Those Present:J Grey (Chairman), V Wilson-Morton, J Barton, M Bolton, P Stott

Minutes of meeting of Netherton and Biddlestone Parish Council held on Monday 8th August 2016commencing 7pm in Netherton Memorial Hall,

Apologies for Absence:G Graham

2016/27Declarations of Members Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest

2016/28Minutes of previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a true record.

2016/29Matters Arising from Previous Meeting

Peter Stott to become additional bank signatory.
Electricity had been interrupted two weeks ago, withV Wilson-Morton speaking to NEDL who had noted the situation and advised to re-contact them if it occurs again.
County Council had confirmed pothole near to Star Innhad been attended to 30/6/16.
County Council had issued an order to tenants of Sundial Cottage Netherton to trim back overgrown shrubbery.
Clerk to recontact County Council regarding shrubbery at Rose Cottage, Netherton.
Noticeboard improvements ongoing.

2016/30Declaration of Members Interests

Duplicate entry.

2016/31Vacancies

No applications received.

2016/32Finance

2016/32/01Current Balances:Current A/CPremium A/C

£1224.77£211.63

2016/32/02Invoices for Payment

Northumberland Association of Local Council’s – annual subscription - £74.45– it was agreed to leave in abeyance until next PC meeting, with J Grey to visit NALC in person and ask what exactly the benefits are from the subscription.
County Council – annual insurance premium had not been received – Clerk to chase up.

2016/32/03Request for Donation

Community Action Northumberland – to be deferred to next meeting.

2016/32/03Audit of Accounts 2016 - 2017

BDO external audit report not yet received.

2016/33Planning

2016/33/01Planning Applications received:

16/02182/LBC: Mrs C Leigh-Pemberton – Listed Building Consent, Robin Cottage, Trewhitt Hall

2016/33/02Notice of Approval of Planning Application:

16/01263/FUL: Mr & Mrs B Elliott, 4 the Steading – single storey rear extension

2016/34Correspondence

Northumberland County Council – Core Strategy, final consultation–nothing relevant to the parish.
Northumberland Association of Local Councils – future county council budgets – matter of issue for the parishbeing anticipated cuts to grasscutting.
Northumberland County Council – Local Transport Plan requests 2017-2018 – Current requests being Repairs/maintenance national cycleroute at Elilaw; School signage; and Request for safety fencing, C174 between bends north/west of Trewitt Hall, and it was agreed to retain these three suggestions.
Northumberland County Council – additional grasscutting service – 3 additional cuts available, at cost to the Parish Council, with quotation available on request – it was agreed to ask for quotation and enquire on how many cuts NCC are currently carrying out and their plans for 2017.
Centenary Fields Programme – protecting valuable green space across the Country–to secure recreational spaces in perpetuity, in honour of those who lost their lives – no green spaces available in the parish
Vera Ford – official notice of resignation.
Anne Marie Trevelyan – road between Whittingham and Glanton – requesting the Parish Council put pressure on Tarmac to hold regular meetings. The last meeting had been held 15/12/15, and meeting before this had been October 2014 – J Grey to visit site and discuss with Tarmac, Clerk to reply to Constituency Office.
Anne Marie Trevelyan – fund available for War Memorial upgrades and celebrations. J Grey had researched costs of printing documents relating to names on the War Memorial, however the lower limit of expenditure to access the fund had to be £3K, which was impractical for this parish, however Northumberland National Park Authority or Community Foundation may be able to assist in a lower amount of funding.

2016/35Northumberland National Park

Nothing to report.

2016/36World War I Commemoration

Ongoing, with event to be held end of 2018, with tea party, and a music band had been suggested, it is open to discussion, however razzmatazz not thought applicable. Service could be held at Biddlestone Chapel, but access difficult, and it should be mixed denomination.

2016/37Coquetdale Cluster

Next meeting to be held on Thursday 6th October 2016 at Jubilee Hall Rothbury, commencing 730pm, with Grant Davey, Northumberland County Council Leader to be guest speaker, to discuss rural broadband and business opportunities.

2016/38Any Other Business

Potholes of ongoing concern, clerk to circulate reply County Council had forwarded to MP’s office regarding road maintenance. Manhole cover outside of postbox near to Sundial Cottage had sunk, Clerk to re-contact County Council for an update as it had previously been reported
Trees on Trewhitt Hall Bank had resulted in wagons suffering scraping, which would be farmer’s responsibility, clerk to initially contact County Council.

The meeting closed at 825pm.

Claire Miller

Parish Clerk