The meeting commenced at 7.15pm

Present:

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

 APOLOGIES             Coun. Dawson

Member of the Public Present

Alistair Costley present.

Over the Bridge Report

Coun. Mrs Dawson to compile. 

Minutes of Previous Meeting

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

Matters Arising

John Barleycorn Project

Coun. Sandford had requested a breakdown of the groups financial status, and is concerned the group is not officially constituted, Coun. Fendley confirmed the accounts are audited and the committee are properly constituted.  

Donkin’s Lamp

Coun. Sandford reported the lamp does appear cleaner and asked how many times yearly NCC will carry out cleansing, as looking at its height, it is very low and Coun. Sandford thought numerous persons in Rothbury could clean it probably at a lesser cost, and more often.  It was agreed to ask Coun. Dawson how often it will be cleaned.

Crime and Disorder Forum

Coun. Fendley had attended the previous meeting, and been informed whilst there is a marginal increase in the areas crime, the immediate area of Rothbury is very positive with nothing to be concerned about.  Speeding and traffic management is still unresolved, but moves are afoot to see if a group of Parish Council’s could purchase a speed indicating device, as at Dinnington.  Coun. Reynalds reported an article in The Clerk newsletter about several PC’s purchasing a laser gun together.

Rural Transport Initiative Sub-Committee

Correspondence received from NCC regarding the transfer of bus tickets between companies, explaining the two companies are commercial rivals, and not prepared to do this, however it is now much easier to obtain a Northumbria return ticket with the additional services running.  Information included regarding explorer tickets which are transferable.  Coun. Reynalds reported the TINN AGM in Alnwick 26/3/07 at 630pm.   The Upper Coquetdale Transport Group are also holding a meeting in April.  Coun. Fendley thought it interesting you can travel in other parts of the country with different train companies with no problems.   

Play Areas

Rospa report received regarding the Pre-installation equipment inspection.  Coun. Reynalds said it makes comments referring to European recommendations.  Rectification work is required on the gate and one seat is too close to the fence.  Clerk to contact contractor.  Invoice received for inspection - £464.13.

West End Entrance/Bridge Street

Nothing to report.

Rothbury Shoppers Group

Invoice for February - £56.00, fares received £104.00

War Memorial

Coun. Edes reported Alistair Gaskell has put back in place a  bar on the railings around Armstrong Cross. 

Nursing Home

A meeting had been held with Dr Cameron, Coun. Sandford and the Care Trust - 3 nursing home companies have indicated an interest in a home within Rothbury - further meeting arranged 18/4/07,  with representatives of the companies to attend/look at site along with an NHS representative to liase regarding the vacant site.  Coun. Murray asked for clarification of the site, Coun. Sandford replied it was to be in the hospital grounds, as per the original planning application. Coun. Morton asked if the land was the part going down to the left, Coun. Sandford replied it is to the East looking from Coun. Morton’s property.  Coun. Fendley said in contrast to the existing building, he would hope a close eye is kept on discussions regarding planning/PFI’s.

Ambulance Service

Coun. Sandford had attended a meeting 22/2/07 with the Director of Medical Services for Northumbria Health Care Trust and 2 persons from the Ambulance Service - instances were discussed of  persons ringing up for patient transfer and being asked if they have mobility problems, and if not, then not being given transfer, and persons attending Wansbeck emergency and not receiving transfer home - patients being released late evening having to get their own way home, as they are not bound to provide transport home.  Coun. Fendley asked who is not bound to return the patient? Coun. Sandford replied the hospital, and in his experience, being very late at night, they have probably one ambulance on duty for patient transfer, and there is the choice of waiting for the ambulance, or paying for a taxi.  Coun. Fendley said what would be the provision at the hospital to make the delay for an ambulance transfer bearable, Coun. Sandford said you are taken to a ward and booked in, therefore you do have a bed and can stay the night.

Police Station Relocation

Coun. Fendley said the Crime & Disorder Group were informed the continued service at the existing station would remain, and discussions were taking place about the possible re-location, although not spelt out, they do seem to be considering the old magistrate/registrar’s office, but no decision has been made as yet.  Correspondence received reiterating these comments, and copy letter from Robert Arkless regarding the committee not being informed before closures were reported in the press.

ADC Local Wide Plan

Coun. Murray mentioned the current system of looking at the ADC web-site to view plans - he has looked himself, and it did take a while to figure out how to print plans and the system does appears unfriendly.  Coun. Sandford said it is fair to say the system will be running by the autumn, and he is absolutely sure there will be discussion with ADC/PC’s about the changes, and hopefully the present system will be improved, however Coun. Fendley does not have faith in this, and information has to be presented in an understandable manner, and the changes begin to raise the function of a PC.  It was agreed to feed back comments to ADC stating the system should be foolproof/writing on the plans is too small and the ADC logo too big. 

Shrubbery

Nothing to report - to be taken off agenda.

Roadside Memorial

Coun. Fendley reported a car had overturned just past the memorial.   Item to be taken off agenda.

Bridge Closure

No official report regarding the works.  It was agreed to ask NCC about this.

Christmas Lights Committee

Coun. Edes reported a meeting held last week - however funders now do not wish to donate for Christmas lights, but will for electric points which can be used by the rest of the community.  A request for funding of £500 has been sent by Coun. Dawson to the PC - to be discussed at Finance Sub-Committee meeting.   £2K has been raised so far, with approximately £10K required.   The Chairman of the committee has identified outside funders.

Ten Year Plan scroll down

Haugh Land: Coun. Sandford commented Coun. Dawson had said he would contact N/Estates about making a decision on the land, and it is now 6 months further on with no progress and he is frustrated with the lack of progress but is willing to talk to Coun. Dawson outside of the meeting.  Coun. Fendley said he had himself produced suggestions of what the land could be used for some time ago.

Hospital:  Correspondence received regarding the footpath, Coun. Sandford had spoken to John Young NCC, who  had said the pathway has 50% funding from the previous developer, and  there is a chance the path from the bridge and past the car park may also be actioned. Coun. Sandford had received correspondence from a resident having problems with wheelchair access to the hospital and the lack of lighting and had spoken to NCC regarding the lighting, and been informed funding is available, however it could take a couple of months.  Regarding the proposed speed limit signage - no money is available at the present time, however Coun. Sandford had been informed it is up to the PC to put pressure on NCC to gain the signage, and has drafted comment to be forwarded to NCC.  Coun. Murray asked if the element of safety had been broached, as normally a footpath is dropped onto the level of the road,  and in his experience a ‘table top’ structure is the best way of slowing vehicles.  Coun. Reynalds reported Coun. Dawson had received NCC correspondence confirming lighting provision. 

Youth Project: Problems occurring with securing funding post-autumn

Jubilee Hall: Nothing to report.

Recycling:   Nothing to report.

Parking:  Nothing to report.

Cyclepath: Nothing to report.    

Speed Cameras: Nothing to report.

Footpaths: Post Box problems - digital picture to be forwarded to the Post Office.

The following Accounts have been authorised

t J Reynalds, travelling expenses 25 miles x 0.48p - £12.00

t C Miller, quarterly salary - £831.79

t NCC - youth shelter lighting - £4451.98 - reply received from NCC stating an alternative could be provided, but it would not recharge the battery as efficiently as the existing and would cost £500, Coun. Reynalds suggested painting the structure green to match the shelter.

t TINN - February service - £56.00 - £104.00 received in fares

t RoSPA - £464.13

Paths & Verges

Coun. Edes had been informed the path to the Thrum Mill past Gasworks Cottages has sewage across it and cannot be stepped over, clerk to contact Northumbria Water.

Seats & Trees

Coun. Fendley asked about the seat maintenance report, Coun. Edes replied A Boyce is not returning to work just yet so no maintenance works have been carried out.  Coun. Sandford mentioned the 3 seats at the closed churchyards which are looking very old and should be added to the maintenance list.  Coun. Sandford mentioned the plants/urn in front of the Turk’s Head stump which should have a stake to keep them in place.

Correspondence scroll down

       t Northumberland & Newcastle Society - City & County Journal - available for circulation

       t NCC - single unitary authority - requesting support from the PC, NCC holding meeting 19/3/07, Morpeth High School

       t NCC - Hospital - footpath - copy letter confirming lighting

       t NCC - Temporary Road Closure - B6344 Knock law - for information - Coun. Murray thought signage indicating the closure inadequate.  Coun. Sandford suggested contacting NCC on these inadequacies, Coun. Edes knew of instances of persons turning around as signage not clear. Coun. Morton asked if the stone/wire was finished, Coun. Fendley said it is subject to review but in fairness there are similar provisions in other areas, but there are concerns over the angle they have been put in at.  Coun. Edes said they are in a conservation area, Coun. Fendley & Reynalds thought just outside the conservation area.  Coun. Morton thought in torrential rain top soil could come down onto the road, Coun. Murray said this does happen, but fills up and blends in, and one of the reasons they were put in would be to prevent soil coming down.

       t NCC - Public Transport - discussed earlier

       t Northumberland Strategic Partnership - report regarding sustainable communities, 3 tiers of neighbourhood communities, belonging communities and associated communities.  NSP have funding to utilise.  They are interested in building checks, encourage volunteer networks, nurturing business, embracing community partnership, added value providing youth drop-ins’s/clubs, annual survey on quality of life, regular fun events to celebrate young people involved in fact governance (family & children’s trust).

       t ADC - Street naming & LLPG - Regarding national standards for naming streets, now not allowed to use ‘apostrophe s’ anymore.  Coun. Fendley does get asked about streets in Rothbury, and is there a definitive street map, Coun. Reynalds replied there is a new commercial map covering the whole of Northumberland. Coun. Sandford said does ADC not have to provide maps for PC’s, clerk to contact ADC.

       t RoSPA - Post Installation Inspection Report - discussed earlier.

       t Community Action Northumberland  - Community News - Newsletter/Our Common Land/Northern Rock Foundation/Village Halls - available for circulation

       t Northumberland Sport - annual report, aims/objections - for information

       t Development Trusts Association - Seminar - community development land in support of affordable housing

       t TINN - AGM Agenda - discussed earlier

       t ADC - Closure of Front Offices in Police Stations - discussed earlier

       t The Clerk Journal - available for circulation

       t Clerks & Councils Direct Newsletter - available for circulation

       t NALC - survey - Coun. Reynalds willing to complete - and asked are the PC wishing to take responsibility for other areas, eg grass cutting?  Coun. Sandford thought it would depend if funding was available to PC’s

       t Alnwick Playhouse - donation thank you

       t Northumberland Village of the Year Competition

       t Alnwick Area Committee - next meeting 15/3/07/minutes of previous meeting - town foot lighting was mentioned, Coun. Murray asked if Armstrong Cottages light had ever been discussed for reinstating - this had been discussed previously.  Coun. Sandford had been informed of improvements to Whitton Bank to be carried out in the near future.

       t Draft integrated health plan ADC - Coun. Sandford  PC representative on this organisation.

       t Review of Parish Boundaries - previously agreed part of Jubilee Crescent within RPC should be handed over to Whitton & Tosson, however this to not go ahead until April 2008

       t Windylaw Wind Farm - requesting RPC protest against any wind farms in the North of the county - do not think directly relevant for this PC to comment

PLANNING scroll down

Addycombe Development:

       t Coun. Fendley reported Phase 1 Social Housing officially endorsed, ADC/NCC/PC’s represented when Cheviot Housing took it over.  There is a possibility of a temporary pedestrian path from the Northern part of the development to the village.   Coun. Murray said the footpath is actually dug up at present and there is no footpath on the Alnwick road, Coun. Fendley said safety problems will be made worse when this is designated as the major road, Coun. Murray queried a pedestrian crossing as it appears there will be no safe crossing point.  Coun. Morton asked about the low cost housing, and if it is local residents occupying them, this was confirmed, and it reflects ADC’s housing list.  Coun. Murray said being brand new houses there is an awful lot of packaging and persons are having to travel to Alnwick for recycling, and it is a possibility to ask for a skip to be put on site through Bowey’s.  Coun. Fendley willing to mention these points to Bowey’s, but thinks temporary provision is not beyond ADC’s responsibility.  Coun. Murray aware of problems with refuse collection.

Bridge Street:

       t Nothing to report.

Planning Applications received for the following:

       t A/2007/0089: ADC - swimming pool

       t A/2007/0114: Mr J Homer, 3 Milburn Mews - private garage construction

       t A/2007/0132: Coquet Leisure LLP - change of use, auction mart - storage unit to be located, feature at entrance, but lack of information - clarification required of feature and comment to be made the storage unit should be in keeping with the area.

Approval of Planning Application have been received for the following:

       t A/2007/0017: Lloyds TSB - signage

       t A/2007/0004: Horizon Homes, Ryehill Farm - Old Mart Site

       t A/2006/0470: Mr & Mrs M Holmes, Tyne mouth - Cottage Hospital conversion

       t A/2007/0047: Mr G Hoye, Hex ham - Clinic conversion

Any Other Business

       t Coun. Morton had received a complaint of a residents neighbour incapable of putting their refuse in the correct bin, consequently ADC will not empty it.  Coun. Fendley not sure what the PC can do about this.   Coun. Reynalds understood prosecution can be carried out on person’s using the incorrect bin.  It was agreed the complainee should contact ADC directly.

       t Coun. Edes reported attending Dr Thomlinson’s Trust meeting - donations have been given out to students, and the Trust is thinking of new ways to advertise the grants available.

       t Coun. Sandford had attended a formal inspection of the hospital which occur in all Northumbria Health Care Trust hospitals, and it was given a very high mark for cleanliness, food etc.  The group thought it imperative a receptionist be employed (voluntary).  Coun. Sandford reported the physio department is fantastic, and there were thoughts it could be hired out to various groups.

Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday 18th April 2007

The meeting finished at  945 pm

Claire Miller Clerk