Present:  Councillors: C. Hamilton (Chair), S. Smith, C. Hawman, D. Mole & K. Traill.
Clerk: C. Woodcock.  Members of the Public: None.

 

1. Apologies for absence: Cllr A. Wilson,
2. Code of Conduct (Declaration of Interest): Cllr C. Hamilton in respect of The Gun at Ridsdale & the Corsenside Flood Resilience team. Cllr C Hawman in respect of The Gun at Ridsdale and North Tyne Youth. Cllr K Trail in respect of North Tyne Youth. Cllr D Mole in respect of Friends of Corsenside. Cllr S. Smith in respect of Bellingham Middle School Parents, Teachers and Community Association & the Corsenside Flood Resilience team.
3. Opportunities for members of the public to raise issues: None
4. Minutes of Corsenside Parish Council meeting held on Monday the 6th of February 2023: Signed as a true and accurate record.
5. Matters arising from the minutes: i. An interested candidate for the vacant Parish Councillor position will be invited to attend next month’s meeting for an introduction. ii. Feedback from Northumberland County Council following their Town and Parish Conference will be shared to all councillors, relevant points about investment in bus services and creation of cycle paths were discussed, CW to follow up on further meetings. The option of asking a planning officer to meet the council for training is likely to be taken up in summer.  iii. The 4 areas of road identified to CPC as having the worst condition in the parish have all been reported to NCC. Potholes on Armstrong Street, the lonnen north of west Woodburn and on Shaw Lonnen are scheduled for immediate repair. A longer-term resurfacing request has been entered for Shaw Lonnen and blocked ditches above Lisles burn and at the WW lonnen are to be addressed. iv. The clerk reported the challenge of finding accurate information about bus timetables and her difficulty in reaching an appropriate member of NCC who can clarify the general situation and the specifics surrounding the changes to the 885, on the council’s suggestion this matter is now to be addressed to C.Cllr John Riddle.
6. Notification of any other business for discussion, at the Chairman’s discretion, under item 17 below: Cllr K. Traill & Cllr C. Hawman each had a point to raise, 2 points from the Clerk.
7. County Councillor’s Report: None.
8. Ongoing Issues (formally Action Point List): 91. The Ray Wind Farm Fund has now been applied to for £500 towards speed sign repair, no response was received from C.Cllr Riddle on this matter. The replacement of the WW signs is now overdue. A suggestion was made to request that once their replacements arrive one of the faulty signs be repositioned into the centre of the village where it may act as an additional deterrent. CW to contact TWM.
9. Play Area: Cllr C. Hamilton reported that all equipment and the fences were found to be in safe condition. The new noticeboard and the playing field sign have been installed. CW to ask that the playing field trees are added to the tree survey, to include an initial check. 
10. Volunteers and Community Spending: i. Cllr C Hamilton was able to repair the defibrillator case on Armstrong Street. ii. Thanks were expressed to Cllr K Traill and the clerk for erecting signs to discourage dog fouling. At least 12 residents have also voiced their support. There was disappointment at the vandalism or removal of one or two signs; permission has been given to organise replacements. CW was asked to address this publicly on Facebook.
11. Wind Power Stations & BANTR: Cllr S Smith has contacted RWF for details about being a representative from Corsenside and awaits a response.
12. Parish Hall: i. The Parish Hall Committee have asked CPC to nominate a trustee for 2023-24, the role will be taken by Cllr D Mole. ii. The CPC request to investigate installing an Electric Vehicle Charging Point in front of the Parish Hall has been denied on the grounds of the already limited parking spaces.
13. Planning Matters: a) For decision- None. b) Decisions from NCC – 22/02800/FUL Peel Cottage Barn- West Woodburn - GRANTED.
14. Other correspondence: i. The North of Tyne Mayor has written to confirm he will not add a Precept to council tax of residents this year. ii. The Pensions Regulator advised it was time for the scheduled review. Checking against current guidance the clerk is not eligible for automatic membership nor for CPC to make employer contributions. Clerk to confirm in writing that they do not wish to enter a pension scheme.
15. Finances –a) a) Invoices for payment – i. A2 Noticeboard - £59.95, ii. Hall hire for Play - £50, iii. Signage for play area and dog fouling - £111.41, iv. Wood for noticeboard and sign posts - £83.36 v. Clerk’s Wages, February 23.5 hours - £293.75 b) Bank Balance - £9,649.23
16. Matters for discussion at the chairman’s discretion: i. Cllr K. Traill noted that near Little Ridsdale following the work to raise the road, some fence rails have not been returned to their position, CW to inform NCC. ii. Cllr C Hawman announced that the final Revitalising Redesdale event, a walk to launch the Redesdale Goat Sculpture near Carter Bar, will soon take place. It was noted there had been some negative feedback about the sculpture from the Keep the Wannies Wild Group. Cllr C Hawman also described a gift received from Revitalising Redesdale, the council are very happy for this to remain in her possession. iii. The clerk described a productive introductory meeting with Delia Faran of Communities Together who in the coming months will be working more closely in the parish and surrounding area offering support to residents. We are advised to consider the Communities Together team as being similar to Citizens Advice, with the added benefit of performing home visits. Their aim is to help with small issues that among other things, allow people to maintain their independence and improve quality of life. Often this relies on making and drawing on local connections so there are also hopes for future events to bring residents together. iv. Two concerned parishioners have informally spoken with the clerk and a councillor of their concerns about the large number of physically and technologically isolated older people in the parish. CPC echo this concern and aim to keep the consideration of such issues uppermost. CW to respond with leaflets for the Communities Together team which can be shared to the isolated residents in the hopes that any unmet needs can be identified and addressed.
17. Next Meeting: Monday 3^rd April 7.30pm – Corsenside Parish Hall.
    Meeting ended 9.20pm.

Please note this is a DRAFT COPY and as such, subject to change.
Christine Woodcock, Corsenside Parish Council Clerk,        
07737518867 corsensideparishclerk@hotmail.com

 

Action Point List (March):

• CW to follow up on meeting about cycle paths with other parishes and NCC.
• CW to confirm nearer time & as necessary invite NCC planning to June meeting.
• CW to contact John Riddle about local bus services.
• CW to chase late speed signs and ask if we can keep and reposition one of the faulty ones.
• CW to ask Frank Charlton to check playing field trees and add to ongoing tree survey.
• CW to make an official comment on FB about the vandalism to the signs.
• CW to respond re pension scheme.
• CW to tell highways about dismantled fence.
• CW & Cllrs to distribute Communities Together fliers and spread the word about the service.