Seaton Valley Community Council s1

APPENDIX 2

Seaton Valley Council A Community Council

Minutes of a Meeting held on Wednesday 24 September 2014 at 7pm at Seaton Valley Council offices in Seaton Delaval. The meeting started at 7pm. PRESENT: Councillors: L Bowman K Collier S Dungworth (Chair) B Nixon M Richards A Stanners B Swinhoe

IN ATTENDANCE: C Hodgson – Clerk of the Council 7 Members of the public

CO596/14 1. Apologies for absence Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. David Swinhoe and Darren Mullen who both had work commitments.

CO597/14 2. Disclosure of interests There were no declarations of interest.

CO598/14 3. Chair’s welcome and civic announcements The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. She welcomed back the Clerk from her period of sickness. She welcomed and introduced Graham Bone who is the new Engagement & Development Officer and also Lorraine Fox who now is permanently employed as the Services Officer. With the recent change in personnel for the NCC Neighbourhood Services Team, the Chair and Councillors wanted to formally thank Steve Bucknall, David Bamford & Paul Long for all their hard work in Seaton Valley over the last few years but especially since the Partnership began and wished them well for the future. She also passed on thanks and best wishes from Lorraine Fox & Dorothy Launchbury who have worked closely with the team over the last few months.

CO599/14 4. Northumbria Police There was no report.

CO600/14 5. Public question time The Chair explained that the public are welcome to ask questions and make comments during the open public session of the meeting but are not allowed to speak during the rest of the meeting. Standing orders were suspended to allow members of the public to ask questions. NH asked whether SVC look after Astley Park including its play area as there had been a number of disorder issues recently. The Chair replied that it was the County Council’s responsibility.

LA asked about the equestrian business in Seghill and Cllr. Richards said that she would contact her directly about this matter.

Standing orders were reinstated.

CO601/14 6. County Councillor Update In the absence of County Cllr. Pidcock, the Chair reported:-  The County Council are starting to think about the budgets for 2015/2016  Local services restructuring - highways and neighbourhood services are now separate

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 The education results have improved over the last year but not enough improvement in Seaton Valley  Seaton Delaval First School has two new classrooms  There was a public meeting in New Hartley about the proposed housing development which was very well attended and the developers recognised that there were relevant, well-thought through questions asked by the public  Dropped kerbs in New Hartley along Double Row will be going in shortly along both sides  Consultation about 20mph speed limit on the Lysdon estate in New Hartley  Low levels of anti-social behaviour reported in New Hartley  Continuing to try and resolve the parking issues around the convenience store in Seaton Sluice and the road in front of the new Co-op  New street lighting installations starting in the next 12 months across Seaton Valley

Cllr. Richards reported:-  The third consultation is now underway at Manners Gardens re: parking  There have been parking problems in Elsdon Avenue outside the high school  Some anti-social behaviour on the Blyth Street estate  Hallington Drive play area refurbishment should be starting shortly and has been paid for jointly by s106 monies and County Cllr. Peacocks small grants scheme  The new playground in Wheatfield has been funded by s106 monies  There shortly will be a further consultation on the core strategy and this will be the chance to push for keeping the green belt between settlements  Cllr. Richards using her small grants scheme monies has paid for a war memorial in Seghill and the dedication ceremony will take place on 11 October 2014  Parking Control officers have been out & about in Seaton Delaval and it was suggested that they should also be enforcing in all five villages across Seaton Valley

Cllr. Richards left the meeting at 7.20pm.

CO602/14 7. Minutes of the last meetings The minutes of the Seaton Valley Council meeting held on 30 July 2014 were agreed as being a correct record and were duly signed and dated by the Chair.

CO603/14 8. Minutes of Committee Meetings The minutes of the Finance & General Purposes meeting held on 11 September 2014 were presented for information by the Chair, Cllr. S Dungworth. The minutes of the Planning meetings held on 18 June, 23 July and 20 August 2014 were presented for information by the Vice Chair, Cllr. B Swinhoe.

CO604/14 9. Correspondence received since the meeting on 30 July 2014 The correspondence since the last Council meeting was received and accepted. 24.07.14 NCC – Joint NCC and Town & Parish Council Meeting – 16th October 2014 28.07.14 NCC – SE Area Planning Committee notice of Public Meeting – 8/9/2014 30.07.14 NEREO – Time Management event 30.07.14 Co-operative Bank – Changes to Business Charge Card 30.07.14 NCC – External Funding Bulletin 01.08.14 NEREO – Local Government Pay Negotiations – National Minimum Wage 01.08.14 NEREO – Advisory Bulletin – Workforce: Employment Relations 05.08.14 NEREO – Advisory Service Network launch (subsequently cancelled) 05.08.14 NEREO – Commercial Awareness Programme - Making It Our Business 05.08.14 SLCC – NEC Elections 08.08.14 NCC – Local Flood Risk Strategy 08.08.14 NALC – e-News 11.08.14 NEREO – Training Course – Catching Conflict Upstream 11.08.14 NCC – Cycle & Pedestrian improvements at Shankhouse Roundabout 15.08.14 NCC – Temporary Road Closure – Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval Seaton Valley Council Minutes 24 September 2014 Page 2 APPENDIX 2

19.08.14 NCC – Northumberland Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 20.08.14 NEREO – Workshop – How to Write a Business Case 20.08.14 NEREO – Equality & Human Rights Commission – Religion & Beliefs 21.08.14 NCC – Events & Opportunities 26.08.14 Local Govt Association – Employer Briefing Note – How Are You Getting On? 27.08.14 NCC – Parish Liaison Working Group Meeting – 4th September 2014 27.08.14 NEREO – Workshop – Project Management for Members and Officers 27.08.14 NEREO – Training – Leadership and Change 27.08.14 NEREO – Annual Report 2013/14 27.08.14 NCC – Consultation on creating Bridleway on land between Seghill & Cramlington 28.08.14 NCC – Pensions – Employer Discretions 29.08.14 Seaton Sluice Community Association – “Three Wishes” for improvements 29.08.14 NCC – Public Transport Newsletter 03.09.14 Adapt (NE) – Newsletter and Engagement Survey 03.09.14 NCC – SE Youth Service – June Newsletter 09.09.14 NCC – National Fraud Initiative 2014/15 10.09.14 Andrew J Fenny & Co – Seghill Road Allotments Lease 12.09.14 NCC – Temporary Road Closure - Bristol Walk/Hartley Court, New Hartley 15.09.14 NCC – Street Naming & Numbering Acceptance – Olive Grove, Seghill 15.09.14 Community Action Northumberland – News 16.09.14 Unity Trust Bank – In Unity brochure

CO605/14 10. Matters of Information a) Received an update on office usage. The Chair requested that in future the SVC figures are broken down into the following categories - External agencies surgeries, Services (ie: floral planting, grass cutting, allotments etc) and others b) New Hartley Memorial Garden – confirmation of transfer of legal ownership from Northumberland County Council to Seaton Valley Council. The Chair formally thanked Steve Bucknall of NCC for his assistance with this matter. CO606/14 11. Matters for decision a) Consultation on No Waiting at Any Time parking restrictions, Tesco’s, A192 Seaton Terrace, Seaton Delaval – Councillors will provide their comments to the next planning meeting. b) RESOLVED that Cllrs. Dungworth & Stanners and the Clerk be authorised to sign the lease for Seghill Road allotments. c) RESOLVED that the model Contract of Employment for SVC staff be authorised. d) Local Transport Plan Programme 2015/16 – The top priorities that SVC have identified are that a plan for all relevant transport issues relating to the two schools in SD (First & Whytrig) is put together urgently inc. school crossing personnel, speed & parking restrictions etc; new crossing at Old Hartley (near Delaval Arms); reduce speed limit on the Avenue (especially near the Hartley turnoff) and 05503 Request for controlled crossing at A190 Fountain Head Bank, SS e) Go Smarter Northumberland – Proposed amendments to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities, junction A1601 with A192 and A1601 with B1505 at Shankhouse. Councillors were agreeed with the proposals. f) Consultation on street naming/numbering at Former Council offices, Seaton Delaval – Councillors had no comments to make about the proposals.

CO607/14 12. Financial matters a) RESOLVED that the list of payments to 16 September 2014 totalling £182,159.86 be accepted and approved. The Chair requested that in future expenditure and income be broken down monthly. b) RESOLVED that the bank reconciliation to 16th September 2014 be accepted and approved. c) RESOLVED that the Final Accounts & Reserves for year to 31st March 2014 be accepted and approved. d) RESOLVED that the allocation of reserves brought forward from 1April 2014, including repair costs for playgrounds be accepted and approved. Seaton Valley Council Minutes 24 September 2014 Page 3 APPENDIX 2

CO608/14 13. SVC/NCC Partnership update Louise Hayward, Northumberland County Council reported that going forward she would be responsible for Neighbourhood Services across the County. Terry Garnick and Willie Hartill will be the team working in Seaton Valley. She is keen to ensure that Seaton Valley gets the right resources (staffing and machinery) and that the various teams work together with a joined up focus. She is keen to take a proactive approach towards street cleaning, litter picking and enforcement by targeting places differently rather than a uniform approach. She encouraged residents to develop a pride in their local area and work with the partnership to identify any issues and/or hotspots that need to be addressed. The new team would start on 29/9/2014.

CO609/14 14. Dates of future meetings 15 October 2014, 6pm – SVC Offices – Planning Sub-Committee Meeting 22 October 2014 7pm – Holywell First School – Full Council Meeting 19 November 2014, 6pm – SVC Offices – Planning Sub-Committee Meeting

The meeting closed at 8.25pm.

Signed by the Chair: ………………………………………………..

Dated: ………………………………………………..

Seaton Valley Council Minutes 24 September 2014 Page 4