Belford Paris Council, December 2009 Minutes
The Parish Council of Belford
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 17th December 2009 at 7.00pm, in Bell View Belford.
Present: M Young, (Chairman) Mrs. B Stanton, (Vice-Chairman), Parish Councillors I Carruthers C Rosby, G O’Connell J Barbour & Mrs. B Jackson Bill Batey Director of Street Scene at Northumberland County Council Brian Rogers Belford Environment Clerk Mrs. I Hunter County Councillor Mrs. P Scott, 2 Member of the Public
Apologies: None
Declarations of Interest- None
The Chairman welcomed Bill Batey Director of Street Scene at Northumberland County Council to the meeting who had come along to explain the transferring of Services to Parish Councils, Bill Batey give the meeting a background on the Charter for Local Councils which was consulted on and then agreed by Northumberland Association of Local Councils (NALC) early in 2009 on behalf of Parish Councils about the future delivery of some of Northumberland County Council services.. The services listed in Appendix 2 are to be transferred to Parish Councils over the next few years. The following services from Appendix 2 of the Local Charter were agreed to be transferred to the Parish Councils in 2010::- Allotments, Bus Shelters, Play Areas, Public Seats Town Twinning & Seasonal lighting.. Bill Batey explained that Allotments are a statutory duty of Local/ Parish Councils and not a duty which County Councils can carry out; also Town Twinning, Seasonal Lighting & the maintaince of Bus Shelters will not have any effect on Belford Parish Council. The meeting confirmed that they already carry out maintaince on public seats within the Parish.
Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked about the possible compulsory purchase of land for additional allotments, if 10 or more residents submit a petition to the Parish Council, the Parish Council would need to use the Precept if there is not grant funding available to purchase any additional land. Bill Batey was able to confirm this, and advised the meeting that there were agreements available for the current tenants for the Allotments and he would give the Parish Council a copy in time for the renewal on 1st of April 2010 along with a plan of the areas which the allotments cover as the Parish Council will need to renew the tenancies annually and collect the annual payment from each of the tenants.
On the issue of Play Areas Bill Batey explained that there are 2 Play Areas in Belford, one in Bell Road and one in Croft Field, the Parish Council will be liable for the Insurance, repairs & maintaince, together with weekly & Annual Inspections of the Play Areas. The Parish Council can either take on these roles themselves or they can enter a Service Level Agreement and Northumberland County Council will carryout the Insurance, maintaince & inspections etc for £2400 per year which included the figure of £1200 for repairs to the equipment etc. Members raised concerns about the increase cost of the Insurance especially Public Liability and the only way to cover the costs would be to increase the Precept, and members felt the Precept will have to increase and the residents will not see any benefit as it is to pay for services which have been provided by Northumberland County Council in the past. Members also felt this was Northumberland County Council off loading services to Parish Councils to help them with the £30million savings they have to make this year.
Bill Batey explained that this was not Northumberland County Council off loading services but the Council trying to make uniformity of services across Northumberland as many Town & Parish Councils are already carrying out these services and funding it through their Precept, then also paying towards the services out with their own Parishes in areas where Parish Councils are not carrying out and paying for the services. Bill Batey explained that further services such as Burial Grounds & War Memorials are to follow in the future. Parish Councillor G O’Connell raised concerns about the Belford Cemetery in such as it will be full within the next 12-18 months and so far there is no additional land, if land becomes available there will be the cost of purchasing the land which needs to include areas for toilets, car parking & lighting. There are also concerns about the liability of the cemetery when it closes Re condition of headstones etc.
Parish Councillor G O’Connell told Bill Batey that when Terry Garnick from Northumberland County Council attended a recent meeting he informed the Parish Council that when the Parish Council receive the notice from the Diocese stating that the closed cemetery will transfer to the Parish Council the Parish Council have 3 months to contact Northumberland County Council stating that they were not willing to take on the responsibility which will mean Northumberland County Council will then be responsible for the closed cemetery , Bill Batey noted these comments. Bill Batey informed the meeting that if the Parish Council did not take on the services which are scheduled in the Local Charter to transfer on 1st of April 2010 there will be an additional line on the Council Tax bill called Special Expense for the Belford Parish residents which will cover Northumberland County Council’s expenses to carry out the services.
The meeting again raised their concerns about the cost of taking on these services and finding a qualified person to carry out the weekly inspections of the Play Areas. The meeting agreed that the Clerk should make an initial contact with the Insurance Company to see what information they require, County Councillor Mrs. P Scott suggested that they contact NALC as they represent the Parish Councils and they should be able to help Re Insurance etc. The meeting agreed that the Clerk should write to NALC, and Bill Batey agreed to give the Parish Council further information on their Play Areas in the New Year which will include a plan of the area, a list of the equipment and the condition of the equipment
Bill Batey left the meeting at this point
The Chairman welcomed Brian Rogers to the meeting, Brian Rogers explained that he was the Environmental Champion for Belford, this means he is the eyes and the ears of the community working towards a cleaner, safer and greener environment for Belford and reports direct to M Tulley at Northumberland County Council so he asked that the Parish Council pass the environmental issues on to him and he will report them to Northumberland County Council.
Brian Rogers explained that so far work has been carried out at the woodland area and that the group meets in the woodland area on the 1st Saturday of each month. He would like to have a big clean up in Belford after the Environment Agency complete their current works in the village and suggested March time and he hoped to involve all ages. Parish Councillor G O’Connell informed the meeting that there is a lot of good will in the village. Brian Rogers informed the meeting that the woodland area south of Croft Field needs a clean out which he hopes to start in the New Year. Parish Councillor G O’Connell on behalf of the Parish Council gave Mr. Rogers a vote of thanks for the work he has carried out so far in the village
Brian Rogers left the meeting at this point.. .
Minutes: Then the Minutes were signed as a true record of the Meeting held on 19th November 2009 by the Chairman
Matters Arising:
Min 499 (Min 496) - Land Registry- The Clerk was able to confirm the ownership of the old cricket pitch, it is Coastal Grains Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked for a copy of the Registry.
Min 500.Accounts:
•Barclays Premium A/c£ 576.21
•Barclays Community A/c£ 4276.50
Min 501- Accounts for Payment:
•Mrs. E I Hunter £ 150.00Clerk’s Salary
•Bell View£ 20.00Hire of Room (November)
•Mrs. E I Hunter£ 12.62Petty Cash
Min 502-- Planning Applications- No Observations
09/B/0495- Full Planning Application- Re-roof existing house with single pitched roof and sun-room re-design – Neralcm Crag Mill Road Belford NE70 7EX
09/B/0503- Listed Building Consent Application Proposed two storey extension following demolition of existing extension- 4 Church Street Belford NE70 7LS
09/B/0502- Full Planning Application Proposed two storey extension following demolition of existing extension- 4 Church Street Belford NE70 7LS
09/B/0513- Full Planning Application- Replacement of driers on the same site as existing driers – Coastal Grains Ltd Station Road Belford NE70 7DT
09/B/0517- Trees in Conservation Area- Crown reduction of 1 no tree- 4 McLaren Drive Belford NE70 7LX
Min 503- Planning Approvals-
09/B/0395- Full Planning Application- Erection of single storey timber stable block Warenton Farm Belford NE70 7HW
Min 504- Correspondence:
•CPRE- Letter RE protecting trees & hedgerows
•NHS- Leaflets RE Swine Flu
•NCC- Northumberland News
•Local Council Review- The Voice of Local Councils
•NHS- Poster for Provider Board meeting on 18th December in Prudhoe
•PCC- Letter of thanks for donation
•Candle Ladies- Letter of thanks for donation
Any Other Business
Min 505 (Min 497)- Signage- Parish Councillor C Rosby advised the meeting that some Parish Councillors had held a site visit with Stefan Bell from Northumberland County Council about the position of the signs at the 3 entrances to Belford, the only position change from the original plans is the sign at the entrance from the west because of a new sign which has been erected in this area. The sign on the approach from the west will now be further into the village. Parish Councillor C Rosby tabled paper copies of the proposed signage, one of the copies showed a horse and carriage emblem and the other showed the horse and carriage and the Northumberland emblem. Parish Councillor C Rosby informed the meeting that Stefan Bell was checking with Highways if they would accept 2 symbols on the signs. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott asked about the costing as she was funding this through her County Small grants scheme, she was advised it was under the budget which she had allocated.
Min 506- Information Exchange.
County Councillor Mrs. P Scott- Informed the meeting that the Northumberland County Council Northern Area Community Chest has been depleted and that 62 organisations have been helped, the maximum which could be allocated per application is £5k and some application were only for a few hundred pounds, however this has been able to kick start some projects which otherwise would not have started. There is a good spread of projects over the Northern Area and one of the projects was the Christmas lights in Belford. Mrs. Scott agreed to get a copy of the map showing where all the projects are located.
Parish Councillor G O’Connell- Gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the Parish Council to Parish Councillor I Carruthers and the other members of the Christmas Light Committee for the current display in Belford. The meeting agreed that a letter should be sent to Christmas Light Committee personally thanking all the main members that made the display happen using low energy bulbs. Also he had been dealing with Andrew Hood from A1 Highways about issues that had risen in the recent A1 road closure and the diversion of traffic through Belford, when ever there were issues raised these were attended to and rectified and they organised a diversion of traffic on to the A697 for 5 hours to allow the regular Christmas Parade etc take place and A1 Highways also supplied 100 glow sticks for the children in Belford, it was agreed to write a letter of thanks to both A1 Highways and Tarmac for working with the village during the recent road works on the A1. Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked the meeting if the snooker which normally takes place in the Reading Rooms is taking place, he was advised yes it is. Finally he raised concerns about the recent closure of the Belford Golf Club and questioned what was happening to the Golf Club.
Parish Councillor C Rosby- Advised the meeting that Stefan Bell from Northumberland County Council is getting the rusted signs at the Fire station end of the village removed and replaced.
Vice- Chairman – Tabled the NHS Constitution: a consultation on new patient rights and she informed the meeting that she had e-mailed everybody a copy and asked members to circulate the document.
Date of Next Meeting – 21st January 2010 in Bell View.
