Minutes of Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed after minor amendments.

Matters Arising from Previous Meeting
Coun. Gilson asked if the title ‘Councillor’ needs to be included in the minutes, and can Christian names not be used.  Coun. Mrs Dawson thought formality should be taken so those reading minutes will know when councillor’s are being referred to.  Coun. Edes suggested visitors be given titles.  Coun. Gilson asked why his final request for a comment made regarding the Bridge’s report was not included in last months minutes.  Coun. Mrs Dawson replied she had not wished the comment to be printed.  Coun. Gilson thought certain comments mad had been highly offensive to Mr Costley who had been present.  Coun. Edes reiterated the Chairman had requested the comments not be included.

Crime and Disorder Forum
Next meeting 15/6/09 6.30pm Jubilee Hall.

Rural Transport / Shopping Bus
Coun. Murray stated the bus requires more users.  Coun. Reynalds reported the PC had provided free transport on Good Friday, due to an error.  Coun. Murray said with numbers dropping off the committee would be prepared to look at a reduction in the hire charge.  Coun. Edes thought an advertisement could be placed in PC notice board. 

Play Areas
Coun. Gilson trying to contact personnel regarding riverside play area material which could be used  for Addycombe area, Coun. Edes had been contacted by Mr Thompson, ADC who had expected the area would be seeded - the material has now been removed.

West End Entrance/Bridge Street
Nothing to report.

NHS Governor
Nothing to report.

Nursing Home
Coun. Sandford had tried to contact Mr Lee, however he is on holiday.  Coun. Fendley welcomed the meeting, but in the ensuing discussion it had been clear many residents of Coquetdale will not be able to benefit from it, and it seems to be more of a residential care home, and thought the priority had been for inhabitants of the area - with quotes of £600 being made and Social Services rates nearer £400, the situation needs to be monitored.  Coun. Sandford said it was always recognised by Dr Cameron it would be a residential care home, rather than a nursing home,  and was never going to be built with government funding..  Negotiations had been made with Social Services and the Care Trust but the number of beds had never been defined.  Coun. Fendley welcomed these comments but said it was quite clear they could not cope with dementia patients.  Coun. Morton thought it odd with an aging population and dementia a large problem to face, and felt there should be something for these patients.  Coun. Sandford understood local GP’s usually know of homes who deal specifically with dementia/24 hour care. Coun. Murray said to be fair they did state it would be open to different patient levels and they were to look into future developments dealing with dementia.

Flooding/Dealing with Emergencies
Coun. Gilson had spoken to Mr Ian Clough, Unitary Council representative, who was to provide copy of a report to present to the PC regarding two recent incidents, however this was not what Coun. Gilson had requested.  Coun. Fendley welcomed Coun. Gilsons’s efforts, and understood the Environment Agency have published a report which highlighted  a breakdown in communication - Gazette reporter has disc and hard copy of this report.

Village Greens
Nothing to report.

Community Lights Committee
Nothing to report.

Website
Coun. Gilson had previously said an amateur should not be  used to run a PC web-site and thought there was a forum discussion about PC minutes on the web-site, with various comments that annoyed him, then Mr Hodgson stating minutes are no longer to be published on the forum.  Coun. Murray said he is happy running the web-site and had contacted organisations for web-site free publication, and the PC  need to discuss a name purchase, which would work out at approximately £46 for two years.  Coun. Fendley suggested RPC.com be the dedicated title  -  Coun. Murray happy with progressing this.

Turks Head area gully
Nothing to report.

Churchyard Wall
Awaiting structural engineer’s report.

Quality Parish Council
Clerk had obtained training information.  Coun. Sandford thought it would take longer than first anticipated to obtain quality status -  clerk has two years to complete training.  

Clock Chiming
Coun. Dawson to contact W Potts.  Coun. Gilson had been approached about its inability to chime correctly.  Coun. Dawson had previously been able to alter the clock himself, but unable to since it had been computerised.   Coun. Morton asked if it could be reverted back to the key system, Coun. Dawson replied this was not possible. 

Hanging Baskets
Coun. Mrs Dawson to speak to Coun. Bridgett, who was looking into the matter.

Community Forum's
Coun . Fendley had attended a meeting with representatives and there was a level of confusion -  Coun. Murray’s concerns are the fact the forums, based on paperwork received, bear no resemblance to what the PC was previously led to believe, with unelected officials able to make decisions, and it is  possible forums could ultimately have greater power than PC’s.  Coun. Sandford said the two meetings organised by the new authority had stated the opposite to this, and PC’s in the coquet valley would have a group where every PC is represented.

Rothbury Plan
Hospital:
Nothing to report.
Haugh Land:
Nothing to report.
Parking:
Nothing to report.
Youth Project:
Nothing to report.
Footpaths:
Coun. Morton had received a complaint about dog mess on the new footpath to Whitton View, Coun. Mrs Dawson said there is a bin at the first school.  Coun. Murray said as it is a private estate the developers will have to request it be adopted.  Coun. Dawson said NCC could be asked to contact developers asking for their bin requests.  Coun. Murray said the footpath is tarmacced a third of the way, but there are still parts with hardcore.  Coun. Fendley said a further meeting is to be held with the developers - they have put lamps along that section, and two new lamps at Townfoot.
Recycling:
Nothing to report.
Cyclepath:
Coun. Dawson asked for comments on Sustran’s proposals.  Coun. Murray said he was all for helping cyclists, but not at the expense of other users.  Coun. Dawson said he had attended the last Sustran’s meeting and thought in principal an excellent idea but the actual construction materials are cause for concern and thought the most appropriate surface would be grass and proposed a further meeting with Sustran’s..  Coun. Murray said questions had been asked at past meetings, and the impression given was all authorities had passed the plans.  Coun. Fendley said the path after the play area is subject to subsidence, Coun. Murray said after the last flooding the area had improved.  Coun. Gilson said he had always had doubts, but Sustran’s had convinced him everything  had been accepted by the correct authorities, however after comments made tonight he has doubts, and walkers, horse-riders and cyclists do not mix.  Coun. Edes said as a public meeting it had seemed successful, but was disappointed the path was not to be alongside the main road, and would be horrified if they attempted to move stones below the old churchyard.  Coun. Sandford said cycling appears predominant with the funding secured due to the cycling aspect.  Coun. Dawson proposed an urgent on-site meeting, Coun. Mrs Edes to contact Sustran’s and arrange a site meeting, and inform councillor’s.
Speed Cameras:
Nothing to report.
Street Lighting:
Nothing to report.
Enhance Public Areas:
Nothing to report.
Heritage Amenity Project:
Nothing to report
Information Signage:
Coun. Dawson has no further information, Coun. Fendley thought unsatisfactory as ADC had assured funding was available.

The following Accounts have been authorised
i]. Great North Air Ambulance - £100.00 donated last F/Y - £150.00 agreed
ii]. Rent of Jubilee Hall 2008/09  - £60.00
iii]. ADC - Dog bin- £49
iv]. Rothbury Joint Burial Committee - 19 hours @ £8 = £152
v]. SLCC - Quality Clerk Training - £70.00qa
vi]. M Evens - £220.00
vii]. UCCT - March Bus - £100.00
viii]. T W Alderson - £13.50
ix]. Rede Tyne Centre - Coun. Sandford felt it was not offering Rothbury residents much, Coun. Dawson said he had been a representative on their committee and they had not held regular meetings - it was agreed to reject request.
x]. Rothbury Food & Craft Festival -  Coun. Gilson uneasy about PC donating to anything concerning profit making, Coun. Murray thought it would encourage persons to visit the village, Coun. Fendley understood people rent a table on the assumption they make money to pay for this, and it could set a precedent.  Coun. Murray said it the group comes under Rothbury Projects.  It was agreed to ask them to re-request next year and provide details of their financial status.
xi]. Youth Project - request for funding - Coun. Gilson proposed £700, agreed.

Audit of Accounts y/e 31/03/08
Paperwork authorised - Points 1 to 10 read through and  agreed.

Bank of Ireland
Coun. Sandford had contacted Northern Rock but they do not provide local council accounts, however Lloyds TSB could provide such an account currently paying 1.5% interest.   The Bank of Ireland is paying less interest, and it was  thought an English bank be used - it was agreed to set up an account with Lloyds TSB

Finance sub-committee meeting
Date set as Wednesday 6th May 630pm Daisy Cottage

Seats and Trees
Coun. Sandford said at the last meeting it had been discussed a donated recyclable seat be placed on the path to the hospital, and RPC to assume responsibility.  Coun. Gilson understood the path and hedge were in a designated conservation area, however a seat would not affect this status.  Coun. Sandford said weeds were again growing on the new path which NCC treated last year - clerk to recontact NCC.   Coun. Murray reported a riverside seat with a broken bar, and a seat at the bottom of Wellstrand requiring repair.  Coun. Edes reported a tree beside the War Memorial requires pruning, Coun. Dawson offered to carry out this work.  Three new allotment holders have taken over tenancies.

Paths & Verges
Nothing to report.

Unitary Councillor Report:
Nothing to report .

Correspondence
i]. ADC - Housing Needs Survey - Final Report 2008 - Coun. Fendley to look at first.
ii]. Information Commissioner’s Office - Freedom of Information Act - for information.
iii]. Rede Tyne & Coquet Sports Centre - discussed earlier.
iv]. CPRE - newsletter - available for circulation.
v]. Allianz - seat - Insurance company prepared to cover the cost for the damaged seat - reliant on the person who inspected it preparing a report stating it was unrepairable, and the PC to purchasereplacement seat and provide invoice - Coun. Gilson thought a precedent may be set on replacing donated seats - Coun. Dawson said when seats are donated they becomes the property of the PC
vi]. ADC - Housing Needs Survey - for information.
vii]. Memorial Road Race - for information.
viii]. Hospice Care - newsletter - available for circulation.
ix]. NCC - Private hire vehicles - Coun. Murray said this could be important in the future.
x]. ADC - Commemorative booklet - available for circulation.
xi]. NCC - Local Development Framework - comments to be made by middle of June - Coun. Mrs Dawson to look at.

Planning
            Addycombe Development: Further meeting to be held

    Planning Applications received for the following:
    . A/2009/0139: Cheviot Housing - Armstrong Cottages repair
    . A/2009/0148: Northumberland Estates - construction of housing, land at Addycombe - Coun. Gilson had been approached by 4 residents commenting against the proposals and he did not agree with the application, with restrictive egress already, and the housing not in financial reach of local person's.  Coun. Dawson agreed there would be an increase in vehicles, an oversupply of housing already in the area and the application is in breach of ADC housing policy and no mention of the properties being affordable.  Coun. Sandford said that was ADC’s policy, is this adopted by NCC, Coun. Dawson confirmed this.  Coun. Murray agreed with these views, and feels with the road access it is an attempt to build further housing behind the school fields as previously applied for.  The land had belonged to ADC and he was unhappy it had not been made available for Addycombe residents to use, as they had previously maintained the area. Coun. Murray believed developments should take into account job opportunities and he has never seen this with the current housing being built. The application will displace 4/5 vehicles currently parked there, along with cars on the hard standing, and parking at Addycombe is already unbelievable.  Coun. Mrs Dawson to forward e-mail with objections.
    . A/2009/0159: Ms C Jacob, Croft House, Hillside, single storey extension
    . A/2009/0104: Mr W Fulton, 8 Wrights Square, conservatory
    .

    Notice of Approval of Planning Permission
    . A/2009/0111: - Mrs L Calvert, Steward House - tree pruning
    . A/2009/0104: - Mr A Law, 1 Jubilee Crescent - extension

    Notice of Refusal of Planning Permission
    . A/2009/0086: Mr & Mrs Storey - Dove Crags - extension

Any Other Business
i]. Coun. Mrs Edes had been approached about somebody being attached by a dog being walked on the riverside, and requested the Dog Warden should visit more often - however it was thought this incident should be reported to the police.
ii]. Coun. Sandford reported at the Joint Burial Committee meeting held 26/3/09 one point regarding adopting a 5 year plan had been discussed, and any Councillor not on the Burial Committee can provide suggestions.

Date of Next Meeting
Annual Assembly Wednesday 20th May 2009 commencing 7pm in the Jubilee Hall.

The meeting finished at 10.05pm.

Claire Miller Clerk