Craster Parish Council

COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL

Agendas & Minutes
Accounts

Minutes

Thursday 16th January 2014
Craster Village Hall 7.15pm

Present
Chairman                Bryn Owen.
Clerk                    Helen Brewis.
Parish Council Members    Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, Margaret Brooks & John Gallon.
In Attendance    CC John Taylor.
Members of the public    Mr R Lee & Mrs M Taylor.

1623.      Planning Matters.
13/03499/FUL – Emblestone, South Acres extension.
CC John Taylor & Elizabeth Pearson declared an interest.
On 13th December the Parish Council wrote to NCC detailing 4 objections & 2 conditions:-
'1.    The proposed change to the north wall of the property does not respect the line of houses.
2.    The proposed materials do not respect those used in the surrounding houses & indeed in the whole of the housing development of which they form a part.
3.    The size, mass & appearance of the proposed development does not respect the surrounding houses.
4.    The increase in window area, particularly on those windows facing the coast, will increase light pollution & have an adverse affect on the dark sky policy which has been adopted by the AONB & is under consideration by the parish council.

Should the development be granted permission then we would request that the following conditions are imposed:-
1.    The use of the large double garage that forms part of the proposal shall be limited for the storage of cars & garden equipment, its raison d’etre in the application, and that under no circumstance it shall become an ancillary facility for the use of holiday guests.
2.    That the applicant agrees to a binding covenant to be placed on the deeds of the property to ensure that it cannot be used as a holiday let & only as a family house.  As intimated in the Proposal in the Design & Access Statement, the beneficiary of this covenant being the Parish of Craster.’ 

John Gallon endorsed the letter & this was seconded by Joyce Shaw.
Mr R Lee outlined his concerns of the development as it overturns all the restrictions of the initial plan for the bungalow & it blocks out the view & light to his home.  He also voiced concern for the toads & frogs which live in front of the property & the size of the planned garage.
Concern was raised about the dwelling being changed into a holiday let as the planning regulations are much looser.
CC John Taylor advised the council that this application will go to Committee & a member of the Parish Council would be allowed a 5 minute slot to voice our concerns.
Margaret Brooks proposed Bryn Owen to speak at the Meeting on our behalf & seconded by Joyce Shaw.

1624.         Apologies for absence. Michael Craster & Pauline Baird.
Both Roy Brown & Michael Robson have resigned since the November Meeting.

1625.     Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.
The November Minutes were accepted as a true record, proposed by Joyce Shaw & seconded by Elizabeth Pearson.

1626.     Craster Community Trust Matters. None.
 
1627.     Parking in Craster.
NCC – Traffic Restrictions in Craster has been completed & forwarded to NCC, although currently people will still be fined for parking on the grass outside the Church.
Joyce Shaw discussed the problem of a house on Whin Hill having 3 cars parked over the pavement & garden so no one could use the footpath.  The only course of action would be to inform the police.
CC John Taylor commented that from March the new traffic wardens will be fining vehicles £60 for parking on double yellow lines or causing an obstruction. There will be 38 wardens working within Northumberland.
Bryn Owen has been discussing the quarry car park with Lynn Ryan from NCC to increase the number of parking spaces.  This has been put as high priority & there have been two site visits to the quarry & it looks like it could be increased to 120 parking spaces.
CC John Taylor has a forthcoming meeting & the quarry car park is on the agenda.
Action Point: Bryn Owen & Michael Craster will email CC John Taylor with our ideas on parking charges.

1628.     Neighbourhood Plan. Ongoing.

1629.  Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.
Dunstan Water Leak & Road Surface.To be done in February/March.
Bryn Owen spoke to the NCC Project Engineer who will contact him ref. traffic flow & large vehicles etc – the work is best done during ½ term week. This will go to public consultation because of the need for traffic lights.

Bryn Owen - Register of Assets. Has now been completed.

Bryn Owen - Risk Assessment.
Action Point: Clerk to look at saving the emails on her old laptop onto the new Parish Council laptop & also setting up the Parish Council email address as default.
 
Michael Craster – NALC Local Councils Explained book £49.99. In circulation.

Bryn Owen – CAN Donation.
Bryn Owen proposed donating £25 per year to CAN from 1st April 2014 & seconded by Margaret Brooks.

AONB – Parish Council vacancy.
Michael Craster has been accepted onto the AONB.

Michael Robson – South Acres Pumping Station & pump problem. Ongoing.

1630.     Financial Matters.
Bank Balance                 £  3,493.41  
LTSB Higher interest account        £18,000.00
NALC Subscription 2014 – Craster £63.24.
Cheques issued:
HP Laptop                    £279.98
NALC Local Councils Explained Book    £  61.79
Clerk (wages/expenses)            £129.05
HMRC PAYE                    £  28.20
Precept
The Precept will remain at £5000.00.  Proposed by Joyce Shaw & seconded by John Gallon.

1631.     Correspondence received.
AONB – Coast Management Plan Review First Consultation.
AONB – Coast Management Plan Second Consultation.
The paper created by Michael Craster has been circulated to all Councillors before tonights meeting & all were in favour of submitting the paper as the Parish Councils response to the Consultation.
Action Point: Clerk to submit Michael Craster’s paper to the AONB.

NCC – Working with Town & Parish Councils. Noted.

NALC – Royal Garden Party. The Chairman does not wish to be nominated to attend the Garden Party.

Bryn Owen – Review of Standing Orders. Michael Robson & Bryn Owen were approached to hold an extra meeting concerning the planning application at South Acres in December.  Having reviewed our Standing Orders in detail this would not be possible – the Standing Orders require amending to fit to our need.
Action Point: John Gallon will contact David Francis at NALC to see if we can alter our Standing Orders.

NCC – Winter Services. Noted.

Coastal News – Dec 2013. Noted.

CAN E-News Nov 2013. Noted.

NALC E-News Nov 2013. Noted.

CAN News Dec 2013. Noted.

Youth Work Offer in Northumberland. Noted.

Parish Council Vacancies.
Both Michael Robson & Roy Brown have resigned from the Parish Council, the Clerk has contacted NCC & now has the notices to go up on the notice boards.
Michael Robson was the Vice Chairman so we require a vote to elect a replacement.
Alan Punton proposed John Gallon & seconded by Elizabeth Pearson.
Action Point: Clerk to sort out the vacancies paperwork for the notice boards & to notify NCC of the details.

NCC – Get Going Funding – Community Transport Project. Noted.

NALC Subs Update. All in favour of continuing to subscribe.

Heugh Wynd Grass Surfaces & Mud on Footpath.
Action Point: Clerk to put on next months agenda.

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