Minutes
Thursday 16th September 2010
Village Hall 7.15pm
Present
Chairperson Joan Angus.
Clerk Helen Brewis
Parish Council Members Joyce Shaw,
Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, Michael Taylor, Rosie Robson, Pauline
Baird & John Gallon.
In Attendance CC John Taylor. Peter
Rutherford – NCC Area Development Manager North
Members of the public Mrs M Taylor, Mrs M
Gallon, Mr & Mrs Ridley & Mr M Doherty.
1308. Planning Matters.
Mr Peter Rutherford The NCC North Area Development
Manager attended the Meeting and gave a run down on the planning
application process.
He explained about the main planning considerations – design, layout,
density, Highway safety, privacy, immediate outlook, overlooking,
overshadowing, dominating & noise.
Also items which are not considered – motive & need, private rights
& covenants, competition between businesses, property values,
council tax & long range views.
A planning application should take eight weeks from
submission to decision but at the moment they are working through a
large backlog from the Morpeth area, due to the restructuring of the
North area. There is still a Planning Dept. in Alnwick and they
appreciate that affordable housing is a major challenge in rural
areas. Mr Rutherford mentioned that there is no available land
within Craster for affordable housing & Michael Taylor mentioned
his planning application.
The Development Plan will probably not mention Craster
& other smaller locations they will be detailed in later documents
& the new coalition Government are considering the idea of planning
applications being decided by vote.
All letters are considered before the decision is made
& approval may slightly differ from the original plans without
notification being sent out to Parish Councils. Mr Rutherford is
looking into the possibility of the planning officer notifying PCs so
they can view the changes on line. There are no letters being
scanned onto NCC website at present, due to the software needing to be
upgraded.
Mr Rutherford was asked to outline the considerations
given to an application to put an extension on an old building - if
listed the requirement is to protect & enhance (scale, design,
proportion, materials & consult specialists).
If it is not listed but is in a conservation area – the setting &
characteristics of the extension - would it enhance or detract?
The Parish Council thanked Mr Rutherford for attending
tonights meeting and answering all questions.
A/2010/0060 - Coast Guard Rescue Station.
A response has been received from NCC stating that they Highways Dept.
was consulted about the proposed access and they raised no objection
subject to a number of conditions.
A/2010/0183 - Dunstan Steads new farmhouse. Application
withdrawn.
The letters of objection have not been scanned onto the website, the
Clerk has requested NCC to scan them on for view.
A/2010/0276 – Summer House Haven Hill –
extension/windows.
A letter was sent to NCC detailing our concerns about:-
1. The windows & extension altering the look of the
harbour.
2. The affect on neighbouring dwellings.
3. The problems created for parking & access to the
south pier.
The Notice of Approval has been received.
A/2010/0334 – Dunstan Hill Camping Site-
ext/hardstanding. No objections.
1309. Apologies for absence.
Michael Craster & Michael Robson.
1310. Confirmation of minutes of last meeting.
The July Minutes & September NWL Minutes were
accepted as a true record.
1311. NWL Sewerage Update.
The Transfer Deed & Licence to Occupy document has
been signed and returned.
At a Special Meeting of the Craster Parish Council (CPC)
which was held on Wednesday 1st September 2010 to discuss the question
of the apportionment of the monies paid by NWL for the acquisition and
use of land in Craster village in connection with the new sewage
works. NWL has paid £13,000 for Plot 10, and £24,300 for the
licence on Plot 11. The money has been paid to Robert Twyford and
is yet to be credited to either party.
Two proposals were made to Craster Community Trust
(CCT):-
1) Work agreed to and
funded by the Parish Council can be exempt from VAT (20% from the end
of the year) which clearly adds value. To achieve this it would
be necessary for the CPC to be the body that commissions and pays for
work on behalf of the CCT. To obtain maximum advantage from the
NWL payments, all of the money would be held by the CPC for the
community. This money would be ring-fenced to make it clear that
it can only be used for community projects, it is understood that
similar arrangements have been entered into by other charitable bodies
in the past.
2)
Alternatively, should the CCT not wish to pursue this route, the CPC
would propose following the advice given by Mr Robert Walton,
barrister, of Landmark Chambers, Fleet St, London, a chambers that
specialises in the law of compulsory purchase and compensation.
Mr Walton explained that had NWL in fact implemented the CPO,
compensation for the loss of Plot 10 would have been paid to the CPC,
and for Plot 11 to the CCT. This would have been on the basis of
the CPC, as the freeholder, being compensated for the loss of the
freehold; and the CCT, as the leaseholders, for the loss of the use of
the land for the duration of the work. With the understanding
that the land would be returned to them when the work was completed.
CPC would be paid the £13,000 for Plot 10.
CCT would be paid the £24,300 for Plot 11.
The CCT held a Special Meeting to discuss the CPC’s proposals on Monday
13th September and after considerable debate and contact with the
Charity Commission they decided to accept Proposal 2.
At tonight’s Meeting the Councillors discussed the CCT
reply and the disadvantage of losing out on the VAT refund. The
CCT has received an email from the Charity Commission concerning the
potential for the HMRC’s involvement if they suspected a VAT dodge. Mr
Ridley the CCT Chairman authorised the Clerk to forward the Charity
Commission’s email on to all the CPC Councillors.
Action Point: Clerk to forward the email
on to the Councillors as soon as possible.
John Gallon requested a vote to form a motion that our
recommendation which the CCT accepted (proposal 2) be accepted by the
CPC.
Seconded by Joyce Shaw.
Vote: 7 for & 1 against.
The disruption the work has created has led to a problem with rats.
Action Point: CC John Taylor will contact
the Public Protection Officer
1312. Matters arising from minutes of last
meeting.
Mobile Phone Mast Update.
We have received replies from the NHS concerning the equipment they use
on ambulances which require mobile phone reception. They don’t
believe that poor reception impacts on the Trust’s ability to respond
to emergencies.
It was decided that at this present time there is no further action we
can take to persuade mobile phone providers to improve our service.
Affordable Housing Policy.
Both letters received from Mr. M Doherty & Mrs M Gallon were
forwarded to Rosie Robson for her to take to the next affordable
housing meeting.
Grass Verge Outside The Church. Ongoing.
Brown Signposts. Ongoing.
Double Yellow Lines & additional Car Parking
Places.
CC John Taylor will attend October’s Meeting with a member of NCC
Highways Department.
Fireworks & Chinese lanterns.
The Clerk has been in contact with Roxy at Northumbria Police who has
requested information from the Fire Brigade for us.
Tower Bank seat. Has now been repaired.
Footpath Stile. Has now been repaired.
Craster Harbour
Overflow Pipe.
A letter has been received from Sale & Partners thanking us for
letting them know & they will get the pipe repaired.
Action Point: Alan Punton to check whether
the pipe has been repaired yet.
Whin Hill Open Notice Board.
Action Point: Alan Punton will contact Mr
V Dundas to make us a new sign.
Joint NCC/Parish Council Meeting on 11th
October, Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth @ 6pm. Pauline
Baird will attend.
High hedgerows at Denwick crossroads.
These has been cut back.
Dog Bin Re-site.
A letter has been received from Mr G Murray thanking us from moving the
dog bin to another location in Dunstan.
1313. Financial Matters.
Bank Balance: £4,845.52
Cheques issued:- NCC Insurance £224.18
Cheques required:- Craster Pillars seat repairs £134.12
1314. Correspondence received.
NALC County Committee consultation. Noted.
NSP Sustainable Community Strategy.
Noted.
CAN News – July 2010. Noted.
NCC – Local Transport Plan. Noted.
Mr M Doherty – Craster Lifeboat Station
extension.
Alan Punton declared an interest.
Craster Lifeboat Committee are looking to build an extension to the
front of the Lifeboat Station & at present they are unsure if they
will require planning permission.
Action Point: Clerk to write a
letter of support in principle to the building of an extension.
NCC – North Brief July Edition. Noted.
McInerney Homes – Building Better Communities.
Noted.
Alnwick Magistrates Court - proposed closure.
Clerk has completed & returned the petition to support the Court.
Archaeology in Northumberland – Volume 19.
In circulation.
No Need for Nuclear. Noted.
NSP Matters Arising – August 2010.
Noted.
NCC – Stronger Together – Medium Term Strategy. In
circulation.
NALC – AGM & County Committee Nomination. In
circulation.
Boundary Review Guidance – AONB Land Designation.
Noted.
NCC – Charter For Local Councils update.
In circulation.
Mr J Gallon – PC Seating requirements.
The tables will be set out as required for the
Councillors.
Mr J Gallon – Conflict of Interest.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda
for the next meeting.
Mr J Gallon – PC Member on the CCT.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda
for the next meeting.
Mr J Gallon – PC Member on the CCT’s level of
responsibility.
Action Point: Clerk to put on the Agenda
for the next meeting.
Mr J Gallon – NCC non notification of the road
closure from Little Mill to Craster Tower. The road was
closed for repairs.
Mrs J Shaw – Seats as the entrance to Craster.
Action Point: Pauline Baird will see if
Anthony will paint them.
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