
a) Clerk reported two coaches stuck at The Linnels Bridge on Sunday September 12th. Apparently they had followed each other had disregarded all the signs and presumably used SatNav to get them to Dukeswood Educational Complex. Clerk’s son had a similar experience earlier in the month. Reported by e-mail to Colin Horncastle, Melvin Richardson, Kevin Allen & Alan Bawn. Acknowledgement by MR asking AB to have a look and give some recommendations. Cllr Norris reported finding a bus at the Linnels bridge on Monday October 4th.
b) Community Forums E-mail from Brian Massey: Held back from calling a meeting until the outcome of the CC’s budget review is known.
c) Clerk report street light SF4 not working on 1/10/10. General reminder through Slaley Notes and the Community news letter of the free-phone telephone number. 0845 600 6400
d) Cllr. Brooks asked if the Councillors had any object to deleting the word PARISH out of the newsletter title. There were no objections, the Councillors considered Slaley Newsletter quite sufficient.
e) The Slaley web site was discussed and the Clerk was asked to contact Michael Elphick and ask if he was ready to give a November demonstration of proposed new sites. (See June 9th 2008 minutes, agenda item 18, Parish Plan Action Plan Updates from July 2008 Community Website, January 12th 2009 minutes agenda item 9, page 490, when Michael gave a presentation of costs etc for a new website).
f) Cllr Robson asked that awards given by the Parish Council be an agenda item at the November meeting. It was suggested that adequate bank funds should prohibit the PC from allocating additional funding unless there was some specific project needing additional funds.
16. Date of November monthly meeting.
Monday November 8th (Apologies L.Norris)
There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.15 p.m.
