PRESENT: Kielder Parish Council MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 7 TH AUGUST 2017 AT KIELDER FIRST SCHOOL AT 7 P.M. Cllr. Graham (Chair), Cllr. S Banks, Cllr. S Temple, David Howe, Gillian Howe, Lesleyann Bradford, R Ridgway () and three members of the public. 2017/156 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None 2017/147 2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING Cllr Graham asked that an amendment be made to the Minutes of the previous meeting to reference that no one connected with the school e.g. Head, Staff or parents have expressed concern that the work to demolish the former youth hostel may render the school not fit for purpose and that the decision had been made without consultation with the Parish Council or any of the people involved in the Partnership. Minutes to be returned to the next meeting for approval. 2017/158 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllrs. Banks and Temple declared an interest in the Lynx release in relation to their employment by the Forestry Commission. 2017/159 4. CO-OPTION OF NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL 2017/160 5. Lesleyann Bradford was proposed as a co-opted member and seconded by Cllr. Temple. David Howe was proposed as a co-opted member and seconded by Cllr. Banks. Gillian Howe was proposed as a co-opted member by Cllr. Banks and seconded by Cllr. Graham. The Council resolved unanimously to co-opt the three proposed Councillors. The new Councillors were welcomed to the Council by the Chair who also took the opportunity to remind all Councillors that they were there to represent the wishes of and to act in the best interests of the Community. Each new Councillor gave the meeting a brief outline of their background and reasons for wishing to serve as Councillors. Cllr Bradford is now living in the village permanently having owned property for a number of years and taken early retirement. She has a background as a civil servant and in sales and development. She feels privilege to be asked to serve as a Councillor and will do her best for the community. David Howe bought the house some 7-8 years ago and now lives in the village full time and is still working as an engineering consultant and troubleshooter in the metal cutting tool industry. He has taken an interest in what is happening in the village over the past couple of years and recognised that the Council is in need for support and has stepped forward to do his best for the village. Gillian Howe is married to David and is now retired and moved permanently into the village from the coast. She has always been interested in politics and keen to help and support the village. She has a varied background in Councils including Cumbria, Sunderland and Darlington. She has one son and a parent in Newcastle. MATTERS ARISING a) Play Park The paint is in the village and the shackles have already been bought. It was agreed that the clerk would send the Playdale quote to Cllr. Banks and cost items elsewhere as they are expensive. After discussion it was agreed that chains shouldn t be bought at this point if they are safe but simply rusty as new ones will rust again quickly. Cllr G Howe volunteered to help with funding applications. b) Youth Hostel the planning application was read to the meeting and a request has been received from for a licence to use part of the existing
car park during the demolition. The demolition will take place during October/November during term time due to the presence of bats in the building. After discussion it was unanimously agreed that it would not be safe to use the car park because it gets very busy during the drop off and pick up times. The was asked to pass this decision on to. c) Playing Field Drainage The Council was asked to formally approve the potential cost of 500 for a site inspection and report. This fee will only be payable should the project not go ahead or the work be awarded to a different contractor. Charlton Drainage have attended on site and dug test holes and inspected the existing drainage. The report has not yet been received but initial comments indicate that the present system is not fit for purpose due to the angle of some of the pipes and the 3 metre concrete bund and has made matters worse. Grant funding to be sought as soon as the report is received. There is a possibility of going back to the Environment Agency. to check out the insurance position. d) Signs Cllr. Temple had obtained prices from Top Signs of Hexham. A3 22.50 + VAT for parking and A4 20 + VAT for the play park. to circulate written quote when it is received. Cllr. Graham had been to look at the play park notices at Bellingham. Photographs were shown to the Council. These notices feature universal symbols on a 14 x 14 sign. It was suggested that no drink/drugs should be added. to enquire where Bellingham Parish Council bought their signs. e) Dropped Kerbs confirmation has been received that dropped kerbs will be provided in Butteryhaugh very soon although it will not be possible to provide one at the top of the school side pavement due to the steep angle. It is hoped to be able to address this when the youth hostel is demolished. f) Damage to the Churchyard the meeting was told that the headstone for the soldier who died on the Somme had been knocked over and damaged. It was agreed that the should write to the Forestry Commission seeking confirmation of the water pipe situation and also to write to the owner of the church to remind him that disturbance of graves is an offence and expressing concern over plans for water, sewage, future access and preservation of graves, this to be copied in to J Lee and G Kerr at the FC. g) Lynx Release A joint letter has been sent to Natural England from all of the parishes concerned with the release. It was proposed by Cllr. G Howe and seconded by Cllr. Graham that a separate letter from Kielder also be sent by the. Copy to be sent to Guy Opperman, Forestry Commission, Northumbrian Water and the National Park. An email has been received from the Lynx Project confirming their split from the Lynx Trust and outlining their plans. It was generally felt that this meant there would simply be a second organisation waiting in the wings to take over should the first one be unsuccessful as there appears to be a crossover of people between the two groups. It was agreed that the Chair should contact Julian Morrison-Bell to find out as much as possible. There is due to be a meeting at Elsdon on the 16 th August and Cllr. D Howe provisionally volunteered to attend on behalf of the Council with Cllr. Graham in reserve. 2017/161 6. Kielder Marathon There will again be a tea and cake stand in the main tent on the course which had raised substantial funds over the previous years. The Chair asked everyone to contribute to the cake making if possible as these are sold for 1 piece. Volunteers are also needed to serve and to take money. It was agreed to buy milk from the shop and to obtain other sundries from a cash and carry. Cllr. Bradford said she would be happy to use her Costco card if there was a volunteer to go with her. Notices will go up soon regarding the baking. Cllr. Banks asked if the water bowser would be
needed again this year and it was agreed that the would arrange this and the Chair thanked him for this. 2017/162 7. Correspondence to the Council General Correspondence From Description Comments Northern Wildlife Trust Request for letter of support for the new woodland restoration project (wildwood) at Kielderhead Cllr. Banks proposed supporting this, seconded by Cllr. Bradford. to write in support. The Lynx Project Information regarding split from Discussed above. the Lynx Trust Kielder School Charges Discussed above. Governors Headmistress Kielder Reply to email re damage to Noted above. School play park. Environment Agency Change to Kielder water release Noted. trial Wild North Discovery Events poster To go on noticeboards Dirtbike Action Notice re events not in Kielder Noted but also the later event has been cancelled. Pensions Regulator Reminder to complete actions Noted and in hand. by October. Grant of Planning for 8 art installations at Kielder Castle It was noted that had not been sending the planning applications to the correct address recently although they had been doing so for a number of months previously. Request for a licence to use the Discussed above. parking by the school during the demolition. Reports None received. Consultations Local Transport Plan Programme 2018-19 opportunity to shape the transport policy. Notice that the Core Strategy has been withdrawn After discussion it was agreed that a transport subcommittee was needed to tackle this proposed by Cllr. Temple, seconded by Cllr. Banks and unanimously agreed. Transport sub-committee to be Cllrs. Graham, D Howe, G Howe and Bradford and that they would bring a map to the next meeting. It was agreed that they should consider the document but also a speed limit for the C200 at the top of the village which would probably require a byelaw and highways issues in general. It was noted that there are trees growing out of the pavement on the bridge at the bottom of Butteryhaugh and the was asked to write to Highways about this. The meeting agreed that the C200 was becoming increasingly dangerous when wet due to impaired drainage particularly between Bakethin and Kielder Road End and the Slippage to Wickhope. to write to Highways. Castle Drive also has a drainage problem in heavy rain. Noted.
Planning application for demolition of former youth hostel Planning Development Order for an extension to the mast on Deadwater. Invitations None Noted. 2017/163 8. Schedule of Payments and Receipts Payments (Receipts) which require Council approval Mrs S Riley 50 internal audit fee Approved R Graham 105 wages May, June and July Approved and expenses of 16.67 for petrol R Ridgway wages Wages including year end time Approved and underpayment 221.72 and expenses for travel 23.32 Charlton Drainage Potential 500 for site Discussed above and approved. investigation T Grimwood Grass-cutting July 314.60 Approved Bank 6492.58 Savings Account 7015.91 Garage Rents 200 received Arch Boiler House Ground Rent 520 Arch Workshop Ground Rent 850 2017/164 10. Public Questions The was asked whether there had been any response from re bins in the pub car park. are not able to provide bins on private land. This is an ongoing issue and the was asked to write to the Forestry Commission for help. Cllr. Bradford noted that there was a lot of litter between the village and the campsite. to write to Kielder Ltd c/o the campsite to see if a bin could be placed at the top of the campsite drive to try and help. Sandysikes Gates the meeting was asked which other gates were going to be closed. Cllr. Banks responded that gates were being closed to prevent illegal parking and that there was now a ticket machine at Bakethin and CCTV at Lewisburn. The Forestry Commission are implementing a new policy of reporting any vehicle seen in the forest and letters being sent to the owners and the police informed. Non-residents Parking in the Village this can only be remedied through byelaws. 2017/165 9. Date of the Next Meeting The next meeting will be on Monday 11 th September. The meeting closed at 9.10 p.m Signed as a true record Chairman Date..
ACTIONS 2 Amend minutes 5a) Send Playdale quote to Cllr. Banks 5b) Pass decision regarding use of car park to 5c) Check out insurance position regarding drainage 5d) Circulate quote for signs 5f) Write to FC re churchyard water application Write to owner re plans 5g) Write to Natural England Attend meeting at Elsdon Speak to J Morrison-Bell Cllr. D Howe Cllr Graham 7 Arrange water bowser for Marathon Get supplies from Costco Cllr. Banks Cllr. Bradford and A N Other 8 Write to Highways re Butterhaugh Bridge Write to Highways re increasingly poor drainage on C200 10 Write to Kielder Limited re bin