Wooley Bus Shelter could soon be moved, repaired and relocated read more under agenda item 4e
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday September 6th 2010,
in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies:
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs C. A. Brooks, Mrs A. S. Robson & Mrs L. Norris. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. County Councillor: Colin Horncastle. Public: None Courant Reporter: None. Slaley Notes: Michael Elphick. Community Trust: Catherine Lincoln. Northumbria Police: None
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
Cllr Mrs L. Norris for agenda items 17c & 18a. Cllr Mrs C.A. Brooks for agenda item 18c.
3. Minutes of August Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 624-629, appendix 1 page 630, appendix 2 page 631, appendix 3 page 632 and appendix 4 page 633).
Proposed as a true record by Cllr. L. Norris and seconded by Cllr. A.S. Robson. The minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 6 9/8/10 Community Trust press release: After the news release appeared in the Courant indicating that the Community Trust was interested in taking over the Rose & Crown. A Councillor was approached by members of the public asking about the “status” of the CT. Cllr Hancock had a brief discussion with Peter McKendrick 21/8/10 regarding clarifying for the public the different roles of the PC and the CT. The draft constitution for the CT is on the Slaley web site dated February 3rd 2005. Cllr Hancock found in the Parish Toolkit a description of an “Unincorporated Organisation” and this appears to fit the CT and its constitution. The Councillors decided to produce a press article for the Parish News Sheet explaining the PC’s role in the parish.
b) 8a 9/8/10 DRB Burn J.P. – Petition to support keeping Hexham Courthouse open has been collected from the Village Shop and posted to Mr. Burn. There were 23 signatures.
c) 8b 9/8/10 PC letter to the Ministry of Justice. Circulated by e-mail and amended slightly.
d i) 11c 9/8/10 Clerk contacted Val Knowles who provided David Hunt as the appropriate officer who could talk to the PC about its role and expenditure for any proposed sport and play facility within the school grounds. David Hunt replied by e-mail and suggested either a twice weekly inspection by an approved person at an agreed rate, or a member of the parish could be given a short course of 1-3 days to enable that person to carry out the twice weekly inspection. A meeting is needed with School staff as soon as possible to determine what the school wishes the PC to be responsible for.
dii) David Hunt recommended either Playground Management Ltd or Zurich Municipal. NCC has a blanket public liability policy for any accident, which occurs on NCC play area sites.
diii) David Francis replied that he hoped training for the management of play areas would be fairly soon while it was still warm and the days still light.
e) 13b 9/8/10 Wooley Road Bus Shelter (10 12/7/10; 14 14/6/10).
Estimate received from Trevor Golightly circulated. The general opinion was to go with Option 2. However, Cllr Hancock would like Mr Golightly to provide a risk assessment on Option 2 where the possible accidents associated with lifting and transporting the shelter and its base are considered and addressed.
f) 16a 9/8/10 Reply from David Hunt NCC Neighbourhood Services re village gulley – Slaley gulleys were cleaned out early July 2009 and due to winter weather the annual clean out is running 8 weeks behind schedule.
g) 16c 9/8/10 Reply from Duncan Hutt of The Wildlife Trust about camping and litter at Juliet’s Wood. A copy of the reply was given to Slaley Village Shop to be given to the person who made the complaint and tidied the site. Mr. Hutt has asked his staff to put a No Camping sign on the gate. Options are being considered for a general sign where litter, fires and camping have become a problem at certain sites.
5. Public Participation.
None
6. Community Trust Report
Report presented at meeting attached as appendix 1/060910 page 639. The CT is awaiting a desk-top valuation on the R&C both as a private residence and as a business.
7. Matters for Discussion with County Councillor
CC Colin Horncastle explained the newspaper reporting of edited, inaccurate conversations in the recent planning meetings. The front- page article on expenses is a similar example where the amounts are to compensate for being unable to undertake a job of work while being in charge of various committees.
8. Correspondence.
Hard copy
a) Hand written letter from Mrs Vera Jewitt regarding wind blow leaves from Church View, and probably from the Churchyard trees opposite her home, causing her additional work collecting and disposing of the leaves. Clerk to send a letter saying outside of the PC’s remit.
b) Hard copy of West Area meeting NCC/PCs still no venue for west meeting on October 12th.
c) Hard copy of NALC AGM etc as e-mailed under 8b below.
d) Easyhire advertising leaflets. Clerks and Councils Direct – September 2010.
E-mails:
a) 19/8/10: David Francis RAF Boulmer Parade 23/9/10
b) 19/8/10: NALC The Free Resource – how section 137 can be spent. + R-News issue 1 + NALC AGM 23/10/10 + Appointment to the County Committee of NALC.
c) 19/8/10: Regeneration Bulletin No’s 31 & 32.
d) 19/8/10: Ben Jefferson print company who specialises in parish magazines.
e) 19/8/10: Communities & Local Government – Community ‘Right to Build’ information.
f) 19/8/10 David Francis – NCC medium term strategy for comments (27 pages).
g) 19/8/10 NCC Composite Traffic Regulation Orders West Northumberland Area,
h) 30/8/10: Janis Irvine invitation to hear the PCC’s plans for the next stage of the development for St. Mary the Virgin Church at Slaley on Tuesday September 7th at 7 p.m.
i) 3/9/10: Regeneration Funding Bulletin No 33 (17 pages).
j) 3/9/10: David Francis – problems with NCC policy of street trading – comments from Glanton PC similar to Slaley. Comments “is this ‘public protection’ a good thing or are we forcing street traders (ice cream van, fishmonger etc) out of business?” The PC has checked with Slaley Village Shop and the only mobile trader is a bread van on a Saturday afternoon. See 8q below
k) 3/9/10: NCC Mike Bird – still no venue for west meeting on October 12th.
l) 3/9/10: David Francis – Introduction of Bob Smith – Environmental Crime Officer of NCC – fly tipping hotspots.
m) 3/9/10: David Francis – Proposed Council Tax Increase Referendums – see document on DCLG website – DF suggest we consider the consultation document and make a response to DCLG and our local MP e.g. what Precept we make in November 2010 could become the guideline for future expenditure and would not reflect fluctuation on different projects.
n) 3/9/10: ADAPT AGM & 8 page newsletter.
o) 3/9/10: David Francis: originally from Rob Cooke – Natural England Director Environmental Advice & Analysis – new guidance on assessing land for designation as ANOB or a National Park – varying the boundaries is also being consulted. October 8th deadline. Cllr Hancock to look at boundary website.
p) 3/9/10: David Francis: More on trading in public places, it seems that any fund raising in village halls and door stop farm sales or household sales are affected. Response by September 10th. See 8j above
q) 4/9/10: Ian Hancock drafted a reply on the Trading in Public Places consultation this was circulated by e-mail to everyone. The Councillors agreed to use the draft, Cllr Hancock wished to tweak it here and there before sending.
r) 6/9/10: ICH £3.3m fund for pub closures has been axed.
s) 6/9/10: RSC weekly rural focus.
t) Regeneration Funding Bulletin No 35.
t) West Area Committee Meeting 14/9/10.
9. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed
Cheque No 418 Alex Evison grass cutting August 14th £11.00 (the B6306 roadside verge on Slaley Show morning due to heavy rain on Friday 13th).
Cheque No 419 Pat Wilson 6 months salary £1,500.00
Proposed by Cllr. CA Brooks and seconded by Cllr. AS Robson – the cheques were signed.
b) Interim cheque
No 417 Variable Message Signs Rotation of Safewatch Kit. £111.63. Signed and posted by Cllrs Hancock and Norris.
b) Audit: Audit date 23rd July 2010. No further requests for additional information.
10. Current Planning Applications.
20100566: Construction of a micro wind generator – Wooley House No objections
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. Objections
20100585: Double garage to south elevation at 52 Slaley Park No Objections
20100015: Certificate of lawfulness for proposed timber stables block / store. Moorlands, Lead road. Pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
11. Update netted games/play area within school grounds.
a) Val Knowles informed Pat Wilson verbally that the Slaley application would be processed as soon as it was received because of the time-limit on a portion of the funding.
b) After the public event on 10.8.10 Cllr Hancock was contacted by Mr Sanger concerning the way that the Community Trust had paid for repairs to the roof of the school hut and the lack of financial help offered by the PC for this (see Minutes Oct, Nov. 2009). A subsequent examination of the PC accounts showed the following grants by the PC to the Community Trust: an annual grant agreed in July 2007 for general expenses – £100 in 2007 and £120 in 2008 and 2009. Cllr Hancock assured him that the PC had no wish or intention to belittle the CT’s achievement of public access to the school grounds.
c) Report by Catherine Lincoln from Second Consultation Event held 10/8/10.
d) Third Consultation Event organised by Catherine Lincoln 6/9/10 7.30 p.m.
e) Catherine was asked about the response to the questionnaire and the consultation events. 290 questionnaires were sent out and 13 were returned. Approximately 15 people attended the two consultation events.
f) Catherine intended to make contact with Chris Afleck for design advice and intended to make representation at the School Governors meeting later in September.
See also 4c above.
12. Parish Plan Annual Information Board. Facilities & Services Update
a) Information Board appears to have suffered no effects after the frosts of the past year.
b) Where to Buy Locally has been updated and will be circulated. A request for further inclusion needs to be asked of the public.
c) Business Directory has the additional information of Keith Nichol, Roofing Contractor and Darron Wilson. A request for further inclusion needs to be asked of the public.
d) Where are these two publications available? Was asked by the meeting. On the Slaley web site (difficult to find), on the Parish Notice Board, in the Village Hall, in the local Inns + B&B establishments.
e) The Community Trust representative volunteered to print both publications and have them distributed with the Community newsletter.
13. Post Christmas Meal for Elderly (please read agenda item 11 of 8/1/2010 minutes regarding a possible alternative venue/event.
Cllr M Palmer suggested that she would be prepared to cook a meal at Slaley Commemoration Hall for future years. Mr. Elphick offered to show a film after the meal making it a parish event. Cllr Palmer was thanked for this offer. It will be discussed again in September when the Post Christmas Lunch will be on the agenda.
After discussion it was agreed that the decline in numbers last year, partly because of the cost, prohibited a further Slaley Hall event. It was also agreed that any future event needed to be a community event rather than for the elderly. Unfortunately Cllr Palmer was unavailable to establish if this was still her intention. Clerk to contact Cllr Palmer and ask for interest, catering numbers, help both in kitchen, setting up, serving and clearing away and promoting the event. Clerk also to establish interest from The Travellers Rest Inn.
14. Annual review of the effectiveness of the system of internal audit
The Councillors felt that the monthly reports and present system is adequate.
A balance sheet was presented to the meeting and attached as appendix 2/060910, page 640.
15. Reminder of requested grant applications together with a current balance sheet by 30/9/10 see agenda item 13, 9/11/2009 minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr AS Robson that grants are not agreed unless an application is furnished with a recent financial balance sheet. After discussion this was agreed. A proposal that £2,100 be included in the Precept for grants, without specifying them at this stage, was also agreed.
The current grant recipients should receive a letter telling them of the new arrangements and that a formal request must be made accompanied by an up to date balance sheet for consideration during 2010/2011 and this should be received by September 30th 2010.
a) Request made by Margaret Weatherley, Treasurer of Slaley Commemoration Hall together with balance sheet. Circulating
b) Request made by Margaret Weatherley, Treasurer of Slaley Community Trust together with balance sheet. Circulating
c) No other requests made so far. A reminder to be sent through Parish Newsletter & Slaley Notes?
16. Request Slaley Hall Holiday Villa Occupancy Confirmation for 2010.
Clerk to send a latter for the 2010 information together with a reminder that the 2009 have still not been received.
17. BOATs update
a) Report to Sergeant Cockburn from Graeme Ferguson made by e-mail 18/8/10 re 4 unregistered trail bikes in the forestry and then on the A68.
b) Report to Sergeant Cockburn from Scott Colcleugh made by e-mail 20/8/10 and copied to David Brookes. It would seem that Northumbria Police are still not fully aware of the problems on the BOATs network. Simple things like the width of the routes and the action that NP can take.
c) A resident of Fell Cottages has indicated that the Traffic Regulation Order on the U8080 & U8081 is no longer enforceable since the two highways became BOATs. A time-line of events of this TRO is attached as appendix 3/060910 page 641.
18. AOB
a) A complaint about the pot-holes and the encroaching brambles on the U8081. Reported verbally and & e-mail 18/8/10 to Kevin Allen NCC highways – potholes and David Hunt NCC Neighbourhood Services – brambles.
b) Two parishioners have stated that they do not think the Parish Council is needed and they have no idea what the PC does. This statement comes after Parish Council minutes on the web site, a monthly PC article in the Slaley Newsletter, frequent mention in Slaley Notes and editorials by the Courant reporter. Cllr Hanocock has suggested picking a subject e.g. highways, and then explaining what the PC does – street lights, parking bays, grass cutting, additional road markings, speed unit in village, mirror at Glen crossroads etc. The Councillors decided that a list of the Parish Council members with their telephone numbers and e-mail address should be placed on the Parish Notice Board.
c) Pattinsons Estate Agents of Hexham included Trygill Farm Cottage sale details in the Hexham Courant of 27/8/10 indicating that the property could be as an equestrian centre and or kennels. A letter on clarification on possible future uses has been requested from NCC planning department.
d) E-mail reminder sent to Sergeant Cockburn asking if a spot check could be done on the U8080 to see if the public are disregarding the TRO, this was first requested at the June meeting agenda item 16j.
19. Date of October monthly meeting.
Monday October 11th
There being no further business the meeting ended at 9.50 p.m.
