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PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES, PONTELAND ON 8 JULY 2009

Present: Councillor R G Ramsay (in the Chair)

Councillors Mrs E Armstrong, P M Armstrong, D Butler, Mrs I Brumwell, Mrs J Butcher, A S Cave, T A Chilton, R Hutchinson, Carl Rawlings and Mrs E E Thompson.

Presentation of Second Mile Award

The Mayor, Councillor Ramsay presented Gemma Jordana, a pupil at Ponteland Community High School with a cheque for £100 in respect of the above Award. The Mayor’s son had also made a contribution of £50 in recognition of Councillor Ramsay’s first year as Mayor.

Gemma explained to the Council that for the Award, she was organising a group of 51 people taking part in the Great North Run in support of the Meningitis Relief Fund in memory of a family member who had died from the disease at a young age.

She had decided to use the funds to undertake a High Wire course at Matfen Hall which she felt would be beneficial in helping her to achieve her ambition to become a teacher.

Presentation - Ponteland Learning Trust consultation

The Council was pleased to welcome Mr Stephen Prandle, Head teacher at Ponteland Community High School and Mr Mike Brown, Chair of Governors to outline the High Schools bid to attain Foundation Trust status.

Mr Prandle gave an interesting and informative overview of what Foundation Trust status is and how it may affect school management. He briefly explained what was involved in the process of consultation and application and gave details of organisations who had already agreed to partner the Trust.

Mr Prandle and his colleagues were thanked for their attendance at the meeting.

44. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence

45. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

46. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD 10 JUNE 2009 AND THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 25 JUNE 2009

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 10 June 2009 and the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on 25 June 2009 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

47. MATTERS ARISING

Minute 198 - CMBC Car Parking Order

The Council were awaiting a reply from Northumberland County Council to progress the issue of enforcement of the Car Parking Order located at the back of Merton Way (north)

Minute 15 - Tree Management Plan

A Tree Works Specification document had been prepared and was shortly due to be issued to a number of contractors for their quotation.

Minute 28. Planning - (ii) Report on recent planning decisions
It was reported that an application for installation of a radio base station at Broadway Darras Hall Estate Ponteland had been refused by Northumberland County Council at the Area Planning Committee held on 14 May. However due to an administrative error the Council omitted to send the decision of the Planning Committee to the applicant within the required 56 days, and so the application had been automatically approved by default.
The County Council had apologised for this oversight and were currently in talks with the applicant to reconsider the proposed development site in view of the opposition from school parents, the Town Council and the NCC Planning Committee.
Minute 29 – Grant Applications (i) Holy Saviour Church, Milbourne and (ii) Friends of Ponteland Park

Letters of thanks had been received from the above organisations.

Minute 36 (iv) Discussions re Fairtrade

The Council awaited further details from the promoters of the Fairtrade event. A full report would be presented to the Town Council at a later date.

48. PLANNING

(i) Planning Committee

Minutes of meeting held on 9 and 23 June were circulated for information.

(ii) Report on recent planning decisions

It was reported that following the Area Planning Committee held on 6 June Northumberland County Council had refused the application for backland development of 109-115 Western Way Darras Hall Ponteland.

49. BUDGET 2010/11 – WISH LISTS

Councillors had supplied 6 requests for their ‘wish list’ proposals for the 2010/11 budget.
A summary of the list of items would be presented at the August meeting which would then be costed and considered by the Council later in the year prior to determination of the precept in December.

50. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN PROGRAMME 2010/11

Information had been received from Northumberland County Council relating to the above programme for 2010/11.

Parish and Town Councils were asked to submit their top three priorities in respect of transport to the County Council by 20 August. Councillors were therefore asked to submit their priorities within the next two weeks.

It was proposed that the Highways Working Party of the Council would have delegated powers to formulate the response to the Programme.

RESOLVED - Agreed

51. PROGRAMME OF WORKS REPORT

The Chairman reported on the progress of projects for 2008/2009 and additional projects for 2009/10.

(i) Park Entrance

The Park Entrance was now complete subject to one or two items which required attention.

51. PROGRAMME OF WORKS REPORT (contd)

(ii) Historical signs

Locations for the historical signs had been finalised and it was hoped that work involving input from the Ponteland Historical Society would progress within the next two months.

(iii) Welcome Signs

The Council was now in a position to submit planning applications in respect of the welcome signs.

(iv) New Park Entrance at Callerton Lane

The Environment Working Party had approved slightly modified proposals for a new entrance to the Park at Callerton Lane. Costs for the project could now be sought for presentation to the Council at a later date.

52. REGENERATION UPDATE

It was reported that work was progressing on the regeneration of Ponteland. The County Council would be holding a meeting with the developer in the near future following which a meeting would be held with the Regeneration sub group of the Ponteland Community Partnership.

A progress report on the regeneration of Broadway was unavailable.

53. CAPITAL ASSETS/ALLOCATION OF RESERVES

The Council was provided with a report showing values for capital assets and capital reserve allocations for their replacement.

RESOLVED - Agreed

54. CONSULTATION ABOUT DAY CARE PROVISION FOR OLDER PEOPLE

A public consultation meeting had been held at Ponteland High School on 18 June relating to the proposed closure of the day care centres in Ponteland and other areas.

The County Council were examining the possibility of closing various day care centres and giving the individuals who attended, funds towards buying the services they required for their own circumstances; such as buying in additional help at home or using the funds for outings and activities.

54. CONSULTATION ABOUT DAY CARE PROVISION FOR OLDER PEOPLE(contd)

Councillors who were present at the meeting were concerned that the opinions of service users and their families were under-represented as the meeting had been poorly attended.

RESOLVED - The Council agreed that they were not in support of the proposals at the present time and required more information regarding what would replace the day centre provision. The Clerk was asked to write to the County Council seeking a further meeting with improved advertising.

55. COMMUNITY FORUM

A list of topics raised at the above events held in May had been prepared and supplied to the Working Group. This list would be produced into a report to be put before the Forum for further consideration.


56. NORTHUMBRIA IN BLOOM WORKING PARTY

Minutes of a meeting of the above Working Party held on 22 June 2009 had been circulated.
Items discussed included successful entries in the Northumbria in Bloom painting competition and progress on matters for the summer judging which was to take place on Monday 13 July.
The Summer Litter Pick was scheduled for Saturday 11 July and Councillors were asked to assist with weeding and tidying etc prior to the judging

57. ENVIRONMENT WORKING PARTY

The Working Party had met on 6 July and discussed various matters including proposals for a new entrance to the Park at Callerton Lane, which was approved with a minor modification.


58. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT

Councillor P M Armstrong reported on various ongoing issues at the County Council.
A report had been submitted to the West Area Committee held on 7 July relating to proposals by the Ambulance Service to attain Trust Status.
He also referred to the proposals to close various day centres which had already been discussed.

58. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT(contd)

There were ongoing discussions relating to the issue of recycling and green waste provision in the County which differed from area to area and required standardisation across the County.

Councillor Armstrong reported on the County Community Chest funding which was a grant source for voluntary organisations within each of the three County areas. The sum of £50,000 was available in each area and organisations were being advised to submit applications if they had eligible schemes.
The Area Committee had asked that grant applications be reported back to them for ratification. Application forms were available from the County Council.

59. MAYORS REPORT

(i) Northumbria in Bloom Painting Competition

The Mayor reported that two pupils from Darras Hall First School and Ponteland Middle School had both won first prizes in the above competition. Both entries would feature in the Northumbria in Bloom calendar for 2010.
The Mayor had presented the Keep Britain Tidy Shield to Darras Hall First School and the Cowell Garden Centre cup to Ponteland Middle School.

(ii) Litter Pick
A litter pick would be held on Saturday 11 July, prior to the summer judging.
This would be held from 10 – 12 and refreshments would be available.

(iii) Music in the Park event – 18 July 2009

Councillors were reminded this event would take place on Saturday 18 July from 6 – 9 pm. Councillors were asked to volunteer to assist with preparations on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July.

(iv) Resignation of John Blundell
The Mayor reported that John Blundell had resigned as a Councillor for the North Ward.

(v) Waitrose bridge – Ponteland Park
It was reported that the County Council were replacing the above wooden bridge and the area would be closed for two weeks from 24 July for construction works.
A like for like construction was proposed.

59. MAYORS REPORT(contd)

(vi) Ponteland Community High School – Enterprise Week
Councillors were taking part in the above event at the High School which had proved to be successful as usual. Councillors were thanked for their participation in the activities.

60. REPORTS BY TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ON LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

(i) LMAPS Police Meeting – 16 June 2009

The Council had been represented at the above meeting held at the URC Church Hall in Ponteland which involved organisations from the Police and local Schools, and which was proving to be a useful and informative forum.

61. ACCOUNTS /BANK RECONCILIATION/QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORT/BUDGET REVISION

The Accounts Committee approved payments totalling £34232.67 and the transfer of this sum from the Councils Deposit Account. The Bank reconciliation for June 2009 was also approved.
A report showing expenditure for the first three months of the financial year was circulated for consideration by the Council.

RESOLVED - The report be received and revised budget approved.


DATE OF NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST 2009 AT 6.45PM AT THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE.


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