MenuMinutes of a meeting of Amble Town Council held on Thursday 13th December 2012 at 6.30pm in the Council Office, The Quayside, Harbour Road, Amble.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Hinson (Chairman), Arckless, Bilboe, Palin, Miss Morrison, Mrs Dargue, Rev’d Nicholson and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
James Willoughby and Michael Pearson from the Gazette were also in attendance.
PC Mick O’Keefe and PC Andy Welsh
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Weir- Holiday. The apologies were accepted.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: (maximum 15 minutes)
PC O’Keefe informed that there had been reports of speeding through Radcliffe, however the traffic signs were advisory only. A complaint of speeding on Leslie Drive had also been received.
Cllr Palin informed of the parking problems on Acklington Road, vehicles obstructing wheelchair users/push chairs. The resident concerned should be advised to contact the police in the future and they could deal with the issue on the spot but if the Clerk supplied resident details they would follow up the complaint.
5. MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL
5.1: It was resolved that the Minutes of the meeting of Amble Town Council held Thursday 8th November 2012 be accepted with the agreed amendments.
6. CLERK’S REPORT:
6.1: Email to employment law advisor re: possible meeting
Meeting held 22nd November. Notes of meeting circulated as Private & Confidential.
6.2: Email to NCC requesting meeting re: planters and Paddling Pools. Meeting arrange to take place on Tuesday 11th December at 16:00.
6.3: Letter to HMP Northumberland accepting donation of 1 x bench and 1 x seat, return of signed Memorandum of Understand for the ‘construction/refurbishment of seats and litter bins’ and requesting a quote for the construction of 2 seats in basic hardwood incorporating the existing cast iron seat ends.
6.4: Broken dog bin removed from rear of 5 Percy Street, (pole broken, bin in good order – stored at compound). Replacement pole quotation requested.
6.5: Meeting arranged to discuss future road markings/restrictions on Queen Street and immediate surrounding area – meeting held Tuesday 4th December at 15.00.
6.6: Quote accepted to clean and repair guttering on Links Avenue and Church Street bus shelters. Request to owners of ‘old vicarage’ to cut back Ivy growing from their property. Cllr Rev’d Nicholson painted bus shelter
6.7: Double litter bin moved from storage at NCC Amble Depot to West Cemetery Compound
6.8: Clerk met with Highways Officer to discuss location of planter on Rotary Way; planter must be within 30mph signage and have a place name plate.
6.9: ‘Welcome to Amble’ signage stored at Cemetery is not suitable for road signage as per Traffic Regulations
It was resolved that the Clerks Report be accepted.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FROM CLERK’S REPORT:
7.1: Notes of meeting with Residents of North St/North View/Tesco held 7th November 2012 – it was resolved these be accepted.
7.2: Notes of Traffic meeting held 4th December 2012 – It was resolved that these be accepted.
7.3: Consideration of name plate for planter on Rotary Way – The Clerk updated on the status of the planter which, following Highways’ officer’s advice, would be located on a grass verge in front of Rivergreen. The Clerk would pursue appropriate road signage for the planter with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Council.
7.4: Consideration of future of existing ‘Welcome to Amble’ sign currently in storage at Cemetery – The Clerk suggested using the sign which was not appropriate for road usage for the aquatic entrance to Amble. It was resolved that the Clerk would liaise with Warkworth Harbour Commissioners over the use of this sign.
8. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS and REPORT:
8.1: The Chairman commented that he was impressed by the presentation and response by residents at the North Street/ North View meeting.
9. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLORS:
9.1 County Councillor Arckless circulated his report; a copy is available on request.
Cllr Mrs Dargue queried the bedroom tax. Cllr Arckless stated there was a lack of alternative accommodation in Northumberland. It was resolved that the Clerk make representations to Homes for Northumberland raising the Council’s concerns of the impact and how they plan to deal with it.
9.2 County Councillor Watson requested the Town Council send a letter to NCC supporting Warkworth Parish Council in requesting NCC either add any Parish claim for damage to their claim or pass on insurance details following an accident that caused damage on Rotary Way.
He informed that the Youth Project are hoping to ‘give back to the community’ by taking part in a possible bulb planting scheme and litter pick. He announced that 4 social housing were proposed to be built in Acklington and 27 at Warkworth.
10. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES & REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS:
Cllr Mrs Dargue attended a LMAPS meeting, where road gritting, bin fires and North View were discussed.
11. AGENDA ITEMS:
11.1: Report of Footpaths and public rights of way – It was RESOLVED that the working party report be accepted and sent to the Northumberland County Council Rights of Way Officer urging the actions outlined be undertaken as soon as possible.
It was RESOLVED that the adjacent Parish Councils whose footpaths/bridleways intersect be contacted informing them that the Town Council had carried out this review and respectfully suggesting in view of the problems uncovered, they might like to conduct their own review in the future.
11.2: Approval of Cllr Morrison attending Coal & Coast meeting in place of Cllr Nicholson – It was RESOLVED that Cllr Mrs Morrison would attend the meeting.
11.3: Consideration of draft cemeteries budget – It was RESOLVED that the Cemeteries budget be accepted
11.4: Consideration of draft Town budget – The Clerk suggested that as members had not had sufficient time to consider this draft budget, that this be deferred for discussion to the December Finance Committee and revised details forwarded to Members then return to the January Town Council meeting for approval.
11.5: Consideration of Office/Cemetery operational hours 21st December – 2nd January 2013 – The Clerk requested confirmation of the working hours over the festive period. This was agreed.
12. REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
12.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 15th November 2012 It was RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted.
13. REPORT FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
13.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 22nd November 2012 had been circulated and will be considered for accuracy and subsequent adoption. It was RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted.
13.2: Consideration of donation to St. Cuthbert’s PCC in lieu of badge making – It was RESOLVED that a donation of £25 be made.
Cllr Arckless declared an interest under the Code of Conduct Appendix B (ii) for this item.
14. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
14.1: Planning report in the month of November. It was RESOLVED that the report be accepted.
15. COMMUNICATIONS:
15.1: Warkworth Harbour Commissioners – Commencement of repair work to Broomhill Quay (info) – Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested that due to the works being in the immediate vicinity, the Clerk monitor noise and vibration for the purposes of the Office staff. It was agreed that if the noise and/or vibration became unacceptable that the Clerk could use the laptop and work from home for periods.
15.2: Grace Northumberland Sexual Violence Project Press release. This was received for information.
15.3: Grace House North East – This was received for information.
15.4: NCC Winter Services Policy Information – The Clerk would ask NCC if they had a list of requests for grit bins in the Amble Parish and confirm the sequence of priorities as 1. Main area, 2. Bus shelters, schools and health centre, 3. Sheltered and elderly residential areas.
15.5: NCC Local Government Finance Act 1992: Parish Precept and Council Tax 2013/14 – This was noted and deferred to the January meeting of the Town Council.
15.6: St. Mark’s United Reformed Church – Tree fest – It was RESOLVED that the Council would participate in Tree fest with the theme ‘the friendliest port’.
15.7: Remembrance Service 2012 feedback correspondence from:
- Amble Army Cadet Force –
- S Swanston
- Comments on community website
It was felt that overall the event had been very well attended and organised but it was accepted there had been some problems. It was RESOLVED that a meeting would be held with all involved organisations prior to the service in 2013 to work together on establishing improvements and the Clerk would investigate the costs of purchasing/ hiring a PA/loudspeaker.
15.8: NCC – Would-be Councillor Workshops – It was noted that the Council would look favourably on reimbursing travel expenses for attendance at these workshops as it was important to encourage interest in the role of the Council and its Members.
15.9: Mrs Watson – request for graffiti to be removed from bus shelter on Acklington Road, report of damage to rear of bus shelter. It was RESOLVED that if possible an Operative would be asked to remove the graffiti and a quote for the repair would be sought.
15.10: Via website – Complaint about the state of the stone structure at Melrose gardens (erected 1986) – It was noted that NCC Officer Terry Garnick would investigate this and raise the issue with Homes for Northumberland
16. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION:
16.1: Local Councils Update December 2012
(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.
17. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
17:1 The date & time of the next Meeting will be on Thursday 10th January 2013 at approx. 6.30pm. in the Town Council Meeting Room, The Quayside, Amble
It was RESOLVED that 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
Private/Public
P01 –Notes of informal meeting held between 2 Amble businesses on 19th September 2012 – It was RESOLVED that the notes be accepted.
P02 – Notes of meeting with ACAS Officer held 26th October 2012 – It was RESOLVED that these notes be accepted.
P03 – Notes of a meeting with Associate Solicitor held 22nd November 2012 – The notes were accepted for discussion at the next Review meeting.
P04: – Consideration of date for next Review meeting – The next meeting would take place at 1pm on Monday 14th January in the Council Office.
P05: – Employee Appraisal – The Clerk informed that her appraisal was not complete and because of this, she felt undervalued by the Council at times. It was RESOLVED that a further appraisal for the Clerk be carried out with Cllr Miss Morrison as the Appraiser at a mutually agreeable time.
The meeting closed at 20.45.