Stanhoe Parish Council

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

Held on Thursday 9th September 2010 at 7.00pm
in the village Reading Room

Clerk to the Council – , tel 01485 518409

Present:

Mr T Austin – Chairman (TA)
Mrs P Austin (PA)
Miss R Brown (RB)
Mr M Roche (MR)

Absent:

Mr D Bridge (DB)
Mrs P Roche (PR)

Three members of the public were also present.

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence

Apologies were accepted from Mrs. Roche and Mr. Bridge.

2. To consider approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting

R.B. raised three points which were:

  • Item 7 (i) should stipulate that the Duck Inn licence only allowed for live and recorded music to be played indoors.
  • Item 14 It is not known that Barwick definitely wants to join with Stanhoe Parish Council and the minuted item should eliminate this statement.
  • Item 5 More information from SNAP would be useful especially if it could be accessed via a website.

Subject to the above points, Minutes were passed and signed by the Chairman.

3. To record declarations of interest from members in any item to be discussed

No declarations made.

4. To adjourn meeting to allow public participation

One member of the public had come from South Creake to listen to discussions on the Jack’s Lane Wind Farm application about which he had great concerns. Councillors welcomed him to the meeting.

A Stanhoe resident raised the following:

  • the Parish Council should register its concerns with BT over the slow broadband rate and should endeavour to have the rate increased.
  • the area at the rear of the village pond should be cleared as it had become a dumping ground for litter and was extremely overgrown.
  • the Parish Council should investigate the possibility of Cross Lane being made and “Access Only” road or a one-way road.

With regard to the points raised, Councillors stated that the broadband rate would not be significantly increased until fibre optic cabling had been installed. Lack of this cabling was a problem in many rural areas, however, the Council would make enquiries with BT about future plans.

Councillor Mr. D. Bridge had previously offered to clear the area at the rear of the pond and this would be mentioned to him.

Enquiries would be made with the highway authorities regarding the possibility of altering the status of Cross Lane.

5. SNAP & “No Cold Calling Zones”

T.A. had attended the previous week’s meeting of SNAP and had been dismayed at the decisions made as to the powers of the Panel. He was not given the opportunity to voice his concerns nor to raise the points on other matters which he had intended to do. He has written to the Panel to express his concerns.

At the meeting, a presentation had been given by a Trading Standards officer on the creation of a “No Cold Calling Zone” which was enforceable by law and would help to protect residents from rogue traders. Further information on this would be received at the parish council meeting in November 2010 when a member of SNAP would attend to give a presentation.

6. Docking Recycling Centre

As a result of the many strong objections to closure received by the County Council from neighbouring parish councils and numerous residents, a decision had been made to retain the centre on a part-time basis. From – 1st October 2010, the centre would be open 4 days per week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday all year round with the normal daily opening hours according to the season.

7. To receive updates on the following

Repairs & Refurbishments

  • Request made to the County Council to remove obsolete bus timetable and to install new bus stop in suitable place for weekly bus service and community bus service.
  • Request made to BT to clean up public –phone box and re-instate door.
  • Play area fencing had been repaired and new gate made. Village notice boards had been timber treated. Councillors wanted to record their thanks to Mr. Terry Patterson for carrying out this work at a very modest cost.
  • County Council had repaired the palisade fence opposite the pond and cut back the adjoining hedge.

Repair of Village Cross

Work will be carried out free of charge by Mr. Jeff Taylor in the next week or so.

Barwick amalgamating with Stanhoe Parish Council

A review of small parishes and existing boundaries will be carried out in 2011 by the Electoral Office and the Boundaries Commission.

Blacksmith’s Workshop

Councillors are anxious that this should be preserved as an important part of the village’s heritage. Enquiries underway as to ownership.

Village Pond Refurbishment Grant

An opportunity may exist to acquire lottery funding for dredging the pond and refurbishing the surrounding area. Estimates of costs will be obtained and a decision made in time for a possible application by the deadline in November.

Mrs. Symington’s Memorial Bench

The original bench has deteriorated and a replacement will be installed once a date for delivery and installation has been agreed with Annabel Symington.

Geese on the pond

Some goslings had gone to a new home and the offer of a home for the remaining two goslings had been made. After all goslings had been removed, arrangements would be made to remove the two unwanted adult geese as originally planned at the parish council meeting of 27th May 2010.

8. Village Emergency Plan

A draft plan had been drawn up by the Chairman. After discussion, it was agreed that minor amendments would be made prior to the finalisation of the plan which would then be submitted to the Borough Council. The possibility of grant funding would be investigated for personal alarms to be used by the most vulnerable residents in case of a major village emergency.

9. Jack’s Lane Wind Farm Planning Application

A copy of the application (amounting to some 1200 pages of documents) had been received by the parish council. Through various public meetings and residents’ attendance at official Liaison Group meetings, it had been established that some residents were in favour of the development but that the vast majority was opposed. P.A. proposed a vote to submit a formal objection to the planning application which was seconded by M.R. This was followed by a unanimous vote in favour of an objection. Accordingly, a 9point objection document was drawn up to send to the Borough Council Planning Dept.

10. To approve payments

Approval was given for the payment of normal salary and expenses to the Clerk.

11. To receive items for the next Agenda

  • Geese on the Pond
  • Clearance of shrubbery at the rear of the pond
  • SNAP

R.B. requested that the War Memorial and surrounding area be tidied up before Remembrance Sunday in November.

No other matters we were discussed and the meeting closed at 9.10pm.