MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL HELD IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PONTELAND ON 13 APRIL 2011 

Present: Councillor R G Ramsay (in the Chair) 
Councillors Mrs E Armstrong, D Butler, Mrs J Butcher, A S Cave, Mrs C Caisley, T A Chilton, P Cowey, A Mee, C Rawlings and Mrs E Thompson. 

231. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R Hutchinson. 

232. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 

There were no declarations of interest 

233. MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 9 MARCH 2011 

The Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 9 March 2011 were confirmed and signed by the Mayor. 

234. MATTERS ARISING 
(i) Boundary Committee 
This item was still outstanding.

(ii) Ponteland Memorial Hall 
A meeting had been held with representatives of the Memorial Hall and their 
solicitor, Andrew Morgan on 18 March. Their solicitor was preparing a draft 
agreement which would then be considered by the Council’s solicitors and 
HMRC in respect of the VAT implications. 

(iii) Grant applications 
Letters of thanks had been received from the Ponteland Scouts, 
Ponteland United Football Club and Darras Hall First School. 

235. PLANNING 
(i) Planning Committee 

Minutes of meetings held on 8 and 15 March 2011 were circulated for information. 

(ii) Report on recent planning decisions 
It was reported that the Licensing meeting to consider the application in relation to 9 Bell Villas had been scheduled to take place on 5 April however, this had been changed to 19 April as there was a need to alter the membership of the Committee. 


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CHAIRMAN DATE 
236. GRANT APPLICATIONS 

(i) Darras Hall Estate Committee 
A letter had been received from the above Committee asking for assistance towards the upkeep of the bridle path, litter picks, litter bins and planting of new species. 

RESOLVED – A grant of £600 be approved. 

(ii) Great North Air Ambulance 
A grant application had been received from the above organisation together with details of their accounts. The Council had approved a grant of £100 in 2009/10 and 2010/11. 

RESOLVED – A grant of £100 be approved. 

(iii) Ponteland Community High School – Youth Services 
The Council had received additional written information from the Deputy Youth Services Manager at NCC in relation to the proposed costs of providing two different options of youth work involving a combination of outreach youth work in Ponteland together with centre based sessions. Details of funds available from the grant awarded last year were reported and these funds could be used towards the provision of services in this financial year. The Council agreed to option 2 within the report. 


RESOLVED – A grant of £6000 be approved with £500 being transferred from contingencies and a progress report be submitted at the end of the year. 

(iv) Community Action Northumberland 
A letter had been received from the above organisation requesting donations towards their work. The Council had approved a donation of £75 in 2010/11. 

RESOLVED – A donation of £75.00 be approved 

237. PROGRAMME OF WORKS REPORT 

A report was submitted in relation to progress of current projects: 
(i) Skate Park 
No further information regarding this project at this time. 

(ii) Ponteland Park Tree Management Plan 
The contract had been awarded however, the works had still not been 
completed. The Clerk was asked to contact the contractor and query 
why this work had not been carried out and to reiterate he must check 
for nesting birds prior to any cutting. 

(iii) Slope Protection works 
The replacement trees were planted on 25 February. 


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CHAIRMAN DATE 

237. PROGRAMME OF WORKS REPORT (contd) 
(iv) CCTV 
Work is nearing completion. 

(v) Timber footbridge refurbishment/steps into park from Memorial Hall 
The structural survey of the Millennium Bridge had been received. 

(vi) Fencing at Twizell Place Play area 
The work is nearing completion 

(vii) Hedge cutting – Park 
This project had been completed. 

(viii) Park footpaths 
This project had been completed. 

238. COMMUNITY FORUM 
It was reported that the County Council had confirmed that they had withdrawn funding for Community Forums as part of the budget reductions. 
The Town Council would be holding discussions with the Ponteland Community Partnership as to how to proceed in the future. There were still some monies available from the grant given to parish and town councils to run the Forums. 

239. REGENERATION UPDATE 

It was hoped that the County Council would be appointing the preferred developer within the next couple of months. Further public consultation on this would be carried out after this appointment. 

240. NALC E-NEWS UPDATE 

A copy of the above document received from the Northumberland Association of Local Councils had been circulated for information. 

241. TRAINING POLICY 

The Council had approved a Training Policy last year. A report was submitted for consideration that set out the training which had been undertaken during the last year. The Council approved the Policy subject to the deletion of the word ‘new’ in paragraph 2.1 of the document. 

RESOLVED – Approve the policy subject to the deletion as set out above. 

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242. RENEWAL OF SUBSCRIPTIONS 

A report was submitted which set out details of the subscriptions renewed during the course of each year. It was suggested that the Council may wish to delegate payment of the smaller subscriptions to the Clerk rather than reporting them to Council. 

The Council requested that details of the subscriptions be reported to Council in April of each year. The smaller subscriptions set out in items 2, 3 and 6 be approved for 2011/12 

RESOLVED – That the proposal set out above be approved. 

243. PONT NEWS & VIEWS – VARIATION TO CONTRACT 

A report was submitted which detailed a variation to the contract for Pont News and Views. This related to an increase in distribution costs due to increased fuel prices. This would take effect from the May 2011 issue and would increase from £275 to £300. 

RESOLVED – The variation be approved. 

244. HIGHWAYS WORKING PARTY 

Minutes of a meeting of the above Working Party held on 16 March 2011 had been circulated for information. 

RESOLVED – The minutes be approved. 

245. ENVIRONMENT WORKING PARTY 

Minutes of a meeting held on 21 March 2011 had been circulated. 

RESOLVED – 

(i) Planters at Merton Way Shopping Area – approval be given to lay membrane and bark for the above, at a cost of approx £400. 

245. NORTHUMBRIA IN BLOOM WORKING PARTY 

Minutes of a meeting held on 21 March 2011 had been circulated. 

Concern was expressed in relation to item 5 which related to work on land at Barclays bank. There was some uncertainty regarding ownership and the Clerk was asked to resolve this by writing to the owner of the property. 

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CHAIRMAN DATE 


245. NORTHUMBRIA IN BLOOM WORKING PARTY(Continued) 

RESOLVED – 

(i) Hanging Baskets – Agree to order the hanging baskets from Plantscape this year. 
(ii) Delegated authority – Agree that the Working Party be given delegated authority to incur expenditure within their budget provision. 

246. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT 

(i) Dog Contol Orders 
Information relating to the implementation of the Dog Control Orders within Northumberland had been circulated. As a result of extensive consultation, four new orders were being proposed by the County Council. The orders related to dogs being kept on leads next to highways and in all play areas, the removal of dog faeces and two seasonal orders relating to beaches in Newbiggin and Blyth. 

The following issues were reported by the County Councillors present at the meeting. 
The textiles bank at the household waste recovery centre was to be removed. 
The fees and charges in respect of cemeteries were to be increased by 50% across all county operated facilities. 

The Dial a Ride scheme in Ponteland had secured funding for the remainder of this calendar year. 
Funding had been secured from the Members Small Scheme budget for the restoration of the pond next to Ponteland Fire Station. This would fund a barrier, new paths and fencing. 

247. MAYOR’S REPORT 
(i) Diamond Wedding – Archie & Margaret Cave 
The Mayor had been delighted to attend the Diamond wedding anniversary 
celebrations of Archie and Margaret Cave. 

(ii) Civic Service 22/5/11 
Councillors were reminded that the Civic Service would take place on 22 May 
2011. 

(iii) Play at Ponteland High School 

The Mayor had attended a play at the High School entitled ‘Leave the Knife Alone’ which had been most informative. 


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248. REPORTS BY TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ON LOCAL ORGANISATIONS 

(i) Friends of Ponteland Park – AGM 

Councillor Butler submitted a report relating to his attendance at the above meeting held on 12 April 2011. 

(ii) Merton Hall Management Committee AGM 

Councillor Mrs E Thompson submitted a verbal report in relation to her attendance at the above meeting. 

249. ACCOUNTS/BANK RECONCILIATION/BUDGET REPORT 

The Accounts Committee approved payments totalling £28271.10 and the transfer of this sum from the Councils Deposit Account. The Bank reconciliation for March 2011 was also approved. A report relating to the Budget reconciliation at the end of the 2010/11 financial year was also submitted. This detailed the situation in relation to capital reserves and itemised items of unexpended amounts. 

A monthly expenditure review report showing amounts expended against each main budget heading showing expenditure and income was also submitted. 

RESOLVED – The reports be approved. 


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CHAIRMAN

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DATE

DATE OF NEXT MEETING – WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2011 AT 6.45 P.M. AT THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICES
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