MINUTES OF THE CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2023.

THOSE ATTENDING:

Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr G Huntley

Cllr A Iley

Cllr J Rowell

Cllr Vaughan (Chair)

Cllr L Watson

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs A Brindley, Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer

Ms K Burn, Mr D Holmes

AGENDA PART 1

C059/22      1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Apologies were received from Cllr J Foster for illness.  The meeting accepted this as a proper reason for non-attendance.

C060/22      2.         DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND

OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(s).

In respect of agenda item 10, the Clerk advised that in our small community it is inevitable that candidates will be known to many of the members present and as it is an individual decision for members to make a declaration, members should consider whether the nature of their association was such to require a registered interest to be declared.  Declarations of interests were declared by Cllr Huntley (friendship) and Cllr Watson (family).

C061/22      3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

A request was made that the grass at Liddells field is cut as soon as it is practicable to do so.  The Parish Clerk thanked the member of the public and concluded that the recent wet weather had perhaps delayed the cutting.

C062/22      4.         PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

No planning matters for consideration

C063/22      5.         TO RECEIVE AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH

COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 23 NOVEMBER 2023

The meeting agreed the minutes represented a true record of the meeting and signed as such by the Chairman and placed in the public domain.

C064/22      6.         MATTERS ARISING.

The Parish Clerk confirmed that Kompan had been made aware of the problems we were experiencing with bolts being unscrewed and missing caps. We had been provided with the glue they use when installing the equipment but the mystery remained about why this glue had not prevented the unscrewing of the bolts in the first instance.

C065/22      7.         TO RECEIVE AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL  (BUDGET) HELD ON 25 JANUARY 2023.

The meeting agreed the minutes represented a true record of the meeting and signed as such by the Chairman and placed in the public domain.

C066/22      8.         MATTERS ARISING.

The Chairman advised that the Council Tax notices had been published and the Parish precept increase had been adjusted to 2.5%

C067/22      9.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 8 FEBRUARY 2023           

Members received and noted the minutes.

C068/22      10.       CO-OPTION FOR WEST SLEEKBURN

On the second ballot, Kathleen Burn was co-opted as the member for the ward of West Sleekburn

C069/22      11.       PARISH CLERKS REPORT.

1. Finance Report. Members received a report from the RFO on expenditure made and income received since the last meeting of the Parish Council. This information will be placed on the Parish Council website.
2. Financial Performance to the end of the financial quarter. Members will be asked to refer this item to the Finance Committee for detailed consideration. The Parish Clerk requested that the scheduled Finance meeting for the following week is rescheduled to mid-April so that the year-end position can be reported.

RESOLVED: That the Finance meeting is rescheduled for 12 April.

3. Health and Safety report. Members received the quarterly report for consideration, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. The Parish Clerk reported on:

The work to be done around the gates of two play areas. Soil erosion has caused a dip before the gates, which attracts pools of muddy water at these entrances when it rains.  A                         contractor has been employed to construct a shallow ramp in front of the gates.

The paving slabs that ground mounted bins are situated on have proved insufficient fixings for bins in two of our play areas. The contractor has been employed to cement them into               the ground.

RESOLVED: The Parish Council thanked the Parish Clerk for the report, agreeing all actions be taken subject to delegated authority and financial regulations.

4. Public Engagement

The Parish Council is running two public consultations:

1. Our Neighbourhood Plan consultation is on 25 March at Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare Centre between 10am-1pm.
2. MUGA for Cleaswell Park. Northumberland County Council Play Zone is submitting applications to the Football Foundation for funding for MUGAs in Northumberland and one site is at Cleaswell Park. They are running an online submission for residents’ opinions. We are encouraging residents to respond to the consultation.

Agenda – Part 2.  Members can resolve that in consideration of Standing Order 3 and because of their special and confidential nature, items may require consideration after the exclusion of press and public.

No matters required consideration in Agenda Part 2

There being no further business the meeting closed at 19:40.

Chairman                                                                             Date

Appendix 1 Agenda Item 11.1

Appendix 2  Agenda item 11. 3

Health and Safety report to Parish Council meeting 22 March 2023

Introduction

Health and Safety items covered in this report relate to:

1. Parish council as an employer

1. The following equipment/premises

1. Play areas
2. Bus shelters (not for the ground it stands on)

• Allotments (Site at Bomarsund)

1. Parish Office

1. Addition health and safety inspections for:

1. Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare Centre – the Council shares areas of the building has access to the car park and uses surrounding areas for sporting activities.
2. West Sleekburn premises and grounds on behalf of the Trustees of West Sleekburn Hall.

Employees

Nothing to report

Play areas

The Parish Council maintains the following play areas

West Sleekburn

Milburn Grange

Eastgreen

Cambridge Road

Liddells Field

Welbeck Road

Weekly reports are received from inspections by Northumberland County Council which are reviewed by DLN and DI.  The reports are colour coded to alert the seriousness of any damage or defects.

Anything marked as a serious alert (red) may be dealt with by the NCC inspector, but this will trigger a visit by a Parish officer and a course of action agreed.

Allotment site

DI undertakes monthly inspections of allotments noting the general condition of site, gates, locks, water taps and tracks and any general obstacles.

Parish Office

All members of staff have responsibility for health and safety on a daily basis

Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare

DI undertakes monthly inspections of the external area noting the general condition of site, paths, and surfaces.  These are reported to the Welfare Secretary for action.

West Sleekburn Hall

DI performs monthly hard surface inspections.

Report

Report Play Areas

Liddells Field

We are still awaiting the replacement panel for the HAG climbing frame.  We had specified that two ladders were to be replaced because of corrosion, however only one was on the order, therefore we are waiting for the second one to arrive from HAGS.  This was also identified on the RoSPA inspection as low risk 6. Paul Taylor following it up.

Soil has eroded in front and behind both gates, making it a slight trip hazard.  A contractor is attending to it

Cambridge Road

The RoSPA report has identified as medium risk the ground cover which in parts exposes the matting, a contractor is attending to it. Soil has eroded in front and behind both gates, making it a slight trip hazard.  Bin has been tipped over smashing flag beneath it.  A contractor is attending to it.

Church Avenue

The RoSPA report identified at medium risk the ground cover at the gate. There is exposed hard ground before the gate, but it is level and has not been flagged by NCC inspectors or our own inspection.  However, we are discussing solutions with Neighbourhood Services.     One of the ropes on the netting is fraying, Kompan advises that there is a steel core to ropes which should be monitored for sharp edges.  Obscene graffiti has been painted over.

Morpeth Road

The RoSPA report identified at medium risk the ground cover around the Rocker see-saw and swings.  This is probably due to use of weedkiller around the bases.

Eastgreen

The bin is not cemented to the ground and has now been removed.  A contractor is attending to it.

Milburn Grange

Soil required to fill under seats

Allotment site

Issues to note

Some potholes have been filled by filings by NCC

Water boxes require repair, DPC has had a template prepared.

Parish Office – nothing to report

Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare

Work on the secure compound is completed.

West Sleekburn Hall – grounds maintenance ongoing

Actions to be considered

To consider the report and direct the Parish Clerk on any issue raised that require further action.