The minutes of Slaley Parish Council are not posted on this web site until the month after they have been agreed. Therefore July and August minutes will not be agreed until September 10th and will hopefully appear on the web by the end of September. On agenda item 4b of June minutes "Reaston View" is the approved name for the Affordable Houses at Slaley.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday June 11th 2007, in Slaley Commemoration Hall.
1. Apologies. Councillors I.C. Hancock & Mrs A. S. Robson. County Councillor Wm Purdue. Blanchland Councillor M. Kennedy.
Present: Councillor Mrs L. Norris in the Chair. Councillors Mrs C. A. Brooks, Ms M Palmer & S Davison. Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey.
Public: Phil Drake Foresters Lodge, Trygill, Richard Ferguson, Holly Hill, John Tait, Springhouse, Jed & Emily Woodhouse, South Glen. Margaret Keyte & Barry Clayton of AVAG. Slaley Notes: Jean Elphick. Courant Reporter: None. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Michael Elphick. Guest Speaker: Alex MacLennan.
2. Declaration of Interests.
Cllr. Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 16.
3. Minutes of May Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 317-320)
Proposed by Cllr Mrs C.A. Brooks and seconded by Cllr Ms M. Palmer the minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 4a 14/5/07, 4a 16/4/07; 4a 12/3/07: 18 12/2/07 Bottle Bank e-mail reply from West Orchard House – against the idea and e-mail reply from Kevin Ferrol. He will look at the Dukesfield corner (C279/C280 junction) site and the Riding Mill Road C275 site where NCC Highways tend to store road grit. Also e-mail reply from NCC Highways, Kevin Allen. He thinks both sites are fine providing people keep their vehicles off the highway when delivering bottles. If either of these sites were chosen a careful watch would need to be kept for fly-tipping.
b) 4b 14/5/07; 4b 16/4/07; 4g 12/3/07; 12f 12/2/07: Confirmation from TC that Reaston View has been approved as the official name for the affordable houses at Slaley.
c) 4i 14/5/07, 20a 16/4/07 Townfoot Football Field marked on definitive map - Ordnance Survey has replied that it has been taken off the map as there is no aerial sign of a pitch.
d) 4j 14/5/07, 20e 16/4/07 Reinstatement of Townhead area by Hollybush Nursery. Verbal request for a price whilst explaining the work needed has caused confusion. Hollybush Nursery contacted the Clerk to say a ton of topsoil was needed and the boulders removed before levelling and reseeding. The topsoil would cost about £30 and verbal agreement to proceed was given.
However, a further request for a price for regular maintenance of the grass between Townfoot and the affordable houses was interpreted by Hollybush nursery as the go ahead to commence the work. Unfortunately Hollybush nursery cut the grass at Townfoot instead. They have submitted a bill which does not detail the VAT involved. Discussions are ongoing to obtain an agreed bill which includes VAT.
e) 4l 14/4/07) Flashing Speed Lights letter sent to invite interest from neighbouring parishes to share the costs, then the offer of a site visit could be agreed. Reply from Blanchland – no funds.
f) 5d 14/5/07 Three additional blue & white folders received, photocopied the updated training sheets and distributed.
g) 7 (ii) a 14/5/07 Wooley Bus Shelter reply from Tynedale Planning department, Kevin Townroe is dealing with enquiry and a reply should be received within 8 weeks.
5. 7.45 p.m. - Alex MacLennan.
Report as appendix 1/110607
6. Correspondence.
a) E-mail circulated regarding a Slaley Hall employee who reportedly claims he is entitled to one of the new Affordable Houses. DC Brian Massey will look into this and confirm who at TC is looking after the Slaley interests. The Councillors at Slaley must have confidence in the system for allocating these houses for Local People.
b) Garry Pointer New Register of Interests Forms to reflect the requirements of the new Code of Conduct. Distributed to Councillors for completion. This was e-mailed on 23 May everyone read and understood the Code.
c) TC Garry Pointer Advertising the adoption of the New Code of Conduct. Requirement of all Councils to advertise the adoption, TC is proposing to place a single advert in the local press. Slaley wishes to be included in this advert. We need to inform him when we adopt (see agenda item 12).
d) Government Office for the North East – North East Regional Spatial Strategy Proposed Changes – submit comments on online by August 6th. CD provided. Cllr C A Brooks took to read and report back.
e) Local Works Campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill – on Wednesday May 24th the SC passed through the ‘committee stage’. They are suggesting we write to Gordon Brown and ask Peter Atkinson MP to request Minister Phil Woolas to stand by the assurances he gave that the government will not try to water down the Bill. It was decided not to take this matter any further.
f) e-mail from C C Bill Purdue suggesting that he is skeptical about the proposals for speed flashing signs see agenda item 4l 14/5/07. However this was agreed at our meeting on January 2007.
g) North Pennines AONB Parntership – Annual Forum Allendale Village Hall 29/6/07 10.30 p.m. – 2 p.m. invitation + Open Seat Election Nomination Form. No-one able to go or wished to be nominated. Clerk to check with Cllr Hancock for his views.
h) ADAPT Posters and Information leaflets as requested (5h 14/5/07). Thank you letter saying Community Group membership normally £10 and did we wish the additional £30 to be treated as a donation. We had sent £40 believing that we were a statuary Body for whom membership was £40. Clerk confirmed that we did by e-mail.
i) Allianz Insurance new Policy including the Oak Seat valued at £310.00 (see 9a 16/4/07)
j) TC invitation to Parish Council Forum Monday 9th July 6.30 p.m. Beaumont Hotel to meet directors from the service departments – Environmental Services, Regeneration and Communities, Planning, Tourism, Culture and Communications and Health and Public Protection. This is our normal monthly meeting evening Cllr S Davison volunteered to go.
k) The Standards Board for England: The Code of Conduct - guide for members and Pocket guide booklets distributed to Councillors.
l) NCC Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport Programme 2008/09 reply by 3/8/07 Councillors given a copy of letter and asked to return completed at July meeting.-
m) TC Environmental Champions Newsletter Spring 2007; North Pennines News, Spring & Summer 2007; KOMPAN Newton Aycliffe Play Seminar Tuesday 26th June 2007;
7. Financial report. Cheques to be signed and confirmation of interim payments.
a) Cheques to be signed. None.
b) Interim payments. None.
c) New Councillors had been into Lloyds and had their signatures verified.
8 Current Planning Applications.
20070600 Advertisement consent to display two internally illuminated signs at Slaley Hall. Circulating – support.
Decisions from Planning Authority
20070350 Variation of condition No 4 to reduce tree felling exclusion zone from 50 m to 35 m on plan perm 20051282 – telecommunications monopole at Slaley Hall. Granted
20070265 Construction of two storey extension Glen Cottage – Granted.
20070440 Sun Room at Townhead Farm – Granted
9. New Councillors Ms M. Palmer & S. Davison to report on training (June 4th)
Both Councillors found the training very informative and useful and were especially interested in being able to provide a Local Service (a weekly non recyclable refuse collection if that was the wish of the community)
10. Reform of Local Government adopt text for web site drafted by Cllr IC Hancock circulated (see 4e 14/5/07) Adopted without alteration. Appendix 2/110607
11. Millennium Feature Landscaping work deferred from May meeting (4f 14/5/07) In light of Chairman’s absence this is deferred to July.
12. Pass a Resolution to adopt the Model Code of Conduct including paragraph 12(2) (5f 14/5/07) In light of Chairman’s absence this is deferred to July.
13. Report from Cllr Mrs A Robson – CAN (Community Action Northumberland) The Consortium – What’s it all about? (7(ii)d 14/5/07)
Report as Appendix 3/110607
14. Report from Cllr Mrs A Robson from Commemoration Hall meeting attended May 22nd Financial Report presented for future reference. (4d AGM 14/5/07)
Report as Appendix 4/110607.
15. A.O.B.
a) Yearly Planner e-mailed to everyone since then the Clerk has moved the LTP from August to July.
b) Who’s Who e-mailed to everyone. Telephone numbers for Cllrs Margaret Palmer & Sid Davison added as was the name etc for the new Chairman for Whitley Chapel PC.
c) Photograph of couple sitting on the new parish seat with their Rolls Royce Silver Ghost parked nearby provided by Derek Hull. Text and photographs given to Michael Elphick for Slaley web page.
d) Ongoing correspondence between Mel Richardson, Kevin Allen and Dick Phillips about NEDL needing to be present before a NCC Tree Surgeon is able to proceed with cutting off dead branches of the Elm Trees opposite Slaley Post Office. Cllr CA Brooks told the meeting of the electricity cut on Wednesday May 23rd when trees were being cut down by a tree surgeon at Ardmore, Trygill. The Clerk to ask the question why NEDL did not incorporate The Paddock work on the same day. (7iic page 320 14/5/07; 4g page 273 December 2006; 17d page 271 November 2006.
e) Councillor Brooks asked about the grass immediately in front of the new parish seat on the B6306. After discussion it was decided to ask through Slaley Notes if anyone was willing to trim the grass for a month or once a year or whatever. Cllr Brooks volunteered to do it during June 2007.
f) Glen crossroads: the question was asked if a mirror could be placed on Burnside Cottage garden wall to enable drivers to see oncoming traffic when traveling west along the old lead road and turning north towards Slaley village. Shrubbery in the garden is obscuring the view. Over the years Slaley PC was constantly writing to the residents of Glen Cottage to request the shrubs be cut right back during spring and summer. The mirror at Colpitts Grange exit onto the B6306 works extremely well.
g) The past two weeks has been very warm and the non-recyclable refuse lorry picked up from the outlying wheelie bins today, Monday June 11th. Apparently the bins at The Travellers Rest were extremely smelly after being emptied. Consequently one of the chefs and a bar staff set to and washed out the bins with disinfectant. Business waste when it includes waste food should surely be collected weekly. The Clerk also met the refuse lorry on Monday afternoon somewhere on the B6306 and having all the windows of her vehicle open was aghast at the smell from the refuse lorry as it passed. DC Brian Massey to write to environmental services.
16. BOATs update.
a) Chairman, Cllr IC Hancock wrote to David Brookes on May 18th regarding the consultation on the use of voluntary restraint on the Ginglehaugh Road (BOAT 543/039) on March 29th and asking why Slaley Parish Council had not been invited to take part in the consultation.
b) A reply from David Brookes dated 21st May 2007 states that the initial consultation was with user groups, however one of the problems in the Slaley area is illegal use, which is often reported to the Police.
c) The BOATs/Wildlife paper produced by Cllr IC Hancock is presently under consideration with Natural England and others including the Joint Local Access Forum (JLAF)
d) Cllr IC Hancock replied to D Brookes by e-mail on May 29th asking who else would be informed of the outcome of the deliberations. This was replied to by e-mail dated June 8th with the answer Forestry Commission as landowner, North Pennines AONB Partnership (for information), Northumberland National Park and Countryside Local Access Forum, Northumbria Police and CC Bill Purdue.
e) Today the official report has been received and a voluntary restraint of the route following periods of wet weather has been agreed. NCC will survey the route to identify surface and drainage options and their cost and the impact of the voluntary restraint will be monitored over the coming months. DB asks for information from us on the extent to which the voluntary restraint is being observed.
Date of July meeting: Monday July 9th. The meeting ended at 9.40 p.m.
The 148th Slaley Show, held on Saturday August 11th 2007, was a great success (despite the restrictions that prevented showing of sheep or alpacas), and the Show Committee would like to thank all those members, judges, stewards and visitors who gave their time, effort and money in supporting this event!
The full results for the 2007 Show are available here as a PDF document. Note that this document runs to 15 pages if printed out in full! A shorter 2-page listing of all the cups, trophies and prizes awarded is also available.
The 148th Slaley Show IS going ahead to-morrow, so come and support us!
All necessary and important bio-security will be adhered to. The horse events will go ahead, and at the last count there will be over fifty birds of the feathered variety in the poultry tent. There will still be plenty to do and see, the field has been mown and everything is looking fine, so turn up and support this community event with your presence and your entries.
Since the computer system in the Commemoration Hall was installed back in March 2003, Michael Elphick – with help initially from a small group of volunteers – has been responsible for management and maintenance of the equipment, as well as putting on short courses. Following Tynedale‘s decision to cease support at the end of 2006, the equipment is now owned by the Hall and is available for the use and the benefit of the community, but all running costs (including the cost of the broadband connection) have to be met by us.
Michael still maintains the Slaley parish website, but now finds that he can no longer afford the time needed to oversee the computers, run user sessions or organize any courses. If anyone would like to offer to take on this task (with assistance & advice from Michael), please get in touch with him (by phone on 673443, or by email to editor@slaley.org.uk). It does not require an excessive amount of time but does need a general familiarity with PC systems.
However, over the last two years the demand for access to the computers has declined, more people have acquired their own equipment, and the question now is whether the cost of maintaining the broadband link can be justified. Unless someone is willing to take over from Michael and encourage greater use, it has been decided that the broadband contract will be terminated from the end of September. The computers will remain for anyone to use, but access will depend on future arrangements.