MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2023.
Members present:
Cllr H Allsopp (arrived 6.40pm)
Cllr J Foster
Cllr G Huntley (Chairman)
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 Admin/Finance Officer, Inspector Wayne Daniels Neighbourhood Police
The Chairman regretfully informed the meeting that the Council had been advised of the untimely death of NCC Highways Officer Mick Carle. Mick had worked closely with the Council during the building of West Sleekburn Village Hall and his advice had been invaluable in the successful conclusion of the project.
CD&E 029/23 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Apologies were received From Cllr H Allsopp for lateness (family commitment)
CD&E 030/23 2. MEMBERS’ DECLARATION OF DISCLOSABLE
PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(S).
No declarations were presented
CD&E 031/23 3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
The Parish Clerk advised that no questions have been submitted.
CD&E 032/23 4. TO RECEIVE AND AGREE AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 9 NOVEMBER 2022.
The minutes were received and accepted as a true record. The Chairman was authorised to sign as such.
CD&E 033/23 5. TO CONSIDER MATTERS ARISING.
The Parish Clerk confirmed that vandalised seating and attachments had been made safe and that there had been no further incidences of vandalism against seats along the Riverside Park.
Cllr Watson reported that the newly planted silver birch trees at Riverbank East were attractive.
All councillors agreed that the Christmas lighting at the additional sites provided a striking display.
Cllr Allsopp joins the meeting
CD&E 034/23 6. REPORT FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE.
Inspector Daniels provided a report to include
- Crime statistics for our area, which were in line with previous months.
- PCSOs Rob Thompson and Neil Humble had left Neighbourhood policing for other positions. Their replacements may be in the new intake in April.
- Media assistant recruitment increasing communications with the public.
- Electric bikes purchased by County Councillors for use in Bedlington and Choppington
Following the report, Members expressed their disappointment that neighbourhood policing was understaffed.
RESOLVED: The Police and Crime Commissioner to be invited to attend a meeting with the Council to discuss the importance of Neighbourhood Policing
CD&E 035/23 7. TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED STREET NAMES FOR
WHINNEY HILL
Members were united in opposition to the proposed names of Trigger and Red Rum for the Willow burn, Councillors gave consideration to a heritage theme, pastoral themes, prominent local citizens and wild life taken from the burn in the development name.
RESOLVED: To submit our opposition to the names proposed and offer selection of themes from those suggested in meeting.
CD&E 036/23 8. UPDATE FROM THE PARISH CLERK ON CURRENT
ISSUES
- Public Seating. Members were advised that remedial work had made safe the ‘meeting places’ seats that had been vandalised. A list and the costs of vandalism this year was being prepared.
- Litter Bins. The Deputy Clerk reported that following the recent arson attacks on bins, the Council had a quotation of £3000 for 10 metal bins primarily to replace those along the Riverside Park.
RESOLVED. The council approved the purchase of 10 metal bins.
.
- Youth activities. The next planned holiday activity is during the Easter school holidays. The Council has applied for HAF funding for these holidays and those in the summer. We are contacting external providers of play activities to extend our programme.
- Cleaswell Park. Officers have had preliminary discussions with NCC following the announcement that there will be funding for Cleaswell Park as part of the Queen Elizabeth memorial fund. The £200k is a considerable contribution as this is a £400k project. CPC will be part funding this gap but will need to also identify other funding sources. Members were advised there were plans to visit other parks to view solutions to minimize ground maintenance that could be incorporated into the final scheme.
- Bus Shelters. A bus shelter has been replaced at the Guide Post Medical Practice. The Parish Clerk thanked the Practice Manager who brought to our attention prior to the construction, concerns that the siting of it might obstruct drivers emerging from their car park, however after a site visit with the Practice and NHS Assets, the siting had been agreed.
Perforated sheets to replace glass in shelters have also been purchased and installation will begin in the next week.
- Local Government Boundary Commission. The Clerk reported that the submission from the Parish had to address the problem that the divisions covered by the Parish of Stakeford, Sleekburn and to a lesser extent Choppington were all outside the10% tolerance set by the Boundary Commission. The submission proposed that Stakeford include the Willows and West Sleekburn, Choppington/Stakeford boundary to remain unchanged, and that Sleekburn realign within Bedlington divisions.
RESOLVED: Committee members supported the submission.
There being no further matters requiring consideration the meeting concluded at 20.45
Chairman………………………………………………………..Dated……………………