The Speeding review has resulted in a meetng on March 17th, read more on agenda item 4b.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday March 8th 2010, in Slaley Commemoration Hall 7.30 p.m.
1. Apologies: Cllrs. S. Davison & Mrs A. S. Robson.
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: None. Courant Reporter: None. Slaley Notes & Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Apologies Michael & Jean Elphick.
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
None
3. Minutes of February Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 582-585 + appendix 1 page 586, appendix 2 page 587). Proposed as a true record by Cllr. C.A. Brooks and seconded by Cllr. L. Norris. The minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 8 w 15/2/10: Glasscycle – bottle smashing machine and glass cullet collection service. A demonstration was held at Saley Commemoration Hall on Monday March 1st. Despite numerous invitations to inn-keepers, neighbouring parish councils, and the general public (the latter through Slaley Notes). Only 1 member of the public, JR, MW, BJ, ME, AW of the CHMC & the Parish Council Clerk attended. Everyone agreed the machine was quiet and extremely effective. However, it would need safe storage and usage and was more appropriate for business use than public. It was suggested that Slaley Hall should be given a demonstration and apologies were given that none of the several inns/catering establishments had attended.
b) 12 15/2/10: Parish Plan Action Plan – Speeding Review. A meeting has been arranged for Wednesday March 17th at 2 p.m. between Slaley School Chair of Governors, Marge Rastall; the two Acting Headteachers Julie Hay & Rachel O’Neil; Sergeant Neil Cockburn & Cllr Ian C Hancock for a round the table initial discussion to investigation workable solutions to the problem of speeding traffic outside the school especially during drop-off and collection times.
c) As part of the process organising this meeting the Clerk telephoned the contact telephone number for our Neighbourhood Beat Manager. The man who answered was unable to give the name and contact details of our NBM, but he did say someone would contact us, which they did. Cllr Hancock in the meantime tried to establish via the website who our contact was – two names were given but both were out of date. Northumbria Police telephoned the Clerk one evening for feedback on our recent request. The Clerk asked that when NBM staff change, the affected Parish Councils are informed by email, with the new contact details. This suggestion was to be passed on.
d) Thank You letter from Air Ambulance for the £35 cheque (see 4d & 8a 15/2/10). Ask Slaley Notes to mention this.
5. Public Participation.
None.
6. Community Trust Report
None.
7. Matters for Discussion with County Councillor.
a) Cllr Horncastle had met the Acting Headteachers at Slaley School on Friday March 5th and was very surprised to discover that the school grounds were in fact open to the public. (see 7f 9/11/09; 4c 14/9/09; 4c 10/8/09; 7b 13/7/09; 11 8/6/09; 5 11/5/09). Report attached as appendix 1/080310, page 592.
b) Cllr Horncastle was asked if he had any input with the BOATs consultation undertaken by David Broookes (copied in on Slaley PC reply). Cllr Horncastle had spoken with Peter Jackson leader of the Conservatives at NCC about the recent BOATs consultation and the concerns of some members in Cllr. Horncastle’s area.
c) The NCC budget had finally been agreed without any cuts to the Highways allocation.
d) The West Area Highways manager has requested funding for a ditching programme.
e) A further review of Senior Management would be taken.
f) A Review of Local Government Buildings is underway. There are currently 700 (including schools) throughout the County.
g) The floral display budget has a reprieve with only 33% cutbacks in place of the proposed 66%.
h) Community Forums were also under discussion.
8. Correspondence.
a) Two telephone calls re redundant water tank metal covers removed, presumed stolen, on the U8078 south of Holly Hill crossroads. Reported to NCC highways 22/2/10. Kevin Allen replied 25/2/10 that Northumbria Water been instructed to make an emergency response. A report in the Hexham Courant instigated a telephone call from someone at NCC asking which authority I had spoken to and what action had happened.
b) Telephone call from Gwen Ridley thanking the PC for organising the Post Christmas Meal at Slaley Hall.
c) Clerk saw Alex Evison and verbally asked him to quote for the parish grass cutting for the 2010 season (his computer is currently out of action). A hard copy was available for the meeting. The quote was a 5% increase on previous years. The Councillors agreed to accept this quote.
d) BDO Audit Briefing Winter 2010 – Notes for forthcoming audit.
e) NCC (postage 59p) 5 copies of A5 full colour 8 page booklets entitled 1,2,3 ways to compost your garden waste in 2010.
f) NCC can provide Hanging Baskets in 2010 at a cost of £24 per basket. They want an indication of quantity by March 26th.
g) Tynedale Sports Council request for financial contribution. Body of letter says they have a Grant of £2,000 from Tynedale Council. How can this be TC was disbanded April 2009. £50 has been given in previous years and this was agreed for 2010.
h) E-mail 17/2/10: More from Haydon Bridge PC regarding The Charter and transfer of responsibilities.
i) E-mail 27/2/10: NALC 2 page letter, 18 page draft outline of the Development Strategy and Business Plan 2010 – 2015 + 19 pages of consultation document.
j) E-mail 2/3/10 North County Leisure – Sport’s development team looking to develop sport & physical activity in local communities. Circulated to Councillors + Catherine Lincoln, Rachel Scott & Hayley Wilson at School.
k) E-mail 4/3/10: NALC Standing Orders. Cllr Hancock to look at these new suggestions and make a comparison to our existing Standing Orders. He suggested that we might need to purchase the recommended booklet. We should record adoption of the new SO’s as part of our Risk Assessment.
l) E-mail 4/3/10: NALC County Committee minutes – NALC currently discussing The Charter review.
m) E-mail 7/3/10 People and Places March 2010.
n) E-mail 7/3/10 RSN March newsletter
o) E-mail 7/3/10 NCC off-Street parking charges
p) E-mail 8/3/10 Spinal Injuries Association – Great British Fish & Chip Supper Friday 21st May 2010 – circulated to The Hotspur & Slaley News sheet editors.
q) E-mail 8/3/10 NCC temporary road closures for 28/3/10 during the TVCC Derwent Cycle Race.
q) Wicksteed advertising brochure; Clerks & Councils Direct march 2010, Pro-Teq surfacing UK advertising brochure.
9. Financial Report.
Cheques to be signed
Cheque No 403 P. Wilson. 6 months salary October 2009 – March 2010
Cheque No 403 P. Wilson Annual expenditure for BOATs Joint Committee quarter share £22.05
Cheque No 404 Tynedale Sports Council £50.00 (see 8g above)
Proposed by Cllr C.A. Brooks & seconded by Cllr. L. Norris the cheque was signed.
The schedule and cheque will be circulated mid month for P. Wilson’s Annual expenditure for Parish Council.
Interim cheque No 402 on 3/3/10 £100.20 for Webfusion by Cllrs L. Norris & I. C. Hancock.
Problem with the Webfusion account. Michael Elphick helped the Clerk sort out this problem. Late payment of the account was made without affecting the web site.
10. Current Planning Applications.
20100015: Certificate of lawfulness for proposed timber stables block / store. Moorlands, Lead road. Does ‘general permitted development’ now allow this? Previously refused on application 20000055. Stables were erected last year why was this not on application 20090515?
20090906: Certificate of lawfulness for proposed single-storey rear extension. Middle Grange, Slaley Village. Pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20090918: Demolition of outbuildings and construction of car port to side of dwelling. South Cottage, High Clear. E-mailed decision 18/2/10 REFUSED
20090928: Amendments to previously approved application 20090396 use of silage clamp building for livestock housing, Flothers Farm. Granted
20090902: Extension to Livestock Building. Flothers Farm. Granted
** Emails to planning officer Anna Hiddich’s re Moorlands bounced back to the Clerk. When contact was regained she said that Jessica Taylor of a consultancy was looking after the backlog of planning applications for the West Area Office
11. Annual Highways Report – agree routes
The routes as e-mailed and attached as appendix 2/080310, page 593. The routes were agreed subject to agreement by Cllr Davison.
12. Annual Risk Assessment
Circulated and attached as appendix 3/080310, page 594, changes were made and page 3 was not available until the new audit form is received.
13. Annual Asset & Investment Register
Circulated and attached as appendix 4/080310, page 595. It was agreed to increase each item by 2%.
14. BOATs update.
a) A letter of response to the NCC recommendations from Slaley PC was drafted, circulated for comment and then sent indicating that the PC was not happy with the lack of concern for wildlife and endangered bird species.
b) Members of the 4 Parishes BOATs Joint-Committee met and agreed a response to the NCC recommendations, this was circulated for comment and then sent after receipt of the 4 individual PC replies.
c) Report of underage children using the Slaley network of BOATs on Sunday 7th causing problems on the main U8078. Apparently two police cars were seen during the morning. Clerk asked Blanchland PC if they had any reports?
15. AOB
a) Copy of SaturDads information tabled for the meeting. The invitation is sent monthly to the Clerk’s son. It appears that NCC is part funding these activities.
b) An update on the additional street light outside Parkside bungalows was requested.
c) Clerk to write to NEDL and report that expected tree trimming at West Cornerfield, South Farm (village) and Heatherden House, Trygill had not taken place as expected on Monday October 26th 2009 when the electricity was off from 0900 hours to 1700 hours. Is there an explanation of why these trees were not trimmed? What work was done?
d) It was considered unlikely that the extra grit at Parkside would be needed until next winter so the Clerk offered to have it removed and stored.
16. Date of April 2010 meeting.
Monday April 12th.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.
