Minutes of Choppington Parish Council 1st July 2026

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2026 AT STAKEFORD AND BOMARSUND SPORT AND SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE
 
MEMBERS PRESENT: 
 
Cllr H Allsopp
Cllr K Burn
Cllr A Cottrell
Cllr M Jackson
Cllr J Rowell (Chairman)
Cllr L Watson
 
IN ATTENDANCE:
 
Ms A Brindley Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer, Mr D Iley Finance Officer, Mr R Delap (Operation Manager)
 
C040/26         1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
 
Apologies of absence were received and accepted with a valid reason for absence from Cllr D FitzGerald (sick leave), Cllr J Foster (family commitments)
 
C041/26         2.         DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER
DISCLOSABLE INTERESTS.
 
None – members who are also County Councillors were assured by the Clerk that the Planning matter on the agenda was for information and would not be discussed.
 
C042/26         3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
 
No questions from the public had been received
  
C043/26         4.         PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
 
Members were advised that outline planning application had been received for the data centre at West Sleekburn and that this would be discussed at a special planning meeting on the14th July 2026
 
C039/25         5.         TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF 27
           May 2026
The minutes were received and approved as a true record
 
C040/26         6.         MATTERS ARISING
                                    No matters arising
                       
 
C041/26         7.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF 3 JUNE 2026
 
The minutes were noted by the Parish Council.
 
C042/26         9.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF 24 JUNE 2026
 
The minutes were noted by the Parish Council.
 
C043/26         10.       THE PARISH CLERKS REPORT
 
Finance Report.  Members received a report from the PC/RFO on expenditure made and income received in the 1^st Quarter of the year.  This information will be placed on the Parish Council website.
Financial Performance for the 1^st Quarter.  Members referred this item to the Finance Committee for detailed consideration.
Bank Reconciliation.  Members considered the bank reconciilations for April and May approved that they are signed by the Chairman
Health and Safety Report.  Members received the quarterly report for consideration, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.  
RESOLVED:
To approve actions required at play areas including:
Receive quotations for replacement side panels at Church Avenue,
Repair wet pour at Milburn Grange
Repaint goals at Liddells Field
Investigate cost to replace rocker bird at Milburn Grange.
Replace cradle seats as when required
To take all actions in respect of the Health and Safety visit in regard to Welfare/Parish Council premises.
  Trustee Appointment.  Members confirmed the appointment of Cllr Foster as a trustee of Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare.
Current issues – Nothing to report
 
 
Agenda – Part 2.  There were no matters referred for consideration from part 1 of the agenda.
 
There being no further business the meeting concluded at 18.45  
 
 
 
 
Agenda item 9.1      1^st July 2026
Income and Expenditure for April and May 2026


A
Agenda Item 9.4   1^st July 2026
 
Health and Safety report to Parish Council meeting 1 July 2026
 
Background
Health and Safety items covered in this report relate to:
 
Parish council as an employer
 
The following equipment/premises
Play areas
Bus shelters (not for the ground it stands on)
Allotments (Site at Bomarsund)
Parish Office
 
Addition health and safety inspections for:
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.
West Sleekburn premises and grounds on behalf of the Trustees of West Sleekburn Hall.
Employees
 
Parish council has duty of care to employees, to maintain safe working environment
 
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. 
 
Bus Shelters
 
DI performs monthly hard surface inspections and bus shelter conditions
 
 
 
Updated Reports of 19 June 2026
 
Play Areas
 
Liddells Field –
Although not a health and safety issue 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.  The goalposts still require painting and perhaps require moving along to better grassed surface as the goal mouth is on well-worn grass.  We are buying spray paint and have a contractor looking at this.
A gap has occurred between the treads and the covered handrail of the slide which we have filled with tape.  A better solution is being sought but it looks like a play specialist will be the best solution. ROSPA has identified rusted areas.
Side gate does not close completely; this is an ongoing problem on gates.
 
Cambridge Road
Toddler swing has crack in handle and red upright slightly bent probably due to older children sitting on top of the swing.  We are monitoring it for deterioration, we have a new swing on order
Rope on activity equipment is cut and is being monitored for deterioration.  
One of the 5 swings has been removed due to vandalism and requires a new shackle, we are awaiting a bigger order with Kompan as there is a disproportionately large delivery charge.  We intend to rotate the missing swing to allow grass to grow underneath it.
Seat requires painting
 
Church Avenue
Have meeting on site with Kompan on 26 June to review equipment, and quotes to replace side panels that have been vandalised
Climb and slide has decorative panel removed we have confirmation from Kompan that this does not compromise safety
There is a cut in the rope which is taped and will be monitored.
MUGA has a crack in the tarmac.
Statutory sign is cracked, which is currently taped
Fence has foundations exposed
Rocker has foundations exposed
Rocker springs are rusted
Slight bend in toddler swing
 
 
 
Morpeth Road
Concrete lip around metal grid at gate is slightly proud of ground, we are looking for a means to level out the ground around it.
Toddler swing has bent bars and chain trapped on one side monitoring and assessed as very low risk
We have replaced one swing with a new style Kompan swing which does not have the design fault of the old ones as the fault above
All matting has now been re-laid and seeded. There is some growth of grass coming through.
Gates close quickly
 
 
Eastgreen
There is a slight cut in the soft pore which needs monitoring. 
Gates are both not closing completely which requires repair. 
Pavement is cracked, whole paving surface may require relaying we are in discussions with contractor regarding repair. 
The seat is damaged and requires replacing, we are researching smaller seats for this area to move away from perimeter fence. 
Litter bin has been removed as bin door was off
3-way rocker requires sanding and rubber handle not in fixed position
Carousel requires painting and there is a loose fixing underneath which we are investigating.
Toddler seat is on order
There is a missing cap on the activity centre which requires replacing. This will be ordered once we have a large order due to the delivery charge.
We need to replace the statutory sign which has been removed due to vandalism
Litter bin has been removed
 
Milburn Grange
Matting under the swings is exposed and may need relaying.
Wetpour has a crack which requires repair
The rocker bird has rusty spring which we will overpaint with Hammerite however may require replacement.
Gate is closing too quickly
Flat swing is rusted internally and may need replacing monitoring it for deteriation
 
 
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
            Local services will regrass under exposed matting in spring
Swings on to be rotated – matting exposed under flat seats so we will swap cradle and flat seats to allow regrowth.
Annual contract to be obtained to inspect all gates and repair on rotation
Monitoring list to be compiled
All swings to have cable ties overhead to stop birds landing on frame
 
Allotment site
Issues to note
Local team have been into allotment to cut back grass and remove debris.
Another skip required to remove fly tipping by allotment 9
Maintenance work has been undertaken to bring back two allotments however there is rubbish to remove from the site
 
Parish Office – and Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare
Worknest annual visit re health and safety.  Rob Delap with David Iley lead
 
Outstanding items: 
PAT test required throughout building – has been undertaken
Electrical Assessment – Contractor has been identified
Fire Risk Assessment required – tests of equipment and alarms undertaken weekly however as assessment will formalise the arrangements
Legionella assessment- completed.
 
Car parking problems at busy times especially evenings.  Welfare is providing overspill carparking area along the hedgeline of cricket field to accommodate extra cars.
 
West Sleekburn Hall – Learning from Worknest will be passed onto Trustees.
There is evidence of slight damage to the left had side of the external entrance.
Outside lighting has been improved. 
 
One of the slats on one of the recycled bench seats in the garden has been snapped off at the end.
 
Bus Shelters
Metal grills may require repainting as there are rust issues in some.
Shelters have been cleaned however roofs need further attention.
 
Fire Regulations:  Both West Sleekburn Village Hall and Welfare have had fire extinguisher checks and purchased new extinguishers last year.
 
Actions to be considered 
To consider the report and direct the Parish Clerk on any issue raised that require further action.                                                                       
Angela Brindley
Parish Clerk
24 June 2026
 

Agenda item 9.2  1^st July 2026

Financial performance April and May