Belford Parish Council February Minutes 2010

The Parish Council of Belford

Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 18th February 2010 at 7.00pm, in Bell View Belford.

Present: M Young, (Chairman) Parish Councillors I Carruthers C Rosby, G O’Connell J Barbour & Mrs. B Jackson Clerk Mrs. I Hunter County Councillor Mrs. P Scott, Richard Hayes Northumberland County Council Highways Department Asif Khan Northumberland County Council Planning Department P.C. Zoe George 2 Member of the Public

Apologies: Mrs. B Stanton, (Vice-Chairman),

Declarations of Interest- Parish Councillor Mrs. B Jackson declared a personal interest in Planning Application No 10/B/0032

Minutes: Then the Minutes were signed as a true record of the Meeting held on 21st January2010 by the Chairman

Min 521- Planning Issues- The Chairman welcomed Mr. Asif Khan from the Northumberland County Council Planning Department, the meeting asked Mr. Khan about the recent refusals for double glazing on Listed Buildings within the centre of Belford. Mr. Khan explained that these types of applications are assessed by the Conservation Officer, and applications in question did not have sufficient evidence e.g. condition of current windows in such as they are falling out and also evidence that the new windows are within keeping of the surrounding area. Parish Councillor G O’Connell informed Mr. Khan that double glazing can now be made with wooden frames and within keeping of the area, and he explained that there was an Energy Saving Trust in Belford which has targets to meet of which double glazing would help both the targets and the residents. Mr. Khan replied that to get approval the applicant must supply the full information; at this point Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked if Northumberland County Council could give the applicants guidance. Parish Councillor Mrs. B Jackson raised concerns why the applicant could not be allowed to put windows etc back exactly as they were but with double glazing. Parish Councillor G. O’Connell stated there was currently lack of consistency in the village on what applications have been granted and refused. County Councillor Pat Scott advised Mr. Khan that Parish Councils feel that their observations & local knowledge is being ignored by the Planning Department of Northumberland County Council. Parish Councilor C Rosby asked why some building work starts before the Parish Council receive the plans for their observations, Mr. Khan replied that it is up to Planning Officers to find developments without permission. Parish Councilor Mrs. B. Jackson asked what the minimum requirement was for starting a development within the permitted time; Mr. Khan replied to dig a trench or start the foundations is sufficient. Mr. Khan agreed to meet with Parish Councillor G O’Connell to discuss the planning application for the Market Cross.

Min 522- Highways Issues- The Chairman welcomed Richard Hayes to the meeting to discuss Highway’s Issues that were raised by Kerry Noble via e-mail. Richard Hayes referred the meeting to the reply which had been sent from Stefan Bell of Northumberland County Council. Richard Hayes advised the meeting that there would be 3 speed surveys carried out in the High Street area over a one week period and the surveys will give an average speed, if the results show there is a speed issue then enforcement will be looked into as well as traffic calming which can be in different forms. Northumberland County Council will allow flashing 30MPH signs but not reactive signs because it is felt the reactive signs do not work. Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked about the HGV’s 40MPH speed on single carriageways, PC Zoe George informed the meeting that this is the national speed limit for HGV’s including foreign HGV’s on single carriageways. Parish Councillor C Rosby informed Richard Hayes that when the A1 was closed and the traffic was diverted through Belford there was damage caused to the road, he gave Richard Hayes a copy of the survey which he had carried out stating all road damage that was caused. Richard Hayes informed the meeting that the Executive at Northumberland County Council has just agreed to give Highway’s an additional 1.5 million for road repairs which has occurred due to the recent bad weather; he also stated that it will take until about May to carry out all the work on pot holes. Richard Hayes also informed the meeting that all dangerous pot holes should be reported, they will all be accessed which takes time and due to the volume of pot holes the repairs will be quick repairs of which the current temperature & dampness is effecting the work, also there are many Insurance claims which is taking up Officer time. Members confirmed that Northumberland County Council made an excellent job on snow clearing the main roads, Richard Hayes thanked the people in Belford for how they worked together to clear pavements etc in Belford and ensured that residents had supplies etc. and stated that Northumberland County Council needs to ensure that if this situation occurs again that the Belford group have the resources they need to carry out the necessary work for the villagers. Parish Councillor G O’Connell read a letter which had been received from the Government about farmers using red diesel in their farm vehicles on the roads when helping with the snow clearance. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott stated that the resilience plan for Belford needs to be formalised. Parish Councillor Rosby asked Richard Hayes about the reinstatement of roads by utility companies. Richard Hayes replied that Northumberland County Council are only allowed to inspect samples of the road finishes, the utility company are responsible for road surface failures, but road deterioration will end up being picked up by Northumberland County Council. PC Zoe George asked Richard Hayes about the smiley faces speed signs; he replied that if they are permanent they are abused by drivers’ .Parish Councillor J Barbour stated that the gullies in Belford have been cleaned out in the last few weeks. Parish Councillor G O’Connell asked about the speed humps that go the full width of the road as this type of speed hump at the 1st school would help the flooding in this area, Richard Hayes replied saying he would look into this type of speed hump in this area as he agreed this could work in this area

Min 523- PC Zoe George- PC Zoe George reported they had been in the Belford area recently Re speed checking and have caught a few drivers, however the red stripe of tar with a 30MPH marked on the road seems to be more effective. Parish Councillor Mrs. B Jackson asked about cars parked on the High Street, PC Zoe George replied that there had only been one collision in this area as the parked cars are slowing down the speed of the traffic. Members agreed that the narrow corner at the Bank slowed the traffic when the A1 was closed and the traffic was diverted through Belford. PC Zoe George informed the meeting that there have been 10 crimes in the Belford Beat within the last year, of which 5 were detected, and 9 offenders were dealt with, this means Belford is a safe place to live and there is a good community spirit. PC Zoe George advised the meeting that there is currently poaching occurring in the area, the police are coordinating the work and they are having successes, and she asked member to report any sightings to the police. PC Zoe George finally informed the meeting that she would be holding surgeries in Belford on 24th February 10am to 12 noon and on 24th March 2pm – 4 pm.

At this point Richard Hayes, PC Zoe George & Asif Khan left the meeting.

Matters Arising:

Min 524- (Min 507) Belford Golf Club- The Chairman read a letter he had received from The Ex. Belford Seniors & he gave all Parish Councilors a copy of the letter he had sent to Belford Golf Club as Chairman of the Parish Council.

Min 525- (Min 520) Rogerson Road- County Councillor Mrs. P Scott informed the meeting that this road is not adopted yet but should be adopted shortly, there was a problem with the man hole covers.

Min 526.Accounts:

•Barclays Premium A/c£ 576.28

•Barclays Community A/c£ 3956.50

Min 527- Accounts for Payment:

•Mrs. E I Hunter £ 150.00Clerk’s Salary

•Bell View£ 40.00Hire of Room ( Dec & Jan)

•Northumberland County Council£ 346.63Dog Bin

• Les Carr£ 280.00Toilet Cleaner

•Great North Air Ambulance£ 250.00Donation

Min 528-- Planning Applications- No Observations

10/B/0032- Full Planning Application- Minor amendment to approved application 09/B/0434 (Material change application) South Meadows Farm, South Road, Belford NE70 7PF

10/B/0023- Full Planning Application- Single storey building to a house a new biomass boiler and fuel store- Middleton Hall Belford Northumberland NE70 7LF

10/B/0024- Listed Building Consent Application- Single storey building to a house a new biomass boiler and fuel store- Middleton Hall Belford Northumberland NE70 7LF

Min 529- Planning Approvals-

09/B/0513- Full Planning Application- Replacement of dries on the same site as existing driers – Coastal Grains Ltd Station Road Belford NE70 7DT

09/B/0365- Full Planning Application- Conversion of garden out house into residential dwelling- The Summer House Middleton Hall Belford Northumberland NE70 7LF

09/B/0106- Trees in Conservation Areas- Crown reduction of 1 no tree – 4 McLaren Drive Belford NE70 7LX

09/B/0502- Full Planning Application Proposed two storey extension following demolition of existing extension- 4 Church Street Belford NE70 7LS

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/0497- Listed Building Consent Application- Proposed Alterations- Belford Flat Belford Hall Belford NE70 7EY

Min 530- Planning Refusal-

09/B/0550- Listed Building Consent Application- Replacement of windows- Market Cross 1 Church Street Belford Northumberland NE70 7LS

Min 531- Correspondence:

•Great North Air Ambulance – Request for a donation

•Notts Sport Ltd- Postcard

•NCC- Consultation on Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy

•NSPCC- Letter Re NSPCC Helpline

•Allianz Ltd- Reply to request for information Re Play Areas

•E-Mail- Reply from Alan Bawn of NCC Re junctions at Belford

•E-Mail- Reply Re Dog Fouling

•E-Mail- Linda Humble Re hedge at the quarry

•Victim Support- Request for a donation

Any Other Business

Min 532- Information Exchange.

Parish Councillor Mrs. B Jackson- Asked the meeting what was happening at Middleton Hall, the meeting confirmed it is only being restored to its former state .

Parish Councillor C Rosby- Asked the meeting if the water scheme is finished in Belford, Parish Councillor G O’Connell replied that the bulk of the work is completed and that only the remedial work is left to be completed but he agreed to check this out and report back to Parish Councillors.

Agenda Item for March Meeting – Signs for Belford

Date of Next Meeting – 18th March 2010 in Bell View.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Parish Council is invited to consider passing the following resolution:

(a)That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the Agenda as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act, and

(b)That the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure for the following reasons:-

Paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

The public interest in seeking this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure because of the need to protect the interests of third parties.

Min 533- Belford Development Trust- Parish Councillors I Carruthers & G O’Connell gave the meeting an update on the latest situation of the Belford Development Trust.