Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Netherton Social Club, 1a Netherton Lane, Bedlington, NE22 6DP

Contact: Heather Bowers 

Note: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ARE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THIS MEETING. HOWEVER, MASKS SHOULD BE WORN WHEN MOVING AROUND BUT CAN BE REMOVED WHEN SEATED, SOCIAL DISTANCING SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. HAND SANTISER WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE TABLES WHICH WILL BE SET OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH COVID GUIDELINES. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING IS REQUESTED TO SELF TEST BEFORE THE MEETING. 

Items
No. Item

69.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Councillors W Daley, M Swinburn and R Wilczek.

 

70.

DISCLOSURE OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact Legal Services, on 01670 623324. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Minutes:

Councillor Taylor advised that she had taken part in discussions at West Bedlington Town Council in respect of planning application 21/04021/FUL and therefore would take no part in the application and would leave the room when the item was discussed.

 

71.

DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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

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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

 

Minutes:

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.

 

Councillor Taylor left the room at this point.

 

72.

21/04021/FUL pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Proposal:  Proposed supported living accommodation comprising construction of new building comprising of 12 self-contained 1-bedroom apartments (use class C3) for specialised independent supported living with associated external works and car parking.

Site address 86-88 Front Street, East, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5AB.

Minutes:

Proposed supported living accommodation comprising construction of new building comprising of 12 self-contained 1-bedroom apartments (use class c3) for specialised independent supported living with associated external works and car parking

86 - 88 Front Street East, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5AB

 

R Soulsby, Planning Officer provided an introduction to the application with the aid of a power point presentation.  He advised of an amendment to made to paragraph 2.4 of the report which referred to previous planning applications and advised that it should only refer to application 17/02932/FUL.

 

A Hogg, addressed the Committee speaking on behalf of West Bedlington Town Council in objection to the application.  His comments included the following:-

 

·       The suggested parking places, behind the former Council Offices and using the public spaces behind the Laird's House, were totally inadequate and highlighted the pre-pandemic proposals for the redevelopment of the Council Offices.

·       The woefully inadequate number of on-site parking spaces, just 4 spaces outdoors and a further 3 underneath the building all for 12 apartments. There were also the support staff to consider, social care, nurses, doctors, visiting relatives etc, by the very nature of this facility it would automatically generate a large number of vehicle journeys.

·       There was no dedicated provision for ambulance parking therefore they would need to park on double yellow lines.

·       Problems would also be exacerbated on refuse collection days.

·       If residents were wheel chair bound where was their access from whatever form of transport they arrived in. Parking to the rear, spaces permitting, was probably not practical, the lift was accessed internally so the obvious choice would mean parking on the main road on double yellow lines to access the front entrance. This was also the narrowest part of Front Street East.

·       The size of the building was considerable and was within the Conservation Area and was not supported by the Building Conservation Officer.

·       Properties to the rear could be adversely affected by loss of light, particularly 1 & 2 Perry Stone Mews and 4 Vicarage Gardens and of the windows at the rear of the building would also overlook these properties.

·       There had been no information provided on the specific type of support to be provided by the end user.

·       The Town Council asked that the application be refused for the reasons stated.  It was the wrong development for the location.

 

T Foster and K Pimblott addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  Their comments included the following:-

 

·       The concerns raised by the Town Council had been addressed.  Highways had advised that the parking provision was adequate.

·       The size of the proposed building had not increased over the previously approved application with the number of windows and doors also the same.

·       There would be no increased adverse impact over what had previously been approved.

·       There was a proven demand for this type of development with 3,000 vulnerable adults in Northumberland and work had been undertaken with the Adult Social Care Team in relation to the design to provide fit for purpose  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

73.

APPEALS UPDATE pdf icon PDF 207 KB

For Member’s 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. 

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

A short recess was held at this point.

 

74.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

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 Council 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; 
  1. which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; 
  1. relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person 
  1. relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations; 
  1. restricted to legal proceedings 
  1. about enforcement/enacting legal orders 
  1. 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 Council. 

 

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted in writing. 

 

A Hogg thanked the Council for returning to holding public meetings in public. He advised that there had been an accident at the traffic island beside the new development of 500 houses north of Chesters and questioned if this was a safety issue. M Carle advised that he would investigate if any remedial work was required and discuss with the Integrated Transport Team.

 

B Oliver had been advised by Police that photographs should be taken of any indiscriminate parking and uploaded to the Council’s website for investigation. He asked where he was able to do this as there was a problem with cars parking on the footpath outside a beauty salon which blocked the view for vehicles turning into Vulcan Place.  M Carle advised that he was not aware of this being available on the Council’s website, but he would report this to the Area Office.

 

B Oliver advised of concerns with the parking of cars for sales on the footpaths around Redburn Motor Company at Bebside with cars having to cross the hatched part of the road to pass and that he had witnessed a child having to ride on the road to get past the obstructions.   M Carle advised that an Inspector would be asked to visit the business to ask for the practice to cease as this was an obstruction of the highway.

75.

PETITIONS

This item is to: 

 

(a) Receive any new petitions: to receive any new petitions. The lead petitioner is entitled to briefly introduce their petition by providing a statement in writing, and a response to any petitions received will then be organised for a future meeting. 

          

(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received

 

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

 

Minutes:

There were no new petitions or any updates for petitions previously reported to the Committee.

 

76.

LOCAL SERVICES ISSUES

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 Council, 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 Council. 

 

Minutes:

M Carle, Lead Highways Delivery Manager provided an update to the Committee advising that gulley wagons had been fully employed with additional resources deployed following Storm Arwen.   Details of completed and schemes which were being undertaken in respect of resurfacing, patching, footpaths, footpaths and dropped kerbs were provided.   Winter services would end on 4 April, however monitoring would continue throughout April.  Repairs would be undertaken to the fleet during the summer months.

 

A response would be sought from Open Spaces for Councillor Ezhilchelvan so information could be passed to residents on when repairs would be undertaken to a previously reported issue.    It was confirmed that whilst it had been a milder winter and less grit had been used, temperatures had been marginal and gritting was undertaken in response to forecasts. The long range forecast for the next week had indicated that there could be further inclement weather.

 

In response to a question of why the resurfacing work undertaken as part of works at the roundabout at Seaton Delaval had not been extended to allow the repair of a pot hole, it was clarified that whilst the pedestrian crossing might have deteriorated it could still be deemed to be safe and work was dictated by budgets.

 

Councillor Bowman highlighted an issue with white line markings in Elsdon Avenue and parking in the bus stop at the junction of Elsdon Avenue/Tillmouth Avenue.  It was confirmed that an Inspector would be asked to visit in respect of the white lines to see if these required a refresh, however a TRO would be required to provide a yellow box for the bus stop.

 

M Carle advised that he would discuss with Planning Officers the road and footway surface beside the Longridge development which was highlighted by Councillor Robinson.

 

T Gribbin, Neighbourhood Services Area Manager provided an update to Members which advised that restrictions were still in place at the crematorium, however the numbers of services had stablished in recent weeks.  Winter works continued and scheduled works were on target to be completed. A move would be made shortly to summer working hours and recruitment for seasonal grounds maintenance positions was underway.  The final stages of preparation for the upcoming grass cutting season was underway and weed control activities would be undertaken in-house using blue dye.  It was anticipated that the increased footfall in town centres seen as part of the staycation last year would reduce and therefore reduce pressures on cleansing teams with a return to core standards following the removal of additional government funding. 

 

Elevated tonnages of domestic waste were still being seen due to people continuing to work from home and additional investment would be made to waste services with 2 additional RCV’s and crews due to the rate of house growth.   Initial take up for the garden waste collection had been high and a glass collection trial has been extended by 12 months.  A food waste collection trial was currently being trialled with more information provided to Members when  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

77.

BEDLINGTON TOWN CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE

To receive a presentation on the update of Bedlington Town Centre Redevelopment from Andrew Mowbray, Senior Project Manager, Advance Northumberland.  Councillor Ploszaj, Portfolio Holder for Business and Rick O’Farrell, Interim Executive Director of Regeneration will also be in attendance

Minutes:

A power point presentation was provided by A Mowbray from Advance Northumberland, supported by the other officers from Advance Northumberland along with Councillor Ploszaj, Cabinet Member.   Members were advised of the background to the redevelopment; details of the post covid timetable; the challenges which had been encountered, including delays caused by asbestos being found under two properties, difficulties separating the building from the adjoining Market Tavern, cost increases and the falling retail interest due to the pandemic.  It was reported that Phase 1 was complete and details of Phase 2 and the progress made were provided. 

 

Councillor Wilczek had asked that in her absence the following questions be asked:

 

“Earlier this year, marketing boards appeared near our town centre site advertising three significant “Development Opportunities”. It is a welcome though disappointing update for those of us eagerly awaiting some news on the site. Disappointing in that after more than seven years only Greggs and Aldi have taken the opportunities offered by the site.

 

What is the Council doing, not only to blindly market the site to those passing through central Bedlington, but to attract businesses to our town?

 

And given that local people have had no say in what they would like to see in the town for at least five years, what are we going to do to ensure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalise Bedlington is not lost to piecemeal investment that delivers for nobody?”

 

R O’Farrell, Interim Executive Director advised that a written response would be provided to Councillor Wilczek. 

 

Councillors expressed their disappointment in the progress that had been made over the last 8 years and what was now being proposed with only four new retail units being provided on the frontage with only one being let to Greggs and the others remaining empty and the provision of six apartments.  They questioned the proposals for the remaining areas which were previously to be developed.  In response officers advised that initially there had been interest from retailers in the units, however this had changed following covid.  Barker Proudlock continued to market the units and once confidence in the market started to build, it was hoped that the original interest would return.  Aldi was the anchor store and it was hoped that this would help attract other retailers, however the retail sector had been particularly badly hit and all town centres were struggling.  The planning application in 2015 had been retail led with some leisure and those opportunities were still being marketed however other development could also be looked at but no commitment could be given to further development until the market was known.  An additional £2m Government funding had also been provided so the total investment was now £4.1m.

 

Councillors felt that development which had the backing of the community was required such as leisure facilities including a swimming pool, giving residents a reason to come into the town centre rather than the same retail offer available in Cramlington.  It was commented that following the demolition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

78.

MEMBERS LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Details of the Cramlington, Bedlington & Seaton Valley Members Local Improvement Schemes for the period 2021-22 are provided for information only.

Minutes:

Detailed of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley Members Local Improvement Schemes for the period 2021-22 were provided for information.  Members had only just become aware that Reuban Morgan had retired and wished that their thanks for the work he had undertaken in responding to their requests be noted.  Details of who Members should now contact would be requested. 

 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

79.

LOCAL AREA COUNCIL WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 182 KB

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

Minutes:

The latest version of the agreed items for future Local Area Council meetings was circulated.  In response to a question regarding a presentation on the Youth Service, it was explained that this had been deferred in January due to staff shortages as a result of covid however Officers had now been advised that the Youth Service was now undergoing a review and as such it was not appropriate for a presentation to be provided at the current time. 

 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

80.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The  next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20 April 2022.  (Planning only).

Minutes:

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 20 April 2022 and this would be a planning only meeting.

81.

URGENT BUSINESS

To consider such other business, as in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.