MINUTES of the Community Development and Environment Committee on 10th November 2021

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 10 NOVEMBER 2021.

Members present:

 Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr K Grimes

Cllr G Huntley

Cllr A Iley

Cllr J Rowell

Cllr P S Vaughan

Cllr L Watson

In attendance:

Ms A Brindley Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, Mr D L Nicholson Deputy Parish Clerk, David Iley and PCSO Rob Thompson Northumbria Police.

CD&E 049/21.1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Apologies were received from: Cllr A Hart (prior commitment) and Cllr A Iley (possible lateness)

 

CD&E 050/21.2.  MEMBERS’ DECLARATION OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(S).

No declarations were presented.

CD&E 051/21 3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

The Parish Clerk advised that no questions had been submitted.

Cllr A Iley joined the meeting

CD&E 052/21 4. TO RECEIVE AND AGREE AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 SEPTEMBER.

The minutes were accepted as a true record and the Chairman was authorised to sign as such.

CD&E 053/21 5. MATTERS ARISING.

It was confirmed that the draft policy on seating was awaiting approval from the Staffing and Policy Committee on 17 November 2021.

CD&E 054/21 6. REPORT FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE.

PCSO Rob Thompson reported that the police had attended a meeting with residents, landowner, Parish Council and Northumberland County Council staff at East Farm, regarding motorbike disorder and there had been agreement to monitor the situation.

There had been reports of motorbike disorder along Woodhorn Drive and Ashington Drive.

He reported that police had been out with a speed gun and had caught motorists speeding at Ashington Drive, West Sleekburn village and Morpeth Road.

There had been a number of shop burglaries in Bedlington and a similar incidents have occurred in a shops and a pub in our locality.

There had been an isolated arson attack and a life-saving incident from the Riverside Park.

The meeting thanked PCSO Thompson for its work and expressed its appreciation for the work undertaken by local PCSOs, complimenting their skills and dedication.

 

CD&E 055/21 7. BUS SHELTER TRIAL SUPPLIER

 The Parish Clerk presented a report proposing a trial for a supply of bus shelter and related spares.

RESOLVED: Members agreed the commissioning of 2 shelters plus spares as a trial and authorised the Parish Clerk to identify cost effective storage for these items.

CD&E 056/21 8. UPDATE FROM THE PARISH CLERK ON CURRENT ISSUES.

  1. Public Seating. The Deputy Parish Clerk and one of the local green team have surveyed the Riverside Park and identified positions for seats. The seat by Stakeford Bridge has been removed as the legs were unstable.  This will be replaced within the programme.
  2. Trees and Green Areas. The DPC reported on his meeting with managers of Revitailsing our Estuaries bid. The estuary plan concentrates on river upstream of the barrage which does not include our area of the river, however the improvement of paths in Butlers wood is included, whether this involves the provision of labour or materials is to be finalized and reported at the next meeting.
  3. Youth Activities:
    1. The youth club at the Holy Family Church was due to start after the half term holidays in October, unfortunately, the leaders have had difficulties identifying youth support workers and the restart has been delayed until after the Christmas holidays.
    2. Half term football was trialed at West Sleekburn Village Hall, but we had been no participants. The Parish Clerk advised that there will be one more attempt moving the venue to the field behind Church Avenue.
    3. The Halloween event at West Sleekburn Village Hall, held as part of our school holiday programme, had been successful, with many people in attendance.
  4. Play Areas:
    1. Work has been completed on the Eastgreen play area. In October there was an official opening by three of the local children with Councillors and Choppington Together in attendance.
    2. A letter, sent out to houses in the immediate vicinity of Liddells field play area, detailed the new play area, and asked residents their opinion on possible additional equipment on the field including a MUGA. 79% of the returns favoured a MUGA, with some returns requesting additional trees and seating. Land issues are yet to be resolved between CISWO and NCC, this will not prevent the Parish Council developing plans for submission for planning permission for the MUGA.
  5. Festive Lighting: Festive lighting is being installed currently at Guide Post and the Half moon roundabout.  It had been impossible to procure uplighters for the centre of Guide Post roundabout in time, therefore festoon lighting is being placed on the roundabout trees for this year only.  This is a new venture and residents have been asked in the Parish News to provide their feedback
  6. LTP Submission: The Parish Clerk confirmed the Parish Council’s three priorities submitted for inclusion for LTP money:
    1. Connecting the Parish to national cycle routes along the 1068 Sheepwash road to link with existing routes from Newbiggin, Asington, Pegswood and Morpeth.
    2. Reduction of speed limit from 50mph to 40mph along Morpeth Road Guide Post to Paddock Hall
  • Scheme for off road parking on roads within the Morpeth Road and Cleaswell Estates including Ashington Drive through a programme to replace grass verges with tarmac surfaces
  1. Community Engagement
    1. Residents Panel. Residents are to be invited to attend Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare Centre for an in person meeting on 30 November 2021. This will be the first time the Residents Panel has met since lockdown in 2020.  Members were concerned that some residents would not wish to return to in person meetings at this time and zoom meetings should be considered when meeting with large numbers of the public.
    2. Parish News. Members received the draft winter edition of the Parish News which will be printed w/c 15th

Resolved: 

  1. Members requested that planning permission for the MUGA at Liddells field should be advanced.
  2. Members requested that the Parish Clerk discuss with Welfare Trustees the extension of WiFi coverage to the rooms in the Welfare to enable hybrid meetings with the public.

Agenda, Part 2.

Members resolved that in consideration of standing order 3a and because of their special and confidential nature, the following items require discussion in the absence of press and public.

CD&E 057/21 1. CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR GRANTS.

Grant request from Scotland Gate over 60’s Club.

RESOLVED: A grant of £225 was made to the Club

There being no further matters requiring consideration the meeting concluded at 11:45

Chairman………………………………………………………..Dated……………………