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

 

1. Apologies for absence: Cllr D. Mole,
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. Councillor Vacancy: An introduction was heard from Dawn Anderson of West Woodburn who has volunteered to fill the vacant councillor position. A unanimous decision was made to co-opt with immediate effect. The council extend a warm welcome to Cllr D. Anderson and look forward to working together.
4. Opportunities for members of the public to raise issues: None
5. Minutes of Corsenside Parish Council meeting held on Monday the 6th of March 2023: Signed as a true and accurate record.
6. Matters arising from the minutes: i. Following enquiries made via C.Cllr John Riddle Northumberland County Council have confirmed that their policy remains that changes to local bus routes will be made in consultation with parish councils. NCC explained they had very little notice of Rural Links intention to cease operation and they worked quickly to ensure its continuation albeit with some necessary route changes. There is a potential review of the new service after its first year although it is proving more popular in the current format. ii. CPC continue to monitor the local potholes and await repairs by NCC. iii. The full parish has now had new information signs relating to litter and dog fouling installed, with a positive response. A further sign for Armstrong Street was discussed (CW to action). iv. The clerk has officially responded to confirm she does not wish to enter a pension scheme.
7. Notification of any other business for discussion, at the Chairman’s discretion, under item 17 below: The clerk had 2 points to raise.
8. County Councillor’s Report: None.
9. Ongoing Issues (formally Action Point List): 91. Several follow up emails to TWM have met with very limited response. CW to reach out to NCC who paid for the faulty speed signs for their support in moving this forward.
10. Play Area: Cllr C. Hamilton reported that all equipment and the fences were found to be in safe condition. There has been a build of moss noted on the pathways, CW to ask Chris Mowatt to treat these surfaces as part of ongoing maintenance. To prevent the damage caused by strimming, while avoiding use of pesticides, CW has been asked to source additional safety matting which could be installed in a strip encompassing the legs of the play equipment.
11. Volunteers and Community Spending: i. The weekend of 22/04 has been suggested for a parish wide litter pick. CW to see if equipment can be borrowed from NCC at that time as well as checking the logistics surrounding public liability insurance and safety equipment. ii. Thanks were expressed to Peter Scott who unbidden cleared a large amount of, often unsanitary, litter from Shaw Lonnen. It was noted that 5 times as much was on one side of the road suggesting that drivers are throwing it as they leave East Woodburn. The nature of the objects being discarded suggests people sleeping in their vehicles are disposing of their litter here.  CW to contact local business and ask that they speak with any visitors or staff using this route and again ask for their support and extend an invite to the litter pick event.
12. Wind Power Stations & BANTR: Cllr S Smith contacted RWF about being the representative on the CIC board from Corsenside but scheduling conflicts prevented further progression. Ridsdale resident Alison Thompson, in response to CPC's Clarion post, made independent contact with RWF to enquire about the role.  Further discussion between RWF, CPC and AT have resulted in the CIC board accepting AT as the Corsenside representative. Councillors ratified this at the meeting and wish to thank Alison very much for her willingness to take on this role and be our representative on the CIC board. CW will ask AT to provide a monthly written briefing timed to circulate in advance of our PC meetings.
13. Parish Hall: Volunteers are being sought to help run Warm Hub events. Councillors reiterated a willingness to be contacted for assistance if the hall is to open during times of emergency, as previously requested, but regretted being unable to commit to an ongoing weekly schedule.
14. Planning Matters: a) For decision- From Northumberland National Park – Hareshaw Head, extension to existing dwelling (P-12035887)- the council wish to enter a comment of No Objections. b) Decisions from NCC – None
15. Other correspondence: : i. The council heard from Cathy Smith an organiser of the 3 Churches Trail who is producing a leaflet with map of the walking route which crosses the parish, this is a final project from Revitalising Redesdale.  A formal agreement is necessary for such a project whereby the landowner grants permission for the use of any section of path which is not already a right of way.  In considering the logistics surrounding the declaration of a new permissive pathway, near Smoutal Ford, the walks developer was given the impression that such an agreement needed to involve the PC as the Local Authority.  CH questioned CPC's involvement as we are not the LA.  Further discussions between the developer and NCC, who are the LA, indicated an original misunderstanding and that the landowner can indeed grant permission without the involvement of the PC.  ii) Councillors were delighted to grant permission for use of the Village Green and Playing Field for the Parish Show again this year following a request from the show organisers.  Councillors wished to thank the show committee and all involved for their ongoing hard work.
16. Finances –a) a) Invoices for payment – i. Clerk’s Wages, March 14 hours - £175, ii. Bank Fees - £18 b) Bank Balance - £9,032.76. c) CW delivered a budget update at the end of the year. Overall the spending had come in over £500 underbudget despite a significant Play Area repair and the necessity of a new laptop, which exceeded the Assets and Maintenance allocation. The matter of the Grants fund was discussed at length and a strong preference emerged that in future this money be allocated in a targeted way to directly assist parishioners. CPC are open to hearing from organisations within the Parish running projects for community benefit. d) CW confirmed a full external audit will not be required and that the necessary exemption forms have been received and will be completed in May. An internal financial check of this years’ records will be undertaken by a qualified parishioner in the coming weeks.
17. Matters for discussion at the chairman’s discretion: i. CW has been approached by a parishioner enquiring about any plans for the Coronation, noting that in previous similar events commemorative mugs have been issued to the children of the parish. It was felt by the Council that there was insufficient public interest in an organised event (as evidenced by the lack of support given to last years Jubilee committee) and that purchase of mugs was a large expensive not in the best interest of the parish.  ii. CW sought suggestions for inclusions in the next Parish newsletter and a large list of items was generated. It was decided that copies of this newsletter be printed with the intention of distributing to every home in the parish.  This will not become standard practice, but it is hoped that it will be a means of contacting any isolated parishioners for who may choose to identify themselves to the council if they wish to be given a copy of future communications. 
18. Next Meeting: The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Monday 15^th May at 7.00pm to be followed directly by the AGM at 7.30 – Corsenside Parish Hall.
    Meeting ended 9.50pm.

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