NEWBROUGH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 7th November 2012
04-11-1 Present Cllrs R S Robson (In the Chair), M W Gibson, EL Dixon, PJ Johnston and Cllr E Heslop
Also Present: Clerk: R Macfarlane and two members of the public
04-11-2 Apologies M D Newson, G L Myers, I D Knights and PC Douggie Kidd.
04-11-3 Declaration of Interest
PJ Johnston and Cllr E Heslop on all matters relating to Isos Housing Association.
Cllr E Heslop on all planning items.
04-11-4 Minutes The Minutes of the Meeting of Newbrough PC which was held on 5th September 2012 were approved by the Council and signed by the Chairman.
04-11-5 Matters Arising
Code of Conduct It was published in the Stanegate that the Council had adopted the Northumberland ALC code of conduct for local councils.
Grant Aid request from Newbrough First School. The Council were favourably disposed to supporting the application and the Clerk confirmed that the Council had the legal powers to do this. The grant would support recreational activity for the benefit of some of the residents of the parish. It would therefore be lawful under section 19 of the Local Government (Misc Provisions) Act 1976.
Dog Fouling A litter bin has now been installed at the beginning of the footpath to Crow Wood. NCC has forwarded a bill for £192 and they will empty the bin, once a fortnight, free of charge.
04-11-6 Public First Focus
Children’s Play Facilities at Sidgate
Young residents at Sidgate in Newbrough approached the Council for funding a skateboard ramp and other play facilities in the playing field where they live. Cllr Heslop, Cllr Knight and the Clerk had a site meeting with Kath Heard in June and she made some suggestions. The land in question belongs to Isos. Michael Farr, Assistant Director Development & Property of the Isos Property Directorate attended this meeting to further explain Isos’s position and answer questions from councillors. It was resolved to meet with residents on 1st December.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the Stanegate Festival
Iain Bennett provided the meeting with a comprehensive feed-back on the Stanegate Festival committee activities. The committee has already had meetings in preparation for next year’s festival. He detailed the expenditure of £2,500 to given to local projects, clubs/associations and ventures. £1,000 would be kept aside for next year’s event as deposits for commitments etc. The Chairman praised the work carried out by the Festival Committee and applauded the meaningful contributions to worthy causes
04-11-7 Communications
RBL Poppy Appeal, CPRE, Tynedale Sports Council, CAN News, NALC Annual Report 2011-12, Joint NCC/PC Meetings 9th October, BDO Extranet changes, NCC broadband initiatives.
Remembrance Service 11th November It was agreed that the Cllr Gibson would lay a wreath on behalf of Newbrough PC.
Broadband Communication Currently in the parish, the lines are only ADSL1 as the Newbrough exchange is not ADSL2 enabled. It was noted that there is a danger of local firms leaving the area because of poor broadband speeds.
04-11-8 Roads
Cllr Heslop will discuss pluvial problems on the B6319 and the Stanegate with Neighbourhood Services.
03-11-9 Footpaths
Cllr Heslop met with Cllr Shaw (Warden PC) and a Neighbourhood Services Officer to inspect the footpaths in the area and owners and farmers have agreed to tend to the offending excess growth obstructing the footpaths.
03-11-10 Planning
Planning Inspectorate NCC Notice of Planning Inspectorate, Definitive Map Modification Pored (No 15) Restricted Byways Nos 1 & 29 & 36 & 11 Parishes of Newbrough and Simonburn. This has now been resolved confirming a restricted byway.
Planning Applications to NCC 12/02979/FUL 2 Storey gable extension Cross Gate NE47 5DP It was RESOLVED to offer no objections to this application. However the Clerk was asked to point out to the planning officer that the application was drawn on an out-of-date plan which didn’t show adjacent properties.
03-11-11 Reports
N&W Sportsfield Association: The Association’s AGM was held on 10th October; it involved the addition of the new football team.
Newbrough and Warden Angling Club: The various fishing factions including Railtrack, have now resolved their differences.
Newbrough CofE First School: Catherine Newson has been appointed Head Teacher
Northumberland County Council Cllr Heslop will take up the broadband speeds issues with NCC broadband programme team. He had also been involved with the problems of excess water flowing down the Stanegate with potential damage to septic tanks. These have now been resolved.
Town Hall The main issues include the surroundings and efficiency of the new blinds and the delays with the proposed changes at WI House.
03-11-12 Precept
It was RESOLVED to keep the precept at £8,500
03-11-13 Document and Procedures Review
Financial Regulations
There were no issues raised
Risk Assessment and Assets
The Clerk noted that the new litter bin would have to be added to the Assets’ Register
Code of Conduct The adopted Northumberland ALC code of conduct for local councils has been published however there is still some confusion over the status of existing documentation relating to Members’ Interests and Declarations of Acceptance. The Chairman asked the Clerk to send out new “Members’ Interests” forms to all councillors.
03-11-14 Finances
Bank Accounts 1st Nov 2012 BMM £15685.67 Community £4529.23
Payments Approved Clerk’s Part Salary £463.78, Clerk’s Expenses £42.86, Meeting Room Rental £30 (Nov), RBL Poppy Appeal £50, S Davies Grass Cutting £90 (Inv 14), OneandOne Internet £11.99 (£2 vat), Planters £136.87 (£22.82 vat), Plants at War Memorial £31.16, Plants at Red Lion Planter £30.
Grant Awards Warden and Newbrough PCC £850, NTHMC £500, Youth Project £600, Sport Tynedale £80 and West Northumberland CAB £50.
The Council awarded Grants to GNAA (£200) and Tynedale Hospice (£50) using powers given by LGA 1972 s137
03-11-15 Date and Time of Next Meeting – 9th January 2013 at 7.00 pm
The Meeting was closed at 9.05 pm.