Kielder Parish Council. MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 9 th MAY 2016 AT UNIT 5 AT 7 P.M.

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1 Kielder Parish Council MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 9 th MAY 2016 AT UNIT 5 AT 7 P.M. PRESENT: S Webb (Chair), K Wylie, R Graham, S Banks, T. Dobson-Martin, R Ridgway () A Maclennan, Forestry Commission Alex Maclennan from the Forestry Commission told the meeting that the walking information has been upgraded with the installation of two new information panels sited at the Castle and the Bakethin Nature Reserve Car Park. A further 5-6k has been spent upgrading the Duchess trail, improving the path to Skyspace and upgrading the Deadwater Trail. The improved literature will also go into the walking guide for download. Following feedback from visitors the two red trails are being changed to one red and one orange to avoid confusion. The Forestry Commission are looking to remove the unsightly diesel tank from the roof of the castle for safety reasons and to put this underground. A contour footpath will be created from the corner of the building to the old well replacing the steps to improve disabled access. The aim is to get rid of all steps down the hillside which will involve felling one large fir within the grounds with work starting in June. Overall 20k has been spent in the last month maintaining mountain bike trails and walking paths. It has been the busiest vintage show day for some years and in view of the increased attendance at events including the marathon and winter wonderland and the planned improvements at Leaplish there is a proposal to build a larger 800 space car park opposite Leaplish although this has not yet gone into the formal planning system. Members of the public asked the Forestry to look at the area behind the fence from the Anglers Arms to the Castle Bank/Ravenshill signs as there was quite a lot of debris from pub garden up the bank at the side of the road and also the number of windblown trees lying on the side of the road. All of this will be dealt with but will have to be done within the schedule of works. Clearing up after the gales is taking months. Lynn Turner will be invited to the next meeting to discuss the progress with the Youth Hostel. Things have gone quiet lately. There have been a number of complaints about the number of caravans and tents by the Anglers Arms however it was established that these are not on Forestry land. There has also been an increase in camping at Fisherman s Car Park. It was suggested by a member of the public that notices should be placed at the bird hide and the car park similar to those at Skyspace. It is illegal to camp without the landowners permission and Alex Maclennan will speak to Northumbrian Water about signs. Alex Maclennan was thanked by the Chair and left the meeting. 2016/36 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: L Davidson. 2016/37 2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING were signed as a true record 2016/38 3. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS None. 2016/39 4. MATTERS ARISING: a) Castle View Water Feature - Cllr. Webb has met with the Maintenance Manager for Home Housing who agreed that the water feature is danger and it would be easiest to fill it in. This was opened to the floor for discussion and the general opinion was that it would be best filled in. Home Housing are to check that there is no legal issue preventing this and there was a further suggestion that it should be filled in to 2 deep if this was the case. The possible presence of newts was raised and it was agreed that Home Housing would need to check this before any work was carried out.

2 Rubbish - Home Housing have the photographs that were taken of the rubbish. It was agreed that the would chase up both points. b) Castle Drive Bus Shelter - it was agreed that Cllr. Webb would speak to the contractor and obtain a confirmed date for the work to be carried out. c) Falstone Cemetery. The trees are a significant problem because they are very high and dangerous. It was agreed that a joint site meeting needed to be held with Falstone Parish Council and that Cllr. Banks would circulate a date. A decision needs to be made whether to take the tops off of the trees or remove them completely although topping would not resolve the problem with damage to the wall. This needs to be a joint decision between the parishes with consideration given to the sensitivity of the issue locally. It was noted that the thick bushes to the side of the cemetery had been thinned but a lot of mess had been left. d) Allotments. Tony Dove s plots have been taken but the third plot on offer remains vacant as although this had been offered it was declined. e) Play Park - There are a list of jobs that need to be addressed promptly as the annual inspection will take place in June which include removal of the seesaw. It was agreed that most of the jobs would be completed by the end of the month. A delivery of chain links is due and some further split links and shackles are needed and it was agreed to place an order for these as soon as possible. Cllr. Webb has the sand in store to top up the sandpit. There are also mats in the sheds and it was agreed to lift turf back where required and insert the mats to build the level back up. The jobs list was passed to Cllr. Banks for action. Bob has requested replacement wellingtons, overalls and nails and it was agreed that Cllr. Wylie would order these and invoice the Council. A sum of 675 was raised by Tom and Bet Grimwood and Shawn Grimwood from the rally car parking and kindly donated to the Council for refurbishing the play park. It was suggested that the seesaw, fence and picnic table be painted a bright colour. After discussion it was agreed that the seesaw would be replaced and the picnic table painted but it was felt that painting the fence would require too much ongoing maintenance. It was agreed that the local children would be asked for colour suggestions. Cllr. Banks to measure and price up the paint. Also requested were toys for the sandpit. It was agreed to send a letter of thanks for the donation. f) Update on Nets for the Playing Field After discussion it was agreed that stop nets presented a risk in terms of the security of the posts and the potential for accidents and that these would not be installed. g) Update on Queen s Birthday Celebration and Medals - Cllr. Wylie was thanked for providing a list of children. Falstone Parish Council have placed the joint order. After a discussion on insurance requirements and ways of meeting and the possibility of a sub-committee to organise this it was agreed that the beacon lighting would be too much to achieve in too short a time. The medal numbers have been passed to Falstone for a joint order and it was agreed that the clerk would check with Falstone that the order has been placed. Following the meeting of Kielder Limited it had been agreed to postpone the barbecue until later in the season. 2016/40 5. Asset Register. This needs to be updated for both the annual return and the insurance. Depreciation needs to be applied to the machinery and it was agreed that Cllr. Wylie would look into this.

3 2016/41 6. Insurance Quote. In view of the excellent price obtained last year and the very small increase proposed it was unanimously agreed to accept the quotation of /42 7. Correspondence to the Council General Correspondence From Description Comments Bob Graham Request for equipment. Agreed. Environment Request for Updated Cllr. Webb to them with the amendments Agency D Gould/S. Gould Wright North Tyne and Redesdale Red Squirrel Group NCC Highways information on the flood plan Letters regarding parking and behaviour of visitors to the village. Notice of Meeting including the change of names and those vulnerable. Cllr. Webb has sought the advice of the police regarding the issues or parking and urination in public. The police are required to take into account whether the person concerned has a medical condition and how long they have been in the car as although urination in public is illegal they are required to use discretion. They have asked that anyone seeing an incident take the car registration as the police are unable to take any action otherwise. It was agreed that if this happens during an event the organisers will be notified. After discussion it was felt that it would help to have signs at the bottom of Castle Drive on the piece of grass where it can be seen both from the drive and coming down the depot road and also in Butteryhaugh before the bridge where the old railway line is stating where the toilets are to be found and that ideally these should be the blue and white signs used universally and which people would know to look for. In terms of parking it was felt that although there were some occasions when parking was thoughtless overall there was not sufficient problem with parking to take any action as this would inevitably apply to residents as well as visitors and this would not be welcomed and would be very hard to enforce. Failing to park in the paying car parks is a moral issue and that most of the areas used for non-paying parking are on NCC land. However this will be discussed at the next area meeting and reported back. It was agreed to make the Forestry Commission aware of both issues. Item to be on the agenda for the next meeting. It was agreed to put the notice up on both noticeboards and the website Invitation to A1 Improvement Agreed not relevant to the Village Meeting Joint Area Notice of Meeting Cllrs. Webb and Dobson Martin to attend. Committee Not the Only Gay Invitation to Meeting Declined Consultations None received. Planning Planning Application received for a replacement mast on Deadwater. to scan and circulate. 9. Reports none.

4 2016/ Schedule of Payments and Receipts Payments and Receipts which require Council approval Zurich Municipal Insurance As above. Approved. Bank Balance to 31 st March , Savings Garage Rents 80 received. DS Media and Marathon Payment 1,000 Event NCC Precept It was agreed to purchase hanging baskets for outside the shop and both bus shelters. Cllr. Banks volunteered to water the bus shelter baskets. Cllr. Webb will speak to Megan about the baskets and advise the clerk of the cost. Cllr. Banks will check the fixings for the hanging baskets and whether new ones will be required for the new bus shelter. Bob will wait until the end of this month to put in his hours. 2016/ Public Questions Units -A question was asked as to how many of the units were occupied. Currently four units have tenants with Wildfire having just vacated theirs. Street Lights the Council was asked whether they are at full strength as the level of lighting in some areas of the village is poor and the bridge corner is dangerous given that it is a junction and how we approach fine-tuning the lights now they are installed and obtaining a new light on the bridge corner. Also, the lighting in Castle View is not working. There seem to be different levels of lighting with the light by the playing field now very dim and making it difficult to walk safely. It was thought that the ideal would be to mostly keep the same level of light but spread it further. Cllrs. Webb and Dobson Martin will seek answers to this at the Area Meeting and report back. The work to make good at the base of the new lights was disgraceful with stones in the grass presenting a mowing hazard. Cycle Event the question was raised about traffic direction for this event as it had now worked well and there were a lack of boards showing people where to go. The event organisers and the Forestry Commission need to communicate more but this was the first event for this organiser, Seismic Events, and they had been very co-operative. Cllr. Banks volunteered to meet with the Council re lighting if this was required. Grass-cutting to the front of the houses Whose responsibility it is to cut the land to the front of the houses was questioned and the Council responded that this land was not Parish Council land and would not be cut by the Council. This is the responsibility of each individual house-holder. Ravenshill Road Fence The area between the Church and Lightpipe is now a dilapidated eyesore and it was agreed to write to the receivers. 2016/ Date of Next Meeting The Annual Meeting and Parish Meetings need to be held before the end of the month and I was agreed that they would be held on the 31 st May in the school with notices being displayed as soon as possible. The meeting closed at 8.35 p.m Signed as a true record Chairman Date..

5 ACTION POINTS Minute Number Action Nominated Person 4a Letter to be sent to Home Housing 4b Confirm date for work to start on the new bus Cllr. Webb shelter 4c Arrange site meeting with Falstone Cllr. Banks 4e Top up sand Remove turf and insert matting where necessary Obtain links and shackles Fit links and shackles Obtain replacement equipment for Bob Work out quantities for paint and obtain costs Carry out essential repairs/works before the Cllr. Webb/Bob Cllr. Banks/Bob Cllr. Webb Cllr. Banks Cllr. Wylie Cllr. Banks Cllr. Banks/Bob annual inspection 5 Check depreciation requirements for asset register Cllr. Wylie 6 Renew insurance 7 Write to Forestry Commission re parking and lack of signs re toilets. Raise both issues at the Area Meeting and report Agenda the item for the next meeting Put up the notice for the red squirrel meeting Circulate planning notice Cllrs. Webb and Dobson Martin 9 Find out cost of hanging baskets. Cllr. Webb 10 Find out about street lighting at the Area Meeting Cllrs Webb and Dobson Martin