Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair referred to the recent sad passing of Michael Carle, Highways Delivery Manager who had been a respected officer and colleague and would be dearly missed.  A minute’s silence was requested as a mark of respect.

Apologies for absence were received from CouncillorLee.

Minutes of the meeting of the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Council held on 17 January 2023 as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

The Minutes of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley Local Area Council, held on 17 January 2023, as circulated, were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

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.  

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Proposed erection of 9 no. 2 bed affordable bungalows 

Land north east of Hastings Hartley Arms, Lysdon Avenue, New Hartley, Northumberland.

Proposed erection of 9 no. 2 bed affordable bungalows 

Land north east of Hastings Hartley Arms, Lysdon Avenue, New Hartley, Northumberland 

Richard Laughton, Senior Planning Officer introduced the report with the aid of a power point presentation.   

John Barrell was in attendance and spoke in objection of the application.  The main key points were: 

• What he was going to say would not change the decision on the application.  However, he wanted to register his complete lack of trust in the planning system. 
• He was an immediate neighbour to the site and despite suffering 3 years of building work on 2 sides, he welcomed the proposed removal of the unkempt eyesore and replacement, with more useful and much needed affordable housing.  It was the way in which this was being achieved that was objectionable. 
• The proposal was promoted on behalf of Advance Northumberland, a wholly owned development company of NCC, whose focus was the regeneration of Northumberland. It should, therefore, be setting an exemplar of planning development to maximise development opportunities rather than seeking minimal change to the existing isolated plot. 

• The officer’s report regarding Panning Policy cited compliance with STP1, 2 and 3 as New Hartley was recognised as a service village within the NLP and served by public transport and comprises facilities including a public house, convenience store and primary school. 
• The bus service is X7 which was scheduled every half an hour (but increasingly with unplanned cancellations) between Newcastle and Blyth and the nearest shop was over 300m walk distance from the site. 
• The pub did not serve food and the school was oversubscribed. 
• Walking and cycling routes were limited in the immediate vicinity of the site and the provision of communal cycle storage with car parking directly in front of properties was a token gesture to sustainability. 
• Policy QOP 4 highlighted that new development would be expected to incorporate well-designed landscaping and respond appropriately to any existing landscape features.  Apart from internal site clearance, the proposal sought to maintain the substantial tree boundary to the north west isolating and screening the development from the rest of the village.  This created a secluded ghetto with a single point of access. 

• The application was validated by the Planning Department in April 2021.  During the intervening two years, all that had changed was a watering down of the proposed mitigation work, principally to the access proposals.  Those started out as a substantial simplification and separation of a complex of 5 roads all meeting within 15m of each other.  The final proposals now presented were to retain this complexity of movement and add a further road within that area, yet Highways Development Management only comments related to the internal layout, which would not be adopted.   Any concerns to be finalised and addressed in a S278 agreement was yet to be signed. 
• No consideration seemed to have been given to the wider context and setting.  Seaburn View was the prime pedestrian route for children walking to school from the existing housing and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

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.

This report sets out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) programme for 2023-24 for consideration and comment by the Local Area Council, prior to final approval of the programme by the Executive Director responsible for Local Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services.

Paul Jones provided an introduction to the report which set out the details of the draft Local Transport Plan (LTP) programme for 2023-24 for consideration and comment by the Local Area Council.   Final approval of the programme would be made by the Executive Director responsible for Local Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services. 

In response to members questions, the following information was provided: 

• Where possible, specific information had been provided, schemes were generic and enabled works to be undertaken. 

• There was a need to retain generic funding for rural safety schemes. 
• If a scheme was not listed, it would not be on the programme 
• The speed surveys would be done on schools when it was applicable to do so. 
• The comments regarding guidelines at West End School and bus stop raised kerbs, High Pit Road, Cramlington would be forward to Highways Delivery and followed up.  
• Micro surfacing for Chesterhill and Cateron Way would be considered in a future programme. 

• The footpaths in Alexandra Park would be looked into. 
• An email to be forwarded to N Snowdon regarding the dual carriageway at CLV. 
• The petition report on the A193 between South Beach and Seaton Sluice should be available soon. 

(Councillor Ezchilchelvan left the meeting at 5.16 pm) 

• Mr  Snowdon would follow up the re-costing of the 20 mph scheme from Barns Park/Southfield Gardens and report back. 
• Allocations were always difficult and were based on asset transfer/surveys and feedback from local members. 

(Councillor Ezchilchelvan re-joined the meeting at 5.26 pm). 

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

A consultation on the proposed Devolution Deal for the North East, which would see significant funds and powers transferred to the region, was launched on 26 January 2023. 

The cabinets of the seven local authorities have now agreed the terms and process for the devolution deal and have approved the next stage of the plans, which include a public consultation. This is an important opportunity for residents, businesses and other stakeholders to give their feedback on the proposed changes.  The item will provide a briefing on the Devolution Deal and consultation, and provide an opportunity for members to ask questions and provide their views on the proposed plans.

Councillor Sanderson informed members that the Leaders of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils had agreed in principle to a devolution deal which the Government had ‘minded’ to approve. 

Public consultation was taking place at all Local Area Councils and an event at Alnwick had been well attended. 

The consultation was on the Council’s website, with a list of venues of paper copies of the consultation. 

Janice Rose, Interim Director of Planning and Economy shared a presentation of which the key points were: 

• The ‘minded to’ deal would set out a new framework    
• The new combined authority would be headed up by a Metro mayor, who was expected to be elected in 2024 

• The deal would provide significantly more power and money to the region than at present 
• Transport – previously not a lot of funding had been devolved to the north east 
• Investment – a significant fund supported by an investment plan 
• Skills, education and inclusion – funding towards expanding adult education, with focus on employability and inclusion 
• Housing, land and digital infrastructure - devolved housing powers and expansion of brownfield funding, as well as additional regeneration to improve communities. 

• Clean energy and net zero – measures to unlock potential and increased investment in our major industries, businesses and infrastructure to support clean energy and net zero transition – including a unique ‘Green Superport’ model.  
• Rural economy and sustainability– clear focus on rural growth and stewardship, including a specific rural investment plan and focus on food security, biodiversity and nature gain.  The only areas not included were Cramlington and Blyth.  A specific rural board would be set up which Northumberland would chair. 
• Culture, tourism and place – opportunity to collectively utilise and enhance the region’s greatest assets and partnerships. 
• Health and public service reform – tackling inequalities by including measures to drive innovation in prevention, healthy housing, and social care collaboration 

The seven local authorities had carried out a review to explore whether a new combined?authority for the region would be beneficial to the?North East, which concluded that the new combined authority would benefit economic growth and delivery of public services, devolved funding and also unlock new funding and powers. 

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?In response to members questions, the following information was provided: 

• The deal would give the power for transport to work collaboratively, with better connectivity and integrated ticketing 

• Mini park and ride schemes would be explored to help extend the reach of bus services 
• Governance was in place that would work, the Mayor would understand all the needs and aspirations.  There had been no appetite to have a referendum in the area. 
• There was a constitution that all 7 councils and the Mayor had to agree to a list of key decisions 
• A consultation dashboard was being produced on a regular basis and Sarah McMillan would be able to share the information on her return from leave. 
• The suggestion of signposting the consultation to young people through the school’s network and engaging with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.