SANDHOE PARISH COUNCIL

 

 

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 18 January 2007 at 7.30 pm in Beaufront County First School, Sandhoe, Hexham.

 

Present

 

Councillor R Macfarlane (Chairman of the Council in the chair) Councillors M Baxter, H Learman, A Winstanley

 

Also Present

 

County Councillor Mrs J B Fearon,  Bill Grigg - Clerk to the Council

 

Apologies

 

Councillor J Pennie, District Councillor N Fearon

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Councillor M Baxter (re. Joan Baxter Memorial seat - son of the late Mrs J Baxter)

County Councillor Mrs J B Fearon (re. Tynedale Council's planning applications as a Tynedale Councillor and Member of the Development Control Committee).

 

The Late Mrs Joan Baxter

 

The Council with deep regret noted the recent death of Mrs J Baxter, Mam to Councillor M Baxter.  The Council expressed their sympathy to Councillor M Baxter and his family, and the thoughts of the Council were with the whole family at this sad time.

 

 

1.     The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 28th September 2006

 

       The minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 28th September 2006 were signed as a correct record.

 

2.     Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 28th September 2006

 

       (a)    Ref 2a Highways Matters

 

       Due to re-organisation of NCC Area Engineers it has not been possible for Councillor M Baxter and the Clerk to meet on site on the Beaufront Road to discuss the ongoing problems.  NCC hope this site meeting can take place in February/March once it is known which Engineer will be covering the Parish.

       (b)    Ref 2b Mirror - St Camilus Bank

 

It has not been possible to move this issue any further as the property where the mirror would be sited is up for sale and it is not possible to get any agreement.  It was decided the Clerk would contact the new owners when their planning application is sorted and they are resident in the property.

 

(c)    Ref 2h Safety Measures A69 Roundabout, Hexham

 

The Highways Agency have agreed to a safety scheme on the roundabout for walkers and have instructed Roadlink (A69) to carry out the work.

 

(d)    Ref 6a - David Dodd Memorial Seat

 

Councillor A Winstanley reported he has inspected the seat and he will have repairs carried out in the near future to bring the seat back up to standard.

 

(e)    Ref 6b - Egger (UK) Ltd

 

       (i)     No drinks license had been applied for in respect of Egger (UK) Ltd.

 

(ii)    Councillor J Pennie sent a brief report to the Council informing the Council that he had agreement with local owners now in regards tree screening from the Egger site and this should greatly help the impact on a large area of the Parish.  He requested the Council await the required demolition take place first before any further action so the impact of the removal of some of the site can be seen.  The Council agreed to await further developments.

 

       The Clerk was asked to contact the Development Control department at Tynedale Council to see if they had any proposed timetable for demolition works.

 

3.     Planning Matters

 

       (i)     Planning Applications

 

       a)     Ref. 20070034

              C Dougall, Bank Cottage, Oakwood Bank, Hexham (Acomb Parish).

 

Construction of first floor extension and minor alterations to ground floor rear elevation.

 

Fully support the application.

 

                        b)          Mr & Mrs Walker, Holly Hall, Sandhoe, Hexham

 

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of new dwelling with attached garage and construction of 1.5 metre boundary wall to the north boundary.

 

Object.  Submitted the same comments as the previous application a short time ago.

 

(ii)    Planning Decisions

 

a)     Ref. 20061133

       Mr Turner, Oakwood Cottage, Oakwood, Hexham.

 

       Construction of two storey dwelling with double garage on land adjacent and construction of new vehicular access at above location.

 

       Refused permission by T. C. under delegated powers 13/10/06.

 

b)     Ref. 20061136

       Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Ltd.

 

       Amendments to planning application 20060566.  Addition of 2 fire escape stairs and escape doors at Oaklands, Bridge End, Hexham.

 

       Granted permission by T.C. under delegated powers dated 18/10/06.

 

c)     Ref. 20061060

       Trustees of J J Straker Estate Office, Stagshaw House, Corbridge.

 

       Change of use and conversion of redundant garages into one dwelling at Stagshaw House, Corbridge.

 

       Granted permission conditionally by T. C. dated 25/10/06.

 

4.     Financial Matters

 

       a)     Income

 

              27/09/06   Bank Interest D/A                     £      1.45

              27/12/06   Bank Interest D/A                     £      1.6

 

b)     Payments

 

              15/10/06   NCC (copy of Definitive Map)       £     29.38

              15/11/06   Royal British Legion (wreath)       £     25.00

              15/11/06   B D O (Audit Fees)                   £     58.75

              01/10/06   W C Grigg (fee)                       £   165.00

              01/11/06   W C Grigg (fee)                       £   165.00

              01/12/06   W C Grigg (fee)                       £   165.00

              01/01/07   W C Grigg (fee)                       £   165.00

              18/01/07   NCC (rent of room)                   £     15.00

              18/01/07   W C Grigg (administration)          £     25.00

 

       c)     Bank Balances

 

              Balances at 27/12/06

 

              (i)     Deposit a/c               £285.33

              (ii)    Current a/c               £1657.52

 

       d)     Audit 2005-2006

 

       The audit was completed and signed off on the 10th October 2006 (letter dated 10th October 2006).  The Council noted the issues arising from the audit and will monitor these matters.  The Council fully agreed the auditor's report.

 

e)     Precept 2007-2008

 

       The Council fully agreed a precept of £3,500 for 2007/2008.  The Chairman and Clerk were given the authority to sign the documents.

 

5.     Proposed Changes to Local Authorities

 

The Council received and noted papers and documents from NCC and Tynedale Council in regards the Government's intentions of reviewing Local Government in the near future, and they will be looking at creating either one Northumberland Unitary Authority or two Unitary Authorities for Northumberland, one for the urban areas and one for the rural areas.

 

The final decision will be made later in the year by the Government.

 

Submissions are being made by NCC and all the District Authorities in Northumberland.

 

The Council discussed the matter fully including the involvement of Parish Councils within the new systems.

 

It was fully agreed not to comment on either proposal but felt more public consultation should have taken place before any submissions be sent in.  The timescale was very tight6.    Correspondence

 

       a)     The late Mrs J Baxter Memorial Seat

 

The Council received a letter from Mr A Baxter asking permission to install an oak seat on the top of Anick Village Green in memory of his wife Joan who was an Anick resident for 25 years.  The seat would be craftsman built and professionally secured on stone slabs without any cost to the Council  The Council fully agreed to this request.

 

b)     Seat in memory of the late Mrs A Abraham

 

Letter received from Mr R Abraham thanking the Council for allowing him and the family to restore the seat on the St. John Lee Oakwood Road in memory of his late wife Anna Abraham.

 

c)     Consultation on the Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Northumberland

 

It was agreed Councillor A Winstanley would complete the survey and forward to the Clerk to be returned to NCC.

 

7.     Any urgent business allowed by the Chairman

 

       a)     Remembrance Day 2006

 

       The Council Chairman Councillor R Macfarlane reported he had attended the service and laid the wreath on behalf of the Parish Council and hoped this custom would continue as the act of remembrance is very important each year.

 

b)     Work carried out by Fastflow

 

       Fastflow have been laying new water pipes throughout the Parish and causing huge problems with reinstatement works and the amount of mess left after their work.  The Chairman has already contacted NCC and is awaiting a response requesting action in getting works carried out and completed.  It was agreed the Clerk would also contact NCC Officers to see if any action has been taken to date and if they are to follow up the concerns created by Fastflow.

 

c)     Children's Play Area

 

       Tynedale Council are looking for a suitable site within the Parish and will report back in due course.

 

d)     Highways Works

 

       Works carried on around the highway surrounding Oakwood Cottage.  Oakwood appears to be unfinished.  Clerk to contact NCC for clarification.

                            

         e)      Parish Plan

 

       It was agreed to ask the Community Development Officer for Tynedale from Community Action Northumberland to attend the APM on Wednesday 18th April 2007 to speak about Parish Plans and possible funding.

 

8.        Date of Next Meetings

 

       It was agreed the date of the next meeting would be the 18th April 2007.  This will have to be the APM as this being election year the APM must take place before the elections on the 3rd May 2007.

 

       A proposed date for the Council's AGM was agreed as the 13th June 2007; this will be confirmed at the meeting on the 18th April 2007.

 

         The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.