Minutes of the Meeting of Birtley Parish Council held in the Supper Room of Birtley Village Hall starting at 8.00 pm. Tuesday on 7th December 2010.

Minutes of the Meeting of Birtley Parish Council held in the Supper Room of Birtley Village Hall starting at 8.00 pm. Tuesday on 7th December 2010.

Present Messrs EN Coulson (Chairman), DRB Burn, J Robson, Mrs SW Crone and WG White. Clerk: Robert Macfarlane and Unitary Councillor Cllr E Heslop

Apologies Cllr A Lowes and PC I Robertson

Declaration of Interest DRB Burn – Village Hall Committee, Cllr Heslop – Planning matters and Tynedale Sports Council, Cllr Crone – Drainage issues.

Minutes Minutes of the previous meeting held on 3rd August were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Matters Arising
 Play Area The matting has not been put down correctly and is causing damage to the lawn mower. When the weather improves the situation will be looked at.
 It was RESOLVED to purchase a seat (£120) to be sited in the play area.
 Notice Board The Parish Notice Board has been erected and keys allocated.

Correspondence
All councillors were circulated with a full list of correspondence.
NALC County Committee and AGM, CAN AGM, CPRE Overview, War Memorials Trust Bulletin, Letter of Thanks MM Mitcheson, Quality Council, NCC Joint PC meetings, NCC What goes where wheel, Flu vaccine literature
• Rede and Coquet Sports Centre The Council decided that as the centre was out of the parish it was not eligible for grant aid.
• Northumbria Police Rural Forum Although no one was able to travel all the way to Morpeth the feedback was good. Some very useful initiatives to combat rural crime.
• Affordable Transport A number of issues were raised appertaining to the lack of accessibility to public transport. Cllr Heslop to explore options.
• Tynedale Sports Council Awards Evening The annual Awards Evening was a tremendous success and Newcastle United’s Shola Ameobi presented the awards.
page 1 of 3

Roads
The blocked drains outside of Birtley Hall have still to be attended to.
The Council gave praise to NCC Highways for their efforts in road clearing and gritting over this extended period of snow and bad weather. The Clerk was asked to write and thank NCC Highways. The Wark Bridge Liaison Group (Chaired by Cllr Heslop) is meeting on 14th December and Leslie Gosling has volunteered to join the group.

Footpaths
Diversion of Public Footpath No 13. NCC confirmed the Order on 22nd September 2010.

Planning
NCC decisions under delegated powers for the following applications:
20081063 Proposed windfarm Bavington Hill Head Farm. NCC have produced a statement of case and this is now to be heard through the inquiry procedure.
20090663 The Waterfalls Birtley NE48 3JQ Site visit by Area Planning Committee 25th January 2010. The Waterfalls Birtley NE48 3JQ BPC Objection Refused permission by Development Control Committee of NCC 23rd June 2010. The Public Inquiry will start on 1st February 2011.
09/00150/CCM Retention of existing anemometer mast for a futher 24 months. Green Rigg Fell Birtley BPC no objection.
20090677 Construction of two storey extension to original farmhouse. The Waterfalls Birtley NE48 3JQ BPC No objection.
20100267 made to NCC Construction of single storey extension raise height of existing roof. (amended plans and description) Marlene Cottage Birtley NE48 3HL This application was granted permission conditionally under delegated powers. 24th June 2010.
20100799 Construction of single storey sun roof to rear. The Copse Buteland Heights NE48 2EB Withdrawn 16th November 2010.

Reports
MTCT The Mid Tyne Community Trust still has funds and applications are invited. The future of Community Forums is being reviewed.
Village Hall Hazel Pittock is now treasurer of the Village Hall Committee.
NCC Cllr Heslop detailed the austere measures that NCC is proposing as a result of the recession. The Council already faces huge cuts to its budget and now has to consider the Comprehensive Spending Review. They are looking to save £100m over the next four years: having already made savings of £51.5m which is more than the combined budgets of all six district councils which were scrapped to create the new Unitary Council.

Policies and Documents
All published on Birtley PC website at www.birtley.info
Freedom of Information – last reviewed on 2nd December 2008
Financial Regulations – last reviewed on 1st December 2009
Complaints Policy and Procedure – last reviewed 7th December 2010
BPC Standing Orders based on NALC’s model – for appraisal and adoption
Risk Management – reviewed 7th December 2010
BPC Grant Awarding Policy – adopted by the Council 16th March 2010
page 2 of 3

Financial Matters
Bank Statements 1st December 2010: Treasurer’s Account £2057.96, BMM £1898.44
Income vat £57.75 Half precept £1250
Approved Payments: The following were agreed: Clerk’s salary £175, Clerk’s expenses £36.69 (£34.90 plus £1.79 vat), Hire of Hall £10 (Dec), Invoice BOO296 Robson & Cowan £337.41 (£287.16 plus £50.25 vat)

Budget and Precept
The Clerk prepared a budget and precept proposals which were accepted and approved by full Council. It was RESOLVED to keep the precept the same as last year at £2,500.

Next Meeting
Tuesday 1st March 2011 at 8pm in the Supper Room of Birtley Village Hall
There being no other business the meeting was closed at 9.10 pm.

Signed Chairman………………………………………
Date……………….………1st March 2010………….
Chairman: Mr EN Coulson, Vice Chair: Mr DRB Burn,
Councillors Mr J Robson and Mrs SW Crone, Mr WG White and Miss A Lowes

page 3 of 3