Craster Parish Council

COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL

Agendas & Minutes
Accounts

Minutes

Thursday 20th February 2014
Craster Village Hall 7.15pm

Present
Chairman    Bryn Owen.
Clerk           Helen Brewis.
Parish Council Members    Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, John Gallon, Pauline Baird & Michael Craster.
In Attendance   
Members of the public    Mrs P Owen, Mr I Stafford, Mr H Cummings, Mr M Smith & Mrs M Taylor.

1632.    Apologies for absence. CC John Taylor & Margaret Brooks.

1633.     Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.
The January Minutes were accepted as a true record, proposed by Joyce Shaw & seconded by Pauline Baird.

1634.    Parish Council Vacancies Co-option.
The notices advertising the 2 vacancies on the Parish Council have now been up for 2 weeks & no-one has contacted NCC showing an interest.  If anyone is interested in becoming a Parish Councillor please contact the clerk 7 days before the March Meeting.
Also Alan Punton has resigned from the Embleton Joint Burial Committee & as the Parish Council Representative on the CCT.
Action Points:
Clerk to send Thank You cards to Michael Robson & Roy Brown.
Clerk to put on the Agenda for the next Meeting the Burial Board & CCT vacancies.

1635.    Bryn Owen – Review of Standing Orders.
The current standing orders do not allow us to call extraordinary meetings, John Gallon has spoken to David Francis at NALC who informed him that NALC are busy redrafting the Standing Orders & hope to have them completed within the month. John Gallon, Bryn Owen & Pam Owen have volunteered to help in the review process.
Also the PC Meeting notification should be a signed letter from the Clerk.
      
1636.  Planning Matters.
13/03499/FUL – Emblestone, South Acres extension.
The NCC Planning Meeting is being held tonight in Morpeth & the Clerk has emailed NCC the paper prepared by Bryn Owen on Monday morning & CC John Taylor will introduce it at tonight’s NCC Meeting.
Roly Lee is attending the Planning Meeting & will let Bryn Owen know how it goes.
14/00205/FUL – Proposed replacement dwelling on land at former 21 Whin Hill.
The plans have been circulated & the PC have no concerns except the access (prior to the start of the work the builders will have to provide details of turning circles & parking etc.).
Mrs Taylor advised the PC that they already have the NCC permission for the other planned buildings on the land but they wanted another separate application for this house alone.
Action Point: Clerk to contact NCC & tell them we have no objections, proposed by Michael Craster & seconded by Joyce Shaw.

1637.     Craster Community Trust Matters.
The CCT held a successful coffee morning on Saturday with over £5000 raised & there is a play organised for Saturday night.

1638.     Parking in Craster.
An email from NCC has been received confirming that Craster’s quarry car park will carry on charging.
Joyce Shaw advised the PC about the continuing problem of vehicles parking in Craster blocking the roads & the difficulty the double decker bus had turning because of this - the police were notified at the time.
Michael Craster discussed the possibility of the PC owning the quarry car park it would be very expensive to maintain & the sorting of the parking problems within the village were a higher priority.
Currently the PC & NCC are looking into the implementation of more out of village parking & resident permit parking within the village. NCC are looking to upgrade the quarry car park & increase parking spaces & make the double yellow lines current all year round. Concerns were raised about possible rock falls – NCC will organise a geologist to look at the quarry face & possibly installing chain netting.

1639.     Neighbourhood Plan. Ongoing.

1640.  Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.
Dunstan Water Leak & Road Surface.
Work will be carried out between17/3 – 13/6 & the road will be closed 24/3 till 28/3.
NCC will install traffic lights & there will be a shuttle service from Dunstan to Craster to meet the large buses. The NCC Site Manager spoke to Bryn Owen about the extent of the work involved & how the cost may have to roll partially into the following years budget.
Action Points:
Clerk to email CC John Taylor concerning the repairs increased cost.
Clerk to email NCC to make sure they are aware that larger vehicles are not suitable for the Craster Arch Bank.
Michael Craster – NALC Local Councils Explained book £49.99. In circulation - Michael Craster thought it was a good read & makes procedures more understandable.
Michael Robson – South Acres Pumping Station & pump problem.
An email has been received from NWL concerning the blocked overflow pipe causing the level to rise & flood the pumps, this sent a warning to NWL who came & unblocked the pipe.
AONB Coast Management Plan Review Consultation. This has been completed.
Heugh Wynd Grass Surfaces & Mud on Footpath.
Cars are parking on the grass opposite the church, which is causing it to churn up & the path is becoming slippery with the mud.
Action Point: Clerk to email CC John Taylor to see what can be done.
Road into Craster.
Action Point: Clerk to email CC John Taylor to find out when the white lines on the road into Craster will be re-done.

1641.     Financial Matters.
Bank Balance                                £  3,336.16   
LTSB Higher interest account        £18,000.00
Cheques required:
Michael Robson - Christmas Tree        £40.00
 
1642.     Correspondence received.
CAN e-news Jan 2014. Noted.
NCC Core Strategy Feedback Workshop – Tues 11th March 6pm Northumberland Hall Alnwick. Bryn Owen to attend.

The next Meeting will be on Thursday 20th March 2014.