MenuMinutes of a meeting of Amble Town Council held on Thursday 12th January 2012 at 6.30pm in the Council Office, The Quayside, Harbour Road, Amble.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Bilboe, Arckless, Hinson, Palin, Weir, Rev’d Nicholson, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Morrison and Mrs Dargue together with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
Journalist James Willoughby.
County Councillor Jeff Watson
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: No apologies had been received.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None.
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: (maximum 15 minutes) None.
5. MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL:
5.1: Minutes of Town Council Meeting held Thursday 8th December were proposed for acceptance by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed.
6. CLERK’S REPORT:
6.1: Christmas food hamper raffled at Mayor’s Christmas Reception raising a total of £126.
6.2: Response to NCC Local Councils Charter consultation submitted.
6.3: East Cemetery Info uploaded onto website; photos required for various pages.
6.4: NALC – Annual Royal Garden Party Nomination Form 2012; Cllr Bilboe nominated.
6.5: Repairs to bus shelters queried. Email confirming repairs not yet done but we will be kept informed.
6.6: Further email to NCC enquiring about the legal status of the land surrounding the Paddlers Play area
6.7: Precept request sent to NCC; final budget for 2012-13 forward to all Members for reference.
6.8: Amble Action Group notes of meeting circulated to all members
The Clerk’s report was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FROM CLERK’S REPORT:
7.1: Update on Amble Action Group – Jubilee event
Cllr Weir informed the event would take place on 4th June and gave details of a timeline for the event. Cllr Weir enquired about the £3000 the Council had budgeted for in the precept for Jubilee/Olympic Torch celebrations and how much of this sum could be made available for the Jubilee event. Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed up to £2000 be made available to fund a firework display on the evening of the jubilee event. This was seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
8. BUSINESS EXPRESSLY REQUIRED BY STATUTE:
8.1: Candidate elected for vacancy of Amble Central Ward; no contest.
The Chairman introduced officially welcomed Jane Dargue to the Council and introduced all Members.
9. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS and REPORT:
9.1: The Chairman gave his report; copy attached.
10. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLORS:
10.1 County Councillor Arckless gave his report; copy attached. Cllr Weir withdrew agenda items 12.3 and 12.4 as they were covered in the report. Cllr Arckless stated he would enquire about the sign as he was aware that it was intended to be temporary.
10.2 County Councillor Watson: stated there had been a further accident at the Wynd, discussions were taking place at a LMAPs meeting regarding a permanent speed camera. Cllr Bilboe proposed the Town Council write a letter supporting the placement of a permanent speed camera at the bottom of the Wynd, this was seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed on a vote of 5 for, 3 against with 1 abstention,
Cllr Watson informed that the Rotary Club plan to enhance floral displays on Rotary Way and have requested the fence which mainly belongs to Northumberland Estates be repaired. There are also plans for a further lectern in the layby nearest Amble showing details of the estuary. They hope to work with the Town Council on this.
11. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES & REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS:
Cllr Weir had attended a meeting of Amble Business Club; the Town Council were agreeable to being an associate member (a membership fee would not be required). An invoice would be raised in the near future for £5.00 for the inclusion of the Town Council details on the recently published Town Guide- proposal by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
12. AGENDA ITEMS:
12.1: News page for Ambler – was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed. A photo of new member Ms Dargue would be included.
12.2: Consideration of Review of Council Services – deferred from December meeting. The Clerk would circulate Town Council Aims and staff contracts/ job descriptions which would be discussed at a Town Council meeting to be held on the rising of the Finance Committee on the evening of 26th January on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed. Cllr Mrs Lewis stressed to Members that staff contracts were private and confidential.
12.3: Concern of Homes for Northumberland sign at entrance to Glendale – Cllr Weir- withdrawn
12.4: Concern of consultation of Border Lairds Factory – Cllr Weir- withdrawn
13. REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
13.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 15th December 2011 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
14. REPORT FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
14.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 15th December 2011 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed.
15. REPORT FROM THE ALLOTMENT AND PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE:
The meeting had taken place on Saturday 7th January 2012 at 10.00am. Minutes would be available for approval at the next Town meeting.
16. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
16.1: The planning report for the month on December 2011 – No correspondence received.
16.2: Planning Training Events March 2012 – The Clerk informed of training dates and recommended all Members attend. Details would be circulated for application.
17. COMMUNICATIONS:
17.1: Consideration of response to NCC Local Development Framework Core Strategy Sustainability Appeal Scoping Report – Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed that the Chair of the Planning Committee be delegated with the Clerk to submit a reply, this was seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
17.2: Consideration of Response to NCC Public Transport Strategy 2011-16; Cllr Mrs Lewis informed of her comments on this consultation which were adopted by the Council on the proposal of Cllr Weir, seconded by Cllr Bilboe. (Attached)
17.3: Consultation to improve Equality in Northumberland: Working with you to set our Equality Objectives for 2012-16 (online questionnaire closes 10th February) – the link was available for Members to respond individually.
17.4: Joint NCC/Parish meetings March 2012 – the Clerk would circulate the dates of meetings.
17.5: NALC – Pension and Gratuities – For information
17.6: Rio Tinto Alcan Response Group Elected Members Briefing – For information
17.7: NCC – Dog bin at Links Farm End damaged by firework and one damaged at Welfare; Chairman agreed to requesting repair. – For information
17.8: Housing Needs Assessment Postal Survey- for information. Individuals were urged to respond.
18. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION:
18.1: Northumbria Police Authority Stakeholder Briefing Issue 1 – Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
18.2: NCC North Area Committee
18.3: NCC Regeneration Funding Bulletin 47,48, 49 and 50
18.4: CAN Winter News 2011
18.5: Clerks and Councils Direct January 2012
18.6: NCC Bus News
18.7: NCC – Composite Traffic Regulation Orders – Amendments 2012
18.8: NCC – North Area Briefing December/January
(All items will be placed on information table for interested Members)
Information items are not to be taken away from the Meeting but photocopies can be made, if required.
19. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
19:1 The date & time of the next Meeting will be on Thursday 9th February 2012 at 6.30pm. in the Town Council Meeting Room, The Quayside, Amble
Under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public will be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items on the Agenda due to sensitive nature.
This was proposed by Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
PUBLIC/PRIVATE
P01. Report from Town Council
Minutes of Town Council Meeting held Thursday 8th December 2011 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
P02. Report from Cemeteries Management Committee
Minutes of the meeting held Thursday 15th December 2011 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed.
P03. Land Adjacent to 62 High Street
A plan showing the measurements, and materials intended for the wall were provided as per request. Cllr Mrs Lewis requested the Clerk clarify that the height of the wall nearest the road would not exceed 900mm, sending a copy of the plan highlighting this area. Overall the Council were happy with the design and materials but the Clerk would agree upon clarification of the above and subject to any required planning permissions for a conservation area. This was proposed by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed.
The meeting closed at 8.07pm