The minutes of Slaley Parish Council March 2005
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday 14th March 2005, at 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. 1 The Clerk explained the resignation of Councillor CJR Ferguson with immediate effect on Tuesday March 8th.
1. 2 (12 14/02/05) A decision by Cllr A.J. Weir to resign as a Councillor on March 31st 2005 has been withdrawn.
1. 3 Slaley Parish Council now has a need to appointment a Chairman until the AGM in May
Nomination Cllr AJ Weir
Proposed by Cllr Mrs A. Robson
Seconded by Cllr JK Robson
There being no further nominations, Cllr AJ Weir was duly elected Chairman.
1. 4 Appointment of Vice Chairman until the AGM in May
Nomination Cllr DG Baynes
Proposed by JK Robson
Seconded by Cllr Mrs A. Robson
There being no further nominations, Cllr DG Baynes was duly elected Vice-Chairman
1. 5 Vacancy of a Councillor
The Clerk explained that a vacancy notice issued by Tynedale Council, dated Thursday 10th March, and had been placed on Slaley Notice Board on Thursday March 10th. If TEN electors of the parish request an election to fill the vacancy then an election will be held otherwise the Council can co-opt an elector onto the Parish Council. Mr Ian Hancock is very interested in joining the Council and is attending tonight as a member of the public. TC Chief Executive, Richard Robson will inform in writing if there is to be an election or the Council can go ahead with a co-option.
1. 6 Apologies. District Councillor B.W. Massey & Mrs L. Norris.
Present: Councillor A.J. Weir in the Chair. Councillors, J.K. Robson, D.G. Baynes, Mrs A.S. Robson &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. County Councillor Wm Purdue.
Public: Ian Hancock. Slaley Notes: Jean & Michael Elphick. Courant Reporter: None.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillors D.G. Baynes for agenda item 17
3. Minutes of February Council Meeting circulated:
The minutes (pages 138-141). (+ appendix 2/140205 & subsequent notes pages 142-144) circulated 28/2/05. Approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr JK Robson, seconded by Cllr Mrs A. Robson.
4. Matters Arising:
a) 4a 14/02/05; 5a 10/01/05 & 6a 8/11/04: The new litter-bin (without lid) at the post office. It has been suggested that it should also have a lid – action Monitor and see if litter blows out.
b) 6e 14/02/05 Invitations to Councillors to attend Youth Club Wed 16/3/05 circulated
c) 13b14/02/05 Reply from Jonathan Farries circulated – litter problems are a fact of life.
d) 13c 14/02/05 Reply from TC Philip Hindmarsh re Fly Tipping circulated – no increase identified (or possibly reported) elsewhere in Tynedale.
e) from page 142 Excellent meeting with Playground Equipment (in the snow) representative, Adam Scott, Rachel & Jake Scott, Kerry Jewitt, Richard & Pat - design and quotation to follow.
f) from page 142-144 e-mail from Vicky Law possible non-green belt sites for affordable housing. Slaley House, south of Rose & Crown, Carden Cottage, Cautley Cottage, Oak Lea and Ashlea entrance via field gate near dog bin & public footpath. A letter sent to Gwen & Alan Ridley, the landowners, A negative reply was received. The final site was north of bungalows in corner of Hillfield entrance (the site suggested for off road parking). Richard and I looked and thought to small. Two castle Housing now offering to make a presentation.
It was decided to get confirmation letters from Slaley House and Hillfield Farm landowners of their interest in selling their land for affordable housing. Clerk to arrange for Milecastle Housing and Two Castles to make a presentation at the April meeting.
5. Public Participation: None
6. Correspondence:
a) TC State of the Area Debate- Flooding in Tynedale circulated
b) TC Bi-Annual Joint Tynedale Council/Parish Council discussion forum questionnaire circulated - Clerk to complete Litter & Fly Tipping increase in Tynedale especially A69. Parish Councillors hours of unpaid work. Stationary allowance & travelling expenses from which budget.
c) TC Rough Sleepers in Tynedale circulated - None to report.
d) Putting the Learner First: Part A The Vision & Strategy; Part B Models for School Organisation; Appendices 1-4; Appendices 5 –12 - still circulating + Area Committee new meeting Thursday 17th March at Haydon Bridge. CCllr Bill Purdue elaborated on the present situation, he confirmed that generally school in Tynedale do very well whereas schools elsewhere in Northumberland are not achieving as well as Tynedale. The meetings test opinions, there is a good case for each change whichever is chosen it will mean 15 years of disruption.
e) Tynedale Local Development Framework: Core Strategy Letter; Timetable for Local Development Framework; Tynedale Local Development Framework. Core Strategy: Discussion Paper on Issues views by April 15th; Tynedale Local Development Framework. Core Strategy: Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report views by April 15th. Circulating
f) Great North Air Ambulance - Guest Speaker contact details & grant application - already allocated in 05/06 Precept.
g) NCC Consultation on the Monitoring and Enforcement Strategy for Minerals and Waste Sites – comments by 22nd April 2005; The Standards Board for England – A Code for the Future 5 copies distributed; TDC January meeting minutes –First green page BOATs article; North Country Leisure – Office Move; WRVS request for grant aid; Tynedale Area Committee - Committee Papers 14th Feb, 25th Feb & 1st March; Northumberland Community News Vol 25 No 1; CCofN Donation request - already allocated in 05/06 Precept; NALC Training; The Tree Council leaflets; Egger Publication Supplement as appeared in the Hexham Courant; The Countryside Agency – the conclusive map of open country and registered common land in upper north west England – Area 4; Glasdon advertising sheets; Clerks and Councils Direct March 2005; Age Concern volunteer news March 2005; Society of Local Council Clerks Regional Conference 28th April.
7. Current Planning Applications:
20050220 Conversion of barn to residential and removal of adjacent
farm building Trygill Farm circulating
20050149 Conservatory to west, L shaped conservatory to north + increased
height of boundary wall. Slaley Village Garden Cottage objections
20041564 Change of Use & conversion of existing agricultural
building & construction of porch rear of Orchard House pending
20051520 Demolition of existing outbuildings & construction
of a replacement garage. The Strothers pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20050001 Freestanding winter fodder & livestock building Reaston Hill granted
20041467 Conversion of barn & change of use Trygill Farm withdrawn
20041418 New vehicular access Linnel Hill refused
20040147 Appeal by Sir & Lady MJ Darrington Middle Grange withdrawn
Requested update on the static caravan at Pine Hill from Martin Eggenton received – authority not aware of any proposals for a dwelling.
No reply to update letter re the sale of Holiday Villas at Slaley Hall from the above.
Clerk to request an update for the Parish Plan Action Plan April Update.
8. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Interim payments.
No 228 Pipex Hosting – Slaley Web page £93.41
b) Cheques to be signed
No 229 Commemoration Hall 14/3/05 £10.00
No 230 Clerk’s Salary September 04 - March 05 £500.00
No 230 also to include annual Clerk’s expenditure £ 267.39 £267.39
Proposed by Cllr AJ Weir and seconded by Cllr Mrs A Robson.
c) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £496.12.
9. Sustainable Communities Plan – Councillor Ferguson to report.
On collection of this document from Mr Ferguson the Clerk to circulate.
10. New text for Information Display Board.
It was decided that Cllr AJ Weir speaks to the Community Trust about completing this project.
11. Grant Applications from the Northumbria Water Pipeline Fund
Confirmation received. Over £300,000 worth of requests made for the £150,000 allocation.
Meet the Funders event Wednesday March 9th attended by Cllr JK Robson & Clerk Pat Wilson. Other avenues of funding for Toddler Play Area to be followed through.
12. Parish Litter Pick. – Sunday April 3rd circulated.
80 Sacks and 50 pairs of gloves ordered from Philip Hindmarsh (652275) and will be delivered to Clerk’s home. Any surplus to be returned to TC. TC will arrange to have the sacks uplifted from Slaley Commemoration Hall on Monday April 4th. Advertising through Slaley Notes and a copy given to Parish Magazine editor. Cllr Mrs A Robson confirmed by e-mail that she would do refreshments. Cllr Mrs A. Robson to purchase, Supermarket Receipts to Clerk for reimbursement. It was decided to ask for several reflector Tabards, hand held litter pickers (for elderly), ‘SLOW’ or ‘Litter Picking’ signs. Cllr Weir agreed to hand out parish maps to participants if they requested an area to clean. Posters in the parish and also ask Slaley School to mention the litter pick in a newsletter to parents.
13. Adopt the Annual Risk Assessment as circulated
The draft Annual Risk Assessment was adopted and will become page 145 of minutes.
14. Surveying the Condition of Slaley Parish Highways for Annual Report as circulated
Each Councillor allocated a stretch of parish highway and given the criteria to make their report. The Councillors will return the completed forms to the April meeting after which the Clerk will combine the information to make the Annual Report at AGM in May. C.Cllr Purdue confirmed that the county highway maintenance budget had been knocked back and the post of Area Maintenance Manager had been disbanded. On our behalf Cllr Purdue had complained of this.
15. Freedom of Information Act training at Hexham CC 2nd March report as circulated.
Adopt the draft FOI Risk Assessment, the draft FOI Audit and the draft FOI Publication Schedule circulated – The draft FOI & DDA Risk Assessment documents were accepted by the meeting.
16. A.O.B.
a) Sub-committees for parish council business – the system used at Allendale Parish Council for sub-committee of 4 Councillors was discussed. Allendale has 13 Councillors and numerous sub-committees including staffing; rights-of-way; town; churchyard; dog walking; finance etc. Only Maggie Keyte on the RoW committee is a non-Councillor. Each sub-committee makes its report & recommended action at the main monthly meeting. The Clerk still does all correspondence.
b) An e-mail reply from Gail Philipson regarding Review of Councillor numbers at Slaley to request more Councillors, between 4 yearly elections, a parish consultation exercise must be undertaken either by leaflet drop with a response slip or local paper advertisement with response slip. It was decided to wait until the 4 yearly election date in 2007.
c) Community Trust event March 11th had been attended by Cllr’s Weir, Robson & Baynes. Elected officials are Chairman: Moyra Riseborough; Treasurer Christine Hanley; Secretary Peter McKendrick. 32 members of public attended to support the launch and CT members were complimentary of Slaley Parish Council. Cllr Weir recommended that the CT be involved as much as possible with the Parish Council. There was no evidence or suggestion of empire building, which had been attributed to individual members. Cllr Weir reported that a working party was being set up to take forward the opening up of the school grounds again with the Trust taking on the public liability insurance.
d) Reimbursement for the cost of paper to download all the attachments circulated with the agenda was questioned by one councillor. It was agreed that the Clerk would provide a ream (500 sheets) of paper to the Councillors who received their minutes by e-mail.
e) Cut branches on the B6306 have been left lying on the grass verge south of Curlew Cottage. Cllr JK Robson to make enquiries if this is highway maintenance or private work.
17. BOATs Update (without Councillor Baynes)
a) Cllr Ferguson resigned as Chairman of the BOATs sub-committee The Councillors confirmed their wish to remain involved with the The 4 Parishes BOATs Sub-committee. However the question must be asked of David Francis if Clerk, Pat Wilson, could represent Slaley Parish Council on the BOATs Sub-committee.
Date of next meeting: Monday 11th April 2005. Meeting closed at 9 07 p.m.
The Minutes of Slaley Parish Council February 2005
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday 14th February 2005, at 7.30 p.m. in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
Pre-meeting Discussion with Landowners
Report as Appendix 2/140205
1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue.
Present: Councillor C.J.R. Ferguson in the chair. Councillors, J.K. Robson, A.J. Weir, D.G. Baynes, Mrs A.S. Robson & Mrs L. Norris. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey
Public: None. Slaley Notes: None. Courant Reporter: None.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillors D.G. Baynes & Mrs Linda Norris for agenda item 14
3. Minutes of January Council Meeting circulated:
The minutes (pages 129-131). Minutes of meeting with TDC Officers & Councillors (pages 132-133 appendix 1100105 circulated. Precept agreed at £6,271.00 (page 134 appendix 2/100105 circulated. Minutes of Special meeting January 05 (pages 135-137 appendix 1/140205) circulated.
Approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr J.K. Robson seconded by Cllr Mrs L. Norris.
4. Matters Arising:
a) 5a 10/01/05 & 6a 8/11/04: The new litter-bin (with lid) at the millennium feature & replacement near post office fitted by Bill Bates. Key will be given to Refuse Collection Department.
b) 7b 10/01/05 TC Scrutinising NCC’s Maintenance Policy in relation to Road Safety in Rural Areas – Questionnaire by 1st March deferred from January meeting. Completed.
c) 6d 11/10/04 (page 118), 6h 8/11/04 (page121), 6j 6/12/04 (page 125): Defra Clean Neighbourhoods (Slaley Parish Council circulated for 3 months - No Comments). Bill formally introduced on December 7th. Parish Council powers to issue fixed penalties for litter and dog offences etc. Councillors were very alarmed at implementing these proposals.
5. Public Participation: None
6. Correspondence:
a) NCC request (dated 13th January) for comments on County Council Budget 2005/06 cuts of £10m. Cllr Ferguson & Pat held a meeting on Monday 17th January to compile a reply (sent by e-mail on Tuesday 18th January) and acknowledged on Wednesday 19th January. + a reply from Mark Henderson, NCC Chief Executive.
b) NCC – Minerals & Waste Development Framework, Public Forum 3.30 p.m. Monday 28th February at Humshaugh Village Hall. No Councillor able to attend.
c) NEDL (electricity) extend communication to parish councils affected by major incidents – help in communicating with the local community. Reply that during a storm Slaley is normally without electricity therefore Fax machines and computers do not work plus telephone lines are prone to damage.
d) David Grenfell TC Dog Fouling Survey 2005 Clerk completed. E-mail re dog fouling outside School. DG asked to visit & hopefully make an example with a large fine.
e) Slaley Youth Club AGM Wednesday 16th March – Councillors invited.
f) E-mail 2/2/05 from Jonathan Farries (Forestry) rally cars Saturday 5th February. Clerk produced Warning noticed placed in Notice Board a distributed to know users.
g) TC – Northumbria in Bloom Open Evening – March 14th St Aidan’s Church Hall, Hencotes. Same date as March Parish Council meeting. Suggest giving to Community Trust group.
h) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – Freedom of Information Act 2000. – Section 36 information exempt from disclosure. Qualified persons to implement Section 36:
Parish Councils. Primary Authorisation. Clerk to the Council. Secondary; Chairman.
Parish Meetings. Primary Authorisation Chairman of Meeting. Secondary District C Officer.
j) NALC training New Councillors 23rd February. Legal & Employment Matters 2nd March. Cllr Ferguson and Pat Wilson will attend March 2nd training.
k) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – two discussion documents; 1st Vibrant Local Leadership and 2nd Citizen Engagement and Public Services: Why Neighbourhoods Matter. Councillor Ferguson to read and report back on this part of the £38 billion Sustainable Communities Plan.
l) TC Updated forms relating to Declaration of Acceptance of Office & Register of Interest Form and Guidance Notes.
m) Volunteering Tynedale request for funding; NTC Touring Theatre Company request for grant aid; North East Assembly The Voice for the Region- View Shaping the North East Consultation Events – January 24th in Morpeth; NCC - Town & Country Planning Act 1990 – Notice of Adoption of Proposals for the Alteration of a Structure Plan – Northumberland County and National Park Joint Structure Plan, First Alteration. Copies of the proposals are available List of venues for Tynedale given; CPRE (campaign to protect rural England) – Stop urban Sprawl; Record Playground Equipment information; Glasdon advertising leaflets to include new information frames; NALC Royal Garden Party; NALC Training; NALC Model Disciplinary Procedure; NALC Model Grievance Procedure; TC Bytes and Briefs Issue 33 – February 2005.
7. Current Planning Applications:
20050001 Freestanding winter fodder & livestock building Reaston Hill no objections
20041564 Change of Use & conversion of existing agricultural
building & construction of porch rear of Orchard House pending
20051520 Demolition of existing outbuildings & construction
of a replacement garage. The Strothers pending
20041467 Conversion of barn & change of use Trygill Farm pending
20041418 New vehicular access Linnel Hill pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20041425 First floor ext, flat roof to pitched The Cottage (Village) refused
20041476 First floor bedroom extension & conversion
of garage to form bedroom Middle Grange granted
20041508 Two storey front extension Lawn Cottage granted
No reply for requested update on the static caravan at Pine Hill from Martin Eggenton , Helen Winter or Cllr Horncastle. No reply to update letter re the sale of Holiday Villas at Slaley Hall from the above. Clerk requested to write again.
20030313 Planning Application Old School. David Campbell replied “When the property was marketed in 1995 and eventually sold to Mrs & Miss Richardson there was no restriction placed on the future use of the premises. Copy to Mr & Mrs Weatherley.
8. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Interim payments.
No 224 Glasdon (new & replacement Litter Bins) £172.57
No 225 Bill Bates (fixing litter bins) £50.00
b) Cheques to be signed
No 226 Commemoration Hall 24/1/05; 28/1/05 (with CT group); 14/2/05 £30.00
No 227 NALC training event on March 2nd £10.00
Proposed by Cllr DG Baynes and seconded by Cllr Mrs L Norris.
c) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £496.12.
d) Precept request confirmed by Marjorie Dobson at Tynedale Council.
9. Community Trust Event, Friday February 4th report.
An audience of 50 people is an indication of interest within the parish. The constitution is very lengthy, however the general opinion was that the document was written to cover many conditions and events which may, or may not, occur. Dialogue between the two groups is still in doubt It was suggested and agreed that after March 11th event the Clerk write to the Community Trust asking them to define the methods of communication between themselves and the Parish Council. It was also pointed out that the Community Trust will not be working within the legal restrictions of a government organisation, as the Parish Council does, but will have an optional choice of what objects it covers.
10. Acceptance of the January Parish Plan Action Plan Update. Circulated
Acceptance of the circulated document was proposed by Cllr A.J. Weir and seconded by Mrs L. Norris.
11. New text for Information Display Board.
It was suggested that the Community Trust take this over. However after discussing the objective of the Information Board as defined in the Parish Plan, which was to tell people who are not of the area where to stay, eat, visit etc. It was finally agreed that the Councillors would look at the old copy at its March meeting and with the use of symbols see if progress could be made.
12. Resignation of a Slaley Parish Councillor.
Cllr A.J. Weir has reluctantly decided to resign as a Councillor. Cllr Weir reported that this decision was partly because Slaley has too few Councillors who were able to attend all the various sub-meetings. Since his joining the Parish Council he has seen the workload double with indications of more and more work expected from Councillors. His resignation will take effect from March 31st 2005. Councillor Weir was thanked for his input into the Council, his valuable experience in planning matters will be a great miss.
13. A.O.B.
a) Litter in the parish is unacceptable a parish litter pick to be considered during the Easter Holidays. Clerk to speak with Lesley Woodhouse to see if the Youth Club would participate – maybe to indicate Civic Pride. Cllr Mrs A Robson volunteered to serve refreshments in the Commemoration Hall if the Litter Pick became a parish event.
b) Litter signs in Slaley Forest have been placed inside the barrier into the forest and not adjacent to the Forest sign. This was felt inappropriate especially the one leading from the B6306. Information Boards explaining the owners of the forestry, a brief history and its rules of admittance (protection of deer, dogs under control etc.) should be made available. Slaley Forest is seen by many as an access to the countryside and used for several recreational pursuits. Clerk to speak with Jonathan Farries about this.
c) Fly Tipping is becoming unacceptable. A newspaper vending machine has been dumped on the left of the track south of Ladycross Quarry entrance. A car was recently abandoned at Action Cleugh Head gate. Clerk to write to Philip Hindmarch TC asking if TC’s policy on restricting commercial charges for the disposal of unwanted items could be reconsidered due to the increase in fly-tipping. Also to ask if Slaley was the only parish in Tynedale who had noted the increase.
14. BOATs Update.
a) Rights of Way Improvement Plan – Request for Information from Parish Councils was completed as requested.
b) A request for a TRO, on The Broadway, by Hexhamshire & Allendale Parish Councils will be supported by the remaining three parishes of the The 4 Parishes BOATs Sub-committee.
c) It has been reported that David Brookes, NCC, is asking certain organisations for comments on the NCC proposal to place a TRO on certain footpaths and bridleways in the County where MPVs are causing damage.
d) Letter of complaint of conditions in Slaley Forest from Eileen Charlton a horse rider.
Date of next meeting: Monday 14th March 2005. Meeting closed at 9.35p.m.
Some more news about the long awaited conversion of the Hall computers access to broadband. Back in September 2004, the news was that "it might not come as an utter surprise to you that BT announced, as late as yesterday, that the Slaley exchange upgrade will not be happening today. The new target date is October 8th." This did in fact happen, and like several others our own broadband connection became active shortly after.
However since then, the promised conversion of the ISDN line for the Hall computers has been a long saga of delays, starting in November 2004 ("both orders have been delayed due to incompatible products on both lines"). So far this year, we have heard in January that "BT are not processing orders because the postcode is not correct", in March that "at present there is not enough space at the exchange to upgrade your line to ADSL", followed by "BT say that they can not convert the line due to the fact that it has a PBX switchboard on it."
Finally a message to say "the conversion is now scheduled for Tuesday May 3rd", only to be told at the end of April that "The earliest date that they can come to Slaley Hall is the afternoon of 24 May." We're still hoping to have something to announce by the end of May ...