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COMMUNITY TRUST
PARISH COUNCIL
Agendas
& Minutes
Accounts
CHURCHES
LOCAL
GROUPS
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Minutes
MEETING OF CRASTER PARISH COUNCIL
Thursday 15th September 2016 - 7:15pm in the Craster Memorial Hall
Present
Chair: Cllr Gallon
Parish Council members: Cllr
Pearson, Cllr Baird, Cllr Brooks, Cllr Smith
Clerk: Ruth Younger
County Councillor Kate
Cairns was also in attendance.
2081. Declaration of interests
None received
2082. Apologies received
Cllr Owen, Cllr Craster,
Cllr Punton, Cllr Sutherland
2083. Minutes of the previous meetings
Cllr Brooks pointed out
that the date of the meeting was incorrect on the draft minutes that
were circulated by the Clerk. They were amended by hand to show 21st
rather than 22nd July.
Resolution: following the amendment
they were otherwise agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.
Proposed: Cllr Pearson
Seconded: Cllr Baird
2084. Matters arising from the minutes not
covered elsewhere on the agenda
The Clerk reported that
letters had been sent to residents of Letter to the owners of 1, 2, 3,
and 4 Sea View Cottages, Dunstan, regarding the condition of the
footpath that crosses their land.
The Clerk also reported
that Nigel Fairbank had been asked to add holes to the grit bins to
prevent them becoming waterlogged.
The Clerk reported that
Northumberland County Council had been informed about the channel next
to bus shelter opposite Shoreline Café. Cllr Brooks will investigate
the site of this problem and provide any further information for the
Clerk.
2085. Parish Council vacancy
The Clerk reported that
there have been no requests to fill the vacancy.
2086. County Councillor's update
Cllr Cairns spoke to the
report that she circulated by email to all Parish Councillors prior to
the meeting, regarding the parking and traffic calming measures
proposals for Craster
Cllr Gallon welcomed the
report and agreed it was a good start to addressing the parking issues
in the village. The Parish Councillors agreed that:
•
There should be a 30 mph limit from Dunstan, dropping down to 20mph in
Craster, rather than the suggested 40 mph limit at the bottom of Smithy
Bank.
•
There should be a sign at the Tower Bank crossroads showing the
beginning of a 30mph limit.
•
Inside the Quarry carpark, they would support the largest increase in
spaces and the resurfacing work to improve the appearance of the
carpark.
The Parish Councillors
highlighted the suggested removal of the vegetation to make signs more
visible. Several of the trees that were planted on the south side of
the road were planted by the Community Trust and should not be removed.
They successfully stop people from parking on the road side. Cllr
Cairns agreed to raise this with NCC.
The Parish Councillors
also raised the problem faced by coach drivers who don’t have anywhere
to park while visitors are in the village.
Cllr Brooks also asked
Cllr Cairns to request the weeds are cut back beside the wall, near the
grasscrete.
Cllr Cairns reported
that the repairs to the pavement on Heugh Wynd will go ahead in the
2016 / 2017 budget.
2087. Planning Matters
a.
16/02736/VARYCO: Removal of condition 10 (study window obscurely glazed)
Cllr Gallon reported
that the following comment was submitted in response to this
application, by majority view: Craster Parish Council object to this
application. The amendment is trying to bypass the standards and
regulations under which the application was made in the first
place. The variation request is based on the fact that the
adjacent property will not be overlooked by someone sitting at a desk
behind the window but there is no stipulation that the room and window
will only be used for that purpose in the future. This clearly
leads to the danger that the adjacent property could well be overlooked
at some stage in the future with significant loss of privacy and
without any recourse.
b.
16/02780/FUL: Upgrading of sewage works at Dunstan Hall.
It was unanimously
agreed that the Parish Council does not object to this application.
2088. Neighbourhood Planning Parish Meeting
Cllr Gallon reported
that no comments or expressions of interested had been received by any
members of the local community. He suggested that a plan cannot be
produced with current resources and it should be put on hold until
interest is raised in the future.
2089. Future of Parish Council after May 2017
Cllr Gallon raised the
issue of succession planning because of the all-up elections in 2017.
Cllr Gallon reported he is standing down and Cllr Owen is unsure, but
does not want to be Chair again. Cllr Pearson suggested there may be
new people who come forward, as residents may currently feel
excluded.
Cllr Gallon also raised
the issue of combining with a neighbouring Parish Council if there were
not enough candidates to make a viable council, and the option of
reducing the size of the Council from 10 to 9.
Following some
discussion, it was agreed to add this item to the agenda of the next
meeting for further discussion, after Councillors have had a chance to
consider their position.
2090. NCC: Additional grass cutting
The Clerk reported that
NCC offered 3 extra grass cuts in the Craster parish council area for
£273.91. After some discussion, it was agreed that this did not provide
the best value for money.
2091. Proposed repairs to Craster Public
Footpaths 17 and 24
The reply from NCC
confirming that the right of way is not being lost where the path
reconnects to South Acres / Heugh Road was noted.
2092. Minute archive
Cllr Owen sent a report
which was discussed: the paperwork on the playpark lease is interesting
as the lease is to the Craster Development Trust and the address of the
Council is of course the clerk at the time, Joyce. These points may not
have any relevance, but perhaps the Council should consider if and
where the papers should be kept. The registration of the land is of
course at the land Registry and can easily be obtained from their web
site should the need arise in the future. I suggest the remaining
papers are destroyed as they either have no historic value or are
duplicated in more readily indexed locations.
Cllr. Smith suggested
that we should scan and electronically archive material where a hard
copy is not required. It was agreed that we should do this if
there was only a limited amount of material to put on line. It was
agreed that Cllr Owen should be asked for further information on the
scale of the problem, but it was agreed that lease should be in the
public domain.
2093. EJBC
Cllr Owen sent a report
which was noted: the trial of leaving the grass to grow to a meadow in
one part of the cemetery is ongoing and the committee will be
evaluating it at their meeting in October. The trial has been
publicised on the Parish notice boards and if any Councillors or
members of the public have any comments to make then they should be
made to the clerk to the committee.
2094. Craster Community Trust
Cllr Gallon reported
that he has been looking at VAT regulations. If the Parish Council make
a donation to a charitable body like the Trust, it is purely a cash
transaction with no opportunities to leverage the deal. If the purpose
of the donation is to enable goods or services to be acquired by the
charitable body, it is permissible for us to contract for the goods or
services and then donate them to the charitable body. Provided there is
no recompense from the charitable body (in cash or in kind) we can then
proceed to reclaim the VAT. It was agreed this should be noted in
regard of any future donations.
2095. AONB
No report
2096. Fixed asset maintenance
a.
Update on benches
The Clerk reported that
the three in the play park are done, and the two on the road in to the
village are done and the remainder will be completed within the next
couple of weeks.
Cllr Baird reported that
some of the name plaques had been painted over. It was agreed that the
Clerk would contact Nigel Fairbank and ask him to clean the ones which
have been painted over.
b. Dog
bins
Cllr Gallon reported
that several of the litter bins and dog bins need to be repaired or
replaced. Cllr Baird will accompany Nigel when he carries out his
quarterly inspection to make an assessment of what is needed.
2097. Tourist Amenities / Grant Funding
No report was received.
This will be discussed at the next meeting.
2098. Car Parking
This issue was discussed
as part of 2086.
The Clerk also reported
that the Parish Council had received a reply from Richard McKenzie at
NCC, which was noted: Although we did receive the Parish Council's
request to include the whole quarry in the geological survey, due to
budgetary constraints we were only able to include those parts of it
that would be affected by the proposed car park extension. The safety
of the remaining sections will be monitored as part of the normal
operation of the car park and action taken if necessary in future.
2099. Transparency Fund
a.
Application for grant for Computer and Scanner
The Clerk reported that
the bid should be considered next month.
Cllr Gallon reported
that the Parish Council may be able to get a grant for the installation
of a phone line and £25 a month towards running costs for an internet
connection, even if it is at a property not owned by the Parish
Council. It was agreed that Cllr Gallon should approach the
Community Trust to see if they were agreeable to this proposal.
2100. Financial matters.
a. End
of year Financial Return and Audit
The Clerk reported that
the queries raised had been responded to.
b.
Current Account Balance: 1st August £10,272
c.
Spent & Received: None
d.
Clerk/HMRC wages & expenses:
e.
Cheques required: Memorial Hall - £24. It was agreed that the Clerk
should query this amount, as it was understood the hire cost was £20.
2101. Correspondence received
• NCC:
Area Committee - North, Monday 12 September at 6pm, Lady Waterford
Hall, Ford
• NCC:
Public Spaces Protection Order for the Control of Dogs
• NCC:
Updated Community Regeneration Team
• NCC:
Fly Tipping in Craster
•
Third Annual Town and Parish Council Conference which will take place
on Thursday 13th October at County Hall, Morpeth.
2102. Items for Next Agenda
Christmas Tree
2103. Information Share
• The
NALC AGM will take place at 10.15 am on Saturday 1 October 2016 in the
Stakeford and Bomarsund Social Welfare Centre, West Gordon Terrace,
Stakeford, Northumberland NE65 5UD
• Cllr
Owen raised the issue of stones migrating onto the road at the Old Ale
House in Dunstan. NCC replied to say they will keep an eye on the
situation and we'll contact the owner if necessary.
• Cllr
Gallon reported that the road is closed on the Tower Bank from 19th
September. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact NCC to request
‘businesses open as usual’ signs.
2104. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Thursday 20th October at
7:15pm in Craster Memorial Hall
The meeting closed at
9.15pm
Open to Press and Public
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