Craster Parish Council

COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL

Agendas & Minutes
Accounts

Minutes

Thursday 16th September 2010
Village Hall 7.15pm

Present

Chairperson Joan Angus.
Clerk Helen Brewis
Parish Council Members Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, Michael Taylor, Rosie Robson, Pauline Baird & John Gallon.
In Attendance CC John Taylor. Peter Rutherford – NCC Area Development Manager North
Members of the public Mrs M Taylor, Mrs M Gallon, Mr & Mrs Ridley & Mr M Doherty.           

1308. Planning Matters.

Mr Peter Rutherford The NCC North Area Development Manager attended the Meeting and gave a run down on the planning application process.
He explained about the main planning considerations – design, layout, density, Highway safety, privacy, immediate outlook, overlooking, overshadowing, dominating & noise.
Also items which are not considered – motive & need, private rights & covenants, competition between businesses, property values, council tax & long range views.

A planning application should take eight weeks from submission to decision but at the moment they are working through a large backlog from the Morpeth area, due to the restructuring of the North area.  There is still a Planning Dept. in Alnwick and they appreciate that affordable housing is a major challenge in rural areas.  Mr Rutherford mentioned that there is no available land within Craster for affordable housing & Michael Taylor mentioned his planning application.    

The Development Plan will probably not mention Craster & other smaller locations they will be detailed in later documents & the new coalition Government are considering the idea of planning applications being decided by vote.

All letters are considered before the decision is made & approval may slightly differ from the original plans without notification being sent out to Parish Councils.  Mr Rutherford is looking into the possibility of the planning officer notifying PCs so they can view the changes on line.  There are no letters being scanned onto NCC website at present, due to the software needing to be upgraded.

Mr Rutherford was asked to outline the considerations given to an application to put an extension on an old building - if listed the requirement is to protect & enhance (scale, design, proportion, materials & consult specialists).
If it is not listed but is in a conservation area – the setting & characteristics of the extension - would it enhance or detract?

The Parish Council thanked Mr Rutherford for attending tonights meeting and answering all questions.

A/2010/0060 - Coast Guard Rescue Station.
A response has been received from NCC stating that they Highways Dept. was consulted about the proposed access and they raised no objection subject to a number of conditions.
 
A/2010/0183 - Dunstan Steads new farmhouse. Application withdrawn.
The letters of objection have not been scanned onto the website, the Clerk has requested NCC to scan them on for view.

A/2010/0276 – Summer House Haven Hill – extension/windows.
A letter was sent to NCC detailing our concerns about:-

1. The windows & extension altering the look of the harbour.

2. The affect on neighbouring dwellings.

3. The problems created for parking & access to the south pier.

The Notice of Approval has been received.

A/2010/0334 – Dunstan Hill Camping Site- ext/hardstanding. No objections.

1309. Apologies for absence.
Michael Craster & Michael Robson.

1310. Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.

The July Minutes & September NWL Minutes were accepted as a true record.

1311. NWL Sewerage Update.

The Transfer Deed & Licence to Occupy document has been signed and returned.

At a Special Meeting of the Craster Parish Council (CPC) which was held on Wednesday 1st September 2010 to discuss the question of the apportionment of the monies paid by NWL for the acquisition and use of land in Craster village in connection with the new sewage works.  NWL has paid £13,000 for Plot 10, and £24,300 for the licence on Plot 11.  The money has been paid to Robert Twyford and is yet to be credited to either party.

Two proposals were made to Craster Community Trust (CCT):-
1)         Work agreed to and funded by the Parish Council can be exempt from VAT (20% from the end of the year) which clearly adds value.  To achieve this it would be necessary for the CPC to be the body that commissions and pays for work on behalf of the CCT.  To obtain maximum advantage from the NWL payments, all of the money would be held by the CPC for the community.  This money would be ring-fenced to make it clear that it can only be used for community projects, it is understood that similar arrangements have been entered into by other charitable bodies in the past.

2)         Alternatively, should the CCT not wish to pursue this route, the CPC would propose following the advice given by Mr Robert Walton, barrister, of Landmark Chambers, Fleet St, London, a chambers that specialises in the law of compulsory purchase and compensation.  Mr Walton explained that had NWL in fact implemented the CPO, compensation for the loss of Plot 10 would have been paid to the CPC, and for Plot 11 to the CCT.  This would have been on the basis of the CPC, as the freeholder, being compensated for the loss of the freehold; and the CCT, as the leaseholders, for the loss of the use of the land for the duration of the work.  With the understanding that the land would be returned to them when the work was completed.
CPC would be paid the £13,000 for Plot 10.
CCT would be paid the £24,300 for Plot 11.
The CCT held a Special Meeting to discuss the CPC’s proposals on Monday 13th September and after considerable debate and contact with the Charity Commission they decided to accept Proposal 2.

At tonight’s Meeting the Councillors discussed the CCT reply and the disadvantage of losing out on the VAT refund.  The CCT has received an email from the Charity Commission concerning the potential for the HMRC’s involvement if they suspected a VAT dodge. Mr Ridley the CCT Chairman authorised the Clerk to forward the Charity Commission’s email on to all the CPC Councillors.
Action Point: Clerk to forward the email on to the Councillors as soon as possible.

John Gallon requested a vote to form a motion that our recommendation which the CCT accepted (proposal 2) be accepted by the CPC.
Seconded by Joyce Shaw.
Vote:   7 for & 1 against.
 
The disruption the work has created has led to a problem with rats.
Action Point: CC John Taylor will contact the Public Protection Officer

1312. Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.

Mobile Phone Mast Update.
We have received replies from the NHS concerning the equipment they use on ambulances which require mobile phone reception.  They don’t believe that poor reception impacts on the Trust’s ability to respond to emergencies.
It was decided that at this present time there is no further action we can take to persuade mobile phone providers to improve our service.
 
Affordable Housing Policy.
Both letters received from Mr. M Doherty & Mrs M Gallon were forwarded to Rosie Robson for her to take to the next affordable housing meeting.

Grass Verge Outside The Church. Ongoing.

Brown Signposts. Ongoing.

Double Yellow Lines & additional Car Parking Places.
CC John Taylor will attend October’s Meeting with a member of NCC Highways Department.

Fireworks & Chinese lanterns.
The Clerk has been in contact with Roxy at Northumbria Police who has requested information from the Fire Brigade for us.

Tower Bank seat. Has now been repaired.

Footpath Stile. Has now been repaired.

Craster Harbour Overflow Pipe.
A letter has been received from Sale & Partners thanking us for letting them know & they will get the pipe repaired.
Action Point: Alan Punton to check whether the pipe has been repaired yet.

Whin Hill Open Notice Board.
Action Point: Alan Punton will contact Mr V Dundas to make us a new sign.

Joint NCC/Parish Council Meeting on 11th October, Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth @ 6pm. Pauline Baird will attend.

High hedgerows at Denwick crossroads. These has been cut back.

Dog Bin Re-site.
A letter has been received from Mr G Murray thanking us from moving the dog bin to another location in Dunstan.

1313.  Financial Matters.
Bank Balance: £4,845.52
Cheques issued:- NCC Insurance £224.18
Cheques required:- Craster Pillars seat repairs £134.12
           
1314. Correspondence received.
NALC County Committee consultation. Noted.

NSP Sustainable Community Strategy. Noted.

CAN News – July 2010. Noted.

NCC – Local Transport Plan. Noted.

Mr M Doherty – Craster Lifeboat Station extension.
Alan Punton declared an interest.
Craster Lifeboat Committee are looking to build an extension to the front of the Lifeboat Station & at present they are unsure if they will require planning permission.
Action Point:  Clerk to write a letter of support in principle to the building of an extension.

NCC – North Brief July Edition. Noted.

McInerney Homes – Building Better Communities. Noted.

Alnwick Magistrates Court - proposed closure. Clerk has completed & returned the petition to support the Court.

Archaeology in Northumberland – Volume 19. In circulation.

No Need for Nuclear. Noted.

NSP Matters Arising – August 2010. Noted.

NCC – Stronger Together – Medium Term Strategy. In circulation.

NALC – AGM & County Committee Nomination. In circulation.

Boundary Review Guidance – AONB Land Designation. Noted.

NCC – Charter For Local Councils update. In circulation.

Mr J Gallon – PC Seating requirements.
The tables will be set out as required for the Councillors.

Mr J Gallon – Conflict of Interest.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Mr J Gallon – PC Member on the CCT.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Mr J Gallon – PC Member on the CCT’s level of responsibility.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda for the next meeting.

Mr J Gallon – NCC non notification of the road closure from Little Mill to Craster Tower. The road was closed for repairs.

Mrs J Shaw – Seats as the entrance to Craster.
Action Point: Pauline Baird will see if Anthony will paint them.