Venue: Seaton Sluice Community Centre, Albert Road, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4QX
Contact: Heather Bowers
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wilczek. |
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CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: The Chair reminded members of the pre-election period guidelines and restrictions on political publicity. |
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Minutes of the meeting of the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Committee held on 19 March 2024, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Committee held on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 as circulated, be confirmed as a true record, and be signed by the Chair. |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME To reply to any questions received from members of the public, which may be received in writing in advance of the meeting or asked at the meeting. Questions can be asked about issues for which the Council has a responsibility. If questions are received in advance of meeting it will increase the likelihood of an answer being provided at the meeting. (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:
And/or:
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. Minutes: A Hogg, West Bedlington Town Council asked for a response raised at the last meeting in relation to the 20 mph speeds signs on the B1331.
This would be followed up. |
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This item is to:
Call for Bedlington to receive similar levels of investment as neighbouring towns – Report to follow.
Minutes: Call for Bedlington to receive similar levels of investment as neighbouring towns
Adam Hogg was in attendance and spoke on behalf of Mr Fox who was unable to attend the meeting.
The key points referred to were as follows: -
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NEWCASTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT J Barras, Environmental and Sustainability Advisor and representatives from Newcastle International Airport will be in attendance to explain the changing ways of the airport as a partner and how they are progressing with environmental demands and customer needs. Minutes: Members were informed that this item had been deferred to a future meeting. |
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TRANSITION FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL LANDLINES John Cooper, Strategic Programmes Manager, Digital and IT, will give a presentation on the transition from analogue to digital landlines by Openreach and to address concerns around resilience in the event of power cuts and/or major storms. Minutes: J Cooper - Strategic Programmes Manager was in attendance to provide a presentation on the transition from analogue to digital landlines. Presentation attached to the signed minutes, uploaded to the Council’s website, and share with members of the committee.
Members were informed that the switchover would only impact users with a landline telephone and for the majority of those, the transition would be straightforward. Work was underway in the telecoms industry to try and mitigate the risks with power cuts by adding resilience within the network structure by adding backup generators at relay sites or mobile phone masts.
Northumberland County Council was not directly involved in the industry led programme but had taken the decision to raise awareness with Northumberland’s residents, businesses and community groups and signpost those with concerns to the relevant organisation for support. The Council did not have access to switchover plans and timescales and did not know when individuals would be switched across but had raised awareness with activities including adding flyers to council tax bills, attending Local Area Committee and Parish Council meetings when requested, engaging with stakeholders with a role in community resilience and working with BT to support regional roadshow campaign.
In response to members’ comments, Mr Cooper stated that no additional costs would be involved, and equipment would be free of charge to vulnerable or land line dependent users. Existing telephone numbers could be ported across, and numbers should be able to be retained.
Maps with wards which identified vulnerable people relating to the broadband coverage were requested by Councillor Robinson.
A supplier could install additional extension lines, but hybrid telephones were now being installed however, installation could be delayed if wanted.
Mr Cooper would provide a Comms link from the website via Democratic Services for members.
Members thanked Mr Cooper for the presentation and for attending.
RESOLVED that the presentation be noted. |
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OUTSIDE BODIES Members are asked to confirm if they wish to remain as appointees to the outside bodies which were agreed by the Cramlington Bedlington & Seaton Valley Local Area Committee in July 2023 as follows: -
Minutes: Members considered the list of appointments to outside bodies for 2024/25.
RESOLVED that the following list of appointments be confirmed but to query whether NCC representation was required for Cramlington Community Association and Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project.
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LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 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). Minutes: RESOLVED that the work programme be noted. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next Local Area Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 July. Minutes: Wednesday 24 July 2024. |
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URGENT BUSINESS To consider such other business, as in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reasons of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency. |