Members present:
Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr K Burn
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr D FitzGerald (arrived 6.10pm)
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell
Cllr L Watson (Chairman)
In attendance:
Ms A Brindley Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, and Mr D Iley Admin/Finance,
CD&E 016/26 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
There were no apologies for absence
CD&E 017/26 2. MEMBERS’ DECLARATION OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(S).
No Declarations
CD&E 018/25 3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
The Parish Clerk confirmed the Council had not received any public questions
CD&E 019/26 4. TO RECEIVE AND AGREE AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24 JUNE 2026
The minutes were received and accepted as a true record. The Chairman was authorised to sign as such.
CD&E 020/26 5. TO CONSIDER ANY MATTERS ARISING FROM THOSE NOT ALREADY ON THE AGENDA
CD&E009/26 . i The larger litter bins are now all in situ and have been well received by the public.
CD&E009/26 ii We have not received any plans from highways regarding the Cherry tree corner and will follow it up with officers.
CD&E 021/26 6. TO APPOINT A VICE CHAIRMAN TO SERVE FOR 2026/27.
Sole nominee Cllr Cottrell was elected to serve.
Cllr FitzGerald arrived
CD&E 022/26 7. REPORT FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE
The Parish Clerk reported that the young person identified in connection with the criminal damage to the bus shelter has been referred to the Youth Offending Service. (A full report was sent through to Members the following day)
RESOLVED: Members requested that a meeting with the police is arranged at a time during the day that the police can attend
CD&E 023/26 8. UPDATE FROM THE PARISH CLERK ON CURRENT ISSUES.
1. Green Services. The Parish Clerk and Operations Manager had met with the Head of Neighbourhood Services and neighbourhood services manager to discuss plans to rewild selected green areas.
As reported at the previous CD&E meeting, areas within Riverside Park had been identified where tractor cutting was not required. The potential benefits of allowing wider areas of natural growth were discussed.
NCC advised that consideration was also being given to leaving some roadside verges uncut. Members agreed that this would not be appropriate for verges within residential areas. It was noted that longer stretches of vegetation along roadsides would need to be carefully managed to maintain appropriate visibility and sightlines.
2. Youth Activities. Two programmes of additional youth activities were offered during the school holidays: media sessions and poetry sessions. Both programmes were promoted through local schools, social media, and community noticeboards.
The media sessions attracted 13 young people, while the poetry sessions had one applicant but due to the low numbers it did not run. The media sessions had previously been delivered as part of the HAF programme, so the existing awareness and previous promotion of the activity may have contributed to the higher level of engagement.
Feedback forms had been collected from young people and parents who attended the media sessions. The feedback highlighted the value of the sessions in building confidence and encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones. The sessions provided opportunities for participants to perform, sing and try new activities in a supportive environment. This is particularly important in helping young people develop the confidence to explore new experiences and make the most of opportunities beyond their usual social circles and environments.
The poetry sessions are still being reviewed to determine how they could be developed further.
RESOLVED: Members approved running the media session over the October holidays and consideration of a weekly club in 2027-8 to be made at budget setting. Members were open to developing the poetry activity. One option to be considered is to offer poetry as an extracurricular activity within schools, subject to interest from schools and confirmation that there is continued interest from young people in pursuing the activity.
3. Play Areas. Members were advised that a specialist provider of play equipment had been identified to undertake a phased replacement of the play area gates and to conduct specialist repairs to play equipment where required.
Members were informed of vandalism at the East Gate play area. Shrinkage around the paving had resulted in a section of the wet-pour surfacing being damaged, with a large hole having been removed from the surface. In addition, one of the gates had been completely unhinged from the post and has not been recovered.
The repair works had been held over during the summer holiday period. In the interim, barriers had been placed around the damaged wet-pour area and across the opening where the missing gate had been located. It was noted that the barriers had remained in place one isolating the affected wet pore and the other closing the gap of the missing gate.
A quotation of £2,690 had been received for the repair of the wet pour surfacing, the repair of one gate, the replacement of the missing gate and the replacement of the cradle swing that had been damaged earlier in the year. Members noted that specialist play area gates are expensive and represent a significant proportion of the overall cost of the works.
The repair of the wet pour surfacing and to the gate was considered urgent for health and safety reasons. The works would also provide an opportunity to engage the newly identified specialist contractor and assess their suitability for inclusion on the Council’s preferred supplier list.
RESOLVED: Members acknowledged the due to the urgency of the repairs for health and safety reasons that the work should be done based on the quotation received. Monies will be available through Repair and Replacement earmarked balances.
4. Outdoor Gym at Cleaswell Park. Members were advised that the outdoor gym installation was nearing completion, although remedial works remained outstanding before the Council could formally accept handover of the facility. The tarmac surfacing had not been completed to the required standard. The Operations Manager had requested that the surface be sealed to prevent water ingress. The Council’s insurance company had been notified of the installation of the new equipment. It was confirmed that the outdoor gym was currently the only part of Cleaswell Park for which the Council had taken responsibility.
Members were advised that a fitness instructor had been engaged to provide introductory sessions to members of the public to demonstrate the safe and correct use of the equipment. Two sessions had been held to date, with Members noting that the sessions had been well attended, with an enquiry which had also been received from Cleaswell School regarding the possibility of bringing students to the outdoor gym for an induction session. The gym equipment is suitable for those 13+ years and images of social media of adults using the equipment correctly would it was hoped encourage use.
5. Neighbourhood plan. Neighbourhood Plan information has been completed awaiting next stage from our consultant. The residents’ panel’s contribution to evidence was extremely helpful.
6. Liddell’s Field Path and Barrier. Members were advised that the barrier had now been installed and that a number of positive comments had been received regarding the installation. However, it was noted that the barrier had not prevented the use of the area by scooters and quad bikes onto the field. It had been established that there may be room for small motorised units to go under the barrier, and the Council are considering ways to adapt the barrier to close the gap underneath it.
Members were also advised that there had been reports of individuals lifting bikes over the barrier. It was acknowledged that the barrier had never been expected to completely prevent such activity, but rather to act as a deterrent and make access more difficult.
Members discussed the proposed path at Liddell’s Field, which would provide a connection to the play area. CISWO the land owners had confirmed that they were content with the proposals. The Council had paid for pre-application planning advice and had been advised that planning permission would be required for the proposed works.
It was noted, however, that as Northumberland County Council (NCC) manages the land, the works may potentially be undertaken by NCC under permitted development rights. Further consideration would therefore be given to progressing the proposal through NCC.
7. Library Service proposals. A joint meeting was held with the Library Service and Welfare to discuss the future provision of library services at Guide Post Library.
Three potential options emerged which could provide a workable solution, subject to the necessary circumstances and practical arrangements being in place:
- Library provision within the Welfare building
Welfare could accommodate the library service within the lounge area, providing a community-based location for library users. - Automated bookcase provision
An automated bookcase could be installed in a suitable location within the Welfare, yet to be determined. The facility would provide a selection of library stock accessible using a library membership card. Stock could be refreshed periodically, and users would also be able to collect reserved items. - Parish Council use of the existing Guide Post Library space
The Parish Council could take on the existing library space and use it for community purposes. The premises would not operate as a Community Access Library (CAL), due to the mixed use of the building. Under this option, the library stock could be reduced to the wall-mounted shelving, with the existing staff pod removed to create additional community space. A self-service library kiosk could be provided, together with periodic deliveries of fresh stock and the facility to collect reserved books. Members would be invited to look at the premises in the near future.
Pop-up Library: An additional possibility discussed was a pop-up libraryservice, using a portable selection of books that could effectively be bought into a community building as required. This could potentially operate from locations such as West Sleekburn, with the library stock being transported in a suitcase or similar portable unit.
8. Community Governance Review. Members had been advised in February that Northumberland County Council was undertaking an electoral review of Town and Parish Councils. The review was presented as a county-wide opportunity for each council to consider whether its existing governance arrangements remained appropriate, including councillor numbers, warding, grouping, boundaries, the possible combination or separation of parishes, and the long-term viability of individual councils. The County Council’s rationale also referred to concerns regarding vacancies, quorums, dormant councils and the viability of smaller parish councils. The initial consultation closed in April 2026, and the Parish Council submitted its view that its existing arrangements should remain unchanged.
At the end of July, the Parish Council received feedback confirming that no changes were proposed to the arrangements for Choppington Parish Council, supporting the Parish Council’s position. Concern was, however, expressed about the process, particularly that a very small number of responses had resulted in a proposal to merge Bedlington East and Bedlington West, despite this not reflecting the view of Bedlington East Parish Council. At that stage, no timetable had been provided for the next phase of the review. Members were aware that a cross-party working group at Northumberland County Council was due to meet in September, but no further response to the proposals had been requested.
9. Grass cutting equipment. Members revisited the proposal discussed during budget-setting to purchase a ride-on mower and cutting deck at the end of the grass-cutting season.
It was proposed that the Council work with Local Services to identify the equipment required for its grass-cutting operations. Consideration was given to the purchase of a John Deere ride-on mower with a cutting deck, which would enable the Council to produce stripes on the grassed areas and provide a more consistent finish.
RESOLVED: Members agreed that the equipment requirements should be established with Local Services and approved the purchase of the equipment.
CD&E 024/26 9. Report regarding River Wansbeck
Members were advised that, although the Parish Council has no direct responsibility for the River Wansbeck or the barrage, both are important elements of the local environment and leisure facilities.
It was noted that there was a growing concern regarding the condition of the barrage and that a point would be reached when Northumberland County Council (NCC) and the Environment Agency would need to act in relation to its future.
Members were provided with background information on the history of the barrage and the issues surrounding its current condition. It was acknowledged that several organisations and stakeholders had been involved in the matter over a considerable period. Members noted that the complexity of the situation, including the number of parties involved and the potential costs associated with any future solution, meant that there was no straightforward solution.
The previous Clerk David Nicholson had attended the discussions that had taken place over several years. Members noted the complexity of the issues involved and considered the recommendations contained within the report. Cllr M Jackson who has had working experience on this topic expressed a willingness to be part of the discussions.
RESOLVED: It was agreed that the recommendations presented should be supported as a means of obtaining further information and progressing discussions with the relevant stakeholders.
Members agreed to the proposal to co-opt David Nicholson onto the Committee, enabling him with Cllr Jackson to represent the Parish Council at relevant stakeholder meetings and provide feedback to the Committee on developments concerning the River Wansbeck and barrage.
CD&E 024/26 10. To consider the proposals arising from the Residents Forum on 29th July 2026
Members were advised that the feedback received following the Residents’ Forum meeting had been positive.
Two main matters had been discussed at the meeting. The first was the Neighbourhood Plan, in relation to which useful evidence had been gathered and submitted to our consultant.
The second matter was how the Residents’ Forum could be developed in the future to encourage greater participation and involvement from local residents. Several suggestions were discussed, as set out on in the report
RESOLVED:
- Change name for the Residents’ Forum to Choppington residents’ group;
- Continuing to ensure that the Parish News is delivered to each household which may entail each member taking an area and delivering personally;
- Holding pop-up information stalls at suitable locations to engage with residents; and
- Targeting new housing developments to introduce recent residents to the Parish Council and explain the services and activities it provides.
- Holding round table discussions at future meetings rather than presentation of information to prompt discussion.
Members noted that increasing awareness of the Residents’ Forum and making it more accessible to residents would help to encourage wider participation.
CD&E 025/26 11. Memorandum of Understanding
Members passed the following resolution as the subject under discussion was agreed as business sensitive
That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s), permitted under Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information) (England) Order 2006), as the matter is confidential.
The Clerk presented an update on the memorandum of understanding with Northumberland County Council regarding Cleaswell Park. Discussions are ongoing.
RESOLVED: Members reistated confidence in the MoU
Meeting closed at 20.25