MenuMinutes of a meeting of Amble Town Council held on Thursday 11th October 2012 at 6.30pm in the Council Office, The Quayside, Harbour Road, Amble.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Hinson (Chairman), Arckless, Bilboe, Palin, Weir, Miss Morrison, Mrs Dargue and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
Christine Harle from the Gazette was also in attendance.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cllr Rev’d Nicholson and County Councillor Watson. The apologies were accepted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllrs Mrs Lewis, Miss Morrison and Weir declared an interest in accordance with appendix B (iia) of the Code of Conduct in relation to agenda item 16.2.
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: (maximum 15 minutes)
No members of the public were in attendance.
5. MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL
5.1: The Minutes of the meeting of Amble Town Council held Thursday 2nd August 2012 were adopted with amendments on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
5.2: The minutes of the meeting of Amble Town Council held Thursday 13th September 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
Cllr Mrs Lewis queried the meeting that took place with the Business Club and Development Trust regarding the Local Development Framework as the minutes had not been presented. The Clerk would circulate.
6. CLERK’S REPORT:
6.1: Letter sent to solicitor re: agreement over land at High Street
6.2: Email to NCC Officer Terry Garnick requesting info on Paddling pools for 11th October
6.3: Meeting arranged to facilitate discussions between 2 Amble businesses
6.4: Email to Social History group re: removing of stone kerbs at the rear of the Radcliffe Memorial
6.5: Operatives cut grass on football pitch at Welfare
6.6: Meeting with residents of North Street and North View cancelled. To be rearranged.
A meeting was rearranged to take place on 7th November at 4pm in Fourways 2. All members should try to attend if they could.
6.7: Local Transport Plan 2013-14 Programme priorities reported to NCC.
6.8: Local Democracy Week Meeting held.
6.9: Core Strategy Feedback workshops cancelled. Re-scheduled for 30th October.
6.10: Clerk attended SLCC branch training day.
6.11: Insurance claim still being resolved re: accident at the Wynd in September 2011
6.12: Standing Orders Part 2 as adopted circulated.
6.13: Code of Conduct for Local Councils as adopted circulated. The Clerk circulated Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests forms to all members which should be returned as soon as possible to the Clerk.
6.14: Town Council address registered with Royal Mail.
7. AGENDA ITEMS FROM CLERK’S REPORT:
7.1: Local Democracy Week – Cllr Arckless requested another meeting to take place on Tuesday 16th October at 6pm in the Town Council Office to firm up the plans for the visit to Amble Links First School which would take place on Thursday 18th October.
8. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS and REPORT:
The Chairman had attended the Battle of Britain service in Alnwick which was well represented.
He also attended a Joint NCC/Parish Council meeting with Cllr Weir and Mrs Lewis where discussions took place on elections, Neighbourhood Services reductions, asset transfers, and various other issues. The briefing papers were given to the Clerk to retain for information.
9. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLORS:
9.1 County Councillor Arckless had met with Mrs Grieves from James Calvert Spence College regarding the paddling pools mural project. Mrs Grieves and one of her colleague would view the site and discuss ideas in a future meeting with the Town Council. Terry Garnick was still to confirm that NCC would undertake a base coat. Cllr Arckless was looking into possible funding through Members Small Schemes.
9.2 County Councillor Watson was not in attendance.
10. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES & REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS:
Cllr Weir attending a meeting with HMP Northumberland regarding refurbishment of seats. This would be discussed further at a meeting of the seats working party which would take place on Monday 15th October at 10am in the Council meeting room.
Cllr Weir also attended a meeting with the Design Council where the hopes of turning the former food factory into a food and drink hub were discussed.
Cllr Weir also attended meeting of Amble Business Club and Amble Action Group.
Cllr Bilboe attended a meeting of the Library Service; a report of the meeting was forwarded to the Clerk.
Cllr Mrs Lewis informed that the working party for Public Rights of way had met and would submit a report to a future Town Council meeting.
11. AGENDA ITEMS:
11.1: Consideration of future actions/creation of working group to move forward the Paddling Pool(s)/Play area – This was discussed at length during County Councillor Arckless’ report. The Clerk would pursue a response from Terry Garnick and would then arrange a Member’s meeting date with the Chairman.
11.2: Consideration of Finance Committee recommendations for Chairman’s Christmas Reception – This was agreed.
11.3: Consideration of location for commemorative Olympics/Jubilee Planter – Cllr Weir proposed locating the commemorative planter, which would be owned and maintained by the Town Cuncil, on the Amble end of Rotary Way, subject to agreement with Highways over the exact location. This was seconded by Cllr Mrs Dargue and agreed with 6 in favour, 2 against.
11.4: Radcliffe War Memorial Restoration Project Update – The Clerk would continue to pursue this.
11.5: Consideration of the future of ~Flow – The Clerk outlined the costing information as supplied. Cllr Arckless proposed taking no further action due to the exorbitant cost involved; this was seconded by Cllr Mrs Dargue and agreed with 7 in favour and one abstention.
11.6: Consideration of a survey that has been done of litter around Leazes St car park and Harbour entrance – As Cllr Rev’d Nicholson was absent Cllr Mrs Lewis spoke on her behalf requesting, that as the trial of no bins had resulted in considerable litter left lying, 2 of the original 4 bins be reinstated on the pavement. This was proposed by Cllr Arckless, seconded by Cllr Mrs Lewis and agreed with a majority of 7 in favour.
11.7: Working Party meeting for Services Review & Request for visit of Personnel and Pensions advisor – Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed the next meeting for the review of services take place on Monday 22nd October at 4pm. This was seconded by Cllr Hinson and agreed. The Clerk would arrange a meeting with an advisor and inform Members.
11.8: Discussion about remaining priority planters identified in Feb 2012 – The Clerk having already enquired with NCC would await a reply and bring back for discussions at the next meeting of the Council. It was noted that in a recent meeting with the Leader and Deputy Leader that Amble was said to have the highest uptake of sustainable planting.
11.9: Consideration of subsidising transport for 2 of the 4 elections workshops – The Clerk suggested that to encourage potential candidates and promote awareness of the role of Councillor, the Town Council subsidise transport to the Alnwick and Morpeth workshops. Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed that it be accepted in principle that the Town Council fund transport costs to the two training events subject to a satisfactory response from other local councils who may also wish to be involved in this. This was seconded by Cllr Palin and agreed with one abstention. The Clerk would investigate further.
12. REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
12.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 20th September 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Weir, seconded by Cllr Mrs Dargue and agreed.
13. REPORT FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
13.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 27th September 2012 were adopted with amendments on the proposal of Cllr Hinson, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
14. REPORT FROM THE ALLOTMENT AND PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE:
14.1: The Minutes of the Allotments and Playground meeting held on Saturday 7th July 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
15. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
15.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Tuesday 11th September 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Hinson, seconded by Cllr Bilboe and agreed.
15.3. There was no Planning report in the month of September.
16. COMMUNICATIONS:
16.1: NCC – Highways & Neighbourhood Services update for Northern area 14/09/12(e) The Clerk had circulated this among members prior to the meeting and requested any issues members wished to raise be returned to her by Friday 19th October.
16.2: Amble Action Group – request for permission to erect Christmas tree on land at High Street was granted on the proposal of Cllr Bilboe, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
16.3: Parish Council Briefing Local Elections 2013 – The Clerk was requested to work out the cost if each ward was contested, whether with NCC or alone, this was proposed for acceptance by Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed as the figures would need to be considered in next year’s budget discussions.
16.4: NCC Street trading licence application – comments requested before 21st October Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed no objections to this application; this was seconded by Cllr Palin and agreed.
16.5: NCC request for emergency contact details, the home and mobile contact details of both the Clerk and Chairman would be provided to NCC; these would be held in confidence. This was agreed on the proposal of Cllr Hinson, seconded by Cllr Bilboe.
16.6: Amble Development Trust – Invitation to Amble 2020. The launch would take place on 24th October 2012, Cllrs Lewis was only available to attend in the morning, however Cllrs Hinson, Mrs Dargue, Weir and Arckless would attend the along with the Clerk.
17. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION:
17.1: Local Councils Update
17.2: Coastal Views September 2012
17.3: NCC Regeneration Funding Bulletins – 24-28
17.4: Road Closure expected on 22nd October – resurfacing of Queen Street for approx. 80m from Bridge Street junction in an easterly direction.
(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.
18. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
18:1 The date & time of the next Meeting will be on Thursday 8th November 2012 at approx. 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
Public/Private
P01. The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 13th September 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Weir and agreed.
P02: Allotments – boundary with landowner – Cllr Mrs Lewis proposed the Clerk write to the landowner informing that the Town Council were now responsible for the boundary of the Allotment site but would like clarification that as he has built a breeze block wall he will maintain in the future and be responsible for any repairs and future replacement. This was seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
P03: Correspondence with Solicitor re: land at 62 High Street. Cllr Bilboe proposed the objections to the adverse possession claim be removed. This was seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
P04: For info – Coquet Street Car Park – The Clerk informed that information had been received via the Development Trust that the Coquet Street car park would be closed for a period of 2 weeks within the next month for resurfacing work. The Clerk was requested to write to the owners welcoming the resurfacing but urging the work be carried out as speedily as possible due to the important need for the car parking spaces.
The meeting closed at 9.00pm