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Craster Parish Council |
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COMMUNITY TRUST CHURCHES LOCAL GROUPS
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MinutesMEETING OF CRASTER PARISH COUNCILThursday 16th February 2017 - 7:15pm in the Craster Memorial Hall Councillors Present Chair: Bryn Owen Parish Council members: John Gallon, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, Margaret Brooks, Michael Craster Acting Clerk: Geoff Newcombe Questions from the public - all issues raised are covered elsewhere in the minutes Minutes 2179 Declaration of interests Cllr Pearson declared that she knew the family involved with planning application 17/00011/PREAPP - Land South West of Chapel Row. Cllr John Gallon declared that his wife had an interest in the ownership of the land adjoining planning application 17/00011/PREAPP - Land South West of Chapel Row. 2180 Apologies received Cllr William Sutherland, Cllr Martin Smith, Cllr Pauline Baird and Clerk Ruth Younger. 2181 Minutes of the previous meetings The minutes were unanimously accepted as an accurate record of the meeting of 19th January 2017. Proposed: Cllr Alan Punton Seconded: Cllr Margaret Brooks Unanimous 2182 Matters arising from the minutes not covered elsewhere on the agenda • The Chairman announced that Geoff Newcombe is appointed as Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer while Ruth is unable to attend. The Clerk to pass on the best wishes of the Council to Ruth. • The levy on the car park charges would be to pay for tourist facilities. • Suggested petition. As stated in previous minutes; the wording of the petition was read out by the chairman (as appended) • Update on position: Cllr Alan Punton had visited households with the petition within the parish and there were now 180 signatures on the petition. This compares to 240 persons registered on the electoral roll for the parish. • Is the council (NCC) formally going to adopt the petition? – The wording of the petition has been accepted by NCC and is available electronically on their website and can accept electronic signatures. The NCC approved title for the petition is “Fair Play for Craster and its Visitors”. • This petition is designated a corporate issue and it has to be heard by the Corporate Petitions Committee (CPC), that can only make a recommendation. However the next CPC is scheduled for 24th April 2017 which is within “purdah” for the forthcoming elections; therefore the item is not likely to be heard until after the elections, i.e. middle of June 2017. • The Parish Council could post a copy to NCC, hand a copy to the NCC Councillor or present it to a NCC Area Committee Meeting (ACM). The next appropriate ACM is at Alnmouth on 13 March 2017 at 6pm. Councillors Craster, Gallon & Owen to form a task force to prepare and make the presentation and prior to the ACM a written report be sent to the AC members and press. Proposed that the Parish Council supports the petition, requests that the petition is presented at the North Area Committee meeting and that a task force is formed to make a presentation to the Area Committee. Proposer: Cllr Michael Craster Seconder: Cllr Alan Punton Unanimous 2183 Parish Council vacancy No further action pending May election. 2184 Craster PC Update – 12 Feb 17 See minute 2185 2185 County Councillor's update A written report dated 12th February 2017 was submitted prior to the meeting by NCC Cllr Cairns and the relevant points in it were addressed as part of the business of the meeting. 2186 Planning Matters a. 17/00007/PREAPP - 16A Whin Hill – Having noted the comments made during the information share at the January meeting, the Clerk has submitted the following comments on the County Council Planning Portal Craster Parish Council would like to see a binding condition that this home is used for prime residential use only - now and in the future. They would suggest 106 funding is used to improve the existing footpath and road on Whin Hill. Any full application must include that the existing Right of Way from the top of Whin Hill down to the lifeboat station is not blocked, and that off-road parking is provided for the additional vehicles the development implies. b. 17/00011/PREAPP Land South West of Chapel Row - Having noted the comments made during the information share at the January meeting, the Clerk has submitted the following comments on the County Council Planning Portal. Craster Parish Council wish to make the following comments: 1. Access is poor to and from Dunstanburgh Road. 2. Any development should not impinge on off-road parking of other residents. 3. The Parish Council would suggest that Section 106 money be used to improve road access between Dunstanburgh Road and the proposed sites. 4. The Parish Council does not support piecemeal development of this area. 5. This should be used as a primary residence only in perpetuity. c. 17/00236/FUL - 15 Whin Hill Proposed that the application is supported. Proposer: Cllr Michael Craster Seconder: Cllr John Gallon Unanimous d. 17/00030/PREAPP- Land East Of Howick Scar Proposed that there are no objections. Proposer: Cllr Michael Craster Seconder: Cllr Alan Punton Unanimous 2187 Parish Council Elections 2017 Suggest that those interested in joining the PC attend the final two PC meetings so they can be up to speed on ongoing issues and that Alan Punton contact interested parties. 2188 Update on Local Transport Plan Priorities 2016/2017 What actions are we going to take? – Cllr John Gallon contacted Transport Planning (TP) at NCC regarding the status of the six priorities cited in minute 2157. There has been no response. Our County Councillor has stated in her report TP that Traffic Calming was in the funding pot for 2017/18. Cllr Michael Craster stated that alternative funding may be available through AONB; see minute 2192. 2189 Minute archive In abeyance until next meeting. 2190 EJBC New maintenance contract awarded to Martin Smith with effect from 1st April 2017. If notice to leave the Cemetery House is received from the tenant then estate agents will be contacted. The land owning farmer is being approached to determine if he would sell the house garden to EJBC. A solicitor knowledgeable in local authority law and property is being sought to advise. The complaint regarding an unseemly interment was found to be unsubstantiated. 2191 Craster Community Trust The CT meets Wednesday 22nd February 2017 to open quotes and make purchases of play park equipment; which will subsequently be donated to the Craster Community Trust (minute 2167). 2192 AONB • If traffic planning issues are considered to be for the good of the community then AONB may be able to obtain match funding from DEFRA, especially for the Tower Bank footpath. Cllr Michael Craster is to check the position with Howick estates agent and positon on DEFRA funding. • At AONB meeting of 15th February 2017 the issue of dog fouling was raised. It was stated that NCC could provide a permanent dog warden if 5 x PC’s each donated £6K each; this was not felt to be viable. AONB is to provide advisory leaflets to holiday lets etc. however research has shown that most fouling is caused by local residents’ dogs. • Northumbria Tourist Trust is trying to stop any more holiday lets’ being created in the area as tourist saturation point has been reached. • Coast Care – AONB has received £0.5M grant for Lindisfarne, Seahouses and NWT. Patrols to be based in Seahouses and help with, gardening, litter picks etc. with volunteers. I.e. Coastal Volunteers. 2193 Fixed asset maintenance a. Dog bins / litter bins No contract to be issued this year for litter and dog bin maintenance; tasks will be undertaken by members. Clerk to send letter to Nigel Fairbanks to this effect. b. Tenders for 2017 Grass Cutting Tenders have yet to be sent out. 2194 Tourist Amenities and Grant Funding No further information. 2195 Car Parking a. Quarry Car Park Waiting for advice regarding the alternative parking arrangements; probably none. Recommend that Turn Field is not used while the quarry is not available. Clerk to e-mail businesses to inform them that the quarry car park will be closed for four days beginning 27th February 2017; and that no viable alternative has been identified. Cllr John Gallon to identify list of contacts. b. Residents’ parking Awaiting Local Transport Plan outcome. 2196 Transparency Fund a. Parish Council Website - Response to the portal invitation (get our name down for a PC web-site) has not yet been submitted; to be actioned. b. Purchase of Scanner using Transparency Grant Bryn Owen & Cllr John Gallon to identify and find suitable equipment and progress it. c. Internet Connection in the Memorial Hall - pending activation of new fibre cabinet likely to be end of March 2017 2197 Financial matters. a. Current Account Balance - £10872.55 @ 12/12/2016 b. Spent & Received - none c. Clerk/HMRC wages expenses - none d. Cheques required – Community Trust £24.00 2198 Revision of Standing Orders to allow electronic banking Revised standing order 4.5 was amended to allow for electronic banking with appropriate safeguards. Proposed and adopted. Proposer: Cllr Bryn Owen Seconder: Cllr Elizabeth Pearson Unanimous 2199 Correspondence received - e-mail, Anne-Marie Trevelyan M re pothole fund: e-mail Philip Bradley, NCC re closure of footpath for repair work: e-mail pp Mark Ketley re pre-advice protocol: e-mail NALC Tree Charter Survey: e-mail NCC Draft Core Strategy: e-mail Abbie Nendick, NCC re Planning Enforcement Officers: e-mail Craster WI re Great British Spring Clean, 4th. March: e-mail Harriet Foreman on behalf of NCC re NCC Playing Pitch Strategy. 2200 Items for Next Agenda None proposed 2201 Information Share To ask Mick Oxley if agenda can be posted in his gallery; Cllr John Gallon to enquire. 2202 Date and Time of Next Meeting 16th March 2017 @ 7:15PM in Craster Memorial Hall Open to Press and Public
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