More guidlines on the Freedom of Information Act, read agenda item 8b.
Minutes of Slaley Parish Council, Monday December 8th 2008, in Slaley Commemoration Hall 7.30 p.m.
Apologies: District Councillor B.W. Massey.
Present: Councillor I.C. Hancock in the Chair. Councillors Mrs C. A. Brooks, Ms M Palmer,
Mrs L. Norris, Mrs A. S. Robson, S. Davison, Clerk Mrs P. Wilson. & County Councillor C.W. Horncastle.
Public. None. Courant Reporter: Apologies. Slaley Notes: Jean Elphick. Community Trust Executive Committee Member: Michael Elphick.
Declaration of Interests and Hospitality Record.
Cllr Mrs Linda Norris for agenda item 18
CC C.W. Horncastle for agenda item 10.
3. Minutes of November Parish Council Meeting (circulated pages 470-475 + appendix 1 page 476, appendix 2 page 477, appendix 3 page 478, appendix 4 page 479). Proposed by Cllr L. Norris and seconded by Cllr CA Brooks the minutes were approved and signed.
4. Matters Arising.
a) 7b10/11/08 letter from TC reporting that NCC have extended the time to set precepts until January 20th 2009 (see also 16a below)
b) 8k 10/11/08 Reply from NSP circulated by e-mail. Cllr Norris replied that if the question is so difficult to answer then maybe none of the groups are needed. Cllr Hancock commented that the Partnership seemed to have a problem addressing concrete questions.
c) 16c 10/11/08 Written quotation from Alex Evison and Hollybush Landscaping circulated. Councillors agreed to give the contract to A. Evison for a second year.
d) 17 a 10/11/08) Foreign male living in a caravan in Slaley Forest is reported as an employee of Lord Allendale Forestry Divison as a night-time security guard asked to safeguard expensive forestry vehicles during the hours of darkness.
5. Public Participation. None
6. Community Trust Report
No report this month. Several changes were made to the last draft of the Information Board and these were reported to M Elphick on 24/11/08. The colour of the posts and surround was agreed as a grey/green.
The breakdown of £350 installation charge was circulated by e-mail 11/11/08 = 2 people half a day, hire of van and tools. Councillors instructed the Clerk to get another quote.
Clerk telephoned Trevor Golightly and his installation quote was £ 150 labour + 30 for materials + Vat this would be subject to what was under the ground when digging began. A request for possible utilities has been made to D Phillips at County Hall.
Size of Board is 46.8 inches x 33.1 inches.
The cost for a spare panel (no posts) would be £590. (Minutes 14/4/08, page 409, Total cost £2,700 + Vat (472.50 @ 17.5%) = £3172.50).
The completed Board will be delivered to the home of the Clerk to the Council.
However information relating to the Interpretation Board and the new freestanding Post Box on the same site has produced several e-mails. No-one from TC Planning or Highways appears to have been asked about the position of the Post Box.
CT is requesting a grant to reprint Miss Mason’s book. Funders may want to know what the proceeds from the sales of the book will be spent on. The PC was asked if they had any community projects that needed funding. Cllr. Mrs A Robson suggested a new lockable piano for the Commemoration Hall together with music stands. She would be very interested in teaching music if equipment were available. Village Planters for use by the Slaley Gardening Club was also suggested. Already suggested by the CT are Newsletter Funding; Running a Local Business Forum; More provision for the Elderly; More provision for the Youth and An Oral History of Local Farming.
7. Matters for Discussion with County & District Councillors
CC CW Horncastle reported that redundancy payments to surplus staff would be in the region of £30m - £50m.
He asked if all those present had voted in the online County Council change of name consultation. Several had forgotten.
Area Committees were discussed. How they would work with Parish Councils in the future was a topic for CC discussion during the coming week.
The proposal for three Locality Officers at £45,000 (one) and £40,000 (two) was not welcomed by all County Councillors as many felt the work delegated to the LO’s could easily be undertaken by an existing Officer.
Talk of reducing the Highways Budget by 66% had been met with threats of a mass walk-out by staff. Therefore talks are ongoing to improve this reduction to 25% - 33%.
8. Correspondence.
a) Garry Pointer, TC, requested the Register of Members Interests from Cllr Sid Davison & Cllr Mrs AS Robson. The forms were delivered to their homes on December 4th. Completed but not brought to meeting . Clerk asked that they be dropped into her letter box.
b) E-mail from David Francis re Freedom of Information Act. Introduction, Model Publication Scheme & list of information to be published. Cllr. Hancock proposed that the Model Publication Scheme be adopted and Cllr. Brooks seconded. The Model Publication was unanimously adopted by Slaley PC. Chairman and Clerk to look at this and issue a statement which, when agreed, will be published on the Slaley web page.
c) Flooding on the B6306 near Jameson’s Well was reported to NCC Highways by e-mail on 25/11/08. Initial work carried out quickly did address the problem. Clerk walked down on Sunday 30/11/08 when water was running over ice. The water is coming to the surface on the north-bound carriage-way approximately 27yards north of Lawn Cottage gate. This was also reported by e-mail.
d) E-mail to all 14/11/08 - Theft of the liner for the litter bin near the telephone kiosk. Clerk was given permission to order immediately. Replacement was delivered and inserted and invoice paid 24/11/08.
e) Gail Philipson TC Register of Electors 2009 + Notice related to Rollin Registration to be displayed on Parish Notice Board.
f) Creating one council for Northumberland – Local Planning Authority – Statement of Community Involvement (CSI) as part of its LDF. Views and suggestions by 30/1/09. CC CW Horncastle is a member of the new LPA and would make inquiries about the CSI for our January meeting. Notice to be circulated and item to be a January agenda item.
g) Slaley First School November newsletter circulated by e-mail.
h) TC Environmental Clean Up folder.
i) E-mail from David Francis circulated 5/12/08 re New Council Newsletter called “Together”.
j) E-mail circulated 24/11/08 re Planning Forum meeting 4/12/08. Cllr. Mrs A Robson to attend. Second e-mail circulated 3/12/08 meeting Cancelled due to weather warning.
k) Leaflet from ICO re The new model publication scheme – information for parish councils; Glasdon advertising brochure; rekk.co.uk for teenage shelters; CE Electric UK Preparing for mother nature information leaflets and posters. Slaley Hall Christmas brochure “This is the Life”; Talking Tynedale with a photograph on page 9 of the official launch of Reaston View; Tynedale Community Hospice Newsletter November 2008.
9. Financial Report.
a) Cheques to be signed.
None
b) Interim Payment
No 360 Glasdon Uk – replacement bin liner for Litter Bin near Telephone Kiosk £18.60
Signed by Cllr’s I.C. Hancock & L. Norris
10. Current Planning Applications.
20081147 Two storey detached dwelling. Tree Tops, Main Street. Circulating.
20081048 Lawful Development Certificate, Conservatory to front elevation. The Cottage, Main Street. No objections.
20080046 Internal refurbishment - Slaley Hall Pending.
Decisions from Planning Authority
20080930 Alteration to provide caravan park with 89 static pitches to replace 79 static pitches and 20 touring pitched, play area, fitness suite, and office operating for 12 months of the year. Spring House Caravan Park. Application Invalid - Cllr Massey informed the Councillors by e-mail that the applicants had not provided adequate details for the Planners to fully consider the application.
11. Review of the Definitive Map & Statement of Public Rights of Way. U8074 upgraded to BOAT 33; U8079 upgraded to BOAT 34; U8091 upgraded to BOAT 36 & U8127 to BOAT 37 ( 11 10/11/0811 13/10/08; 8a 8/9/08)
Seven page reply attached as appendix 1/081208, page 485.
12. Proposed Post Office Closures ( 12 10/11/08; 12 13/10/08; 11 9/8/08; 11 11/8/08; 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).
During November two workmen arrived at The Post Office to remove the letter-box from the shop wall. There being no further provision in the village Margaret Ward telephoned the works manager and got the work postponed until a new letter box is in situ and working.
Cllr. Norris reported that a poster setting a date for closure of the Post Office has been received at Slaley PO without any accompanying letter. It says that the Post Office will close at 1300 hours on Thursday 8th January 2009 and services will be available from a mobile van from Friday 9 January. Clerk to send a Thank You letter to Roy & Margaret Ward to say “a very sad day”. A letter also to Northumbria Police and NCC Highways asking them to monitor traffic control at the new mobile van. Slaley Notes to report opening times and Newsletter to include every month.
13 “Where to buy locally” Update (13 13/10/08; 12a 8/9/08; 12/6/08).
Draft 3 attached as appendix 2/081208 page 486. These leaflets can be updated as and when information is available. Initial print to cover B&B’s, Slaley Shop, Village Hall & as a pdf on web page. Cllr M. Palmer suggested that an event in the village hall with many of the people listed displaying a selection of their products/details of service etc would be a good launch. She would be happy to organise such an event sometime in the new year when the kitchen is completed.
14. Business Directory update (14 10/11/08; 13 13/10/08)
Draft 3 circulated and attached as Appendix 3/081208 page 487.
Two local business have asked that their names be deleted from the publication. Whilst this is disappointing the PC must respect their wishes.
15 Slaley Hall Post-Christmas Meal for the Elderly – January 2009 (16 13/10/08)
Correspondence from Slaley Hall not answered despite telephone calls and an e-mail asking for confirmation of booking details. The Pro forma has not been signed.
Numbers are very low currently only 15 people have replied. Slaley notes to carry a reminder and if numbers do not reach 50 by the deadline of December 19th then the Clerk was instructed to cancel the event.
16. Agree Precept for 2009/10.
Circulated as appendix 4/081208 page 488.
a) Correspondence from Garry Pointer, TC, informing us that an extension has been granted for setting to Precept to January 20th 2009.
b) Agreement on insurance issues needs confirmation from Game & Co. This will be circulated by e-mail on receipt.
c) Agreed to postpone decision to the next normal PC meeting.
17. A.O.B.
a) A verbal report that a local family with five children are not eligible for a Council three bed-roomed house caused upset in Slaley. After discussion the Clerk had been asked to write to TC and Milecastle and ask for their official policy on house allocation to a family with five children. TC reply from Chris Brinton was read to the meeting. Cllr Davison suggested that room sizes with the South Park properties were a major factor rather than number of rooms. He was asked to make a written comparison for future correspondence on the matter. Clerk to write to the family and ask for written permission for the PC to take this matter further on their behalf.
b) Cllr Hancock & Brooks looked at village trees which will require trimming around the electricity power lines, with John Blair from Bethell, the tree contractors for NPower. Cllr Hancock signed the authorisation for the tree trimming, which will involve switching off electricity. A copy of these forms filed in the monthly meeting envelope. Parishioners will be notified prior to switch off. Work is unlikely to start until February.
c) Townfoot corner flooding has frozen over in the recent cold weather, making access onto the Riding Mill road hazardous.
d) The caravan still standing on the parking area outside 12 South Park was discussed, following complaints to a parish councilor. It was agreed after a vote not to contact the owners until a written reply was received from NCC Highways about the legal situation.
e) Cllr Mrs A Robson reported that dog fouling on the footpath from the Commemoration Hall to the Village Shop was worse after the weekend. CC CW Horncastle suggested that one of the TC Dog Wardens be contacted to make spot visits.
f) Lack of work on the strengthening of Dipton Foot Bridge was questioned. Clerk to inquire from John Nicholson &Colin Charlton if this due to a particular circumstance.
g) A rat has been seen in a Councillor’s garden. This may or may not be a hungry rat coming out of a garden compost heap for food during the recent cold snap. Slaley Notes and Newsletter editors to ask generally if rats have been spotted and if so, where.
h) CC CW Horncastle asked if there were any pressing improvements that would benefit from his County Small Capital Scheme Grants. Cllr. Mrs A Robson indicated that there may be more village kerbs that need lowering than those identified (and since undertaken) on the August village walk about . Clerk suggested that when the mobile Post Office van operates from Parks Side bungalows there could probably be a need for a layby for post office customers and to make sure that access to the elderly bungalows is not restricted. CC CW Horncastle confirmed that this type of improvement would definitely be elligible. It was agreed that no application would be made until the new service was in place and there was evidence of how much of a problem, or highway danger, the parking of PO customer vehicles was.
18. BOATs update.
a) Liz Sobell had reported that Government Office North East has asked Inspector, Sue Arnot, about the status of The Broadway. It was subsequently announced that It is to stay a Bridleway. A letter from D Brookes of NCC asks the 4 parishes to report any abuse on The Broadway to the Police on telephone number 03456 043043.
b) Mr Smedley visited the Clerk, Wednesday November 26th, to ask about the Motorcross activities at The Cleugh and illegal rmpv users in his woodland at Whinnows Plantation.
c) Ladycross Quarry. Trail bikers found in the quarry 23/11/08 broke through the fencing into the nature reserve. Reported to PC Robertson & a general call to 999. Clerk request to get incident number. AWAITS COMMENT FROM POLICE
d) Cllr CA Brooks reported a burning car on Sunday 30/11/08 above Trygill on the east side of the B6306. The police were in attendance.
e) It was reported that PC Robertson, with a representative of the FC and a member of the TRF spent the day in Slaley Forest on Sunday December 7th as part of their crack down on illegal use. The Clerk to request a report.
19. Date of January 2009 meeting.
Monday January 12th
There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.25 p.m.
Thursday, January 15th, Commemoration Hall, 7.30 pm
Illustrated talk on 'The North Pennines - 500 million years in the making' - The Geology of our area.
Elizabeth Pickett - North Pennines AONB
Followed by refreshments. All welcome - proceeds to Ladycross Nature Reserve.