Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Ancroft Parish Council Held on Wednesday 11th March 2020 at Scremerston First School Scremerston at 7.00p.m. Present: Chairman S Greenwood Vice- Chairman B Greenall Parish Councillors J Greenwood J Turner C Greenall D Belcher R Henriques, & K Henriques Clerk I Hunter Mrs S Smith Head Teacher Scremerston First School 1 member of the public Public Question Time: - The member of the public raised concerns about the state of Prince Charles Crescent, stating that when the road sweeper comes into the area it is too large therefore it is unable to sweep the bottom end of the Crescent. Parish Councillors agreed the Clerk report the concerns to Northumberland County Council. The member of the public stated he was pleased to see the Parish Council undertaking a cleaning up of some areas within Scremerston. Scremerston First School: - The Chairman welcomed Mrs Smith to the meeting. Mrs Smith thanked the Parish Council for allowing her to come along to the meeting and explained the play equipment and outside play are area within the school grounds are a resource for the village which is available for all to use outside school hours, the play equipment is insured, inspected and maintained by the school. Mrs Smith went on to say the school would like to develop the playground and utilise the outside environment both for the use of the school and the community outside school hours as the area is a safe area to play. She tabled costed pictures of a piece of equipment the school would like to purchase, the preferred item of equipment would cost £7K, she stated that the PTA had raised £500 so far and she asked the Parish Council for their support. Mrs Smith stated the school also have plans to develop raised flowerbeds, a covered area as well as repainting the markings on the playground. She concluded by saying the school will be submitting an application to Awards for All to fund this work. The Clerk suggested the school submit an application to the Barmoor Wind Farm fund as the School catchment area is within the 5k-10k radius of the wind farm. Parish Councillors agreed County Councillor R Lawrie could be an option for funding or part funding the £7k project. Parish Councillors agreed to consider the projects later in the meeting. Mrs S Smith and the member of the public left the meeting at that point Community Police – The Clerk read out the following report: There were 5 vehicle related incidents - including a 2 vehicle RTC in the Scremerston area and a report of a car in a ditch near Allerdean. There was also a report of a fire in Ancroft which was reported to us for awareness of possible smoke and an incomplete 999 call in Scremerston. Page No 338 Ch’s Initials ________ Finally, there were 9 incidents relating to potential rural crime – including a report of poachers on farmland near Scremerston and hare coursing in Cheswick. In both circumstances’ offenders had left before officers arrived. Please remain vigilant in reporting any suspicious rural behaviour and include any VRMs and descriptions if known. There have also been two crimes since your last meeting. One Theft Other from a business in the Ancroft area – the investigation is still ongoing. A Burglary Residential from a shed in the Scremerston area – no forensics and investigations still ongoing. Apologies for Absence: Parish Councillor G Britain Declaration of Interest: None Request for Dispensation- None Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting: The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8th January 2020 previously circulated were agreed as a true record then signed by the Chairman. Min 1529- Scremerston First School- Play equipment- Parish Councillors considered the information provided by Mrs Smith and agreed the Clerk send the costed pictures to County Councillor R Lawrie to see if he will fund the £7K project as this will benefit the whole community. Parish Councillors also agreed to support both projects and agreed the Clerk contact Mrs Smith stating the Parish Council will consider making a donation once the shortfall of funding has been identified. Min 1530- Litter bins at Cocklawburn Beach- Parish Councillors ratified the payment of £2448.00 to Northumberland County Council for the purchase and installation of the 4 litter bins Min 1531- Christmas Lights- Parish Councillor C Greenall informed the meeting that she is in the process of preparing a poster to advertise a meeting, and if Parish Councillor D Belcher and herself can get support to setup a group, they will look into setting up a bank account etc, which will allow them to apply for grant funding, and hold fundraising events. Parish Councillors agreed the installation of a new box to run a Christmas tree etc from a street light near Derwentwater Terrace, would be the preferred option rather than move the box from the street light at Prince Charles Crescent. Min 1532- Northumberland Day 2020 Parish Challenge- The Vice-Chairman informed the meeting that he had researched flag poles and a 6 mtr flag pole c/w with a Union Jack flag could be purchased for approx. £300+ installation + VAT. Parish Councillors agreed to allocate £600 to the purchase of a 6mtr flag pole c/w Union Jack & Northumberland flags to be installed next to the War Memorial. Page No 339 Ch’s Initials ________ The Vice-Chairman to confirm the cost for purchase of the flag pole and 2 flags. Parish Councillor C Greenall to obtain the cost for the installation of the flag pole. Parish Councillors to agree the expenditure via email and ratify the decision at the May meeting. Parish Councillor C Greenall asked about the poppy carpet which is currently in St Peter’s Church. Parish Councillors agreed they had no facilities to store the carpet. Min 1533- Street Lights- The Clerk read out the following update from Northumberland County Council Street Lighting Department: We need to carry out a design for this work which is currently with our street lighting design team. There are several areas across Northumberland where this work is required. We will keep you informed as this progresses however. Parish Councillors suggested that a box for Christmas tree etc could be installed on the street light next to the entrance to Derwentwater Terrace when the upgrade takes place. The Clerk agreed to ask the question of Northumberland County Council Street Lighting Department. Min 1534- Financial Statement Barclays Community Account £ 11824.23 Barclays Premium Account £ 404.69 Barclays Cemetery Account £ 42215.38 Min 1535- Accounts For Payment: • Northumberland CC £ 2448.00 Purchase & installation of 4 litter bins • E I Hunter £ 142.20 Salary 17.5 hours @ 10.16 per hr • HMRC £ 35.60 PAYE • E I Hunter £ 44.71 Expenses • Cemetery A/c £ 4000.00 Annual Transfer Min 1536 -Planning Applications 19/04271/LBC- Listed building consent for replacement of existing timber front door and frame. Replacement of rear timber door and frame. Replacement of two off glazed sash windows. Replace rotted flooring in lean to. Install reuse natural stone flags in main living area- Cheswick Shiel Cheswick No Observations had already been submitted. 20/00177/FUL- Internal alterations to relocate the kitchen and form an en-suite. Form new living/dining extension and patio area- Kiwi Cottage Scremerston Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland TD15 2RB. No Observations had already been submitted. Page No 340 Ch’s Initials ________ 20/00178/LBC- Listed Building Consent- Internal alterations to relocate the kitchen and form an en-suite. Form new living/dining extension and patio area- Kiwi Cottage Scremerston Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2RB No Observations had already been submitted. 20/00524/FUL- 6.2Mw Ground Source Heat Pump and associated infrastructure to supply heat for the drying of grain, grass and other agricultural products- Land North of West Ancroft Farm Allerdean Northumberland. No Observations had already been submitted. 20/00526/FUL- Proposed erection of new steel portal framed agricultural building for the drying and storage of grain- Land North of West Ancroft Farm Allerdean Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2TD. No Observations had already been submitted. Min 1537 – Planning Withdrawal 19/04791/VARYCO- Variation of conditions 2 (approved plans) and 4 (car parking areas) and discharge of conditions 3 (surface water drainage) and 7 (bat roost provision) of application 18/02845/FUL- Windyridge Berwick-upon-Tweed Northumberland TD15 2RJ Min 1538- Correspondence 1- CPRE- Winter newsletter 2- BTC- Parish Councillor invite to Library Consultation meeting 3- Healthwatch Northumberland- Speak up 2020 Healthwatch Annual survey 4- CAN- Winter newsletter 5- Clerks & Councils Direct- March newsletter Min 1539- Grass cutting 2020- Parish Councillors agreed the following grass cutting prices for 2020: To cut the entrance an approach verges £33.58 To strim the entrance and approach verges £ 5.60 To spray herbicide to Wickety path 4 times per year £41.42 Min 1540- Public Space Protection Order- Parish Councillors agreed to respond to the current consultation, stating Parish Councillors agree to the PSPO with no changes. Min 1541- Internal Auditor- Parish Councillors agreed to appoint Mr E Rathbone as the Internal Auditor for the Parish Council accounts for 2019/20 Min 1542- Asset Register- Parish Councillors undertook the annul review, and agreed the Asset Register is up to date. Min 1543- Cemetery Account- Parish Councillors agreed to transfer £4000 into the Cemetery Account. Min 1544- Pension Review for Clerk- The Clerk informed the meeting that the Parish Council needs to review the provision of a pension for the Clerk, and concluded that Page No 341 Ch’s Initials ________ a pension was of no value to her due to the level of salary and recommended the Parish Council does not provide a pension for the Clerk.