Discover what District Councillor, Brian Massey reported to Slaley Parish Council about the rural twin-bin recycling scheme during the January 06 meeting.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday January 9th 2006, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies. Cllr Mrs A.S. Robson. County Councillor Wm Purdue.
Present: Councillor D.G. Baynes in the Chair. Councillors I.C. Hancock, J.K. Robson, Mrs L. Norris, Mrs C. Brooks &. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey.
Public: Mr & Mrs Abdelnoor. Slaley Notes: Jean & Michael Elphick. Courant Reporter: None. Community Trust Executive Committee Members: Nigel Sanger, P McKendrick & M Riseborough.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Councillors Baynes & Norris for agenda item 16.
3. Minutes of December Parish Council Meeting circulated pages 194 -197):
The minutes pages 194-197 were approved and signed as a true record. Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris, seconded by Cllr Mrs C. Brooks.
4. Agree Precept for 06-07 (circulated page 198)
The Precept of £5,707.00 as circulated on page 198 was agreed by the Councillors. Proposed by Cllr I.C. Hancock and seconded by Cllr Mrs L. Norris
The TC Precept form was signed and dated by the Chairman and Clerk.
5. Matters Arising:
a) 4 b 12/12/05; 7h 14/11/05 Mr Band’s replied long holiday work will be carried out later in year circulated.
b) 4e 12/12/05 14b 14/11/05 Local farmer verbally replied that Highways had not undertaken the work and they themselves had paid for a local contractor to cut back brush. Next time they will contact the Parish Council for help.
c) 4g 12/12/05 TC Policy for Funding –development and improvement of children’s play and outdoor sports facilities circulated – a minefield - keep for reference.
d) 7b 12/12/05 Hexham Courant Tynedale Visitor 2006 circulated Cllr. Mrs L. Norris volunteered to rewrite.
e) 7c 12/12/05 TC reply Storage of Legal Documents suggests Clerk to give authorisation for deeds to be released. It was agreed that the Millennium Deeds be deposited with Tynedale initially with the Clerk and any designated (by the Clerk) Councillor be able to withdraw the documents for reference.
f) 14 12/12/05 Millennium Litter Bin and dog bin emptying reply circulated. Emptied over Christmas. Evidence that the Litter Bin plastic liner was not replaced Friday 30th December, therefore on Thursday 5th it was not emptied of a can and a bottle. Check that bin emptied on Thursday 12th and report if necessary.
6. Public Participation.
a) It was asked why the October & November Parish Council minutes were not posted on the Slaley website. Clerk apologised and said this would be rectified a.s.a.p. Chairman explained that the December minutes could not appear until after the January meeting when they were officially agreed.
b) Progress being made on the Parish Information Board was asked. The Community Trust, to whom the project has been transferred (Parish Plan Update 11/4/05 Cllr Weir undertook to hand over to CT. Parish Plan Update 11/7/05 CT has taken over), reported no progress.
7. Community Trust Report. (deferred until 8. 40 p.m. when Mr Sanger arrived).
Relevant notes from meetings etc received and circulated to Councillors from Chair of Governors explained that no decisions have been agreed towards opening the school grounds for public access. Ideas and suggestions have been discussed at unofficially designated public access to school grounds meetings. It was therefore explained to the Community Trust (CT) that no PC funding could be given until an agreement between Slaley School Governors and the CT is signed on the dotted line. The Councillors discussed how the use of the grounds by the ‘Out of School Club’, might affect its public use of the school and its grounds during school holidays, thus taking it away from public use. After an extensive, vigorous, discussion the Councillors confirmed the Parish Council support to the Community Trust in its quest to reach a compromise with the School Governors to open the school grounds to the Public, although this may not be an unsupervised opening as once envisaged.
A Parish Council must, by law, only provide funding for itemised expenditure accompanied by official (VAT if applicable) receipts. Annual balance sheets are also attached to the AGM or monthly minutes to substantiate grant funding (i.e. Slaley Churchyard, Slaley Commemoration Hall, Whitley Chapel YFC, Slaley Youth Klub etc).
It was agreed that
a) once formal approval was given for public access to the school grounds
and
b) a detailed list of itemised expenditure was presented to the Parish Council
that the Parish Council could financially support CT either through the litter bin as agreed 12-13/6/05 & again 6-14/11/05 or some similar expenditure.
It was further agreed that the Clerk ask Mrs Rastall, the Chair of Governors, if she would be willing to attend the April meeting of Slaley Parish Council to clarify any decisions made at the March Governors meeting.
Mr Sanger was thanked for his work on the project.
8. Correspondence:
a) TC Planning – Core Strategy Issues & Options – Preferred Options document read for consultation February 2006.
b) TC Planning – Consultation & Correspondence on the Local Development Framework request to receive by e-mail. It was agreed that large documents were difficult to read on line therefore Clerk to request a Hard Copy for circulation.
c) TC Joint Discussion Forum to all Parish/Town Councils Wednesday 8th February at 6.30 p.m. Prospect House. Cllr. Mrs L. Norris to attend.
d) TC Planning document received via e-mail Public Speaking at Dvelopment Control Committee. E-mailed to Councillor Norris & Hancock keep for reference.
e) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – Standards of Conduct in English Local Government: The Future. Circulating.
f) Slaley Councillor Mrs L Norris has asked that the altered February date of the Parish Councils Forum be placed on the January agenda – now 21/2/05 at Newton & Bywell Community Hall, Linda is unable to go – Cllr I.C. Hancock will try to attend.
g) Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service – draft Integrated Risk Management Plan – comments by March 6th 2006 circulating
h) Tynedale Council draft Homlessness Strategy – no response made.
i) Clerks & Councils Direct Issue 43; Rural Voices (Networking Rural Northumberland); ADAPT December 2005 newsletter; Victim Support Northumbria - funding request; One Northeast & Northwest Regional Development Agency update on Hadrian’s Wall; Northumberland Community News Vol.25 No 6; Rock Report No 12; Certificate in Local Council Administration; NALC Annual Accounts; Osprey News;
9. Current Planning Applications:
NCC 05/00262/CCD. Extension to Slaley First School to provide Pre-school accommodation. Telephone reply with parking concerns, text not clear with regard to parking danger. Suggested vehicle overlay on NCC owned wide grass opposite school with guarantee to Ridley family of Orchard House (who keep the area in good condition) that any damage would be reinstated after works completion.
20050787 Re-consultation New Treatments Works Stable Cott High Clear Concerns.
20051419 Conversion of barn to residential use &
removal of adjacent farm buildings Trygill farm No objections
20050787 Conversion & extension to barn & outbuildings to link existing dwelling at
Stable Cottage, High Clear. Pending
20040701 Conversion of existing stables into holiday cottage East Ridley Hall Appeal
Decisions from Planning Authority
20051282 22.5 telecommunications tower Slaley Hall granted
20051335 Renewal (3 years) of planning permission 2000755 Dwelling @ Tree Tops granted
10. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Cheques to be signed
No 257 Pipex Hosting Slaley Web page. £100.20
No 258 Age Concern Northumberland Grant £100.00
No 259 Community Council of Northumberland Grant £20.00
No 260 BOATs Joint Committee Clerks expenses (quarter) £17.26
Proposed by Cllr J.K. Robson and seconded by Cllr Mrs L. Norris.
b) Welfare of the Elderly Account. The fund is £498.38.
11. District Councillor Brian Massey – Rural Twin Bin Recycling
Cllr Massey read a report produced by ‘outside consultants’ for TC on rural twin-bin recycling. From the approximate 7,000 rural properties only 4,000 are kerbside. There had been a 42% response to a questionnaire sent out to all constituents and most respondents were in favour of a twin bin system of collection but against alternative collection points for various reasons. The Government demands a recycling scheme. It is preferable that rolling stock should be of similar size but many farm tracks are not made up to give adequate access for these much larger collection lorries. Tynedale Council is looking to be efficient and keep ‘revenue costs’ down. Provision for elderly residents who may not be able to move the twin-bin to a kerbside collection point was discussed. Cllr Massey was asked to report the views of Slaley Parish Council to Tynedale Council and principally these were that rural people should not loose out on an improved service because of capital costs.
12. Report from Planning Training (a.m.) Monday January 9th 2006.
Councillors Hancock and Norris gave a report. The training presented by Helen Winter, Lucy Greenfield & Kevin Ward and was attended by Councillors and Clerks consisting of Slaley 3, Healey 1, Blanchland 2, Hexhamshire 4, had been interesting and informative. The over-riding planning document for the region is now the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which is prepared by the North East Regional Assembly (an unelected assembly of representatives from local authorities and regional business interests) Having regard to the RSS the District Council is compiling the Local Development Framework (LDF), which will replace the current ‘Local Plan’. This will consist of many development documents of various kinds, addressing specific planning and development issues. This is all the responsibility of Tynedale Council – The County Council is only responsible for planning policies on waste disposal and minerals (quarries, mines etc). Planning is responsible for controlling the spread of development with three main aims: Economic, Social & Environmental. The CORE Strategy Must be agreed before other strategy becomes law. The Planning Inspectorate team can rewrite parts of the CORE Strategy if they consider Tynedale version does not correctly reflect Government policies. Supplementary Planning Policies can be made before the CORE is agreed these describe the basic mechanisms for addressing individual planning concerns. Once a document is established it is statutory to 2021, and binding. Cllr Massey felt that our Recreational Facilities could be a very important factor and we would need to carefully scrutinise and comment on the draft document.
Material Planning issues were discussed – these are matters that can be taken into consideration in deciding whether to award planning permission, they are Visual Effect; Affect on listed buildings; National Planning Policy; Highway safety; Parking; Traffic generation; Noise and Smells resulting from use, Loss of Privacy) Structural stability was only material if a barn conversion. None material issues include: loss of view, owner of site (anyone can ask for permission but only the owner can build), beginning before permission is given etc.
Planning has agreed to pay for the Hall and an invoice will be raised for the four hours at £6 per hour.
13. Arrangements for Public Meeting Thursday January 12th 2006 7.30 p.m.
List of attendees received from Two Castles, members from Tynedale Council unconfirmed. Councillors to meet at Commemoration Hall 6.45 p.m. to get room ready.
14. Parish Plan Update
Draft circulated. Amendments, improvements and additions made. Attached as appendix 1-090106
15. A.O.B.
a) Date of May AGM date will be May 8th. Cllr. Hancock reported his non-attendance. Cllr Norris also not sure of this date. To be checked and possible alteration of date if necessary.
b) Director of Planning, Helen Winter, verbally apologised for not reply to the November PC letter of Slaley Hall Holiday Villas. Mrs Winter indicated that a further six Villas could be outside the ‘holiday use’ restrictions, however, De-Vere ownership had indicated that they would be willing to make a planning application to bring them back into the ‘holiday use’ category, to-date this had not been received. It was conveyed that confirmation of this conversation would be needed in writing.
c) Councillors felt they were ‘out of touch’ with Slaley First School – Clerk to write and ask if any Governor/Member of staff would be prepared to make a written report to the Council 2/3 times per year, and/or, attend with a termly update.
c) Request an update from R. Robson on the Slaley Hall Villas Community Charge question.
d) Ask for an update from Gov Office of Deputy Prime Minister as written to by P Atkinson MP re Slaley Hall Villa holiday occupancy conditions (4a 10/10/05; 5a 12/9/05; 2a 8/8/05; 5a 11/7/05; 3 13/6/05)
Invite Slaley Hall, General Manager to a Parish Council meeting.
16. BOATs update (without Councillors Baynes or Norris)
It was suggested to Cllr Baynes and Norris that they may benefit from writing directly to NCC requesting a stopping up order on the proposed BOAT through their land, as has previously been successful with the Guessburn, Stocksfield BOAT through private gardens and land.
Date of January meeting: Monday 13th February 2006. Meeting closed at 9.40 p.m.