The Parish Council looks into the Housing Developers Funds for Sport & Play at Slaley, see agenda item 4c.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday June 14th 2010,
in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies: Cllr. I.C. Hancock.
Present: Councillor Mrs C. A. Brooks in the Chair. Councillors Ms M Palmer, S. Davison, Mrs A. S. Robson & Mrs L. Norris. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. County Councillor: Absent. Public: Jean Elphick. Courant Reporter: Rebecca Dixon. Slaley Notes: Michael Elphick. Apologies Community Trust Chairman Norman Watson. Northumbria Police: Sergeant Neil Cockburn.
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
None.
3. Minutes of May Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 603-606).
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) 4a 10/5/10; 4a 12/4/10; 4b 8/3/10; 12 15/2/10: Parish Plan Action Plan – Speeding Review. Clerk met Mel Richardson at Parks Side on 11 /5/10. Action – Paul McKenna Traffic Engineer visited the school to see first hand the problem on 10/6/10. He feels little else can be done until funds become available to increase parking capacity.
b) 4d 10/5/10; 8a 12/4/10 Parks Side bungalows parking – Clerk met with Mel Richardson on site. 2/3 additional parking bays at Parks Side would be funded through Capital – to be discussed with Dick Fraser.
c) 6a (i) 0/5/10 Funding accumulated through planning permission for sport and play requested from Val Knowles. Reply received 21/5/10 stated that no monies had been received from Two Castles. Val asked for our evidence that funds were due. Clerk spent two full days researching press cuttings, e-mails, letters, public meeting reports, Play Area Sub-committee reports and minutes to find the evidence, which was scanned and e-mailed to Val. Eventually on May 25th a breakdown of the S106 Housing Developer Funds for Area 6 Hexhamshire and Slaley was received. Currently there is: Play – £9,022 (This money can be spent in Hexhamshire/Slaley) and relates to new residential properties in both parishes. Slaley is responsible for Cocklake £1,388 & Blackburn £2,082. Sport – £5,122 (this money can be spent in Hexhamshire/Slaley/the wider Hexham area for Sport). Slaley is responsible for Cocklake £788 & Blackburn £1,182
When the Two Castles monies are received there will be an additional £9,000 to spend on Play in Slaley only and £4,272 to spend in Hexhamshire/Slaley/the wider Hexham area for Sport.
When the new buildings are occupied at Slaley House and Tree Tops further funding will be available. The Clerk asked if the new annex building at Pine tops was subject to funding, this is being looked into.
A S106 Housing Developer Funds application pack has been received it has a deadline of 30/7/10 for a panel meeting on 19/8/10. Initial comments from Cllr Hancock acknowledges that we are a long way from applying for funding. Definition between sport and play was defined by Val in an e-mail dated 5/6/10 – generally play involves a playground with equipment and sport is where there is some sort of field/pitch with markings i.e. tennis and basketball are sport. With regards to a play area within a school each case would be looked at on merit and there would have to be sufficient evidence of community use. Val suggest we contact Kathie Keady at North Country Leisure regarding sports/games and Chris Affleck for play. See meeting on June 29th agenda item 11 below and 4d immediately below.
d) 6a (ii) 10/5/10 a netted games area on the school grounds letter to Marge Rastall, Chair of Governors asking for initial reaction produced an immediate reply dated 12/5/10 indicating they wished to discuss the feasibility of this and proposed Nigel Sanger as the Governor representative. To this end a meeting has been arranged for Tuesday June 29th (see agenda item 11 below and 4c immediately above)
e) 7a 10/5/10 NCC acknowledged the e-mail on 11/5/10 regarding the rusty holes on the Townhead ‘Slaley Hall sign post by placing yellow tape over the holes. The pole was actually replaced 10/6/10.
f) 9a 10/5/10 Mobile post office problems have continued – Clerk contacted the Hexham Courant and an article was printed on page 3 of May 22nd issue. It was confirmed that the upgraded router was the problem and eventually had to be replaced with the old router. Martin Nichol is reported as saying “I have told Post Office they can’t have the van back until they know what went wrong this time because we can’t have the same thing happening and have the van off the road or not fully functional again”.
g) 9b 10/5/10 Village speed sign not working reported to VMS 17th May and again on June 3rd together with a request to transfer the sign to the Townfoot pole. There has been no reply – Clerk will keep trying for service.
5. Public Participation.
None.
6. Community Trust Report.
Report circulated and attached as appendix 1/140610
7. Matters for Discussion with County Councillor
None.
8. Correspondence.
Hard Copy
a) Footpath proposed diversion at Peel Flatt – Information sent by e-mail 21/5/10. Comments by 5/7/10. Concern that the new route takes a diagonal direction across a field and includes new wickets at several points. However, if this is the wish of the landowner then the PC has no objections. Clerk to check.
b) NCC Invitation to attend Communities & Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee Meeting 21/6/10 at Morpeth. No Councillor wished to attend.
c) Tynedale Sports Council AGM 21/6/10 6.30 p.m. No Councillor wished to attend.
d) North Pennines AONB Partnership – Annual Forum & Geodiversity Action Plan Launch 9/7/10 at Slaggyford. No Councillor wished to attend.
e) North Pennines AONB Partnership Building Design Guide and Planning Guidelines Consultation available for 8 weeks from May 10th on www.northpenninesaonb.org.uk
f) Tynedale Hospice at Home is a local charity providing care and support for patients in the Tynedale area who have life limiting illness. The service is provided free of charge. Request for financial aid. (In November 2009 we gave a £100 grant (cheque No 388) to Tynedale Community Hospice. Consider a request when setting the Precept for 2011/12
g) Sutcliffe Play – Community play Areas advertising brochure; Lloyds TSB changes to your terms and conditions.
E-mail:
a) 14/5/10: NCC – Colin Robinson – Employment Land Review (ELR) – Site Assessment Form to be completed by June 18th – Has Slaley any sites which could be used as potential employment development opportunities? Clerk has drafted a news item for Slaley notes and news-sheet asking the public if they as landowners and local stakeholders wish to submit details of sites to get in touch with her for details.
b) 14/5/10: David Francis – Local Food Suport package for village Shops
c) 14/5/10: David Francis – New Dog Laws for Northumberland Consultation (see agenda item 13 below)
d) 15/5/10: Reply from Webfusion 4c 12/4/10& 9 8/3/10 re lack of invoice and web site closed. Apparently the billing system was set in place in December 2009 in future we have to log in for our invoice at https:billing.webfusion.co.uk Not the apology we were expecting, a copy sent to Michael Elphick.
e) 21.5.10: David Francis -Charter review. (see agenda item 12 below)
f) 21.5.10: RSN – Letter to PM fairer funding for rural services.
g) 21/5/10: David Francis – Invitation to Votes ands Voices Leadership Programme Events.
h) 21/5/10: NALC – Events Bulletin
i) 21/5/10: RSC Rural Focus weekly 17/5/10 & 1/6/10
j) 21/5/10: NCC timetable of meetings 2010/2011 May – May
k) 25/5/10: Felicity Blanks – Rural Affordable Housing Dissertation – Clerk sent the standard reply.
l) 25/5/10: Lauren Hopkins, Marketing Co-ordinator from The Lord Crewe Arms Hotel asked for contact names for advertising – gave Vicky Hutchinson for show schedule, Carolyn & Joan for News Sheet and Jamie Warde-Aldam for ‘The Hotspur’.
m) 26/5/10: David Francis – Charter Review. Reminder of June meetings.
n) 26/5/10: David Francis – 11 pages of policies of new coalition Government.
o) 3/6/10: RSN Parish Newsletter June – Cockerels should be banned!
p) 3/6/10: Regeneration Services Funding Bulletin Issue No 22 – 11 pages.
q) 3/6/10: West Area Committee Minutes May 2010 see 122 c budget for ditching and drainage.
r) 7/6/10: David Francis – NALC communications toolkit
s) 14/6/10: David Francis – NALC County Committee Membership comments by 15/7/10.
t) 14/7/10: Cllr Bob Jackson – The role of NALC with NCC and in particular to The Charter. (relevant to agenda item 12).
9. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed
Cheque No 411 Alex Evison grass cutting May £
Cheque No 412 NALC Annual Subscription £114.57
Proposed by Cllr. A.S. Robson and seconded by Cllr. M. Palmer the cheques were signed.
b) Interim cheques None
c) Audit: Display Notices June 7th – June 20th (on notice board)
Internal audit June 7th – June 20th (successfully completed)
Records available to public 21st June – July 16th
Audit date 23rd July 2010
d) Vat claim for refund completed at £169.99
10. Current Planning Applications.
20100015: Certificate of lawfulness for proposed timber stables block / store. Moorlands, Lead road. Pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20100206: Single storey side and rear extension with chimney. Overdale, Slaley. Granted.
11. Meeting Tuesday June 29th with School Governor Representative, County Councillor & Community Trust Representative to discuss possible netted games/play area within school grounds.
Note agenda items 4c & 4d above. The initial meeting on 29/6/10 is a meeting for further discussion and to explore possibilities. Any agreement on lease terms (ground-rent) would then be subject to funding, estimates for construction, future maintenance of equipment and public opinion and support.
12. The Charter – see e-mail 21/5/10 – meeting 3/6/10 – questionnaire to be completed by 16/7/10
NCC hard copy of the review of Local Council Charter was received – notification of this by e-mail. Cllr Hancock produced a draft reply this was discussed, slightly amended in sections and agreed. Agreed copy attached as appendix 2/140610
13. Parish Plan, Action Plan – Dog Fouling Review
a) See e-mail above 14/5/10: David Francis – New Dog Laws for Northumberland Consultation. Cllr Brooks had viewed the NCC survey on line and discussed possible replies. She volunteered to complete the survey.
b) Diana Mulholland telephoned the Clerk 8/6/10 to say the dog bin was without a plastic bag and had not been emptied for a number of weeks. Clerk telephoned NCC and then Keith Grey’s department at Hexham. A lady volunteered to pass the message to Refuse Manager Peter Daley and ask that the bin be emptied as soon as possible. Clerk saw the men on Thursday and asked that the dog bin be emptied. Unfortunately she had forgotten to check that it had been emptied.
14. Parish Plan Action Plan – Annual Heritage Report (circulated as appendix 3/140610)
The Clerk apologised for the missing photographs and text from the Trygill Art Walk. Cllr Norris felt that the farm sign at Woodnook Farm was worthy of inclusion – Clerk to take a photograph and record. The parish water tanks were discussed their positions explained and their ownership questioned. Concern over the ownership of the redundant bus shelter on the Wooley Road was voiced. Cllr Norris reminded the meeting that the PC had decided not to spend money on the building so the obvious action was to have it taken down before it became the PC’s responsibility under The Charter for 2011. The Clerk to ask highways about this and the bus shelter to be an agenda item at the July meeting.
Ownership of the old Observation Corps Shelter was also discussed and the Councillors reported a desire for a guided tour of the building if that was possible for its August walk-about. Clerk to contact the MoD.
15. BOATs update. -
a) E-mail from Vicky Hutchinson 14/5/10 regarding 4×4 vehicles tearing out gorse bushes etc on the green lane. This was reported to Alex Bell copy to Slaley PC. The user groups were obviously waiting for confirmation that they could use this lane and immediately arrived to clear the route for use (see below). A subsequent telephone call on 26/5/10 to Cllr. Hancock Vicky informed him that the official notification had been received.
b) List of Streets confirmed as BOATs 11/5/10.
U8127 to BOAT No 37 – Blue Gables
U8091 to BOAT No 36 – Healey Cleugh
U8079 to BOAT No 34 – High Clear
U8074 to BOAT No 33 – Shield Hall
Representations or objections should be received by July 23rd. It was agreed that this be an agenda item at the July meeting. Regardless of damage or personal circumstances Sergeant Cockburn confirmed that once a road always a road and the only option available was to place a TRO on the route when it became impassable for other users or was a proven danger.
c) E-mail received asking for the telephone police number 03456043043 be given to local people who use the Slaley Forest & Blanchland Moor area and ask that all reports of irresponsible behaviour be made to that number. Cllr Hancock has already put something in the June newsletter. Clerk typed out a letter and this was circulated by e-mail to various known horse riders, walkers etc. Hard copies were also distributed to parishioners where the e-mail address was not known. Since this letter went out a report of unlicensed trail bikes has still been submitted to the PC – Sergeant Cockburn advised the Clerk to report this by e-mail to him.
d) E-mails and telephone calls from other concerned parishioners to Clerk and Cllr Brooks.
16. AOB
a) Clerk telephoned Election Office at NCC to ask why the 2010 Register of Electors had not been sent. Apparently it is illegal, and has been for over a decade, to have these registers on display or available to the public. If we as a parish council wish for a copy they can be supplied by an e-mail request to elections@northumberland.gov.uk. Apparently when setting the precept we are expected to contact the office and they will inform us of the number of electors in the parish. Cllr Hancock telephoned and spoke with ‘Mick’ and asked how it was possible that web sites offer electoral roll information. According to NCC the information is not accurate as it is not taken from the electoral offices.
b) NEDL notice of electricity supply interruption on Thursday June 17th from 0830 to 1630 hours. – Presumably to cut down more branches. Most of village does not have this interruption.
c) Slaley Village Shop received complaints that a healthy tree between Claremont & Ashtree House was to be taken down because it is cracking the footpath surface. Margaret had mentioned this to Kevin Allen (NCC) and he was aware of its removal. Clerk telephoned Kevin and asked for details. Whilst it is a full and healthy tree the high voltage cable runs right through the middle of it and during the safety inspection it was deemed dangerous. Other branches overhanging the village street needed removing and the footpath and kerbs were lifting because of this tree therefore NCC highways gave permission for this tree to be removed. Cllr. Hancock viewed the tree on Tuesday June 8th and he agreed with the decision. However, he felt that a discussion at a future PC meeting would be useful and possibly a progressive tree replacement plan. Clerk contacted John Alderton, NCC Tree Officer, he had no authority on trees growing on highways land. Mr. Adlerton was involved with tree preservation for planning applications. He suggested that the local highways engineer be invited to any future discussion on replacement village tree planting.
A letter was received from the resident at Highfield House, he was very concerned that the tree was being removed due to its damage to a garden wall and the pavement. A reply was agreed and sent by e-mail. The tree was removed on Friday June 10th and its neighbour, between The Vicarage and Ashtree House, dramatically cut back.
d) A parishioner’s sister saw on the NCC web site that the policy determining the age limit for social housing has been reduced to 55 years of age. Clerk e-mailed Chris Brinton 3/6/10 asking if this automatically placed younger people, previously rejected because of age, to the top of the list. A reply was received 8/6/10 from Claire Hancock – the revised policy comes into operation on 1/7/10 a telephone number was provided and this has been forwarded to the sister.
e) Invitation to an open day at Marley Cote Walls on Sunday 20/6/10 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. to see the robot milking system.
f) Mrs L. Foster telephoned the Clerk to say that the shopping trips organised through Age Concern have been finished due to lack of funding. The Clerk asked Mrs Foster if she had read about the Dial-a-ride through ADAPT. There was information about ADAPT’s Day Trips in the Hexhamshire Parish Magazine of December 08/Janauary 09. Mrs Foster said that the Age Concern trips used the ADAPT transport and were probably the same.
g) A3 size posters advertising Luxury Holiday Homes for sale at Springhouse Caravan Park have been attached to highway signs between the A68 through Healey parish and along the route of the B6306 in Slaley parish. Clerk confirmed with Enforcement Officer, Richard Stewart that no planning permission had been granted. Mr Stewart suggested that the matter be reported on the NCC Customer Care Line for the Highways Engineer who covers this area.
h) Part of the B6306 received its replacement resurfacing on Friday June 11th resulting from the inferior resurfacing of September 2008. It was reported that already a substantial pothole has appeared approximately 100 yards north of Jameson’s Well and Troughs on the north-bound carriageway. Clerk to report this to highways immediately.
i) Sergeant Cockburn reported that locally ‘Farmwatch’ was working well, although chickens had been stolen from Blanchland. Crime in general and poaching were discussed. Gun-shots in the country were generally accepted as crop-scarers, sporting activity on estates or clay shooting However, if the general public were concerned with gun-shots, feeling it was too late at night for legitimate activity they should be encouraged to report them to the police. Prosecuted Poachers automatically loose their gun license.
j) It was reported that taxis are once again using the U8080 as the road to Slaley Hall. Recently spotted between 10.30 and 11 p.m. Sergeant Cockburn was asked if Northumbria Police could organise a spot check one evening to remind the users of the TRO in place.
17. Date of July monthly meeting.
Monday July 12th 2010
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.
