Agenda and draft minutes

The committee is asked to note the following membership and terms of reference for the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Committee which were agreed by Council on 17 May 2023. 

The membership is made up of the county councillors who represent the 12 electoral divisions in the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley area, 

Chair:  M D Swinburn

Vice Chair: S Lee; Vice Chair (Planning): R Wilczek

Quorum - 4

Terms of reference  

(1)      To enhance good governance in the area and ensure that the  

Council’s policies take account of the needs and aspirations of local communities and do not discriminate unfairly between the different Areas. 

(2)      To advise the Cabinet on budget priorities and expenditure within the  

Area. 

(3)      To consider, develop and influence policy and strategy development of 

the Council, its arms-length organisations, and other relevant bodies, to ensure that they meet local requirements and facilitate efficient and transparent decision making.    

(4)       To receive information, consider and comment on matters associated  

with service delivery including those undertaken in partnership agencies, affecting the local area to ensure that they meet local requirements, including matters relating to community safety, anti- social behaviour and environmental crime. 

(5)       To consider and refer to Cabinet any issues from a local community  

perspective with emerging Neighbourhood Plans within their area, and consider local planning applications as per the planning delegation scheme  

(6)      To consider and recommend adjustments to budget priorities in  

relation to Local Transport Plan issues within their area, and to make decisions in relation to devolved capital highway maintenance allocations. 

(7)       To engage, through the appropriate networks, with all key stakeholders 

from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to facilitate the delivery of area priorities. This will include undertaking regular liaison with parish and town councils. 

(8)       To inform, consult and engage local communities in accordance  

with Council policy and guidance, through the appropriate networks.   

(9)      To, as appropriate, respond or refer with recommendations to  

local petitions and councillor calls for action. 

(10)    To make certain appointments to outside bodies as agreed by Council. 

(11)    To determine applications for grant aid from the Community Chest, either through Panels for individual Local Area Councils, or through the Panel of Local Area Council Chairs for countywide applications. 

(12)    To refer and receive appropriate issues for consideration to or from  

other Council Committees, and as appropriate invite Portfolio Holders to attend a meeting if an item in their area of responsibility is to be discussed.

RESOLVED that the Membership and Terms of Reference for the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Committee as agreed by Council at the meeting on 17 May 2023 be noted.

The Chair referred to the error of membership in the table relating to Councillor Lee who should be listed under the Independent Group.

The Chair advised those present of the procedure to be followed at the

Meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daley, Dunbar,

Ezhilchelvan, Ferguson and Wilczek.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Council held on Tuesday, 16 May 2023 as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cramlington, Bedlington &

Seaton Valley Local Area Council held on 16 May 2023 as circulated, be

confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair with the following

amendments:

To note Councillor Christine Taylor’s attendance.

The last paragraph on page 8 should state "Mr Gribbin explained that some

streets in Cramlington/Seaton Valley and Blyth had not been cleaned as there

was no dedicated large sweeping machine”.

Councillor Robinson referred to a request for a further report following an

issue raised under Public Question Time. The Chair explained that the item

would be followed up and discussed with the individual concerned and

referred to the email from the Director of Local Services where it had not been

thought appropriate for individual complaints relating to a specific property to

be the subject of a report to the Local Area Committee. The Chair would, if

possible, share the information with members.

Councillor Lee referred to a comment regarding blocked gullies in Cramlington

and clarified that he had raised the issue of an ongoing blocked gully on the

B1326 at the hospital roundabout, which made it difficult for pedestrians to

walk on the pavement without getting drenched by passing vehicles. He also

raised the issue of the pedestrian bridge over the A189 Spine Road no longer

having pedestrian access as the pavement leading to it had been fenced in,

forcing on to the road.

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 no longer 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.

Outline planning application (all matters reserved) for 99 dwellings. 

Land South Of Plant Based Valley, Avenue Road, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland 

Outline planning application (all matters reserved) for 99 dwellings. Land south of Plant Based Valley, Avenue Road, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland.

Tamsin Wood, Principal Planning Officer provided two updates:

1) Paragraph 7.23 in the report should be omitted but this would no bearing on the conclusion.

2) A further letter of objection had been received which had set out similar concerns that the industrial site could not function adjacent to an residential housing site.

The Officer continued to introduce the report with a PowerPoint presentation.

Nigel Hall, resident, addressed the Committee and raised the following:

• He lived closed to the site and had followed the development since it had been purchased by the developer.

• There was no merit in building 99 houses on the NHS site which would jeopardise jobs.

• The application would bring confrontation with two opposing developments.

• The NHS Centre worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays.

• The development was not feasible.

• Seaton Delaval needed local employment nearby.

• A good industrial site was being ruined and there was no merit in the planning application.

• Loss of employment and apprenticeships.

Richard Lanyan addressed the Committee on behalf of the applicant in support of the application:

• He was the business partner of the Applicant, Duo Renovations Ltd and had a long association with the site dating back to 2019 when the whole complex of land and buildings had been acquired.

• Coty had unexpectedly shut down the factory having acquitted the business from Proctor & Gamble the preceding year with job losses.

• He had been instrumental in facilitating the move by the NHS to the site in 2020 and the subsequent sale in 2021.

• The success and growth of the NHS commercial hub was a very significant and positive benefit to the region and he was pleased to have been an enabler and played a small part in that process.

• To underline the commitment and support to promote and facilitate employment, the applicant had gone out of their way at the point of sale to ensure the expansion of the NHS hub was protected under the terms of title transfer.

• Protection was catered for under the terms of the legal title transfer and this could be verified by officers who had been provided copies of the transfer document which not only specifically safeguarded and future proofed the main access to the site, but also ensured that continued planning support from Duo as a neighbouring landowner for all future NHS operations on the factory site. • Before the factory side was sold to the NHS, planned residential proposals for the retained land were openly shared with the NHS on the understanding both parties would be supportive of one another. The NHS had also been offered the ability to purchase the land at the time, which had not been taken up.

• Being mindful of the NHS future plans for their site, over the last 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 19 July 2023.

The next meeting would take place on Wednesday, 19 July