Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair advised of the procedure to be followed during the planning part of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dickinson, Foster, Jones, Sanderson and Towns. 

15 May 2023

Minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday 15 May 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

12 June 2023

Minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 12 June 2023, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

15 May 2023

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday 15 May 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

12 June 2023

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council held on Monday 12 June 2023, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

Councillor Darwin advised that he was the Ward Member for both planning applications and whilst he had spoken to residents in respect of these he had remained neutral in order to allow him to take part in deciding the applications. During the first application Councillor Wearmouth advised that the public speaker who spoke in objection to the application was an employee at Advance Northumberland during the time that he had been the Chair of the Board however this was the only capacity he knew the person and this was not prejudicial.

To request the committee to decide the planning applications attached to this report using the powers delegated to it. 

Please note that printed letters of objection/support are not circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report requested the Committee to decide the planning applications attached to the report using the powers delegated to it. Members were reminded of the principles which should govern their consideration of the applications, the procedure for handling representations, the requirement of conditions and the need for justifiable reasons for the granting of permission or refusal of planning applications.

Provision of playing field, including pitch drainage, and landscaping of viewing mounds.

St Marys Hospital Development Site, St Marys Hospital Drive, Stannington, Northumberland,  NE61 6BL

Provision of playing field, including pitch drainage, and landscaping of viewing mounds.

St Marys Hospital Development Site, St Marys Hospital Drive, Stannington, Northumberland,  NE61 6BL

J Murphy, Planning Area Manager provided an introduction to the report with the aid of a power point presentation.   Updates were provided as follows:-

·       A change to the recommendation was required as Sport England had not removed their objection.

·       Two changes were also proposed in condition no.4, and the condition would now read:

“Within 3 months of the date of the decision notice a revised plan for the landscape planting of the site shall be submitted for the written approval of the Local Planning Authority.  The plan shall detail the species and the number of trees including fruit trees, hedgerows, shrubs and use only Northumberland native species.”

·       It was also suggested that an additional condition be added as follows:

“Within 3 months of the decision notice a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be?submitted?to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The CEMP shall apply to all ground and earth works and vegetation clearance and include the following considerations.?? 

1. Risk assessment of potentially damaging construction activities.?

2. Inclusion of?an appropriate plan?identifying?the sensitive habitats/ features?to inform contractors working on site.

3. ?Practical measures (both physical measures such as warning signs and sensitive working practices) to avoid or reduce impacts during construction.?

4. Details for storage and disposal of any waste arising from the works (e.g. excavated soil).?

5.?Details of remediation works and methods, e.g., making good ground disturbed during construction.

6. Identification of, and remediation measures for, any contamination such as inert building waste in landscaped areas.?

7. Responsible persons and lines of communication.

The approved CEMP shall be adhered to and implemented throughout the construction period strictly?in accordance with?the approved details, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: To ensure that adverse effects on the environment from construction activities are avoided and minimised.”

? 

·       The recommendation was now:

To grant planning permission subject to the conditions in the report with the update to condition 4 as outlined and an additional condition, a S106 agreement to secure £240,566.00 for the loss of playing pitches and £45,447.00 for alternative pavilion provision with the S106 agreement to be finalised within 3 months of the date of this meeting and delegated authority provided to officers for the exact wording of the additional condition.

N Turnbull, Vice-Chair of the St Mary Park Residents Association, addressed the Committee speaking in objection to the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       This application represented Bellway’s attempt to find a compromise between appeasing the residents of the village whilst minimising their commercial outlay to deliver an exit strategy from their planning obligations.

·       Residents were aware of the scenic nature of the village which drew most purchasers to this location when Bellway sold residents the dream of the environment complete with the cricket pitch, pub, church, water fountain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Removal of Condition 10 on approved planning application CM/20060893 in order to omit the Condition to submit a scheme for the restoration and/or provision of playing fields.

St Marys Hospital, St Marys Hospital Drive, Stannington, Northumberland NE61 6AP

Removal of Condition 10 on approved planning application CM/20060893 in order to omit the Condition to submit a scheme for the restoration and/or provision of playing fields.

St Marys Hospital, St Marys Hospital Drive, Stannington, Northumberland

NE61 6AP

J Murphy, Planning Area Manager provided an introduction to the report advising that this application was to remove condition 10 attached to the original approved planning application.  However following the refusal of planning application 22/02923/FUL, this application could no longer be recommended for approval and therefore the recommendation was amended to “Refuse permission ”.

J Ridgeon addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       This application had been made to remove condition 10 from the originally approved application in order to carry out works in accordance with the previous application above.

·       The applicant had worked with the Council and Sport England for a long time in order to develop an appropriate vision for the pitch and sports provision.

·       If the mounds were to be removed then there would be no S106 contribution towards playing pitches.

·       Compliance with Condition 10 would require further consultation with Sport England and it had taken a considerable period of time to get to the current position and now this had been refused.

·       Bellway wanted to see the situation resolved and be able to restore the pitch and area for residents to use.

·       It was felt that the proposed solution had been the best outcome for all parties.  Comments made today would be taken away and Bellway would continue to work with officers to find a solution.

Councillor Wearmouth moved the recommendation to refuse the application as outlined above which was seconded by Councillor Darwin.

Members in recognising the work already undertaken by Bellway in trying to find a solution welcomed the message from Mr Ridgeon advising that the applicant would continue to work with officers as they considered that the application as it stood was not acceptable.  Members considered that as a starting point the mounds should not be there and a solution had to be something that would be acceptable to residents.

A vote was taken and it was unanimously:

RESOLVED that the application be REFUSED.

For Members’ information to report the progress of planning appeals.  This is a monthly report and relates to appeals throughout all 5 Local Area Council Planning Committee areas and covers appeals of Strategic Planning Committee. 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

A short break was held at this point in order to allow officers to leave/join the meeting. 

To reply to any questions received from members of the public which have been submitted in writing in advance of the meeting. Questions can be asked about issues for which the Council has a responsibility. (Public question times take place on a bimonthly basis at Local Area Committee meetings: in January, March, May, July, September and November each year.)

As agreed by the County Council in February 2012, the management of local public question times is at the discretion of the chair of the committee.

Please note however that a question may possibly be rejected if it requires the disclosure of any categories of confidential or exempt information, namely information:

1. relating to any individual;
2. which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual;
3. relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person
4. relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations;
5. restricted to legal proceedings
6. about enforcement/enacting legal orders
7. relating to the prevention, investigation of prosecution of crime.
   
   

And/or:

?      is defamatory, frivolous or offensive;

?      it is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of this or another County Council committee in the past six months;

?      the request repeats an identical or very similar question from the same person;

?      the cost of providing an answer is disproportionate;

?      it is being separately addressed through the Council's complaints process;

?      it is not about a matter for which the Council has a responsibility or which affects the county;

?      it relates to planning, licensing and/or other regulatory applications

?      it is a question that town/parish councils would normally be expected to raise through other channels.

If the Chair is of the opinion that a question is one which for whatever reason, cannot properly be asked in an area meeting, he/she will disallow it and inform the resident of his/her decision.

Copies of any written answers (without individuals' personal contact details) will be provided for members after the meeting and also be publicly available.

Democratic Services will confirm the status of the progress on any previously requested written answers and follow up any related actions requested by the Local Area Committee.

No questions had been submitted.

(a)  Receive any new petitions:

This item is to receive any new petitions. The lead petitioner handing in a petition at the meeting is entitled to briefly introduce their petition, and a response to any petitions received will then be organised for a future meeting.

(b)  Consider reports on petitions previously received:

Address Speeding Between Jameson Estate (Old Police Hq Site) and Grange Lea Care Home on North Road, Ponteland 

The attached report responds to the e petition which closed on 12th April 2023 regarding a request to address speeding between Jameson Estate (Old Police HQ Site) and Grange Lea Care Home, on North Road, Ponteland. 

(c)  Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously   considered: any updates will be verbally reported at the meeting.

(a) Receive New Petitions –  No new petitions were received. 

(b) Petitions Previously Received – Address Speeding Between Jameson Estate (Old Police HQ Site and Grange Lea Care Home on North Road, Ponteland

N Snowdon, Principal Programme Officer (Highways Improvement) provided an introduction to the report which had been prepared in response to the e-petition which closed on 12 April 2023.  He advised that following several earlier complaints a series of speed surveys had been undertaken with the results meeting the criteria required by the Northumbria Safety Roads Initiative for consideration of additional enforcement measures and the location had been added to the Operation Modero database.  The site would now be further assessed by the Police and the Council would work with them to identify an appropriate enforcement strategy. It was also highlighted that it was the intention of Ponteland Town Council to introduce a speed indicator display on this section of road.  Further speed surveys would be carried out following the period of enforcement and introduction of the speed indicator display to assess impact and determine if any further road safety measures were necessary.

Members advised that this road had been problematic for a number of years with some improvements carried out following the development of the new housing estate, however speeding continued along that stretch of road and beyond and this was also of concern due to the large number of cyclists also using the road. 

It was clarified that there were a lot of areas on the Operation Modero database which meant that resources were spready thinly.   Members requested that the Police be invited to a future meeting to discuss Operation Modero and other traffic related matters along with representatives from the three different Police areas which covered Castle Morpeth.

RESOLVED that the information be noted and that the actions being proposed be supported with the Police being asked to attend a future meeting.

(c ) Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously considered – There were no updates.

To receive a verbal update from the Area Managers from Technical Services and Neighbourhood Services in attendance about any key recent, ongoing and/or future planned Local Services work for the attention of members of the Local Area Committee who will also then have the opportunity to raise issues with the Area Managers.

The Area Managers have principal responsibility for highway services and environmental services, such as refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, within the geographic boundaries of the Local Area Committee.

Neighbourhood Services

P Lowes, Area Manager Neighbourhood Services provided an update which would be circulated after the meeting and included the following:-

·       Waste collection services continued to perform well including both the glass and food waste trials.

·       The early season for grass cutting had been challenging due to the weather and the bank holidays.

·       Weed control was again being undertaken in-house with the first treatment almost complete.

·       Verge cutting was ongoing and was on target for completion by the end of July.   Visibility splays would continue to be monitored and Members were asked to report any areas of concern.

In response to questions from Members the following information was noted:-

·       There had been no change in policy in relation to verge cutting however the work might not be carried out in the same order as it been   previously.  One contractor had a problem following an injury being incurred, with other resources having to be utilised.

·       The sweeper may need to be used following weed treatments but the treated weeds generally dissipate with the weather, any areas of concern can be reported and we will assess them as needed.  A second treatment will be done if necessary but we can only treat weeds that are actively growing, Members were asked to report any areas of concern.

·       There are some variations in how verges are cut, largely depending on the custom and practices of each area. New roads are maintained with as balanced an approach as possible, for example one cutter width either side of footpath with the rest being left to wild.

Highways

M King, Area Manager Highways Services provided an update which would be circulated following the meeting and which included the following:-

·       There had been a large increase in the number of third party reports requiring reactive maintenance following the introduction of the “Fix my Street” (FMS) system which had impacted on the normal routine maintenance work.  Some inspection work had fallen behind and was not meeting the National Code of Practice at the current time.

·       A large amount of insurance claims were still being dealt with following the winter period.

·       Difficulties in the recruitment of staff were still being encountered with a shortage of suitable candidates.

·       Works had been completed on Newgate Street in Morpeth.  The improved communications and traffic management had worked well and this system would be utilised in the future.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the following information was noted:-

·       It was difficult to offer more flexible working practices, i.e. part time or flexible hours on routine work as these required specialist staff to undertake the roles. There was a national shortage of HGV drivers and other organisations i.e. supermarkets etc, were able to pay more than the Council who were restricted by the national pay structure in place.  

·       The increase in FMS requests would allow evidence to be provided for a business case to be made for an increase in the number of staff needed within the Castle Morpeth area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To receive a presentation from the Head Teacher of Collingwood School, Morpeth.

Gillian Linkleter, the Headteacher of Collingwood School and Media Arts College in Morpeth was in attendance to provide a presentation to the Committee.  Collingwood School was designated to meet the needs of students aged 2-19 years with speech, language and communication difficulties, autism and behaviour and emotional disorders. The school shared its largest site in Morpeth with Stobhill First School and following substantial refurbishment and building programmes now offered specialist high quality facilities. It also currently operated a sixth form college at the FUSE in Prudhoe, a community teaching service and Personal Education Centre.  The school was also opening an Outdoor Learning and Vocational Centre – The Woodlands based at Hepscott Park, in September 2023. This was a pilot project initially for one year.

All pupils who attended the school had an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and had access to a three way curriculum model of education and a Wellbeing Centre offering therapeutic interventions which was based at Morpeth served all the school sites. Students were also involved in many community activities. A copy of the full presentation would be circulated to Members of the Committee and uploaded to the Council’s website.

In response to a question in relation to the new facilities within Hepscott Park and interaction with residents Members were advised that the centre was located adjacent to the existing horticultural unit and that a Woodlands Manager had been appointed who would be visiting residents to introduce themselves and explain the vision for a community hub.

Pupils were placed in Collingwood through the SEND panel so that it could be ensured that it could meet the individual needs of each child. Collingwood operated an open door policy for parents and tried to involve them as much as possible, although this had been more difficult during Covid. If pupils were not in a position to be able to attend the school, then the community teaching service would undertake the role until the child was ready to join the school. 

The possibility of providing the presentation at all other LACs would be explored and a copy of the full presentation would be circulated to Members of the Committee and uploaded to the Council’s website following the meeting. 

Ms Linkleter was thanked for her attendance and presentation which Members had found most interesting and informative.

The report requests the Local Area Committee’s nomination for the Northumberland Local Bus Board.  The Cabinet report and Appendix 2 related to the terms of reference are also attached for information.

The report requested a nomination for the Northumberland Local Bus Board from the LAC and provided information on the background to the establishment of the Local Bus Boards.  The attached cabinet report also outlined the implications of the Bus Service Improvement Plan for Northumberland bus services and infrastructure.   N Easton, Public Transport Manager was in attendance to answer any queries from Members of the Committee. 

M Murphy expressed an interest in becoming the representative on the Board from this Committee and this would be confirmed following a discussion with N Easton outside of the meeting in relation to the commitment of time that would be required.

RESOLVED that M Murphy be appointed as the representative from this Local Area Committee on the Northumberland Local Bus Board subject to satisfactory discussion regarding the commitment of time required.

Members are asked to confirm if they wish to remain as appointees to the outside bodies which were agreed by the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council in October 2022 as follows:-

A list of appointments of Members of this Committee to Outside Bodies as agreed in October 2022 was circulated as part of the agenda to confirm if Members were happy to continue in these roles.

RESOLVED that the appointments be confirmed as follows:

To note the latest version of agreed items for future Local Area Committee meetings (any suggestions for new agenda items will require confirmation by the Chairman of Council after the meeting).

RESOLVED that the work programme be noted.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 14 August 2023 and will be Planning only.

The meeting of the next Local Area Committee was planning only and was scheduled for 4.00 pm on Monday 14 August 2023.