Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday 4 March 2019 at Stocksfield Community Centre

Present:         Ms M Hunt (Chair), Mrs J Furniss, Mr C Liddle, Mr D Parke, Mr M Parker, Professor R Thompson.

Mr N Spencer (Clerk to the Council).

                       

Apologies:     Dr P Vickers, Mrs H Rae, Mrs J Robson.

 

Also present: Mrs A Dale (County Councillor) and Mrs J Page (resident).

The Chair opened the meeting at 7.31pm and welcomed those present.

19/3/27 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

19/3/28 Public Participation

There were no items of public participation.

 

19/3/29 County Councillor update

Mrs Dale updated the Council about damage to street signs at Tynedale Gardens; new parking restrictions at Alexandra Terrace and Batt House Road; repainting of double yellow lines on New Ridley Road; a new litter bin at the New Ridley lay-by; the potential for planters to be placed at Ford Rise and the Parish Council to maintain them; the removal of planning conditions relating to access issues at Burnside Yard; broadband provision; complaints about planning aspects within Northumberland County Council (NCC); and the Prudhoe Partnership. Mrs Dale then left the meeting.

19/3/30 Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 February 2019

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2019 were a true and accurate record (proposed Mr Parke, seconded Mrs Furniss).

19/3/31 Matters Arising

18/04446/OUT Stocksfield Golf Club: Outline planning application

The Chair referred to a previously circulated email from the Secretary of the Golf Club expressing disappointment in the decision of the Council to object to the proposed development. The Clerk reported that he has replied to the email by reference to the Council’s submission to NCC and has explained the nature of the Council’s voting arrangements. Mrs Page explained that it was her view that some of the councillors had taken on board some of the club’s comments and that some had not fully understood all of the arguments. Mrs Page thought that people who live in New Ridley have a personal interest as any development is going to affect their property values. The Clerk explained the role of the Council’s Code of Conduct. The Chair said that the decision of the Council has been made and submitted to NCC but the ultimate decision is made by NCC. Members noted the content of the email. Mrs Page left the meeting.                                                                                            DISCHARGED

19/3/32 Finance

  1. a) Approval of February payments

It was AGREED that the payments for February be approved as detailed in the previously circulated schedule (proposed Prof Thompson, seconded Mr Parker).

  1. b) Budget monitoring report to 28/02/19

Members noted the budget monitoring report.

19/3/33 Parish Council Representatives

There were no representative meetings.

19/3/34 Advisory Groups

  1. a) General Governance Advisory Group (GGAG)
  2. i) Notes of GGAG meeting 18/02/19

Members noted the previously circulated notes.

  1. ii) Donation requests

After discussion it was AGREED to make donations under Sec 137 Local Government Act 1972 as follows: North East War Memorial Project - £150 and Northumberland Pride - £50.

                                                                                    Action: Clerk                         DISCHARGED

  1. b) Planning Advisory Group (PAG)

Members noted the planning report and the delegated authorities used as set out below.

19/00301/HEGRMN & 19/00302/HEGRMN

West Broomley Farm

Hedgerow removal notice – installation of new fibre connection

No comment

Note use of delegated powers

19/00284/FUL

1 South Parade

Refurbishment of loft conversion

No comment

Note use of delegated powers

19/3/35 Northumberland Local Plan Consultation

The Chair referred to previously circulated documents, including a number which had been sent jointly by the Northumberland and Newcastle Society (N&NSoc) and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). This stage of the consultation enables consultees to comment only on the soundness and legal compliance of the Plan. The documents from N&NSoc and CPRE expressed concern that NCC had ignored its previous comments during an earlier consultation phase and explained why they believed the Plan to be unsound and legally non compliant. Additionally it is suggested that policy REN2 is not justified, not effective and inconsistent with national policy and the Plan severely puts at risk the county’s landscapes. The submission to NCC by N&NSoc and CPRE is based in part on its legal advice about the extent to which NCC has identified land in the county as being suitable for wind turbines – referred to as 66% of the county’s land (excluding the National Park and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). In general members were of the view that they had insufficient expertise to make a comment in respect of either the soundness or legal compliance of the Plan. However they expressed concern about the potential further delays to the adoption of the Plan in the event that the legal advice relied upon by N&NSoc and CPRE is both correct and disregarded by NCC during the Regulation 19 stage of the Plan’s development. Members AGREED to write to NCC to explain those concerns but, otherwise, to make no comment.                      Action: Clerk

 

19/3/36 Any other urgent business

Parish Council Planning Group

The Chair updated members that the Parish Council Plan Group had met recently, a number of tasks had been allocated and a future meeting is arranged for 25 March 2019. Members noted the update.

19/3/37 Date of next meeting

Monday 1 April 2019

The Chair thanked those present for attending and closed the meeting at 8.37pm.