SANDHOE PARISH COUNCIL

 

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 16th September 2009 at 7.00 pm in Beaufront County First School, Sandhoe, Hexham.

 

Present

 

Councillor R Macfarlane (Chairman of the Council) Councillors Mrs E Rodger, Mrs C Duncan, M Baxter, J Pennie

 

Also Present

 

Bill Grigg, Clerk to the Council and 2 Residents of the Parish

 

Apologies

 

County Councillor Mrs J B Fearon

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Agenda item 5 Parish Website.  Councillor Mrs E Rodger declared an interest in this agenda item.

 

Acceptance of Office and Welcome to  Council

 

Councillor Mrs C Duncan duly signed her Acceptance of Office as an elected Councillor for the Parish of Sandhoe, and also completed her Declaration of Office form to be forwarded to the Monitoring Officer at Northumberland County Council.

 

The Chairman of the Council Councillor R Macfarlane on behalf of the Council welcomed Councillor Mrs C Duncan to the Council and hoped she would be very happy.

 

1.       The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 27th  May 2009

 

The minutes of the Council meeting held on the 27th  May 2009 were fully agreed as a correct record, proposed by Councillor R Macfarlane and seconded by Councillor M Baxter.

 

2.       Matters arising from the minutes of the Council meeting held on the 27th   May 2009

 

Ref. 8c NCC Road Conditions

 

Concerns were expressed in regards to the T Junction sign beside the bus shelter/bus stop sign at Oakwood.  The Council would write to NCC asking for this issue to be looked at and rectified as soon as possible.

Ref. 8c Oakwood Bank

 

The rights of way sign problem at Oakwood Cottage is still not rectified.  NCC solicitor agreed to look into this issue.  It will be necessary to seek Acomb Parish Council's consent to write to the owners as part of the land falls within that Parish.  The Clerk was authorised to follow this up.

 

3.       Parish Website

 

The Chairman recommended that this item be deferred to the next meeting and requested the Clerk circulate the papers to each Councillor from Mr P Rodger and a final decision made at the December meeting of the Council following members' having time to read the documents.

 

4.       Reports from Councillor R Macfarlane

 

         a)      East Tynedale Community Forum

 

Councillor R Macfarlane gave a full report of the activities of the ETCF and its recent meeting (members are sent by e-mail all the reports).

 

b)      NSLP

 

In April 2009 Northumberland County Council took over the responsibilities of the former districts.  At the same time the Northumberland Strategic Partnership was reviewed to make sure it was able to take full advantage of the opportunities that having one Council for the whole county could bring.  Partners are working together to improve life for local people across four key themes:

 

-       economic prosperity;

-       place shaping;

-       health, care and wellbeing;

-       stronger communities.

 

West Area Partnership

 

The Tynedale Strategic Partnership is now the West Area Partnership and now will function as a sub group to the LSP.  The meeting of the West Area Partnership planning for next Monday 14th September was cancelled.

 

We are awaiting confirmation of a decision about moderation of membership of the three areas and working the arrangements in the future between the various elements of the NSP family.

 

A meeting will take place after the NSP board meeting on 24 September.  Over the past few months significant progress has been made putting in place new structures and identifying how they relate to each other to improve service delivery and address community need, at the same time it is also acknowledged that there is much still to be done.

 

c)       Council's Consultations

 

The Council has been consulted and the Chairman responded following seeking Council Members comments.  A new emergency hospital beside Cramlington, proposed new fire station at Hexham, closures of day centres in Northumberland.

 

5.       Egger Liaison Working Group

 

Councillor J Pennie Chairman of the Egger Liaison Working Group.

 

Egger UK Ltd are awaiting planning permission for the log handling unit.  There is a two week review taking place at the present time.  It is still very noisy and a nuisance to local residents.  Old machinery is back in operation and very noisy.  They are operating 7 am - 10 pm.

 

Councillor J Pennie asked for all comments in regards to all complaints in time for the next Liaison Group Meeting on the 22nd October which he would take to the meeting and report back.

 

The Clerk has not been informed on behalf of the Council but it was reported planning permission has been granted to Egger UK Ltd for the new factory on the land east of the present site.

 

N Barrett, Area Manager, NCC Environmental Services has agreed to keep the Council updated on all noise/regulations issues.

 

6.       Planning Matters

 

a)      Planning Decisions

 

(i)      Ref. 20090536, 30 Fairfield Crescent, Oakwood, Hexham.

Amendment to 2081119 for further extension of garage gable wall and conversion of conservatory to Garden Room.

Granted permission under delegated powers 2/09/09.

 

(ii)      Ref. 20090253, Holly Hall Barn, Sandhoe, Hexham.

Creation of guest room and en-suite in existing workshop/storage space.

Granted permission under delegated powers 7/07/09.

 

7.       Financial Matters

 

a)      Income                                                             

 

08/09/09      Half year precept £2250.00             05/06/09     Interest savings a/c   £0 .05

 

b)      Payments

 

Cheque no. 416 J Herdman £82.50, Cheque no. 417 Rat Inn £84.00, Cheque no. 418 R. Macfarlane £ 29.88

(note the above 3 payments are in relation to the retirement of H. Learman)

Cheque no. 419 W C Grigg (admin) £20.00, Cheque no. 420 Dell (cartridge inks) £39.47,  Cheque no. 421 NCC (rent of room) £15.00

Cheque no. 422 J Robinson (copying) £5.00, Cheque no. 423 W C Grigg (admin) £18.00, Cheque no. 424 BDO (audit fees) £138.80

 

Payments by Bank Payments

 

29/06/09 W C Grigg (fees) £ 220.00, 27/07/09 W C Grigg (fees) £ 220.00, 18/08/09 W C Grigg (fees) £ 220.00, 16/09/09 W C Grigg (fees) £ 220.00

 

Reconsulation of Accounts 16/09/09

 

Current account £3123.60.  (This includes £900 grant from the former Tynedale Council)

 

Savings account £313.69.

 

c)       Audit 2008/2009

 

The audit by BDO is now complete.  The Council fully accepted the audit for 2008/2009.

 

The auditor's only recommendation is that the Council review its Fidelity Guarantee Cover. 

 

The Council fully discussed this matter and Councillor J Pennie proposed, seconded by Councillor M Baxter, that we do not at this stage increase our Fidelity Guarantee premium.  Council fully agreed.

 

8.       Estimates for Proposed Works

 

a)      Bus Shelter

 

One tender for repairs to the bus shelter has come to the Council.  Since seeking tenders more damage has occurred to the roof of the bus shelter which was reported by Councillor M Baxter.  Therefore as it was felt this was an urgent matter is was fully agreed Councillor M Baxter would contact two joiners for costings and would consult with the Clerk and, in agreement with the Council Chairman, agree to have the works carried out as soon as possible.

 

b) Noticeboards 

 

Two separate tenders have been received in regards to providing a complete new noticeboard and one to repair and upgrade the present noticeboard.  After discussion on this issue it was fully agreed Councillor Mrs C Duncan would prepare some designs for a new noticeboard.

 

Councillor Mrs C Duncan would bring the proposals and costings to the next meeting of the Council for the Council to consider making a decision.

 

9.       Residents' Participation

 

Allotments

 

At this point Councillor M Baxter declared an interest in this matter.

 

A local resident John Middleton who is also Secretary of Beaufront and District Fruit and Vegetable Association, spoke on behalf of the Association and local residents asking the Council for support in trying to provide allotments within the Parish.

 

The Council with Mr Middleton discussed this matter fully.  Before the Council can take this issue any further it will need to have the request in writing.  It was agreed Mr Middleton would put this in writing and the Council will discuss this fully at its next meeting.

 

10.     Correspondence

 

a)      Notice from the Boundary Committee for England with its first round of comments.  The Council are delighted it agreed to keep the Parish boundaries as they are including the retention of Egger and other industrial units within the Parish.  The Council agreed to write to the Committee agreeing with their proposals.

 

11.     Any Urgent Business Allowed by the Chairman

 

There was no urgent business.

 

12.     Date of Next Meeting

 

It was confirmed the date of the next meeting would be the 10th  December 2009 at 7.00 pm.

 

The meeting closed at 9.00 pm.