Minutes of Choppington Parish Council 9 July 2025

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 28 May 2025. (pages 3-8)
6. Any matters arising.
7. To receive and note the minutes of the Finance Committee held on 11 June 2025. (pages 9-12)
8. To receive and note the minutes of the Community Development and Environment Committee held on 25 June 2025. (pages 13-17)
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  (pages 18-20 )

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. (page 21)
3. Health and Safety report. Members will receive a quarterly report for consideration and advise if further action is required.  (page 22-24)
4. Sports Provider – Members will be requested to consider contracting two sports coaches for holiday play in the summer.
5. Street Furniture – Members will receive an update on new bins at Cleaswell Park.

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.

Notes to be read in connection with Agenda Items 2 and 3

 Note for the Public – Members of the public may attend but access will be on a first come first served basis.  Public questions can be notified to the Parish Clerk before 12noon on the day of the meeting and will be read out in the meeting during the public session.  As usual, it is not the Council’s custom to respond during the public session.  Where appropriate the Chairman will inform the resident of the action to be taken, that is, passed to a committee; go on the next agenda; or the points will be taken into consideration if already on the agenda

 Note re Declarations of interest – Members are required to disclose personal and prejudicial interests relating to any matters to be considered at the meeting.  The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.   An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting if it only becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

If a member who has declared a personal interest then considers the interest to be prejudicial he/she shall declare that, and, after making any representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business, the member shall withdraw from the room for the remainder of the item to which the interest relates.

Angela Brindley

Parish Clerk

 2 July 2025

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr K Burn

Cllr A Cottrell

Cllr D Fitzgerald

Cllr M Jackson

Cllr L Watson (Chairman)

IN ATTENDANCE:

Ms A Brindley Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer,  Mr D L Nicholson Deputy Parish Clerk, Mr D Iley Finance Officer and County Councillor R Spriddell

C035/25         1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Apologies of absence were received from Cllrs J Foster, G Huntley and J Rowell (family commitments)

In the absence of the Chairman, Cllr Watson (Vice Chairman) took the Chair

C036/25         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.

C037/25         3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

No questions from the public had been received

  C038/25         4.         PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

The Parish Clerk advised members that Ringway school had applied to extend the old school caretaker building.  Members wishing to look at the plans were able to do so after the meeting.

C039/25         5.         TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF 28  May 2025

The minutes were received and approved as a true record

C040/25         7.         MATTERS ARISING

C027/25.  Planning permission has been granted to the Appleby Centre.

C034/25. The AGAR has been submitted to the external auditors with a note of the guidance received from HRMC.

C041/25         8.         TO NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF 11 JUNE 2025

The minutes were noted by the Parish Council.

C042/25         9.         TO NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE OF 25 JUNE 2025

The minutes were noted by the Parish Council.

C043/25         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 Members refered this item to the Finance Committee for detailed consideration.

Health and Safety Report. Members received the quarterly report for consideration, a copy of which is attached to these minutes.

RESOLVED:

1. To approve actions required at play areas including:

•  to repair slide steps at Liddells field,
• to rotate seating on swings,repair of bin at Eastgreen
• and investigate cost to replace rocker bird at Milburn Grange.
• To take all actions in respect of the Health and Safety visit in regard to Welfare/Parish Council premises.
• Any actions required regarding the powder coating at bus shelters

C044/25         11.       Sports Provider:  A member of the Welfare provided a range of sports during the school holidays as a sports provider business.  As a start up he was given a preferential price for insurance, however this year the cost is prohibitive.  He only runs this business during the school holidays and he only charges the Parish Council his hourly rate, therefore it is proposed that the Parish Council hires him and any of his staff members directly rather than through his business and he is covered through our insurance.  The Parish Clerk has received an agreement from our insurance company.

RESOLVED: Members approved the actions

C045/25         12.       Street Furniture:  A consequence of the litter bin audit was that some bins were required to be replaced or repaired.  An approved contractor has been advised of the work.  In additional members were shown a diagram of the placement for 6   additional litterbins in Cleaswell Park.

RESOLVED: Approval of the siting of the bins and additional remedial work as a result of the litter bins audit.

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

CO43.25.1

Finance Report.  Parish Clerk’s Report  item 9.2     9^th  July 2025

CO43/25.2 Finance Report.  Parish Clerk’s Report  item 9.2     9^th  July 2025

CO43/25.3  Health and Safety report to Parish Council meeting 9 July 2025

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

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 Report of 9 July 2025

Play Areas

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

Liddells Field –

The ladybird rocker is missing a decorative bolt on the tail which has left a hole which is bigger than an adults finger therefore not considered a finger trap for a child.

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 which we have filled with tape.  A better solution is being sought from contractors.

Cambridge Road

Missing caps that cover bolts on seesaw have been replaced.

Rope on activity equipment is cut and is being monitored for deteriation.

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 are rotating the missing swing to allow grass to grow underneath it.

Roundabout, and see saw have matting exposed see end of report for general maintenance.

Church Avenue

The carousel which has a ground clearance of less than 400mm minimum clearance has been raised.

There is a cut in the rope which will be monitored.

The slight lip in the edge between concrete and ground at the gate has been dealt with.

Rocker is exposed at the bottom and we have packed soil around it.

MUGA has a crack in the tarmac.

Morpeth Road

The problem of the gate catching on the ground has been resolved

Concrete lip around metal grid at gate is slightly proud of ground, looking a means of evening out the ground around it.

Matting is exposed under swing, roundabout and seesaw.  As discussed at CD&E meeting a contractor has been commissioned to take up matting, turf and relay new matting.

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 had lining removed and front opening removed.  Contractor is being sourced to replace and repair.

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 however may require replacement.

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 craddle 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

Overlay work on entrance completed

Water boxes have been repaired

Local team have been into allotment to cut back grass and remove debris.

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 – a list of all electrical equipment has been compiled for quotation.

Fire Risk Assessment required – tests of equipment and alarms undertaken weekly however as assessment will formalise the arrangements

Legionella assessment required – showers are run weekly, however this will advise on any further actions required.

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 in disrepair.  West Sleekburn trustees have received grant funding towards this.

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

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

2 July 2025