SANDHOE PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 16th April 2008 at 8.00 pm in Beaufront County First School, Sandhoe, Hexham.

 

Present

 

Councillors  R Macfarlane, J Pennie, H Learman, M Baxter, Mrs E Rodger

 

Also Present

 

District Councillor N Fearon, Bill Grigg - Clerk to the Council, 11 Residents of the Parish

 

Apologies

 

County Councillor Mrs J B Fearon

 

Declarations of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

1.     Election of the Council Chairman for 2008/2009

 

The Clerk of the Council asked for nominations for the Council Chairman for 2008/2009.  Councillor R Macfarlane was nominated by Councillor J Pennie and seconded by Councillor H Learman.  (At this point in the appointment Councillor Mrs E Rodger wished to abstain in this election/appointment and requested this be noted in the minutes.)

 

With no other nominations Councillor R Macfarlane was appointed Chairman of the Council for 2008/2009.

 

At this point in the meeting Councillor R Macfarlane took the chair of the meeting.

 

2.     Election of the Council's Vice Chairman for 2008/2009

 

Councillor J Pennie was nominated by Councillor E Rodger; this was seconded by Councillor M Baxter.  With no other nominations Councillor J Pennie was appointed the Council's Vice Chairman for 2008/2009.

 

3.     Link with Beaufront County First School

 

With the reorganisation of School Governors the Council now has no Council appointed Governor to the school, which used to report back to this meeting.  It was agreed Councillor M Baxter, a parent and member of the PTA would act as a link between school and the Council.

4.     The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 16th  January 2008

 

       The minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 16th  January 2008 were signed as a correct record.

 

5.     Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 16th  January 2008

 

       There were no matters arising from the minutes of the Council meeting held on the 16th  January 2008.

 

6.     Planning Matters

 

a)     Planning Applications

 

              There are no planning applications to date.

 

       b)     Planning Decisions

 

              (i)     Ref. 20071357

Trustees of J J Straker c/o Sale & Partner, 1820 Glendale Road, Wooler NE71 6DW.

 

       Change of use and conversion of redundant garage into one dwelling, The Old Garage Block, Stagshaw House, Corbridge, NE45 5PG.

 

       Granted permission conditionally under delegated powers dated 30/01/08.

 

       (ii)    Ref. 20071213

       Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Ltd, 1A Enterprise House, Valley Street North, Darlington.

 

       Construction of detached property to form new graded rehabilitation annex for residential care home at Oaklands, Anick Road, Hexham.

 

       Granted permission conditionally under delegated powers dated 28/01/08.

 

7.     Financial Matters

 

       a)     Income

 

       27/03/08 Bank Interest D/A £0.66, 02/04/08 Precept – due £4,750.00 (less Election costs at source) £206.73

       Bank transfer £4,293.27

      

       b)     Payments

 

       08/02/08    R Macfarlane (website) £35.18, 08/02/08 Tynedale Council (postage costs £7.84 re. Village Plan), 28/01/08 W C Grigg (fee) £200.00, 27/02/08 W C Grigg (fee) £ 200.00, 27/03/08 W C Grigg (fee) £200.00, 16/04/08 NCC (Rent of room) £15.00, 16/04/08 Allianz (Insurance) £379.38, 16/04/08 WC Grigg (administration) £45.00, 16/04/08 Hexham Courant £44.42, 16/04/08     Tynedale Council (Grant Selefest) £40.00, 02/04/08 Election costs (taken from Precept) £206.73

 

8.     Public Participation at Council Meetings

 

The Council discussed various options to allow public/residents' participation at Council meetings.  It could be at the start of the meeting or at the end or in some other format.

 

After a long debate it was agreed public participation would become an agenda item in the middle of the agenda and no advance notice would be needed to be given.  To allow the public/residents to take part in discussions with the Egger UK Ltd Liaison Working Group it was agreed during this agenda item standing orders be suspended thus allowing such participation will be agreed.

 

9.     The Report of the Egger UK Ltd Liaison Working Group - Councillor J Pennie

 

Councillor J Pennie outlined his report (previously circulated) and amended of the Working Group Meeting held on the 27th March 2008.  The report was fully agreed.

 

Councillor J Pennie outlined the proposals for the planting of trees to create the screening of the site, what he thought the costs would be and his discussions with funders of the scheme.  Hopefully the majority of the funding will come from Egger UK Ltd.  He would like to meet with A Cuthbert who is an expert on trees and a small group to discuss the scheme before the next meeting of the Working Group.

 

It was agreed local residents should be involved in the tree scheme and local residents should not be expected to contribute.

 

Tynedale Council are to grant the necessary permits; a copy was deposited with the Council on the date of this meeting 16th April 2008, and should be online by the 18th April 2008.

 

Points that still need clarification are the log handling system which is still causing problems for residents; residents were promised no noise at night twelve months ago and it is still happening.  This will be fully discussed with the Director of Egger at the next meeting.  Tapes of the noise and disturbances are available if the Working Group wish to use them.

 

It was agreed Councillor J Pennie would meet with the Residents' Group informally before the next meeting to take note of ongoing problems and concerns.

 

It was agreed when the road surfaces are replaced by the Highways Authority materials should be used that reduce noise or act as a barrier.

 

10.    Correspondence

 

       (a)    Post Office Closures

 

A letter had been received from Tynedale Council in regards the consultation to close some Post Offices requesting the Council write to the Post Office Ltd requesting the consultation time is extended.  Due to the timescale the Clerk had already done this and Councillor Mrs E Rodger was concerned and it was agreed by all the Council that this Council should carefully monitor this issue and fully support the retention of Acomb Post Office should any proposals to close it come forward as a lot of the Sandhoe community go to use the services at Acomb, as well as surrounding communities.

 

(b)    Belonging Communities

 

Councillor R Macfarlane outlined the recent meeting to explain the proposed Belonging Communities which are being set up to work with the new Unitary Council for Northumberland from 2009.  Several Council members attended the first meeting and took part in the discussions.

 

The Eastern Tynedale Council Forum have drafted a proposed constitution for the new Belonging Community which they are seeking views from member parishes before forwarding to NCC for their views.  The Council discussed the draft and in principle agreed with the contents.

 

11.    Local Residents' Matters

 

       These had all been discussed in the APM.

 

12.    Any Other Business

 

       Beaufront County First School

 

Councillor M Baxter updated the Council on the school's new proposals for extra classrooms to create more facilities for the school and explained the funding process.

 

13.    Date of Next Meeting

 

       It was agreed the date of the next meeting would be Wednesday 18th June 2008 at 7.00 pm.

 

The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.