Minutes of Choppington Parish Council 10th July 2024

Agenda

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY 10 July 2024

AT 6.00PM AT

STAKEFORD AND BOMARSUND SPORTS AND SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE

Agenda – Part 1

1. To accept apologies for absence and to remind members that any Member not attending a meeting of the Council for six consecutive months will be deemed to be no longer a member of the Parish Council.
2. Members will identify any declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other registerable interest(s).
3. Public Questions (Please read the note overleaf).
4. Any planning matters for consideration.
5. To receive and adopt the minutes of the Parish Council held on 22 May 2024.
6. Any matters arising.
7. To receive and note the Staffing and Policy Committee of 12 June 2024
8. To receive and note the minutes of the Community Development and Environment Committee held on 26 June 2024.
9. Parish Clerk’s Report including:
   1. Finance Report. Members will receive 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.
   3. Health and Safety report. Members will receive a quarterly report for consideration and advise if further action is required. 
   4. Application for gov.uk domain name. JPAG practitioners guide suggests best practice is for parish councils to move to a gov.uk email addresses.  This year there is support from government to do this, including £100 funding. Members will be requested to give approval in principle for the move.
10. Consideration of the submission to the Local Transport Plan. Northumberland County Council has requested that the Parish Council submit our 3 priorities for the LTP 2024-25 programme.  Members are asked to give this consideration.
11. Consideration of Polling stations for re-organised County division. NCC have opened a review of polling stations to reflect the new county divisions, Members are requested to consider their suitability for submission no later than 31^st July.  
12. Repairs to Liddells Field. Members are required to select a working group to consider the option of repairs to Liddells Field.

Agenda – Part 2.  Members will be asked to consider if there are matters that in consideration of Standing Order 3 and because of their special and confidential nature, require the exclusion of press and public.

1. Consideration of any matters referred from Agenda Part 1.
2. Members will consider requests for grants from community groups.

Angela Brindley

Parish Clerk

 2 July 2024

Minutes of Choppington Parish Council on 10th July 2024

THOSE ATTENDING:

Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr K Burn

Cllr J Foster

Cllr A Hart

Cllr A Iley

Cllr J Rowell

Cllr Vaughan (Chair)

Cllr L Watson

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs A Brindley, Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, Mr D Iley Admin/Finance Office

AGENDA PART 1

C036/24      1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Cllr G Huntley (leave) The meeting accepted these as proper reasons for non-attendance.

C037/24      2.         DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER  REGISTERABLE INTEREST(s)

Cllrs J Foster, H Allsopp and J Rowell declared registerable interest in Agenda item 4

C038/24      3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

 The Parish Clerk reported no questions have been submitted.

Cllrs J Foster, H Allsopp and J Rowell left the meeting

C039/24      4.         PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

Members were advised that the planning application for the new Ringway Primary School had been .  Comments were being requested by 26 July 2024.  Members requested that a planning meeting is convened for 24 July 2024 for a full discussion of this matter.

C040/24      5.         TO RECEIVE AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 22 May 2024.

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.

C041/24      6.         MATTERS ARISING.

CO26/24  Parish Clerk reported that a written response had been sent to the member of the public.

C042/24      7.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE STAFFING AND POLICY  COMMITTEE HELD ON 12 JUNE 2024.          

  Members received and noted the minutes.

C043/24    8.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF 26 JUNE 2024

  Members received and noted the minutes.

  C044/24    9.         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. Members examined the report and noting the items brought to their attention by the Parish Clerk.  This information will be placed on the Parish Council website.
2. Financial Performance to the end of the financial quarter. Members received the budget report and refer this item to the Finance Committee for detailed consideration.
3. Health and Safety report. Members received the quarterly report for consideration, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

            RESOLVED: that minor works are repaired by a contractor on our preferred supplier list.

4. Application for gov.uk domain name. The Central Digit and Data Office is advising Parish Councils to use the gov.uk domain name.  This maybe an involved process and they are providing assistance and financial support of £100 to the first 1,000 applicants.  This domain name can only be used by public sector organisations and therefore gives the public a reassurance that they are dealing with the genuine organisation.

RESOLVED:

: Members agreed to the transfer in principle, with the approval for the Clerk to progress if after further investigation it is achievable within current resources.

5. Cleaswell Park – Playzone. The Council is awaiting the final costings for the playzone.  In previous meetings members have considered that the contribution from the Parish Council would be around £25-£30K, however the Parish Clerk advised that the decision to proceed may require a special meeting at short notice after the exact costs were known.
6. Cleaswell Park – Financial contribution from Cllr Foster’s MLIS fund

Members were advised that the £25K due from Cllr Foster will be paid directly to the Parish Council.  The Parish Council will make payment for additional costs through this funding.  Members agreed that details of a competitive quotation is discussed in Agenda Pt 2.

 C045/24      10.       LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2025/26 SUBMISSION

The Parish Council has been invited to submit 3 priorities to Northumberland County Council for inclusion in the Local Transport Plan for 2025-6.  Members considered the criteria that requests are assessed against, and the comments received against the submission for 2024-5.  Members noted that their priority for traffic calming measures along Morpeth Road has been included, and Traffic calming measures entering West Sleekburn from East Sleekburn will be undertaken through County Councillor Alex Wallace’s members fund.  The third priority of traffic calming measures along Stakeford Lane was not successful, rejected due to speed measurements showing an average speed at 25mph.

Members were surprised at the measurements, as there had been a number of speed related accidents along Stakeford Lane, which should have been taken into account.

RESOLVED.  To defer any decision to the meeting of the 18^th of September allowing an opportunity to consult with local County Councillors.

C046/24      11.       Consideration of Polling Stations for re-organised County Divisions

In consideration of the new polling station at the Weslyan Reform Church, Members considered that parking may be problematic, unless the NISA car park could be used.  Cllr K Burn agreed to investigate disabled access and report back to the Clerk before 31^st July.

C047/24     12.       Repairs to Liddells Field.  Members received an update from the Clerk re the shrinkage problems occuring with the overlay of wet pore.  This is effecting the full area the greatest problem being around the roundabout.

                                 RESOLVED.  Cllrs Vaughan, Allsopp, Watson and Iley to form a working group to investigate the problem and report back. (with option for Cllr Huntley as Chairman of CDE committee to be included)

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.

C048/24        13.    Approval was given for the awarding of the painting contract at Cleaswell Park to Springview.  The procurement process had been jointly undertaken by Northumberland County Council, the project manager for Cleaswell Park will be overseeing the contract.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 19:25.

Chairman                                                                             Date

Item 9.1

Item 9.2                                                                                                                    

Item 9.3                                                                                                                    

Health and Safety report to Parish Council meeting 10 July 2024

Health and Safety report to Parish Council meeting 10 July 2024

Background

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

Covid update.  When working from the office staff are maintaining social distancing.  Moving around the public area staff are required to wear masks. 

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. 

Updated Report

Play Areas

Outstanding issues and actions arising from NCC inspections, CPC inspections and ROSPA

Liddells Field

The climbing frame is identified as a low risk with rusting and missing tabs, we have painted the underside bolts.  The ladybird rocker is missing a decorative bolt on the tail which has left a whole which needs to be covered. The goalposts require painting and perhaps require moving along to better grassed surface as the goal mouth is on well worn grass.  We are still on lookout for larger set of goals that can be modified with a batten on back to stop ball going through completely. Major problem is the softpore lifting, about which we are in consultation with Kompan and contactors.  See item agenda 12 for further consideration.

Cambridge Road

Caps missing that cover bolts on seesaw but no risk, rope on activity fraying but it is something to keep a watch on.  Bars are bent on toddler seat but this was not considered a risk on the ROSPA report.  One of the 5 swings has been removed due to vandalism and requires a new shackle. General point that there is bird fouling on swings, which we are going to put cable ties on the apex.

Church Avenue

ROSPA made the comment that we should speak to Kompan regarding carousel which has a ground clearance of less than 400mm minimum clearance.  Parish Clerk has emailed for comment.  There is a cut in the rope which has been taped over and is to be monitored.

Morpeth Road

The stand and spin has been removed and is out to repair.  The gate gets caught on the ground if it is opened wider than 90 degrees, however it closes correctly if this does not happen.  There are spare links on the swing chain which need removing, and matting is exposed under swing which will require replacing.  Contractor has been advised of the work.

Eastgreen

Cradle swing has slightly bent bars and rubber handles on springer cut but no risk. There is a slight cut in the soft pore which needs monitoring.  Gate is not closing completely which requires oiling.  Swing has spare links which requires removing, pavement is cracked that requires removing.  The seat is damaged and requires replacing, we are researching smaller seats for this area to move away from perimeter fence.

Milburn Grange

Soft pore under swing and around roundabout is wearing but no risk.  Bird fouling over swing requires cable ties on apex.  The rocker bird has rusty spring which we will overpaint with hammerite.

We are in the process of replacing the open topped bins in play areas with closed topped refurbished bins at the following sites

Morpeth Road

Church Avenue

East green

Liddells Field

Milburn Green

Allotment site

Issues to note

No change – Still awaiting plainings for pot holes to entrance of site.

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

Parish Office – No change

Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare – the spectator barrier along the perimeter of the field is no longer used but it has concrete uprights strengthened with metal spikes.  As the uprights crumble the metal is exposed and it requires us to cut them down so that it is not a hazard.

West Sleekburn Hall – There is evidence of slight damage to the left had side of the external entrance.  Pottery garden items have been smashed on the pathway.

Fire Regulations:  Both West Sleekburn Village Hall and Welfare have had fire extinguisher checks in recent weeks and have purchased new extinguishers.

Actions to be considered

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

A Brindley

Parish Clerk

2 July 2024