Slaley, Northumberland

The Rose & Crown re-opens!

The Rose & Crown finally re-opened again this last Friday, April 25th, after a long wait. The new tenants are Joanne and Peter, helped by Jon and Tania (seen left and right below on the opening night:

The first pint being served to a customer (click an image for a larger picture):

The Community Trust AGM

On Thursday April 17th the Community Trust will be holding its third AGM in the Commemoration Hall. The meeting will start at 7.30 p.m.

Annual General Meetings may sound dull affairs but the Trust really needs your support in helping it to continue its work for the people of Slaley. Like many local groups the committee relies on a few busy people to run it during the year, and one or two more volunteers (especially to help with secretarial duties) would be very welcome!

One of the things that we started this year is the monthly newsletter, giving details of what's on in Slaley and who to contact. We hope you have found this, and the yearly Parish Reports booklet, useful ways of keeping people in touch.

So come along to the Hall, hear what we have been doing and have tea & biscuits with us!

Slaley Parish Council February 2008 Minutes

The two part-ownership Affordable Houses are still standing empty. Slaley Parish Councillors want to know why. Read what was said under agenda item 4c. Reminder the minutes are not posted until the month after they have been agreed.

Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday February 11th 2008, in Slaley Commemoration Hall 8.30 p.m.

1. Apologies. Ms M Palmer.
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs L. Norris, Mrs C. A. Brooks, Mrs A. S. Robson, S. Davison, & Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey & County Councillor Wm Purdue.
Public: None. Courant Reporter: Slaley Notes: None & Community Trust Executive Committee Member: None.

2. Declaration of Interests & Hospitality Record.
Cllr. Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 10 and attendance at the Post Christmas lunch, held at Slaley Hall De-Vere on Friday 18th January 2008.

3. Minutes of January Parish Council Meeting (pages 378-382 + appendices 1 page 383, 2 page 384)
Proposed by Cllr. Mrs L. Norris and seconded by Cllr. Mrs C Brooks the minutes were approved and (will be signed at the March meeting due to only having the draft minutes at the meeting).

4. Matters Arising.
ai) 8c 14/1/08; 8 10/12/07. Belonging Communities in Tynedale. –2nd meeting to discuss Belonging Communities 29/1/08 – Councillors IC Hancock & Mrs L. Norris reported the question had been asked if the proposed Belonging Communities were set in stone. More consultation events to be held in March when Parish Councils would be asked to suggest stakeholders (i.e. Slaley Hall; Community Trust; School; Post Office; Church/Chapel; Small Businesses e.g. B&B establishments, Springhouse Caravan Park, Ladycross Stone Quarry etc). Report attached as appendix 2/110208
aii) E-mail dated 16/1/08 from DC Brian Massey – Slaley shown as part of Hexham Belonging Community with Hexhamshire, Blanchland, Healey, Hexham, Acomb, Broomhaugh and Riding Mill.
aiii) Cllr. Mrs A Robson confirmed that Belonging Communities was on the agenda for the VCS (Voluntary Community Sector) meeting on March 17th which she will attend (see agenda item 8i for November VCS meeting, page 353 October 8th 2007 meeting).
b) 14b 14/1/08 The suggestion that the Steering Group who produced the Parish Plan on behalf of the Parish Council be contacted and asked if it was time for a revision and a new Action Plan is implemented to be a February agenda item. In light of shortened meeting this item to be deferred until March.
c) 15e 14/1/08 The Chairman has drafted a letter regarding occupancy of the Affordable Houses when a tenant who works in the parish leaves parish employment. Will the property automatically become vacant because the local connection has been terminated? (see question 6, 12th November minutes, page 362). Letter attached as appendix 3/110208. Recent telephone conversation to Chairman and Clerk regarding the non allocation of part-ownership properties from a single, local, man who applied for the bungalow in October 2007 – Cllr Hancock contacted Two Castles and Nomad). A contact telephone number was given to the parishioners. District Councillor Brian Massey to make enquiries and report back.
d) 15f 14/1/08 Neighbour of Cllr Mrs A S Robson is interested in quoting for the monthly grass cutting (4a 8/10/07; 5a 10/9/07; 4a 13/8/07). Allendale PC has told us that quotes at Allendale varied from £3k - £30k. The cheapest quote did not carry out the work satisfactorily, and therefore, his contract was terminated after two months. A DRAFT tender work schedule listing the areas and size to be cut together with the frequency of cutting was subsequently delivered to this parishioner. An amended version (by the Chairman) was presented to the meeting for discussion. Work Schedule attached as appendix 4/110208. E-mail received from A Evison was discussed as follows:
Paragraph 3 – the tender to decide when grass needs cutting. The first cut would normally be sometime during April depending upon length of grass and could last 6/7 weeks. This cut will collect any fallen leaves that have not blown away. Last cut end of September to last over the winter. During July & August the grass may need cutting at three weekly intervals. This will depend upon annual rainfall and temperature. However Highway work can cause damage to any site thus rendering the site unworkable for lengthy periods. The tender should quote for a normal cut at all four sites. Obviously if no cut takes place an any of the four sites for whatever reason the Council would not expect to receive an account for that site.
Paragraph 4: Dead leaves will not be cleared away at any site between September and April. Saplings should be cut back to ground level.
Paragraph 9: All four sites are situated on the grass verge between boundary walls/fences to private land etc. Therefore technically they are part of the public highway, and owned by NCC and used regularly by utility vehicles carrying out work on or near the metalled highway.
Specific sites
Millennium Feature – Cut by lawnmower by current parishioner. Snowdrops normally died back by first cut. Molehills levelled by foot and excess soil used to fill any hollows made by parked vehicles. Councillors to decided the point northwards for the cut to end and report to Clerk.
Townhead entrance – High Clear lane is cut by Mr George Hall of High Clear.
Townfoot entrance – Councillors to check and decide if the area is to include east of the field entrance to the actual corner where the grass verge narrows and report to Clerk.
Wayside Seat - Councillors to decided the actual size of area to be cut and report to Clerk.
Councillor Mrs A Robson asked to report to Mr Evison that Councillors are checking several points before the revised Work Schedule is re-presented.
e) 15g,h,i,j, 14/1/07 Pot holes apparently been filled in although we have been asked to keep a watchful eye on them due to increased gritting soon after repairs. Not sure which potholes have been filled - Councillors to keep watch and report any problems.
f) 6a 14/1/08 CC Purdue reported that increased cost of care for elderly has been quashed.
g) 6f 14/1/08 CC Purdue reported that Reuben Morgan of NCC will contact the Clerk re grant for village solar powered speed unit.

5. Public Participation.
None.

6. Correspondence.
a) ADAPT (North East Membership Form 2008) Agreed to pay the £10 Community Group subscription.
b) E-mail from David Francis re Game & Company Insurance Consultants circulated Councillors felt that a comparison should be made. Circulate and place on March agenda.
c) Government Office for the North East – North East Regional Spatial Strategy Further Proposed Changes. (see minutes 11/6/07 6d, page 322 Councillor Brooks to read and report. Minutes 9/7/07 agenda item 13, page 332, Councillor Brooks reported 111 changes. It was felt no action need to be taken) Second consultation deadline 5 p.m. on 2nd April 2008. Cllr Brooks will report at March meeting.
d) Communities & Local Government – Consultation on orders & regulations relating to the conduct of Local Authority members in England see especially Annex A circulated. It was felt Slaley, as a small council and was not qualified to answer most points, and that some questions were irrelevant because of PC size.
e) Local Works The Sustainable Communities Bill becomes LAW. circulated
f) Tynedale Area Committee meeting 24/1/08 minutes of 20/9/07 circulated.
g) Tyndale LDF – Core Strategy. The PC has revised and commented on drafts of this document in the past. In view of the coming demise of TC it was agreed not to spend any more time on it.
h) Community Action Northumberland grant aid request - £20 allocated in precept.
i) NCC Minerals & Waste Development Framework – Withdrawn from Examination Process – A revised Local Development Scheme will be published in due course. CC Purdue reported that ministerial over-ruling of the proposed opencast mining constraint area at Shotton, Cramlington was one reason why the framework had been withdrawn.
j) TC Parish Council Casual Vacancies letter and fact sheet - no scheduled Parish elections until 2013.
k) Second sending of Community Transport in Northumberland (see 8d 14/1/08) – e-mailed and several Councillors replied that they saw no reason to alter the January decision of no action.
l) Commission for Rural Communities participation inquiry 31/1/08 circulated by e-mail no Councillor from Slaley attended.
m) Thank You from Age Concern for grant aid. Clerk to ask again about £30 grant (4e 14/1/08; 18b 10/12/07; 4f 12/2/07; 7k 8/1/07).
n) Thank You from Wendy Tucker, Joe & Mary Metcalf + e-mail from Jean & Michael Elphick for meal at Slaley Hall copy given to Andrew Coney. Clerk to send written thanks from PC with special thanks to chef ‘Gavin’.
o) CPRE Overview Spring 2008; TDC Minutes of Meetings; Wicksteed advertising leaflet; Lloyds TSB changes to telephone banking service. TC February Half-term Play Programme Poster displayed on Notice Board

7. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed.
Number 325 ADAPT North East Ltd. Community Group Membership £10.00
Number 326 Mrs P. Wilson BOATs expenditure (quarter) £36.38
b) Interim payments. None.
c) Audit Commission confirmed that BDO Stoy Hayward LLP appointed as external auditor for next five years.

8. Current Planning Applications.
20080046 Listed Building Consent. Internal refurbishment, conversion of existing pool room / residents lounge into new reception area, conversion of existing meeting room into new whisky bar, conversion of restaurant annex into fine dining area and existing suite upgraded. Slaley Hall no objections to the plans submitted.
20071381 Amendments to door & window to rear and construction of detached garage *The Haining concerns re access to garage & future usage.
* Photographs & copy of concerns from immediate neighbour.

20071342 Detached granny annex at Pinetops - object
20071190 Conversion to form accommodation **Blackburn Farm pending.
** Clerk reported a conversation with owner of Blackburn Cattery and the reasons for the probable withdrawal of this application. DC Massey to make enquiries & report back.
Decisions from Planning Authority
20071327 Increase in height of boundary wall. Garden Cottage granted
20071400 Construction of agricultural farm building Woodnook Hill granted

9. A.O.B.
a) Press coverage of the sale of Springhouse Caravan Park for £1.6m to Blue Sky Resorts who claim intending spending £500,000 over the next few years.
b) New Press advertising feature of five floodlit, paint ball arenas at De Vere Slaley Hall. Planning permission of 20050562 stipulates (Condition Number 9) no floodlighting. Clerk to telephone Andrew Coney as a matter of good relations & write to Planning with a copy of advert.

10. BOATs update.
a) Byway 44 (see appendix 1/110208) NCC have stated that all seven letters of objection to the Modification Order must be withdrawn so that the Order can be confirmed quickly, if an early application for extinguishment of the extra width is to be made to the Magistrates Court. Stephen Rickitt intends to send a report of the meeting with residents and landowners to Slaley PC Clerk for circulation.
b) NCC, David Brookes, re Gingleshaugh Road & Low Lead Road survey identified small sections, which require further drainage and surface improvements extended for a maximum of six months for this work to be carried out.
c) NCC Neil Dawson letter 17/1/08 re BOAT 41 Slaley & 34 Blanchland diversion onto route made in error. Requested clarification from Blanchland that they are happy with this.

The meeting closed at 10.05 p.m.