Post Office Ltd have offered the followng alternative times.
Mondays 4.20 - 5.35 p.m
Tuesdays NOTHING
Wednesdays 8.30 - 10.30 a.m.
Thursdays 4.20 - 5.35 p.m.
Fridays 4.20 - 5.35 p.m.
SATURDAYS 8.30 - 9.45 a.m.
The Parish Council feel that this is an improvement on 5 evenings at 4.20 - 5.35 p.m.
Written comments on these alternative proposed times to your Parish Councillors or the Clerk would be appreciated.
A mirror was placed at the Glen Crossroad junction to help motorists travelling from the east to see the oncoming traffic from the north. See agenda item 4a.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday August 11th 2008, in Slaley Commemoration Hall 8.30 p.m.
August Walk about attached as appendix 2/110808.
1. Apologies None.
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs L. Norris, Mrs C. A. Brooks, Mrs A. S. Robson, S. Davison (meeting only) & Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. District Councillor B.W. Massey (meeting only) & County Councillor C.W. Horncastle. Councillor Ms M Palmer not present.
Public. None. Courant Reporter: Rebecca Dixon. Slaley Notes Jean Elphick. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Michael Elphick.
2. Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
Cllr Mrs L. Norris for agenda item 15.
3. Minutes of July Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 434-438 + appendix 1 page 439, appendix 2 page 440, appendix 3 page 441 and appendix 4 page 442)
Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris and seconded by Cllr Mrs AS Robson the minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 4b 21/7/08; 13 9/6/08, 4d & 12a 13/8/07, 5c 10/9/07 – Glen Crossroads the mirror was positioned July 25th. Whilst the hedge has been slightly trimmed back at Glen Cottage, visibility would still be difficult without the mirror. Because NCC highways do not recognised a mirror as a piece of highway furniture NCC should be asked if they feel the hedge has been cut back to an acceptable and safe height.
b) 4c 21/7/08; 15 9/6/08 Speed Unit in Village - PC Iain Robertson replied to our request for a traffic speed survey. He indicated that a new survey should indicate if the speed unit has made a difference to driver behaviour.
c) 6 21/7/08 Before the invitation to Barry Moore of Two Castles was made confirmation came through of the allocation of both the house and the bungalow at Reaston View. This time the allocation is in line with the purpose for which the Affordable Houses were built. Cllr B Massey informed the meeting of his annoyance with this delayed allocation.
d) 8a 21/7/08 Motorcross activities at The Cleugh – copy of e-mail from B Massey 22/7/08 + correspondence from Healey Parish Council and from Mr & Mrs Wordsworth, Eastwood House. In light of the letters to Environmental Health and Planning it was agreed with the PC Chairman not to invite Mr Lumley to a monthly meeting at present. To-date no reply has been received by Slaley PC or Healey parishioners.
e) 8b 21/7/08 Reply from NCC re the system of sending a letter saying a response will be made in 15 working days is, in the eyes of the Councillors, a waste of public money. NCC agreed to e-mail in future.
f) 8g 21/7/08 Government Office for the North East – Communities & Local Government – Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021 Cllr CA Brooks will report possibly next month.
g) 10 21/7/08 Reply from Helen Winter re why we are not getting planning applications, decision notes and sometimes the weekly list. The reply indicates that Slaley is the only PC who has experienced difficulties. The Chairman did not feel that the reply addresses why planning applications take so long in getting to Slaley. CC C. Horncastle asked to read the reply.
h) 14 21/7/08 Reply from Jillian Rutherford indicating that TC Solicitor would not sanction or favour a compulsory purchase of land in the village for an equipped play area. Jillian joined the Councillors for their August walk about (see Walk about report attached to these minutes as appendix 2/110808)
i) 18c 21/7/08 Reply from 12 South Park about the duration of the caravan parked on the Highways section outside South Park.
5. Public Participation. None.
6. Community Trust Report
Verbal report: The marquee on a very wet Slaley Show day had provided visitors with a chance to view the work of the Community Trust. Work continues on the Interpretation Board and the reprinting of Miss Elizabeth Masons book of Slaley.
7. Matters for Discussion with County & District Councillors
E-mail from DC Brian Massey circulated to everyone 22/7/08 re Unitary authority electoral review of Northumberland (5 pages) & Electoral Review of Northumberland (3 pages). (see 8d below and 12 21/7/08)
CC C. Horncastle reported that Richard Robson, Chief Executive of Tynedale Council has been appointed executive director of ‘Place’ in the new Unitary Council. There were serious financial concerns ahead for the new Council and Councillors covering Tynedale may increase from 13 to 15. Staffing and Jobs should have been in place by the end of the year but it now looks like Spring of 2009 before decisions are finally made.
8. Correspondence.
a) Cllr Robson informed the meeting that a member of the community had approached her with regard to a “brown” village services sign being placed at the entrance to Slaley village at the junction with the B6306. It was suggested that the request and the reasons behind the request be made directly to NCC Highways at County Hall.
b) E-mail from M. Tully re Mobile Mast at Slaley Hall. Reply that Cllr Mrs Norris has visited the site and although the development has only just started, it would appear to be in line with the planning consent granted in 2005 (application 20051282; variation of condition number 4 on 20070073 and again on 20070350 to reduce tree felling zone from 50m to 35m). The Councillors suggested that a visit to the planning department might confirm this for anyone concerned.
c) Tynedale Planning Forum Members change of meeting date from 21/8/08 to 18/9/08. Cllr Mrs A Robson asked that the replacement agenda be circulated when available as she may be interested in attending.
d) TC letter and Posters ‘The Big Tidy Up’
e) The Boundary Committee - Your Council is Changing – Unitary authority electoral review of Northumberland – representations by 15th September (see agenda 12 21/7/08)
VMS change of bank account details; Watson Construction of Prudhoe introduction letter; Sustain Landscapes introduction leaflet; Mencap request for financial funding (see 9g 9/6/08, page 425).
9. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed.
No 343 Alex Evison – grass cutting Invoice No 5 dated 8/8/08 £81.50
No 344 James Wilson – supply post, treat, fix mirror & position £58.75
No 345 Commemoration Hall meetings (public & monthly) £104.00
Proposed by Cllr Mrs L. Norris and seconded by Cllr Mrs A.S. Robson the cheques were signed.
b) Interim payment.
No 342 VMS Speed Unit £4,246.45
Signed by Cllr IC Hancock and Cllr Mrs L Norris
10. Current Planning Applications.
20080563 RECONSULTATION Construction of single storey rear extension.
7 South Park. circulating
20080684 Construction of first floor side extension, entrance lobby and detached garage.
The Paddock, Main street no grounds for objections
20080660 Two storey extension at Townfoot Old Farmhouse - question materials.
20080625 Construction of first floor extension over single storey garage.
Gortmore House. No objections, however this is the third extension in 10 years.
20080613 Demolition of existing conservatory and construction of new sun lounge.
Wood Nook Hill Support
20080563 Construction of single storey rear extension.
7 South Park. No objections providing neighbours do not object to 3.5m ridge.
20080046 Internal refurbishment - Slaley Hall Pending.
Decisions from Planning Authority
20080210 Tree Preservation Order – felling of eight trees Townhead Farm. (see 4g above). Planning do not inform PC’s of the decision re tree felling applications.
20080473 Construction of conservatory to north east elevation
Worth House, Wooley Grange. Granted
20080520 Variation of condition number 5 of planning permission 75/E/460- extension of operating season from nine months to twelve months.
Spring House Caravan Park. Withdrawn *
It was agreed that a letter be sent to planning requesting that the comments on the PC’s objection to this application (other then the extension details) are still relevant and need answers.
11. Proposed Post Office Closures (11 21/7/08; 19 9/6/08; 4a 12/5/08; 4c 14/4/08; 9m 10/3/08; 7 (2a) 14/1/08).
Response from the six-week consultation for the proposed Outreach PO service at Slaley to Post Office Ltd to arrive no later than August 11th attached as appendix 1/110808.
DC B. Massey wished to report that he felt the Slaley PC letter was a very good reply. CC C. Horncastle wished that the reply had been available earlier then he could have included it in his response to Post Office Ltd.
12. Integrated Transport Programme priorities for 2009/10 - reply by August 29th. Circulating.
It appears that the material is misplaced. The Clerk to send round an urgent e-mail asking everyone to check and return a.s.a.p.
13. Request the 2008 Slaley Hall Holiday Villa Occupancy confirmation from TC Planning Department.
A request to be sent to Planning Department for the 2008 details.
14. A.O.B.
a) Members of the Slaley Gardening Club are interested in florally decorating the village in 2009 to coincide with the 150 Slaley Show celebrations. They wondered if Tynedale Council would still be offering FREE plants through the Parish Council. DC B. Massey volunteered to make initial enquiries.
b) The new threat to GP practices posed by the controversial changes ordered by ministers was discussed. 150 super-surgeries across England with a new centre planned for each primary care trust (PCT). Doctors claim that the new clinics will be run by large private firms, that the new centres will get more funding but will be unable to offer the personal touch. Cllr S Davison confirmed that this is of major concern to those working in the Health Service and a very real threat to rural GP surgeries.
c) Report that Clay Pigeon Shooting at Premier Events was still underway at 5.50 p.m. on 28/7/08 when it should have ended at 5 p.m.
d) Break in at Hexhamshire Hardwoods Saturday night/Sunday morning – tools stolen. Also poaching at Springhouse on the same timescale.
15. BOATs update.
a) Ladycross Quarry Manager reported a transit van with 5 unregistered trail bikes on Tuesday 5/8/08 to Northumbria Police (twice during the afternoon). Clerk checked this with PC I Robertson who confirmed that the report was logged as incident number 811 05/08/08 however, no action had been taken and he would look into this.
b) E-mail from NCC Solicitor Stephen Rickitt re Byway 44. Four actions need attention for the process to the Magistrates Court application.
c) Natural England established a stakeholder working group on Unrecorded Rights of Way. The CLA is suggesting that this is an improvement from the Discovering Lost Ways project.
16. Date of September meeting.
Monday September 8th
There being no further business the meeting closed at 10.10 p.m.