The meeting commenced at 7.15pm

past with minor amendments

Present
Coun. Mrs Dawson, Mrs Edes, Mrs Morton, Murray, Reynalds, Sandford and the Clerk

District Coun. Bridgett

Crime & Disorder Forum
Coun. Morton, Dawson & Fendley had attended the meeting held 3/6/08. The police are to continue monitoring parking and speed limit enforcements, and are to carry out a speed audit in Swarland. It was confirmed the police station is to be relocated, and a general discussion on public houses and their order had occurred. Coun. Mrs Morton said the meetings are open to the public which is not a well known fact, but only two members of the public had attended. It was thought the forums should be publicised more - next meeting 9/9/08 6pm.

Rural Transport / Shopping Bus - scroll down
Coun. Reynalds reported UCCTG had requested the PC hold the finance to purchase the bus for community use, and 3 members of the PC now sit on the management group - the brokerage group were encouraged to join and had wished to attend the AGM but subsequently did not. Coun. Reynalds reported with 9 days notice Tinn contacted UCCTG to say they did not want them to be part of the brokerage and subsequently withdraw the insurance, fuel card and Section 9 permit. An emergency meeting had been held and it was decided UCCTG would go independent. The shopping bus will continue on a Friday for the foreseeable future. Support and information had been received from ADAPT, a company based in Hexham. It was agreed a transport hire structure will be more user friendly, and the charges will be 75p a mile, however longer journeys could receive a discount. Coun. Sandford asked if the increasing fuel costs would affect figures, however this had been taken into account. Tinn have also written to all members of the shopping bus to say they are no longer involved which had caused alarm to the users. Coun. Sandford had originally been in touch with Tinn and had formed the nicest possible impression of the organisation, and is most surprised at this decision, and asked is there was any other reason for the it, bar a difference of opinion? Coun. Reynalds had received e-mails stating they had asked for meetings and been turned down, however this is inaccurate, and the unanimous view of Tinn was it was in the interests of both organisations for the brokerage arrangement to stop, and it will allow UCCTG to take over full management of the bus without the constraints of brokerage. Coun. Sandford thought there had been a tremendous change in the set up of Tinn by them taking over different areas, and said they had become more commercially minded, more led by financial reasons. Coun. Edes said last Wednesday she used the bus and found the service most adequate. Coun. Morton asked if the UCCTG bus was driven by a UCCTG driver, Coun. Edes confirmed this. Coun. Reynalds said Tinn had taken trade away from UCCTG, and thought it a disgraceful way of behaving. Coun. Murray stressed the sterling work person's within the group have carried out with Coun. Morton securing additional funding - £2K from ADC & £2K from Sear's Foundation, with a view to further funding in the next 2 years, dependent on a progress report from UCCTG, and extra bookings have been secured. Coun. Mrs Dawson thanked all involved for their work, Coun. Dawson said have Tinn not been supported by PC funds in the past, however the clerk did not think so. Coun. Sandford asked about bookings, Coun. Murray said Reverend Julie Glover and the Scouts have booked the bus since the changes came into effect on 6/6/08. Coun. Dawson proposed correspondence be sent to Tinn saying the PC are very disappointed with their decision, and not to have the courtesy to arrange a meeting with persons running the service is disgraceful, at such short notice, with no valid reason. Coun. Edes asked if the bus needs advertising, Coun. Murray said this was in hand and a note is to be placed in Over the Bridge

West End Entrance/Bridge Street
Coun. Mrs Morton said there is a patch of grass past Rothbury House that has not been cut, opposite the old hospital. Coun. Bridgett said the cut off period to remove daffodils is 2/6/08.

NHS Governor
Coun. Sandford was to arrange a public meeting with NHS North of Tyne/Northumbria Care Trust and are to ask the public on their views including after hours, GP services, care in the home, with a 3 month consultation May, June, July, and a public meeting to be held 24/7/08 7pm in the Parish Hall where there will be a team of people to answer questions. Coun. Sandford did inform Dr Cameron and he asked if the surgery should be present officially, it was thought at the last PC meeting this might be awkward for the public, so turned the offer down. Coun. Sandford had information to circulate regarding Northumberland Stars - a handyman service for over 60's to book free of charge, eg Hanging curtains, moving furniture.

Nursing Home
Nothing to report.

ADC Local Wide Plan
Nothing to report.

PRIVATE MEETING
Village Greens Haugh Land - scroll down
Coun. Dawson had received a reply from the solicitor and N Estates are not prepared to enter into a lease outwith the 1954 Act, if the PC do not agree they will not offer a lease. After 10 years NE could throw the PC off the land, with no compensation for works carried out to the land, which could jeopardise funding arrangements/development. Coun. Sandford understood it could be used for a number of ventures that would all require investment money, but the land could be earmarked for further development by NE in the future. Coun. Dawson said the other option could be to write to the trustees themselves and bypass the NE agent. Coun. Sandford said correspondence could be worded stating funding will not be secured with this stipulation, in the beginning the PC agreed to take over drainage, maintenance etc. and after 10 years NE could then take this over. Coun. Dawson to find out who to contact at NE and draft a letter, this agreed. Coun. Sandford said it would be worthwhile saying with problems of gaining funding it could not be contemplated with this stipulation and to make this clear to them.