MenuMinutes of a meeting of Amble Town Council held on Thursday 14th February 2013 at 6.30pm in the Council Office, The Quayside, Harbour Road, Amble.
PRESENT: Cllrs Hinson, Arckless, Bilboe, Palin, Weir, Mrs Dargue, Mrs Lewis and Miss Morrison together with the Clerk.
Cllr Rev’d Nicholson left the meeting prior to commencement.
County Councillor Watson and Journalist James Willoughby were also present.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
Cllrs Weir, Mrs Lewis and Miss Morrison declared an interest under appendix B of the Code of Conduct in agenda item being members of Amble Action Group, the administering body for Amble Puffin Festival.
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: (maximum 15 minutes)
5. MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL
5.1: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held Thursday 10th January2013 were an accurate record.
5.2: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Review meeting held Thursday 14th January 2013 were an accurate record.
5.3:It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held Thursday 24th January 2013 were an accurate record.
6. CLERK’S REPORT:
RECOMMENDATION – That the Council notes the contents of the report
6.1: Letter to NCC confirming precept request 11/01/13
6.2: Letter to Monitoring Officer 11/01/13
6.3: Email to Grainger Homes re: insurance of land at Turner Street 11/01/13
6.4: Cast iron seat ends delivered to HMP Northumberland 14/01/13
6.5: Email to NCC Officer regarding Service 20 and requesting meeting to be held 29/01/13
6.6: Confirmation that Special Expense will still apply regarding the Paddlers Playground
6.7: Planter nameplate with Town Crest as permitted variant being arranged via NCC Highways at no expense to Town Council.
6.8: Promenade at Paddlers deteriorating further due to high tides. Reported to NCC
6.9: Meeting held re: parking review
The Clerk would circulate the notes of this meeting as soon as possible. County Councillor Watson detailed the petition of 3000 names that was handed in to the North Area Committee, stating that he urged the removal of the loading bay markings on Queen Street ASAP.
6.10: Meeting held re: bus services
The Clerk would circulate the notes of this meeting as soon as possible. Councillor Arckless stated that Transport Services Manager, Ian Coe, acknowledged there was a problem, suggesting a solution may involve a subsidised service by the Town Council. Further details and figures were awaited. During this meeting Cllr Rev’d Nicholson volunteered to update timetables in Amble as and when required. This was agreed by the Council
6.11: Clerk attended SLCC Northumbria branch meeting.
The Clerk informed of a presentation regarding the upcoming elections and detailed that the Purdah period would run from 25th March to 3rd May and that Councillors should not give statements to the press during this time. The Council was requested to publish the notice of election and promote public interest. It was advised that in the April meeting of the Council that powers especially those in the relation to expenditure be devolved to the Clerk in the event that following the elections the Council were inquorate.
The Annual and Town meeting of the Council was also agreed to be moved to 16th May with Cemeteries and Finance Committee meetings the following Thursdays- so that agendas could be legally circulated to members following the elections.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FROM CLERK’S REPORT:
7.1: To consider report for meeting regarding bus services – this was deferred pending circulation of the report.
8. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS and REPORT:
None.
9. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLORS:
To receive a report from County Councillor Arckless reported of a meeting with LMAPS which was of a sensitive nature.
To receive a report from County Councillor Watson reported that no consultation had taken place regarding the placement of the bottle banks in the Bede Street Club car park.
A meeting would take place with the Rotary Club and Terry Garnick regarding planting of Rotary Way and the signage for the planter that the Town Council were constructing. The Clerk requested she attend if possible as she had previously been dealing with the planter which would now be located outside Rivergreen.
Councillor Watson informed that Warkworth Parish Council were to request the Braid road entrance dividing to the left be improved. Cllr Mrs Lewis suggested the Town Council send a letter of support. This was agreed.
10. REPORTS FROM COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES:
To receive the report of Councillors who represent ATC on outside bodies
10.1: Druridge Bay Coal and Coast – bid withdrawal – Cllr Miss Morrison circulated the report to all members. The funding did not affect the ‘Rescued from the Sea’ Archaeological project.
10.2: Cllr Mrs Dargue had attended an LMAPS meeting and circulated a report as confidential.
10.3: Cllr Weir had attended a meeting of Amble Development Trust, who were drawing up plans with a housing developer to turn Fourways 1 and the premises above the old Co-op buildings into affordable housing.
He reported problems with the skate park surfacing and drainage and plans for aquaponic lobster pots on the Quayside.
10.4: Cllr Weir also attended a meeting of the Youth Project who were doing well at maintaining their services despite financial restriction. They presently had a lot of work taking place regarding job searches, their IT equipment was in full operation. He reported that job search contact was required to be done online and detailed the lack of free facilities in the Town for internet access. Cllr Arckless suggested making representations to the local MP about this. This was deferred to the next meeting of the Town Council.
Cllr Ms Morrison reported Youth Project thanked the Town Council for the £500 donation that was provided for the October half term caged sports session in 2012.
11. AGENDA ITEMS:
11.1: To consider making representations to NCC regarding the removal of advertising on roundabouts in the Parish – In Cllr Rev’d Nicholson’s absence, following the recent refusal by County Councillors to allow signage on some roundabouts, Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed the Council write to Northumberland County Council urging they reconsider the request for the removal of the advertisement on the town’s south entrance roundabout.
11.2: Amble Puffin Festival – Cllrs Miss Morrison had circulated a letter to the Councillors.
It was RESOLVED that the electricity for the meeting room could be used on 1st June for the music event.
It was RESOLVED that the meeting room could be used as a venue for the period of the Puffin Festival subject to the room useage conditions agreement being signed.
It was RESOLVED in principle that the Church Street bus shelter could be used for advertising with the painting of a puffin mural which would be designed by the Youth Service. The design should first be approved by the Chairman with the Clerk.
It was RESOLVED that a contribution of up to £2000 be made to the Puffin Festival divided between the children’s workshops and the remainder toward publicity material. The Town Council crest should be included on all publicity material. Cllr Mrs Lewis stressed the importance of the event for the Town- promoting tourism, appreciation of the town and ultimately encouraging businesses to come here and thereby more employment.
11.3: To consider the notes of the Radcliffe War Memorial Restoration working party; these were accepted for information.
11.4: To consider the notes High Street Garden working party. It was RESOLVED to accept the proposals and implement when the weather allows.
11.5: Report from Seats, Litterbins, Bus Shelter Working Party- which was circulated prior to meeting was accepted for information.
11.6: Report from Garden Awards Working Party- which was circulated prior to the meeting was accepted. It was RESOLVED to accept the proposals.
12. REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
12.1: It was RESOLVED that the reports and recommendations of the meeting held Thursday 17th January 2013 by adopted.
13. REPORT FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
13.1: It was RESOLVED that the reports and recommendations of the Meeting held Thursday 24th January 2013 be adopted.
14. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
14.1: The report from the month of January was accepted.
15. REPORT FROM THE RECREATION COMMITTEE:
These were handed out to be considered at next month’s meeting. However decisions were made on 2 items which had been previously discussed at town council. It was RESOLVED that the Wynd entrance to the Allotments have a temporary repair carried out. It was resolved that an Operative carry out weed and moss killing in the Philip Drive Play area ASAP.
16. COMMUNICATIONS:
16.1: NCC – Dispensations – this was accepted for information.
16.2: Town Teams Initiative Workshops – Morpeth 26th February It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would attend on behalf of the Town Council.
16.3: NCC – Garden Waste Scheme – this was accepted for information.
16.4 – June Watson – Request for siting of litter bins – Cllr Mrs Dargue commented that she would support the siting of more litter bins on Acklington Road, and Gloster Park through to Robson’s Way. This would be deferred to the working party.
16.5: Letter to Tesco – Cllr Mrs Lewis circulated the letter she had sent to Tesco as a private individual. It would be filed for records. Cllr Mrs Dargue suggested it be used as a template for questions to ask Tesco at an upcoming meeting.
16.6: NCC – Petition of over 3000 names received for consideration by North Area Committee – Noted for information.
16.7: Northumberland Local Development Plan: Core Strategy: Preferred Options Consultation – It was RESOLVED that the consultation be looked at in a separate meeting. Cllr Mrs Lewis requested a copy of the notes of a meeting between the Business Club and Town Council from the original consultation be circulated amongst members.
16.8: Residents concern re: noise pollution – The Clerk detailed the complaint regarding bird scarers and the response from Northumberland County Council and the correspondence to the complainant from Warkworth Parish Council, who had also received a letter of complaint.
The Clerk would respond stating that Amble Town Council did not have the powers to deal with this and that the complaint had been forward to Northumberland County Council who would investigate further.
17. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION:
RECOMMENDATION – That the Council note the information items.
17.1: NALC E-news
17.2: NCC – External Funding Bulletin 34, 35
17.3: NCC – Public Transport Newsletter
17.4: Post Office – Modernisation of Queen Street Branch
The information items were noted.
18. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
18:1 The date & time of the next Meeting will be on Thursday 14th March 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 be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items on the Agenda due to the sensitive nature.
Public/Private
P01. TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Review meeting held Thursday 14th January 2013 were an accurate record.
It was RESOLVED that record the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held Thursday 24th January 2013 were an accurate record.
P02: REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Cemeteries Management Committee held Thursday 17th January 2013 were an accurate record.
P03: REPORT FROM THE RECREATION COMMITTEE
It was RESOLVED that the Play area multi frame and seats be painted as determined in that meeting.
P04: To consider the future of the old desktop PC – It was RESOLVED that the hard drive be removed and the PC be gifted to the Youth Project.
P05: To consider a date for the next Review meeting – It was RESOLVED that the next Review meeting be held on Thursday 21st February at 5.30pm in the Town Council Office.
The meeting closed at 8.15pm