Sandhoe Parish Council

Chairman’s Report 2008-2009

I thank the Council for their trust and confidence and making me their Chairman and indeed I must thank the Council for the support and help that they have given me throughout the year. On behalf of the Council I must thank County Councillor Jean Fearon for her help and valuable advice.

Tynedale Council ceased to exist on 1^st April so we have to say goodbye to Neil Fearon; we are grateful for his attendance and input into meetings (especially with the Egger Liaison work)

Last but not least on behalf of the Council and the Parish I thank the Clerk; we do appreciate the job he does and we are fortunate in having such a capable and knowledgeable clerk.

It has been an unfortunate year with the recession, fear of swine flue, the scandal of MP’s allowances and the demotion of the local premier football club. However the end of Tynedale Council means also the beginning of the new Unitary Council so I remain positive and optimistic towards the new challenges and opportunities that we will face.

A brief résumé of the meetings and topics with which the Council has been involved.

Egger Liaison Group

The group comprises: John Pennie (Vice Chair SPC) Chairman of the Group, Robert Macfarlane (Chairman of Sandhoe Parish Council), Bill Grigg (Clerk), District Councillor Neil Fearon and County Councillor Jean Fearon, Simon Dotlinger (Director, Factory Manager), Paul Turner (Factory Manager) and Andrew Billings (Construction Manager). In the last two meetings we were glad to have the advice of Matthias Veile (Director of Works Manager).

It is this Council’s intent to work with NCC to ensure compliance with the environmental conditions attached to all planning permissions. This Council would want to see the conditions in all operating Permits meet national standards (or better). We would also want to ensure those standards are maintained or improved throughout the life of the plant.

Planning

In 2006 we received twenty four applications, in 2007 sixteen applications were successful two refused and one withdrawn. This year we received twelve applications of which one was refused and one withdrawn.

Planning Issues - Sites Allocation Process

To everyone in the community, the thought of house building on such a large scale in and around the Parish very alarming (to say the least). However it was never going to happen because the proposals were purely a wish list and speculation by land agents. From the outset the proposed sites for building houses were all contrary to TDC planning policies. If the LDF had been a few months earlier (moving from the ten-year plan to adopting Core Strategy) this exercise would not have included these site allocations.

To clarify this point, we invited the planners to a meeting at which they could explain the process to the Council and our residents within the Sandhoe community. We decided, because of one application which was on the boundary with Acomb Parish, to host a public meeting with Acomb Parish Council on 8^th August. We were grateful to have in attendance Lucy Greenfield, Community Participation Officer of Tynedale Planning Department and Wendy Taylor and Jon Nicholson, Forward Planning. At this meeting it was stated that the site options were contrary to the policies of Sandhoe Parish Council and also those of TDC. In essence they will not happen.

The final result is that TDC planning policies have been reinforced and restated; the message is clear. TDC have stated that it was very regrettable that the “sites allocation” procedure caused so much alarm and anxiety. However because of the overwhelming response from parishes TDC claim eventual success in public relations and communications. The process has given TDC the opportunity to analyse and build up an evidence base, with knowledge of each site and its potential. At the outset Sandhoe was never going to be built on.

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) Although a need has been identified it will not apply because of the outcome of the Sites Allocation process.

Road Improvements

NCC budget has remained the same. Many of our roads are in appalling condition and pot-hole fixing which is quickly attended to, is really but a temporary measure.

Education

Beaufront County First School at present has one reception teacher, one stage one and one stage two teacher. A regular supply teacher and clerical staff complement these. Pupil numbers; 12 in reception, 8 year one and 17 year two, 15 year three and 9 in year four.

Ministry Celebration

The Parish celebrated the Institution and Induction of Revd. Jeremy Thompson St John of Beverley and Revd David Hewlett at St Andrews at Corbridge.

Remembrance Sunday Service 9^th November

It was a great honour and privilege to lay a wreath on behalf of the Parish at the annual ceremony to commemorate Armistice Day. This was in conjunction with Acomb PC at St John Lee. The Chairman placed a Wreath on behalf of the Parish at the lychgate in remembrance of the fallen in both world wars.

Characteristic Communities, Belonging Boundaries, Localism and Community Forums

With the introduction of the new Unitary Council Sandhoe PC have decided to join the East Tynedale Forum of Parish Councils and we look forward to working with the other eleven parishes in that forum.

Tynedale Local Strategic Partnership

The main focus of activity has been re-organisation of the Local Strategic Partnership for operations from 1^st April 2009. The existing structure of six District based Local Strategic Partnerships with the Northumberland Strategic Partnership at the Centre is going to change. From 1^st April 2009 there will be one Strategic partnership for the whole of Northumberland to be known as the Northumberland Strategic Partnership based in Morpeth. At the Area level three Area Partnerships will be created. (This will be mirrored by Area Planning and Area Committees)

Our Area Partnership will be known as the West Area Partnership. A number of papers have been issued in the last few months of the intended purpose of the Area Partnerships and their relationships with other groups such, as the Area Committee, Parish Councils and Community Forums. The purpose of the Area Partnership is broadly similar to the existing Local Strategic Partnerships. The West Area Partnership will cover the whole of what is currently Tynedale District plus part of Castle. It is expected that this Forum will have one seat on the Area Partnership and there may be a second seat for the Community Forum if we wish to take it up.

Robert Macfarlane

Chairman Sandhoe Parish Council

27^th May 2009