Minutes of the Parish Council on 6th October 2020

MINUTES OF THE CHOPPINGTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2020 – VIRTUAL MEETING USING ZOOM

THOSE ATTENDING:

Cllr H Allsopp

Cllr E A Barrell

Cllr J Foster

Cllr K Grimes

Cllr G Huntley

Cllr A Iley

Cllr J Rowell

Cllr Vaughan (Chair)

Cllr L Watson

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs A Brindley, Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer and Mr D L Nicholson, Deputy Parish Clerk.

AGENDA PART 1

C019/20         1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

All members in attendance.

C020/20         2.         DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY AND OTHER REGISTERABLE INTEREST(s)

Cllr J Foster, a member of Northumberland County Council’s planning committee indicated that in the event of discussion on any applications pending consideration by the planning authority, she would retire from that part of the meeting to ensure legal compliance.

Cllr K Grimes advised the Parish Council he has recently been appointed as a trustee of Wansbeck Valley Food Bank and will be updating his declaration of interests to the monitoring officer.

C021/20         3.         PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

The Parish Clerk explained arrangements made for members of the public to submit questions or attend the meeting.  No questions had been received.

C022/20         4.         PLANNING MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

4.1       Watson’s Yard

The Parish Clerk reported that the application for the change of use of a building from vehicle depot to material recycling facility at Watson’s Yard is likely to be listed for consideration by the planning authority in November.  The site is within the Choppington Parish Council boundary, but close to residential properties in the East Bedlington Parish.  Access to the site is difficult because of the inadequacy of the Barrington Road between the A1068 and Red Row Drive.  The 2 alternative access roads route vehicles through residential areas.  A previous application at a nearby site was controversial with residents objecting to increased traffic flow and distress from noise, dust and particulates from burning of materials.

Comments have been submitted by Choppington Parish Council and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the planning committee have visited the site.  The Parish Council supports comments of residents who are concerned about the potential detriment from noise and dust and has asked for details of alterations to the fabric of the building, which in its present form is considered unsuitable as a waste recycling facility.

The planning authority is currently considering responses from the applicant following questions raised by the Environment Agency and Public Health.

The Parish Clerk advised members she will liaise with the Chairman and Vice Chairman to discuss whether any further submission from the Parish Council is required.

RESOLVED: 

1. Members delegated responsibility to the Parish Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-chairman of the planning committee to prepare any further response from the Parish Council.
2. The Parish Clerk was asked to arrange a meeting with Northumberland County Council outside of the planning cycle to discuss necessary improvements to Barrington Road.

4.2       Local Transport Plan.

 The Parish Clerk reported that the Local Transport Plan submission to Northumberland County Council is in its final stage of preparation and invited members to review the submission at the members liaison group being held on Friday 9 October at 10.30 by Zoom.

 4.3       Earth Balance Housing.

The Parish Clerk updated members on a planning application submitted by Earth Balance for residential housing outside of the Parish boundary.

C023/20        5.         TO RECEIVE AND ADOPT THE MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16 JUNE 2020.

The meeting agreed the minutes represented a true record of the meeting and agreed they should be signed as such by the Chairman and placed in the public domain.

C024/20         6.         MATTERS ARISING

None.

C025/20         7.         TO RECEIVE AND NOTE THE MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HELD ON 12 AUGUST 2020 AND GIVE FINAL CONSIDERATION TO MINUTE CD&E 010/20 REPORT ON MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

Members noted that the report on the memorandum of understanding was referred to the Parish Council for final consideration.

RESOLVED:  Members considered that because of the special and confidential nature of the matters to be considered it should be referred to part 2 of the agenda.

 C026/20         8.         PARISH CLERK’S REPORT.

 8.1       Finance Report.  Members received a report from the Parish Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer detailing expenditure made and income received since the last meeting of the Parish Council.

Cllr P Vaughan, Chairman of the Parish Council highlighted the significant investment made by the Parish Council to improve play areas.

 RESOLVED:  Members asked that this report be placed on the Parish Council’s website.

8.2       Financial performance to the end of the financial quarter.

RESOLVED:  Members referred consideration of this item to the next meeting of the Finance Committee.

8.3       External Audit.  The Parish Clerk reported that the External Auditor has signed off the Parish Council’s return for 2019/2020 issuing an unqualified report stating that there were no matters requiring the further attention of the Parish Council.

Members thanked the Parish Clerk/Responsible Finance Officer and the Finance and Administrative Officer for all of their work throughout the year.

RESOLVED:  Members received the report and noted that there were no matters requiring the attention of the Parish Council.

 Agenda – Part 2.

 Members resolved that in consideration of Standing Order 46a and because of their special and confidential nature, discussion of the following items should take place in the absence of press and public.

 C027/20         1.         CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REFERRED FROM AGENDA PART 1.

1. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

 Members received the draft Memorandum of Understanding previously considered by the Community Development and Environment Committee, defining the relationship between Choppington Parish Council and Stakeford and Bomarsund Sports and Social Welfare Centre.

Members were advised that this was the 3^rd memorandum of understanding to be considered between Choppington Parish Council and strategic partners.

RESOLVED:  Members agreed the Memorandum of Understanding, authorising the Parish Clerk and Chairman of the Parish Council to sign on behalf of the Parish Council.

2.  There were no grant requests requiring the consideration of the Parish Council.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 19.55

 Chairman                                                                              Dated

C026/20                Income and Expenditure

Income

Expenditure

Cheque/reference Transaction                                        Date      Amount               Payee