SANDHOE PARISH COUNCIL

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 16^th January 2008 at 7.00 pm in Beaufront County First School, Sandhoe, Hexham.

Present

Councillor R Macfarlane (Chairman of the Council in the Chair)

Councillors Mrs E Rodger, M Baxter, H Learman

Also Present

District Councillor N Fearon

Clerk to the Council - B Grigg

Head of Health and Public Protection, Tynedale Council - N Barrett

Consultant from A & EA Consultants representing Tynedale Council - John Smith

8 Residents of the Parish

Apologies

Councillor J Pennie

County Councillor Mrs J B Fearon

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

Egger (UK) Ltd

Nick Barrett, Tynedale Council, and John Smith a Principal Consultant with A & EA Consultants acting on behalf of Tynedale Council, gave a presentation on the consultation process in regards to the renewal of the operating permit for Egger (UK) Ltd.

A full and comprehensive presentation was given, reminding the Council and residents that comments must be in by the 8th February 2008 and all representations must be in writing. Changes to the permit may or may not be made depending on the contents of the representations.

Following the presentation a full open discussion took place with a lot of debate on various points in the permit. Mainly noise elements took place plus the process for monitoring the site which is proposed at this stage to be four times a year. The sites on which noise levels are taken and possible new sites were discussed. The levels of noise allowed and if more monitoring is required.

The monitoring will be done by consultants appointed and paid for by Egger (UK) Ltd.

The length of time that Egger (UK) Ltd will produce their report. If the permit is granted for example 1st March 2008 the annual report will be produced by April 2009. It was questioned could this be brought forward to enable more monitoring.

The lifetstyle and the effects on local residents, the noise levels were discussed and it was agreed hopefully careful monitoring of the permit and enforcement which the permit allows should hopefully help local residents.

Also questioned was trustworthiness of the testing and how will the notification of the results be given to the Council and residents.

The Council and residents thanked N Barrett for all his work on this matter; thanks were also expressed to John Smith.

Councillors were asked to e-mail or send the Clerk any comments they wish to be included in the Council's representation by 31st January 2008 by the Council Chairman, as some members still needed to see the draft permit.

At this point of the meeting (8.30 pm) the Council went into full Council session.

1. The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 14th November 2007

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 14th November 2007 were signed as a correct record.

2. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 14th November 2007

There were no matters arising.

3. Report on the Egger Liaison Working Group Meeting held 10 January 2008

Councillor R Macfarlane (Chairman of the Council) reported that Councillor J Pennie had been appointed Chairman of the Working Group and was unable to attend this meeting as he was in London, and gave a verbal report on the report prepared by Councillor J Pennie, hopefully outlining the responses to matters raised by members of the community and requested that these matters be taken to the Working Group. It was also reported Egger's lawyers have advised they only meet with representatives from the Parish Council and District/County but they would be prepared to meet representatives of the community at a Liaison Group meeting on a one-off basis if there was an issue that could not be resolved or discussed in any other way.

Omitted from Councillor J Pennie's report was the footway queries by Councillor Mrs E Rodger. Egger have already spoken to NCC who inform them the new development at the Business Park have a planning agreement to create a footway (public) which should resolve the problem.

(A copy of the report is filed with these minutes and will also form part of the minutes of the Egger Liaison Group Meeting to be confirmed at the next meeting to be held on the 27th March 2008.)

4. Planning Matters

Applications

There were no planning applications.

Decisions

NCC Application, Beaufront First School

C/o M Hexhall, West Bingfield Grange, Bingfield

Demolition of existing mobile units and construction of timber framed building to accommodate 2 classrooms at Beaufront First School, Sandhoe.

Granted permission by NCC dated 2/1/08.

5. Financial Matters

a) Income

07/12/07 Bank Interest D/A £10.46

b) Payments

Corbridge Parish Council (Labour) £50.00, W C Grigg (fee) £200.00, W C Grigg (fee) £200.00, Bank Charges £56.22, NCC Rent of Room £15.00, W C Grigg (administration) £45.00, J Robinson (Copying) £4.00, St. John Lee Church £25.00, Dell Ltd (ink cartridges) £38.23

c) Precept 2008/2009

After discussion it was agreed the Council's precept for 2008/2009 would be £4500. The Chairman and Clerk were authorised to sign the forms to go to Tynedale Council.

6. Correspondence

a) 1 Tynedale Council Belonging Communities.

a) 2 Tynedale Council Belonging Communities update meeting to be held 29/1/08.

b) English Heritage report.

c) NCA Newsletter.

d) Tynedale Council Document re. Planning Strategies.

The Council accepted and noted the contents of the correspondence.

7. Any urgent business allowed by the Chairman

a) Fastflow to be contacted in regards to broken access pipes near to Rat Green.

b) An update on the problems with financial cutbacks to local Doctors and Health Centre was reported following recent press coverage and a well attended meeting at Tynedale Council by all the parties concerned, Councillors and members of the public. This was a very good debate and following a meeting of the Care Trust and Doctors things seem to be making towards a settlement. Tynedale Council have sent a large number of points to the Health Trust asking they take note and take action on these points on behalf of the Doctors and community.

c) A letter is to be sent to P Atkinson M.P. asking he continues to support the work of the Northern Rock Foundation, that it continues to work in the North of England, and the Foundation receives the support it deserves.

d) The Chairman informed the meeting that it is illegal to place notices on B.T. poles or other utilities poles, and charges can be made to those people placing the notices. The Council is to inform our handyman to remove any posters etc on poles within the parish.

e) The Chairman reported he would be bringing a report to the next meeting in regards to a new possible footpath being created.

8. Date of Next Meeting

It was confirmed the date of the next meeting would be Wednesday 16 April 2008.

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.