Minutes of the Community Development and Environment Committee on 9th February 2022 (draft)

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 09 FEBRUARY 2022.

 

Members present:

 

Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr J Foster

Cllr K Grimes

Cllr A Hart

Cllr G Huntley (Chairman)

Cllr A Iley

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.

 

CD&E 058/21           1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

 

Apologies were received for Cllr J Rowell who had a prior commitment.

 

CD&E 059/21           2.         MEMBERS’ DECLARATION OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(S).

No declarations were presented.

 

CD&E 060/21           3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

 

The Parish Clerk advised that no questions had been submitted.

 

 

CD&E 061/21           4.         TO RECEIVE AND AGREE AS A TRUE RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 NOVEMBER 2021.

 

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

 

CD&E 062/21           5.         MATTERS ARISING.

                       

The Parish Clerk confirmed plans to procure uplighters for the trees on the roundabout.  Once installed it will be possible to light up the trees to mark events during the year, such as Remembrance Day

CD&E 063/21           6.         REPORT FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE.

 

A police representative was not in attendance, and unusually the Parish Clerk had not received a response from Sgt.Paul Davis.  She was advised by Cllr Julie Foster that he was now working in the Ashington area.  In the absence of a police representative, the Parish Clerk reported on two areas of concern.

 

  1. The ex-Guide Post Middle School field is being used as an unofficial off-road race site by children around 12 years of age riding motorised bikes. Residents are being unsettled by this activity and are finding it difficult to walk dogs.  The ground is being churned up by the bikes and the tracks are visibly expanding towards the football field.  Residents have reported the matter to the police.  The police have attended.

 

The Parish Council is placing a lock on the main gate into the field, but bikes are able to access through two pedestrian gates.

  1. Residents in Woodhorn Drive are witnessing numerous incidences of police activity at the flats there. The Parish Clerk advised that County Councillor Mary Murphy was working with the police and NCC officers to formulate a plan for the area.

 

 

CD&E 064/21           8.         UPDATE FROM THE PARISH CLERK ON CURRENT ISSUES.

 

1. Public Seating.

  1. The Parish Council seating programme has relied on the availability of our local services team to install them. It has become evident that this capacity is limited – not helped by staff isolation due to Covid and the clear up from storm Arwen.  It is proposed that we employ a contractor to complete the work.
  2. The memorial seat for opposite the Swan has been stained and is ready to be sited. The refurbishment of the seat beside Guide Post Club is at the depot and will be receiving a wood treatment before it is sited.  The seat has been refurbished with re-galvanised metal ends and woodwork replaced. Suitable  replacement wood has been difficult to source but wood has been sourced from oak that fell during storm Arwen.  The wood has been attached with the bark remaining, it is thought that this will eventually break off as it is used, so will require further attention at that stage.  A plaque will be placed on the seat referencing the source of the wood.

 

 RESOLVED:

Members approved the action to employ a contractor to install public seating and thanked Northumberland County Council staff for their resourceful use of fallen wood.

 

2. Litter bins:

The Parish continues the programme to replace the post mounted bins with ground mounted ones.  The replacement will continue at a bin a week by the local team. We are working with NCC to complete the grant process from WRAP.

 

3. Youth Activities:

The youth club at the Holy Family Church has opened and in its 2nd week has attracted nearly 40 children. Currently we are advertising for parents to assist the two youth leaders.

The new school holiday programme is in preparation. Diminishing numbers has prompted a re-think of the 3 day/week sessions.  The ‘Holiday and Food’(HAF) programme running in the area through the local authority, offers daily holiday activities including lunch and is attracting some of our usual cohort, therefore the Parish’s new programme will be based on the type of family events at Stakeford and West Sleekburn which have been successful in the past.  In addition, we are preparing trial sessions of multi-sport activities with PFC.  External providers for this type of activity are expensive, and this internal trial will be an opportunity to gauge interest from our local children.

 

4. Play Areas:

Work on the Liddells Field play area should start on 21st February 2022.  Survey results for other activities in the field have been positive.  Most liked the MUGA and the suggestion of picnic tables in the field.  We still require the agreement of the use of the field with the owners CISWO for these additions.

 

5. Bus Shelters:

It was resolved that in consideration of standing order 3a and because of their special and confidential nature, this item should be discussed in Agenda Part 2.

 

6. Northumberland County Council Review Storm Arwen:

Storm Arwen brought winds of up to 100km to our area resulting in widespread damage and leaving many homes in the Choppington area without power over 2 nights and West Sleekburn care home without power for longer. NCC are requesting written submissions for the Storm Arwen Review Task and Finish Group.  The Parish Clerk distributed a paper detailing the Parish Council’s actions following the storm with suggested recommendations to NCC.  As most members had been active in the community in the aftermath of the storm, the Parish Clerk proposed that members could either make their own submission or contact her afterwards with any further deta

7. Secure Compound:

It was resolved that in consideration of standing order 3a and because of their special and confidential nature, this item should be discussed in Agenda Part 2.

 

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 065/21           Bus Shelters:

  1. Contract finder has provided names of providers of bus shelters and metal fabricators which may be suitable providers for the replacement of bus shelters and parts for the Parish Council.

 

  1. The Parish Clerk sought guidance regarding the removal, repositioning or replacement of a bus shelter

 

RESOLVED:

 

  1. That the Parish Clerk in consultation with Parish Council Chairman and Finance Chairman secure suitable providers.
  2. To delegate the decision of the position of the one bus shelter to the Parish Clerk in consultation with Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee.

 

 

CD&E 066/21           Secure Compound:

The secure compound was part of a larger joint project with Stakeford and Bomarsund Welfare which received planning permission before Covid-19.  Although the larger project is not now progressing, the requirement for the secure compound remains.  The Parish Clerk advised that the contractor for the original project is available for the project.

 

RESOLVED:

  1. Members agreed the plans for the secure compound including the purchase of containers.
  2. That the original contractor to be retained for the revised project.

 

There being no further matters requiring consideration the meeting concluded at 20:20

 

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