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[Administration]

PONTELAND PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD IN MERTON HALL, PONTELAND ON 12 MARCH 2008

Present: Councillor R G Ramsay (in the Chair)
Councillors Mrs E Armstrong, P M Armstrong, Mrs I Brumwell,
Mrs J Butcher, A S Cave, E P Charleton, H McKay, Mrs E E Thompson,
J W Worth


FORMER PARISH COUNCILLOR LINDLEY DEWHIRST

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Parish Council stood for a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor Lindley Dewhirst who had sadly died recently.

158. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillors D Butler and T A Chilton.

159. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 14 February 2008 were confirmed
and signed by the Chairman.

160. MATTERS ARISING

(i) Minute 152 (i) – Recruitment of Clerk:
There had been a satisfactory number of applicants and the short list had
been prepared for interviewing on 17 March. Councillors were asked to
confirm that they would attend the lunch and observe the candidates’
presentations on that day.

(ii) Minute 152 (vi) – Speed Indicator Signs:
The sign had been installed, and its operation was being monitored.

161. PLANNING

(i) Planning Committee:
Minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 19 February and 4
March 2008 had been circulated for information.

(ii) Report on recent planning decisions:
33 West Road – rejected


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CHAIRMAN DATE


162. APPLICATION FOR GRANT – AGE CONCERN NORTHUMBERLAND

An application had been received from the above organisation to support its
work throughout Northumberland, including Ponteland.
Resolved: That the Council in accordance with its powers under Sections 137
of the Local Government Act 1972, should incur the following expenditure
which, in the opinion of the Council, is in the interests of the area or its
inhabitants and will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the
expenditure:
Age Concern Northumberland - £250

163. NORTHUMBERLAND AND NEWCASTLE SOCIETY SUBSCRIPTION
RENEWAL

Resolved: The annual subscription to the above organisation be renewed in
the sum of £15.

164. ENVIRONMENT WORKING PARTY

Minutes of a meeting of the above Working Party held on 3 March 2008 had
been circulated.
Resolved:
(i) Play area sign – the order for the sign be placed with IE Signs in the sum of
£294 + Vat. Councillor Brumwell’s grandson, Joseph Pilsbury was thanked
for designing the sign.
(ii) Site visit to Oxbow lake – appoint the Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd
to prepare a management plan for the lake, and carry out weed clearance at
the appropriate time in the sum of £1,000 (approx) from the Park Budget.
(iii) ID Badges – Purchase ID badges for Councillors.
(iv) Allotments 1 & 2 – contact the first two residents on the waiting list to see if
they wished to take over the above allotments with effect from 1 April 08.
(v) Moles in the Park – discuss the options with the “Friends” and seek advice
from the Pest Control Officer prior to making any decision to treat the
moles. Advise the resident of Pont Croft.
(vi) “Pushy Mothers” request to use the Park – the Council’s Insurance
Company had confirmed that the Council’s public liability insurance
covered this activity.
(vii) Vacant shop premises in Merton Way – write to the owners reminding
them of their duty of care to ensure the property is safe, as there were
concerns that it was not always so.

165. NORTH EAST REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY FURTHER
PROPOSED CHANGES

The Council had been consulted on the above document.
Resolved: The Chairman would be delegated to prepare a response.


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CHAIRMAN DATE
166. PARK ENTRANCES DESIGN – PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The Council had received a presentation and report from the Landscape
Architect prior to the meeting.
Resolved: The design would now be released for general consultation, ie
through Pont News & Views, the Library. Copies would also be issued to
other local organisations.

167. ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DESIGNATED PUBLIC PLACES
ORDER – CONSULTATION FROM CASTLE MORPETH
BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Borough Council proposes to make Orders designating Morpeth and
Ponteland for the purpose of restricting alcohol consumption. A map was
included in the document. The Police would be able to confiscate alcohol
from under age drinkers and will also have powers to ban any offenders
from the area for 48 hours.
Resolved: The Borough Council be advised that the Council welcomes
the proposal and trusts the Police will use the power to provide greater
protection to the public.

168. RESPONSE TO NCC DOCUMENT – THE WHOLE COUNCIL
BLUEPRINT DESIGN

Copies of the Chairman’s response had been circulated prior to its issue.

169. CMBC CLIMATE CHANGE SURVEY

Councillor Mrs E Thompson had prepared the response on behalf of the
Council, a copy of which had been circulated, and she was thanked for her
contribution.

170. CMBC ARTIST INVOLVEMENT INTERIM PLANNING POLICY

Councillor Worth had prepared the response on behalf of the Council, a
copy of which had been circulated, and he was thanked for his contribution.

171. DEVOLVED RESPONSIBILITIES

In preparation for the new single Unitary Authority, the Chairman,
Councillor McKay, the Clerk and Deputy Clerk had been looking at the
services the Parish Council could provide, ie grass cutting, litter picking,
graffiti removal, management of public toilets, weed control, minor
maintenance of highways. The potential to carry out services locally by
local contractors, and with a “rapid response” attitude should appeal to
residents.


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CHAIRMAN DATE
171. DEVOLVED RESPONSIBILITIES (continued)

Currently, the group were gathering information, but the programme
depended on whether or not funding would be released from the new
Authority to parish councils to carry out these additional functions, as this
was crucial to the future of the proposal for devolved responsibilities.
Resolved: The Group continue to investigate the potential for increased
local service provision and report back to the Council.

172. CASTLE MORPETH BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT

Meeting of Chairman/Clerks of Parish Councils with the Borough Council –
19 March 2008. The Chairman would represent the Parish Council.

173. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT

(i) The Council had kept its Council Tax charges to 1% for 2008/09.

(ii) Northumberland National Park and Countryside Joint Local Access
Forum Recruitment Year 6: The Parish Council had been asked to
display the advertisement for those residents who may wish to join.

(iii) The next Area Committee Meeting would be held on 19 March 2008.

174. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ON RECENT EVENTS

(i) The Chairman had met with John Gray (Crime & Disorder Reduction
Partnership) re CCTV. The Council had been offered £1,000 towards
the running costs of its CCTV system.

175. REPORTS BY PARISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ON LOCAL
ORGANISATIONS

(i) Councillor Mrs Butcher’s report on the Airport Consultative Committee
meeting had been circulated.

(ii) Councillor Charleton reported on a meeting of the Coates Foundation.
£5,000 had been donated to the School to buy musical instruments.

176. ACCOUNTS

The Accounts Committee approved payments totalling £17,593.28 and the
transfer of this sum from the Council’s Deposit account to its
Disbursements Account. The Community Projects Fund payment order
was presented in the sum of £5,750 + Vat for the purchase of the speed
indicator sign, half of which would be reimbursed from the Darras Hall
Estate Committee.

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CHAIRMAN DATE