Craster Parish Council

COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL

Agendas & Minutes
Accounts

Minutes

Thursday 20th June 2013
Craster Village Hall 7.15pm

Present
Chairman             Bryn Owen.
Clerk                    Helen Brewis.
Parish Council Members    Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, John Gallon, Margaret Brooks, Roy Brown, Pauline Baird & Michael Robson.

In Attendance   
Members of the public    Mrs M Taylor, Mrs P Owen, Mr & Mrs Twyford.

1576.     Apologies for absence. Michael Craster & CC John Taylor.

1577.    Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.
The Minutes of the May Meeting were accepted as a true record.

1578.     Parish Council Vacancy.
One application has been received to fill the vacancy:- Mrs P Baird.
Elizabeth Pearson proposed to accept Mrs P Baird onto the Parish Council & seconded by Mrs J Shaw.  All were in favour.

1579.     Craster Community Trust Matters.
Alan Punton, Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson & Michael Robson all declared an interest.
John Gallon proposed splitting the £35 invoice for the Tadorne Commemoration Wreath with the CCT, this was seconded by Pauline Baird.  All were in favour.

1580.    Parking in Craster.
Elizabeth Pearson discussed the parking tickets being issued to locals who were parked on the grass outside the Church & Hall; concerns were raised about the loss of groups who use the Hall.  Michael Craster has contacted NCC & is waiting for a reply & Michael Robson is letting the Art Group park at the Bark Pots.
Margery Taylor has a map of the land & NCC owns the grass strip.
Perhaps some of the Churches land could be turned over to parking as this problem concerns them also?
Action Point:  Clerk to email CC John Taylor to see what can be done.

Michael Craster’s paper has been circulated concerning the Turn Field – the 28 days maximum usage should be enough to cope with critical times.  Alan Punton looked into the 6 metres entrance requirement & found that the Coastguards entrance is only 4.9 metres wide.
Where NCC proposes the field entrance to be would cause problems with the bottom of Tower Bank.  Michael Robson suggested a mini roundabout at the car park so when full, visitors could drive back out of the village to the Turn Field initially avoiding turning right on the blind corner.
John Gallon will go back to the Parking Sub Committee to re-think suggestions, the solar powered machines are favourable & Scott opening the field when he sees it as viable is the way forward at present.

1581.    Neighbourhood Plan.
Bryn Owen discussed the possibility of creating a Neighbourhood Plan for the AONB area, to include Craster, Newton by the Sea, Embleton & Longhoughton, he has written to David English Neighbourhood Planning Officer & is in the process of liasing with the other Parish Councils.
Bryn suggested Craster take the lead as we all live in the AONB area. 
All were in favour of Bryn continuing with this proposal.

1582.    Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.
Dunstan Water Leak & Road Surface.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda for the next Meeting as CC John Taylor is discussing developments with Sale & Partners.
Tower Bank & TI Centre – road flooding. Ongoing.
A Punton – Heugh Road/Wynd junction road markings. The site visit with NCC – they advised that if they put down white lines it will increase traffic speed & they are against the idea – leave as it is.
Current guidance from Dept. of Transport means that they can not put any white lines down Tower Bank as its too narrow.  The double yellow lines are only legal if they are T’d at the end & two posts are to be removed.
The road markings at Craster Pillars crossroads have nearly worn away.
Action Point: Clerk to email NCC about the Pillars road markings & the visibility of the give way signs.
Dunstan Public Phone fault & Donation Request.
Action Point: Clerk to confirm that there is only one phone box at Dunstan & chase up the donation request.
Broadband for Craster.
Action Point: John Gallon to formulate a letter for the Clerk to send concerning the Mobile Infrastructure Programme are they basing their information on a duff report?
Michael Robson – Parish Council organised Grasscutting.
Having received a couple of estimates the Parish Council are in agreement to remain with Stableyard Nurseries but to check pricing on a yearly basis.
WI outside seat.  The seat is ok although the front bar is cracked.
Roadside trees which require pruning.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda for next month.

1583.    Planning Matters.  None.

1584.     Financial Matters.
Bank Balance                                   £21,388.74 
LTSB Higher interest account            £         0.00
Action Point: Clerk to transfer £18,000.00 into the LTSB Higher interest account.

Annual Return.
The Annual Return accounting statements & annual government statement were approved and accepted by the Council.

1585.     Correspondence received.
NCC – Northumberland Settlement Services & Facilities Update.  Completed.
NCC – Free Parking For All.
Action Point: Clerk to put on next months Agenda.
NCC – Public Transport letter – May 2013. In circulation.
NCC – Member Training & DVD. In circulation.
NCC – Proposed changes to Planning System. In circulation.
Bryn Owen – Frequency of Meetings.
Bryn suggested increasing the frequency of meetings to 12 meetings a year (one each month).
Joyce Shaw proposed keeping the frequency of meetings the same – 10 Meetings a year the third Thursday of each month with the exception of August & December.  This was seconded by Elizabeth Pearson.
For 6.  Against 0.  Abstentions 2.
The meeting frequency shall remain unchanged at 10 per year.
Bryn Owen - Register of Assets.
Bryn proposed reviewing the council’s assets.  Is the playground an asset? Should its value be included on the list?
Bryn Owen - Risk Assessment.
Bryn proposed carrying out a Risk Assessment.
Action Point: Clerk to contact David Francis at NALC for guidance.
Bryn Owen – Insurance requirements.
Bryn proposed to investigate the insurance liability required by the Parish Council, which we currently have through NCC.
Action Point: Clerk to email NALC for guidance.
Bryn Owen – Maintenance of Land.
The Parish Council currently maintains the northside of the Burn Bank (which it’s believed is owned by the Northside Owners) & the southside daffodil bank (which is owned by Craster Estates)
Should the landowners not be maintaining it? Do we have the right to use public money to spend on the land maintenance?
The Councillors believe that these areas should be kept tidy as visible by the road & tourists.
Action Point: Bryn to look into whom the northside land is registered to.
Fence outside 4 Smithy Bank.
Bryn Owen declared an interest.
Concern has been raised about the impact this fence has on the visibility of the road when you are turning right to Proctor Stead.  Joyce Shaw pointed out that if the owners have pets or children the fence is a necessity for their safety & it was agreed not to pursue this.
Dog Bins – Craster to Howick.
Action Point: Clerk to forward NCC email on to Longhoughton Parish Council as we believe the route in question is within their parish.
Painting of the outside seats.
Action Point: Mr A Baird will paint the outside seats.
Pothole under Craster Arch.
Action Point: Clerk to email NCC concerning the pothole.

Complaints concerning grasscutting over the flowers at the Cemetery.
Alan Punton advised the Council that the caretaker is still having problems with glass/plants/vases etc left around graves, which means she can’t cut too close.
Footpath behind South Acres/Heugh Wynd - boats & clutter.
A walker complained about the mess behind South Acres/Heugh Wynd - although the footpath remains clear so no action to be taken.