Although we said that Michael Elphick would be starting his short course on ‘Getting yourself on the Web’ this last Thursday (November 3rd), the school Hallowe’en party was also taking place that night in the Hall. Accordingly the first course session has been postponed to Thursday November 10th, at 7.30 pm in the Commemoration Hall. Subsequent sessions will be on November 17th, 24th and December 1st.
Our apologies to anyone affected by this ...
Find out what has happened in the last three months here.
We requested a full parish grass verge cut the week before Slaley Show but did Slaley get a second cut during 2004? This is just one of the questions Slaley Councillors asked at its September meeting.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday September 12th 2005, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue, District Councillor B.W. Massey & Councillors Mrs L. Norris.
Present: Councillor A.J. Weir in the Chair. Councillors, J.K. Robson, I.C. Hancock, D.G. Baynes, Mrs A.S. Robson &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: None. Slaley Notes: Jean Elphick. Courant Reporter: Lyndsey Wright. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: None.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillor Baynes for agenda item 16.
3. Minutes of July Parish Council Meeting circulated pages 166-168) :
The minutes pages 166-168 were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr I. Hancock, seconded by Cllr K. Robson.
4. Minutes of August Walk-about Parish Council Meeting circulated pages 171-173):
The minutes pages 171-173 were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr K. Robson, seconded by Cllr I. Hancock. Note page 171 some members think the vehicle was a gold Volvo.
5. Matters Arising:
a) 2a 8/08/05; 5a 11/07/05; 3-13/06/05. Slaley Hall lawful dwellings - DC Brian Massey contacted Gary Pointer & Peter Atkinson MP for help – Reply via e-mail suggesting an individual member of the PC complain or he write to the Minister responsible for Planning. Cllr I Hancock to contact TC and ask for a copy of the legal advice that the Villas were outside the ‘holiday’ restriction.
b) 2c 8/08/05; 5f 11/7/05; 7c 13/06/05: Telecommunications Tower further correspondence via e-mail between DC Brian Massey and Bart Milburn Enforcement Planning Officer, Retrospective planning application will be submitted week beginning 12/9/05. We must watch for this application.
c) 9b 8/08/05; 5e 11/07/05; 7b 13/06/05; 11b 9/05/05: Millennium Feature – Stamp Duty land tax return completed 19/8/05. Land Registry TP1 forms, signed by Cllr A.J. Weir as Chairman, and Pat Wilson as Clerk to the Council. Public Liability on Insurance + cost onto the Asset and Investment Register – Billy Hall suggested £5,000
d) 2d 8/08/05; 12-11/07/05 NM&WDF- SoCI: Inspector appointed to examine Statement of Community Involvement, he/she may correspond with participants to clarify matters.
e) 3(13) 8/08/05: Waste Collection at Wooley: update of e-mails – large quantities take over two collections otherwise the bulky waste collection service for which there is a charge.
f) 2b 8/08/05 & 9b 08/08/05: Townhead Grass cutting by Holly Bush Nursery. Clerk saw Clive Readman and said that £55 per normal cut was more than the PC could afford on a monthly basis. Mr Readman finally verbally agreed on a £30 (including Vat) monthly cut for 2006. April, May, June, July, August & September.
6. Public Participation.
Jean Elphick reminded the Councillors that the film made by the children of Slaley would be shown at the monthly film show this Friday.
7. Community Trust Report.
None – explained by e-mail that nothing new to report.
8. Correspondence:
a) Complaint (anonymous) Static caravans rear of Rose & Crown used as residences – Contact DC Brian Massey and Enforcement Officer Bart Milburn about this.
b) Thank You from Lucy Greenfield for responses to the Draft Statement of Community Involvement (see page 166, 3 11/07/05) Next consultation period to begin 19th September 2005. + Councillors who wish to receive documents directly Cllr Hancock & Mrs A Robson. Training late September 3 hours week days Interest? – Clerk to apply.
c) Community Police at Slaley reminder 4/10/05 and 7/12/05 Remind through Slaley Notes.
d) East Tynedale & Western C M Parish Councils Forum meeting 13/9/05 (Cllr Norris on holiday) Everyone had other meetings.
e) TC Protecting & Conserving War Memorial Heritage – grants and planning procedures Pass to St. Mary the Virgin PCC.
f) Northumberland Development Plan – Tynedale ‘Change Up’ Project – 11.30 Monday 26th September + article in Hexham Courant on Friday – No-one wished to go
g) Northumberland Community News Rural Social & Community Programme – could be of benefit to us with play area, parking etc. circulating
h) The Sustainable Communities Bill - Early Day Motion + campaign material circulating.
i) Bi-Annual Joint Tynedale Council/Parish/Town Council discussion forum minutes from 17/7/05 circulating.
j) TDC Minutes of meetings July ; NALC Handbook + AGM + Defra’s proposed Social & Community Programme + The Tree Council leaflets; VONNE membership newsletter; Society of Local Council Clerks at Wylam 5/11/05; Clerks & Councils Direct Sept 05; Sutcliffee Play Summer Special catalogue; Fitzpatrick Woolmer display boards; TC Bytes and Briefs Issue 34; North Pennines AONB Partnership general leaflet. Scott Mitchell & Associates Open Day 27/8/05; Great North Air Ambulance Service Lottery forms; The Local Channel - Free Community Website information.
9. Current Planning Applications:
20051039 Certificate of lawfulness 20 Slaley Park
20050998 First floor extension + flat roof to pitched The Cottage, Main St. better
20050957 Replacement garage & installation of LPG tank Glen Lodge. No object
20050953 Alterations to existing BB accom: alterations of bed and breakfast accom to single holiday let unit: change of use of holiday let & stable to dwelling house. Change of use from agricultural land to Orchard. Rye Hill. Occupancy conditions?
20050880 First floor side extension above garage 2 South park. No objections
20050888 Construction of outdoor arena, Wooley Park pending
20050787 Conversion & extension to barn & outbuildings to link existing dwelling at
Stable Cottage, High Clear. pending
20050557 Renewal of temporary planning permission for permanent use of land as outdoor pursuits area etc. Slaley Hall. pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20050746 Replacement barn opposite South Glen granted
10. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Cheques to be signed
No 245 Commemoration hall meetings 8/8/05; 17/8/05 & 12/9/05 £30.00
No 246 Mrs P Wilson retainer March – Sept 05 £600.00
No 247 BDO Stoy Hayward LLP (audit) £141.00
No 248 Slaley Show GRANT £300.00
No 249 St. Mary’s Churchyard GRANT £50.00
No 250 Commemoration Hall GRANT £750.00
Proposed by Cllr D Baynes and seconded by Cllr Mrs A Robson.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £498.38.
c) Report from Audit: (i) Annual Return approved and accepted by the Council.
(ii) Issues Arising Report presented to the Council – Internal Auditor marked the Asset and Investment Register as N/A. Action this to be brought to Mrs Weatherley’s attention, especially with the Millennium Feature being added during this financial year.
(iii) The Annual return and Notice of Conclusion of Audit placed on Commemoration Hall notice board for 14 days.
11. Report on Affordable Housing meeting, Wednesday August 17th:
a) Report as circulated and attached as appendix 1/120905 Page 177
b) Julie Cuthbert request a copy of the Slaley Parish Plan this was sent via e-mail.
12. County Council “Small Schemes grant” circulated.
Report as attached appendix 2/120905 Page 178
13. Local Transport Plan circulated.
Report as attached appendix 3/120905 Page 179
14. Report from Cllr JK Robson – Access to Services Inspection 5/9/05.
The meeting had been convened to assess how constituents accessed information from Tynedale, however, those present were more concerned with concerns they have with Tynedale Council and the Chairman was continually trying to bring back the meeting ‘onto track’. Interesting statement include
a) TC will provide a FREE skip twice a year to any resident in Tynedale.
b) TC have a Customer Services Department
c) TC staff is obliged to offer information on services which other bodies provide.
d) TC offer Housing and Community Charge Benefits.
15. A.O.B.
a) Cllr A.J. Weir handed in his resignation from the Parish Council with immediate effect; this is due to a health problem. Cllr Weir was thanked for his work during his three years as a Councillor for Slaley parish.
b) A skip on the public highway outside Meadow Rise has been emptied and replaced over the Summer Holidays. Clerk to request its removal as soon as possible.
c) Ian Clarke telephone to ask about planning application 20050557. Mr Clarke had been ill during Monday September 5th and the shooting frequency had been far in excess of the permitted.
d) Main roads in the parish had been cut after Slaley Show, minor roads had still not been cut. Clerk to report this to Highways.
16. BOATs update (without Councillor Baynes)
Meeting 5/9/05. The committee felt that Stocksfield was misreporting. Stages had to go through the system there was no short cut to extinguishing a BOAT. Apparently the new system for BOAT applications is for NCC to contact the landowner and not the relevant Parish Council. We have written to David Brookes asking that PC’s be informed. Blanchland has two applications and Allendale has a trial TRO. Again the TRO was not notified to the relevant Parish Council.
Date of October meeting: Monday 10th October 2005. Meeting closed at 8.55 p.m.
Some may still remember the BBC Domesday project, which in 1986 produced a record of life in Britain in the 1980's in the form of two videodiscs and a special BBC microcomputer. The information was collected and submitted by over one million children and adults from over 14,000 schools, hundreds of branches of the Women's Institute, scores of scout troops and many other voluntary bodies throughout the country.
Copies of the BBC Domesday Project videodiscs survive but very few videodisc players and microcomputers remain in working order, so a web version, Domesday 1986, was developed in 2004, which recreates much of the original project.
An extract from this for Slaley (shown below) gives a picture of life in this area in the early 1980's which you may find interesting (especially if you were one of the contributors listed at the end of the extract). A few spelling errors have intentionally not been corrected, e.g. "Slaley Hall Eastate has recently been sold."
To view the original text & photographs, go to the website, and search for 'Slaley'.
The BBC Domesday Project: Slaley in 1986
General View Of The Area.
This remote rural area is about 700 feet above sea level and the weather can be harsh in the winter. It consists of farmland and forestry, a significant feature being the Slaley Hall Eastate. The area is unspoiled and the special feature is the countryside itself, plus the wild life it hosts.
To the north, the village of Slaley is a typical "long village", consisting of one row of houses on either side of the road, nearly a mile in length. Building is not permitted outside the line of existing houses and recent years have seen considerable filling of the gaps. Modern houses outnumber the traditional farmhouses and cottages. House names such as High Clear and Curlew Cottage indicate distictive features of the area.
Employment.
Whilst the largest single group of people actually work within the Slaley area on farm, road haulage, forestry and related services, a large number are employed in Hexham, the local market town. However, it is significant that this number has been overtaken in recent years by residents who commute to Newcastle.
Actual unemployment is insignifcant, although transport problems are a restriction on choice for some and on housewives wanting to take up part-time employment.
Farming.
The farms in this area range in size from about 30 acres to 500 acres and cover a range of enterprises, the most common being milk production for the Milk Marketing Board. The average size of the dairy herds is 50 cows. Several of the farms have a flock of sheep, producing fat lambs for market in autumn. Pigs are the only enterprise on one farm but they are secondary production on 3 of the other farms. The dairy farms all produce silage as winter feed for their herds and 50% of the farms grow corn, mainly barley for home stock consumption. The remaining farm produces beef for sale at the local town marts. Calves are both home bred and bought in for this purpose. Each of the farms is owned and farmed by the same family with one exception - Colpitts Grange, where a manager has been employed.
Slaley Parish Council.
The area is immediately served by Slaley Parish Council, consisting of 5 members, who traditionally stand as independent of any political party. The Parish Council meets 4 to 5 times each year with additional meetings to discuss planning applications or immediate problems.
Residents have close contact with their councillors and rarely attend meetings, although items are raised at the Annual Parish Meeting. The Parish Council can deal with any matter of concern by referring to the appropriate service or higher authority. The District Councillor attends meetings and the present Chairman is the elected County Councillor. The Parish Council employs a part-time clerk who has been traditionally the village headmaster.
Education.
The area is served by Slaley County First School, which is a modern building of three classrooms and a hall, surrounded by ample grounds and playing fields. The school identifies closely with the community. Children join a nursery class held in the mornings when they are three years, transferring to school when they are 4+. The headmaster has full-time responsibility for a class of 20 and there are two other classes of 18 and 14. The school serves the general area of Slaley, Blanchland, Healey and Minsteracres, children beyond 2 miles being transported by minibus. Children from the school usually transfer to Corbridge County Middle School at 9+ and then to the Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham at the age of 13+.
A Day In The Life Of Rachael
My name is Rachael and I am 8. I get up at 7:30 a.m., dress, go downstairs and have Rice Krispies wth milk. Afterwards I wash, comb my hair and dress my doll. I feed our two cats, then at 8:30 a.m. mum takes me to school in he car. I have to open two gates on our lane before we reach the road. School starts at 9:00 a.m. with assembly. I have lunch at 12:00 a.m. then play with my friends in the playground. School finishes at 3:15 p.m. and I travel home on a minibus. Mum meets me and we take a short-cut home across fields and through a wood. I play on my bike, feed my pony and watch television until my dad comes home at 5:30 p.m. when we have dinner. Mum takes me to Brownies at 6:30 p.m. and my auntie brngs me home. I have milk and biscuits and get ready for bed at 9:00 p.m.
Religion.
St. Mary's Church dates from the 13th century. There is one service weekly: Sunday 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Holy Communion is held on 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays, Matins on 2nd and 4th Sundays, with additional services on all Holy Days. There are 42 adult members of the Church and 15 Sunday School members. 1985 saw the first woman Church Warden.
The Methodist Chapel holds two services weekly: Sundays 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., with additional services Easter, Harvest and Christmas. The Chapel is in the Corbridge section of the Hexham Circuit. There are 35 adult members and 6 Sunday School members. During the winter, Fellowship meetings are held in the Chapel or members' homes.
A joint service is held once per month.
Transport.
The area is fairly remote and 80% of households have at least one vehicle. There is only a limited bus service and most people find a car essential for both work and leisure. The households without their own transport are usally retired people, and in the main women. Having a vehicle becomes a high priority for young people in order to enjoy leisure activities both within the area and Hexham.
Slaley Show.
1985 will see the 127th Slaley Show held on Townhead Field. Over 50 people have organized 270 competitive classes including flowers, vegetables, flower arranging, cookery, handicraft and children's classes in two marquees. Outside over 200 sheep will be judged in classes for Suffolk, Blue-Faced Leicester, Mule and fat lambs. There are classes for goats, terriers and lurchers together with pony sports and a clay-pigeon shoot. Special attractions have been Police Dog Displays, a Parade of Heavy Horses, a Highland Pipe Band and Foxhounds.
St Mary's Church.
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin stands on the eastern slope of the village hill, about 700 feet above sea -level. Various buildings have adorned the site, while the original of the name belongs to the 13th century. The building was thoroughly restored in 1832. In 1907 the Church was further restored and embellished with much of its present furnishings. In 1921, the Lych Gate was erected as a memorial to the Fallen of the First World War. The stained glass windows show the dates and dedications, apart from the West window, which was given by a member of the Hunting family of Slaley Hall. The Parish Registers date back from 1703 and record the names of several great families in the village and illustrate the occupations of parishioners, such as Clogger, Weaver, Miller, Smelter, Husbandman and Farmer.
Slaley Hall.
1985 is significant for the area in that, following the death of the owner, the Slaley Hall Eastate has recently been sold. Planning permission has been granted to develop a 140 acre golf course using the Hall as the clubhouse. The farm and other parts of the property are for re-sale.
Birds
The area consists of foresty and farmland with hedgerows. Whilst farmland birds (curlew, lapwings, snipe, skylark, meadow pipit, cuckoo, barn and little owl) are decreasing, the hedgerow and woodland birds (dunnock, yellowhammer, chaffinch, greenfinch, bullfinch, goldfinch, blackbird, song thrush and mistle thrush) are increasing. Carrion crow, rook, magpie, jay, sparrowhawk, kestrel, crossbill, siskin, redpoll and tawny owl are stable with fluctuation mainly due to the accessibility of food. The merlin is rare but does occur.
Wild life
Mammals are numerous. Roe deer, red squirrel, badger and fox are increasing. Common and pygmy shrew, bank and field vole, stoat, weasel and hedgehog are stable. Water vole and water shrew are decreasing. Reptiles (adder and slow worm) are stable.
Amphibians (common frog, toad and palmate newt) are stable to decreasing. There are 6 species of bat in the area.
Brown Trout and eels are seriously decreasing due to polution.
Most plants and hardwood trees are under pressure of modern life but an increased awareness of the importance of conservation means that most of the wild life and countryside is just past the worst.
Shopping.
The majority of families purchase the bulk of their groceries from supermarkets in the local market town of Hexham, supplementing this with purchases from the local shop. Some make occasional visits to the large hypermarkets in the Newcastle area. Others, mainly elderly people with transport problems, make the bulk of their shopping at the local shop or from travelling shops which visit them at their door. Whilst the older residents usually purchase specialist items such as clothing and furniture in Hexham, the remainder tend to visit Newcastle at some time to seek a wider range. The local shop is also the post office and nearly everyone makes some kind of purchase there at some time.
Credits.
Mr. Barry Robson, Paul Kendall
Mrs. Joan Jewitt, James Gibson
Mr. Collin Jewitt, Lee Rudderham
Mrs. Pat Wilson, Rachael Hall
Mr. David Baynes, Amy Melvin
Mrs. Shirey Baynes, Wayne Hillier
Mr. Alec Bissett, Paul Baynes
Mrs. Karen Melvin, Michael Ogle
Mr. Allen Ogle, Matthew Atkins
Mrs. Margaret Ogle, Rowland Bone
Miss. Gillian Robson, Ben Rutter
Miss. Susan Weatherley, Justin Cule
Andrew Robson, Julie Robson
Jeffrey Makepeace, James Wilson
Georgina Barclay, David Robson
Iain Craig, Carina Evison
Stephanie Gledhill, Andrew Patrick
Children from Slaley and Whitley Chapel have been taking part in the North Pennines Storytelling Festival at Hexham Abbey this Friday, October 14th. This year it explores the theme of "Journeys". For those who have not been able to attend this event, an extra attraction entitled "Along the Way" will take place in Slaley Commemoration Hall at 7.30 pm that evening.
Pascale Konyn, the storyteller, will share tales (with musical accompaniment) inspired by local history that she explored earlier with children and young people from Whitley Chapel and Slaley. Pascale is part of "A Bit Crack", a group of professional storytellersbased in the North East who work individually and together across the country, at festivals and events, and for a wide variety of audiences. People who attended previous events for the Storytelling Festival have been very enthusiastic ... you can read more about the festival at their festival website.
Admission (including refreshments) will be £4.00 for adults, £3.00 for children, and £8.00 for a family ticket.
For the last 12 months Michael Elphick & Pat Wilson have been running a drop-in session on Wednesday mornings for anyone wishing to use the computer systems or get assistance. As there have been very few customers, we are considering whether to discontinue this. If you still find this useful, please let us know by email (to Michael or Pat) or by adding a comment below: we do need some feedback!
If there is sufficient interest, Michael Elphick will put on a short evening course on how to use the Internet to publish information for you, your family or your organisation. A separate course on digital photography is also being planned.
In order to gauge demand, please phone Michael (on 673 443), sign up on the list in the Hall, or email him at elphick@gmail.com. These courses will only start if people want them!
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday August 8th 2005.
The 2005 August walk-about began at 7 p.m. in the area around The Glen & Glen crossroads, then C265 westerly to Sandybraes & Pine Hill then southerly on the U8081 to join the U8080 south of Woodnook Farm. Continued on the U8080 to the Telecommunications Tower near Garden Cottage and finally through the Holiday Villa site at Slaley Park to identify the lawful dwellings and the objection raised by Mr Ken Hill (see 6 11/7/05 page 166).
Report: Speeding traffic was quite an eye opener on the C265 between The Glen and Sandybraes. The Councillors witnessed vehicles having very near misses after taking a dive for the grass verge when confronted by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. During the fifteen or so minutes that the five members of the Parish Council were walking this road it was astonishing how fast vehicles passed and continued on to blind corners, road junctions or single track hill tops as outside Moorland View. The static caravan at Pine Hill was viewed and discussed. Clerk to request an update from TC on this. The proposed 60 foot BOAT on the U8081 & U8080 was discussed ‘on site’ as was the unsightly area at the junction of the U8081 east of Pine Hill entrance; this particular piece of land was owned by Sandybraes, however due to the prospect of it being designated as a BOAT the owners had decided not to tidy that part of their garden. (This had previously been identified as a possible site for recycling with a safe area for cars to pull off the highway to unload their recyclable materials or as a BMX track for the young people of the parish. Produced in a Report August 2004). Whilst walking up the U8080 an ’03 registration’ gold coloured BMW drove slowly past, Keith Stoddard, of Fell Cottages, who was looking for a water burst did not know the vehicle. Several golf buggies were using the U8080 from the Timeshares Lodges to the northern area of the Golf Course. These buggies are not road taxed or insured to be driving on a public highway. One young man was seen twice during the visit and he was assessed as being 14 years of age. Young people were also spotted driving the golf buggies on the Slaley Park ‘Holiday Villas’ site. Although this is a private road there are now 12 lawful private residences and as such the highway law presumably applies for under age drivers and uninsured vehicles. Clerk to report this to De-Vere head office. At 9.10 p.m. south of the junction with the C265 the Councillors were passed by a large unmarked Silver Mercedes van NG03 FFT, again this vehicle could have been using the incorrect road as exit from the Slaley Hall complex. It was interesting to note that 52 Slaley Park ‘Eagle Lodge’ has not applied for lawfulness. We spoke with Mr Ken Hill of 17 Slaley Park and a young couple who recently moved into 23 Slaley Park and saw the two villas recently built with balconies overlooking number 17 & 23 private dwellings. The part-time Enforcement Officer of Tynedale Council had made a visit to see the new villa and discuss this with Mr Hill – comments from Tynedale Council Planning department are expected in the next few days. A dog fouling incident in Slaley village was discussed during the journey back to the vehicles. On Wednesday August 3rd, Councillor JK Robson witnessed a dog foul on the grass outside Highfield House, Slaley Grange. The dog was recognised by the Councillor and subsequently the dog’s owner, at Ingleside, was informed of the incident. The owner apologised and accepted that this had happened at a time when the gates would have been open due to the older children and their friends coming and going during the Summer holidays. The Councillors decided that this was a one-off occasion and no further action would be taken.
1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue, District Councillor B.W. Massey & Councillors D.G. Baynes & Mrs A.S. Robson.
Present: Councillors A.J. Weir, J.K. Robson, I.C. Hancock, Mrs L. Norris, &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
2. Matters Arising: (On return to Slaley Commemoration Hall)
a) 5a 11/7/05; 3-13/6/05 E-mails between David Frances & Ian Hancock re complaint through LGO & copy of the advice DF received from the Association. Clerk requested to ask District Councillor Brian Massey for possible avenues of assistance.
b) 13e 11/7/05 Townhead tidy – negative telephone reply from Bill Bates. Work carried out by Hollybush Nursery. Letter from (Clive) Hollybush Nursery suggesting a monthly tidy. Councillors to review and discuss September.
c) 5f 11/7/05; 7c 13/6/05 Updated e-mails regarding the telecommunications tower at Slaley Hall. Councillors considered this an unacceptable site, it should be on the hotel. Generator providing temporary power has a constant hum with fans frequently cutting in this is unacceptable close to private residential homes. On checking with the original planning application it was discovered that the present placement is adjacent to the U8080, this is much closer to the public road than the 1999 rejected application. Clerk to write to De-Vere head office in Warrington.
d) 12 11/7/05 Acknowledgement from NCC re M&W DF Consultee reference is C415
3. Correspondence.
1. Swing on the roadside verge at Slaley (C. Charlton e-mailed back said NCC would take down)
2. E-mail from Bill Purdue re ‘small schemes grant’ (previous grants have included -tarmac the footpath outside Slaley First School, Concrete base for Slaley First school PE equipment shed etc). Councillors suggested new play area - more information after August 17th meeting.
3. View: Shaping the North east – Regional Spatial Strategy. Claim they are the Regional Planning Body – Can we use them for our TC planning problems? No, - forward planning only.
4. CCofN Northumberland Building Community Life Competition - Take part? Councillors decided they had no time to take this on.
5. Telephone message - Ash tree at Orchard House got fungus – coming down.
6. Mid Tyne Lions – Message in a Bottle Parish Magazine records Janis Irvine supervising this.
7. Handout given to Cllr Weir at Joint Discussion Forum 13/7/05 circulating
8. Clerk reported Millennium Seat showing signs of graffiti on seat. Councillors think the names will wear away but Clerk to ask Slaley Notes to put something general in the column.
9. Red Squirrel disease around Slaley. Posters placed in Notice Board, Village Hall & Slaley Notes.
10. Fire & Rescue service Community Safety leaflet Comments please - circulating
11. Local Transport Plan – circulating agenda item for September
12. Brian Massey chasing Premier Pursuits Planning Application.
13. E-mail from Slaley ‘Wooley’ resident direct to DC Brian Massey re number of refuse bags. Apparently TC have a maximum of 5/6 black bins bags this residents feels that this is not sufficient. Councillors suggested more recycling needed at this household.
14. E-mails between Bill Purdue & Pat re School Governors. Mr N Sanger (Slaley) & Mr C Astvury (Blanchland) be appointed LEA Governors.
15. NCC Linnels Bridge closure order for one month from August 16th. Clerk requested to reply asking that repairs are treated with some urgency and more ‘diversion’ signs needed in Hexhamshire.
16. Affordable Housing meeting with Scott family, their chosen RSL and Vicky Law’s replacement at Tynedale Council. Confirmed for 7 p.m. on Wednesday August 17th.
17. Selefest 2005 (placed Notice Board); Community Foundation; TAC 28/7/05 agenda; Society of Local Council Clerks circulars.
8. Current Planning Applications:
20050888 Construction of outdoor arena, Wooley Park circulating
20050787 Conversion & extension to barn & outbuildings to link existing dwelling at
Stable Cottage, High Clear. objections
20050746 Replacement barn opposite South Glen check drainage
20050557 Renewal of temporary planning permission for permanent use of land as outdoor pursuits area etc. Slaley Hall. pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20050562 Certificate of lawfulness 5 Slaley Park granted
20050603 Certificate of lawfulness 53 Slaley Park granted
20050604 Certificate of lawfulness 47 Slaley Park granted
20050606 Certificate of lawfulness 46 Slaley Park granted
20050607 Certificate of lawfulness 18 Slaley Park granted
20050610 Certificate of lawfulness 17 Slaley Park granted
20050613 Certificate of lawfulness 2 Slaley Park granted
20050649 Certificate of lawfulness 6 Slaley Park granted
20050652 Certificate of lawfulness 23 Slaley Park granted
20050676 Certificate of lawfulness 19 Slaley Park granted
20050744 Certificate of lawfulness 4 Slaley Park granted
20050770 Certificate of lawfulness 1 Slaley Park granted
9. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Interim payment
No 241 26/7/05 Hollybush Nursery for Townhead work £99.87
b) Cheques to be signed
No 242 Nicholson Portnell for work representing Mr Robson Millennium Seat £352.50
No 243 Gibson & Co work representing Slaley Parish Council Millennium Seat £220.25
No 244 Hollybush Nursery Townhead August cut £55.00
Clerk to contact and say charge too high.
Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris and seconded by Cllr I.C. Hancock.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £498.38.
Date of September meeting: Monday 12th September 2005. Meeting closed at 10.15 p.m.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday July 11th 2005, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies. County Councillor Wm Purdue, District Councillor B.W. Massey & Councillors D.G. Baynes & Mrs A.S. Robson.
Present: Councillor A.J. Weir in the Chair. Councillors, J.K. Robson, I.C. Hancock, Mrs L. Norris, &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson.
Public: Ken Hill. Slaley Notes: Lesley Woodhouse. Courant Reporter: None Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Vicky Hutchinson
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillor Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 14
3. Lucy Greenfield TC planning: Core Strategy Issues & Options. Statement of Community Involvement. Developing a Planning Training Programme. 7.34
4b 9/5/05, 8h 11/4/05 (Comments by July 25th) documents circulating. Lucy Greenfield & Jonathan Nicholson explained that the 97 Government wanted to reform the planning system and make it faster, and more accessible to the public. The present Framework under consultation was the result with many more sections to come over the following months. When asked if the Parish Plans of Tynedale had been consulted when researching the Framework in its current state, the presenters were forced to admit that they had not and that was obviously an oversight as much of the material had already been discussed by each parish and presented in book form to Tynedale Council for the very purpose of what TC are now trying to do from a higher level. Slaley Parish Council was asked to include this point in its submission by July 25th. Lucy & Jonathan were thanked for their presentation.
4. Minutes of June Parish Council Meeting circulated: 8.24
The minutes (pages 161-164). The word incriminating on agenda item 8 (page 162) be altered to ‘acrimonious’ or ‘heated’. The minutes were then approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris, seconded by Cllr J.K. Robson.
5. Matters Arising: 8.30
a) 3-13/06/05 Slaley Hall Holiday Villas. Complaint form completed and forwarded to The Local Government Ombudsman returned within 24 hrs - letter circulated – LGO unable to received complaints from a Parish Council. Cllr IC Hancock contacted NALC David Frances who is looking into where a complaint can be made. The Councillors agreed that if an alternative body be identified (possibly the standards board) and this had the same format of complaint then to go ahead once Cllr’s Weir and Hancock have agreed content rather than wait for a full meeting for agreement.
b) 5b 13/6/05 Oil containers from parish litter pick April 3rd taken to Amenity site by Bobby Johnston verbal thanks by Clerk.
c) 5c 13/6/05 Litter bin at Millennium Feature Cllr J K Robson altered faulty opening.
d) 5d 13/6/05 No reply from Philip Soderquest, Env Health on certain planning problems.
e) 7b 13/6/05; 11b 9/5/05 Millennium Seat at the Townhead – letter from Gibson & Co solicitors circulated – it was agreed that no extra searches were needed.
f) 7c 13/6/05 Further correspondence M Tully & DC B Massey re telecommunications tower no reply from planning department.
g) 8 13/6/05 Information recorded to the Parish Council on child-care circulated. Cllr Robson updated the remaining Councillors on progress which included assistance sought from Charity Commission, Alan Hedley of CCof N and Tony Kirsop of Social Enterprise, Janet Orricks of Sure Start and Marge Rastall chairman of Slaley School Governors.
6. Public Participation: 8.45
Ken Hill of 17 Slaley Park outlined his problem. Planning Application 20031311 was looked at and 2506 (C) 01 was established as the sheet number showing plot number 43 with a B2 type building in a different position and direction to where it now stands. Conversations between Mr Hill and Colin Downie, De-Vere Timeshare Manager (based Loch Lomond) had been far from helpful. Craig Mitchell (associate of Colin Downie) has also been consulted. The Councillors recommended that Mr Hill obtain a copy of this planning sheet then contact his solicitor. District Councillor Brian Massey wishes to be kept up-to-date with the complaint. Pre-meeting information sheet attached as appendix 1-110705.
7. Correspondence: 9.00
a) Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005 (David Francis, NALC, will be providing training on the above later in 2005) circulated
b) TC reply from Richard Robson circulated
c) Changes to the Fire & Rescue Service (2 pages) circulated
d) NCC Putting the Learner First circulated
e) TC Management & Departmental Restructure (CIG. No 7 who will check?)
f) Tynedale Tomorrow Planning the future circulated
g) Northumberland Minerals & Waste Development Framework - Issues and Options Report. (Comments by 31/8/05) circulating (see agenda item 12 below)
h) TC Joint Discussion Forum Wed 13th July 6.30 p.m. – circulated Cllr A Weir going.
i) One NorthEast Destinations Database Questionnaire 2005/6 + draft Description for page 2. circulated additional suggested included Springhouse Caravan Site & Church Christmas Fayre.
j) E-mail from Cllr Hancock Glen Cottage garden hedge causing construction at Glen crossroads. E-mail from Hugo Remnant of Landfactor – will sort it.
k) Ceremonial Secretariat – confirmation of nominations 4360/05 & 4367/05 (see 15b, page 153, 11/4/005).
l) TC Planning – Planning obligations for sport & play facilities when building new housing. Circulating
m) TC Planning – Tynedale Local Development Framework - Addendum
n) Record Playground equipment – new for 2005; Tynedale crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy 2005-08; TDC Minutes for may meetings; TC August Bank Holiday refuse collection poster placed on parish notice board; Clerks and Councils Direct July 2005; Tynedale Area Committee 29/6/05 6.30 p.m.; Northumberland Community News Vol 25, No 3; Glasdon advertising brochures.
8. Current Planning Applications: 9.15
20050613 Certificate of lawfulness 2 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050649 Certificate of lawfulness 6 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050652 Certificate of lawfulness 23 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050676 Certificate of lawfulness 19 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050744 Certificate of lawfulness 4 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050770 Certificate of lawfulness 1 Slaley Park no choice but to accept
20050746 Replacement barn opposite South Glen circulating
20050557 Renewal of temporary planning permission for permanent use of land as outdoor pursuits area etc. Slaley Hall. pending
Decisions from Planning Authority
20040313 Variation condition 3 to allow upvc windows at The Old School granted
20050452 Double Garage Sandybraes granted
20050295 Construction of extension to existing rear dormer – Rosyth refused
20050220 Conversion of barn to residential and removal of adjacent
farm building Trygill Farm circulated granted
9. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments. 9.20
a) Cheques to be signed
No 240 Commemoration Hall room hire 9/5/05, 13/6/05 & 11/7/05 @ £10 = £30.00
Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris and seconded by Cllr I.C. Hancock.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £498.38.
10. Community Trust Report by Vicky Hutchinson 9.25
Funding applications require a Business Plan and MR, CH & PMK are producing a standard business plan which all groups will be able to adapt to their individual needs. The Community Trust felt that they should not take on tasks, which should more properly be the responsibility of others. The CT should be a facilitator where possible. NS and his group are still in talks to open the school grounds for the school holidays. It was pointed out that this being the last full week of term the summer holidays start next week. Vicky was thanked for her report.
11. Parish Plan: Action Plan July Update as circulated 9.35
Accepted by the Councillors without alterations.
12. NCC Northumberland Minerals & Waste Development Framework. Statement of Community Involvement – Submissions Proposals by July 2005. Cllr Hancock to report. 9.40
A four page typed document was presented for circulation with the Issues and Options Report (see 7g above). Cllr Hancock informed the meeting that all Tynedale waste goes to a landfill site in Gateshead. He felt we should ask if Tynedale has any plans for a site in the district. The recommended reply given by Cllr Hancock was accepted by the meeting.
Report as appendix 2-110705
13. A.O.B. 9.50
a) Twin Bin recycling according to hall bookings and the Hexham Courant article (page 4 July 1st) a meeting was held in Slaley Commemoration Hall Tuesday July 5th 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. for homes located on private roads who are being asked to wheel bins to the end of their driveway. Councillors unsure of how many parishioners this affects.
b) August walk-about, after discussion of relevant parish ‘hot spots’ it was decided to inspect Slaley Hall Holiday Villas, The Glen, Kellas Road & Lead Road to Pine Hill and Sandybraes. Pat asked for permission to park at South Glen parking. Everyone else to park at Glen Lodge (Cllr Hancock’s home) Cllr Weir to park somewhere to the south of the Holiday Villas and Pat to collect. Everyone to meet at Glen Lodge for 7 p.m.
c) Telephone message from David Baynes re Slaley Hall staff speeding off the road through his fence (four since October 2004). He asks that the corner chevrons be cleared of their roadside high grass. Also the pot-holes between The Flothers Farm and the Glen crossroad north bank are now dangerous.
d) Media report on Northumberland highways ‘Road repairs hit safety standards’, Journal 22/6/05 (see 4b 14/2/05; 7b 10/1/05 page 138).
e) Townhead area west of the ‘T’ junction is a disgrace. Ask Bill Bates if he would cut back annually during the growing season.
f) Parish Councils Forum September meeting, Cllr Norris said she was unable to attend. Pat said she could possibly go once the date was established.
14. BOATs Update (without Councillor Norris) 10.00
a). Correspondence on NERC has produced many e-mails, letters and circulated material. Peter Atkinson MP is on the Standing Committee, Maggie Keyte & Alsdair Mitchell met with him during a Saturday morning surgery.
Date of August meeting: Monday 8th August 2005. Meeting closed at 10.02p.m.