Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Bridgett, Councillor Clark and Councillor Mather.

Minutes of the meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council held on Thursday, 18 August 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.?? 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council held on Thursday, 18 August 2022, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.? 

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting; 

1. Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

2. Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion  or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

3. Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being  (and is not  DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

4. Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

5. Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it. 

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk.  Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

sures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Hunter declared that she had a personal and prejudicial interest in item 7 of the agenda, planning application 22/01660/FUL, as she would be speaking as the Ward Member and would not take part in any debate or vote.

Councillor Watson and Councillor Renner-Thompson declared that they were directors of Ascent Homes and would leave the meeting for item 5 of the agenda, planning application 18/00751/REM

Councillor Hardy in 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 no longer circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

RESOLVED that this was noted.

Councillor Renner-Thompson and Councillor Watson left the meeting.

Reserved Matters application for 65 no. dwellings with all matters to be considered including access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale on approved planning application 13/03894/OUT (Revision Description 22 April 2022)

Land to the West of Northern 4x4 Centre, West End Garage, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland

T. Lowe – Principal Planning Officer introduced the application with a PowerPoint presentation and gave the following updates to the committee:

·       In some paragraphs of the report, it referred to the “emerging NLP”, that was a mistake and wherever this was in the report, the policies referred to were the adopted policies of the adopted NLP and the officer assessment was made using the adopted policies of the adopted NLP.

·       A number of late representations were received and were circulated to members prior to the meeting. The contents of the late representations had been addressed within the report and members had had the opportunity to view all objections.

M. Adams spoke in objection to the application, and gave members the following information:

·       The National Planning Policy Framework 2021 stressed good design of the built environment and that developments should be visually attractive and sympathetic to local character and poorly designed developments should be refused.

·       The Northumberland Local Plan stated that the design of any new development should make a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness and respect its surroundings.

·       The proposed development site was an 8-acre, greenfield area in open countryside, outside the Thropton settlement boundary and any development would be visually intrusive, as it would be viewed from the main road.

·       The size, scale and density of the urban-style estate development were totally unsuitable for the beautiful rural setting.

·       It would increase a small village by 40%

·       The proposed house designs were uniform boxes using different brightly coloured brick and tile finishes and were in stark contrast to the natural sandstone buildings that lined Thropton’s main street.

·       The small housing estate of Wreigh Burn Fields were mainly bungalows, set well back from the road with gardens and boundary hedges. In contrast many of the new houses were two storey and would tower over the bungalows and conservatories along their western boundary and were not in keeping in scale, design or appearance.

·       The application was an unimaginative, unsympathetic, unsustainable development clinging onto the back of a dubious, out of date application.

Councillor N Tuckey spoke on behalf of Thropton Parish Council and gave the following information:

·        The total number of existing planning proposals in Thropton should be considered as a unity, as plans should fit in with the long terms aims of the village and its population within the setting of the County Councils development plan.

·       Thropton had an aging population, and a growing population of elderly widows living alone

·       Developments from the previous 25 years, had been occupied by retired people.

·       Thropton needed more affordable housing and houses to rent.

·       There would be a total of 96 new dwellings, including a recently approved development, a 50% increase in the village.

·       The average household in Thropton owned 2.7 cars, with the update of electric cards, the Parish Council queried where all of the charging points would go.

·       The Parish Council objected to this application.

N. Turnbull spoke in support of the application and gave the committee the following information:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Residential development of grazing land as Village Meadows Phase 2 compromising 4 No. bungalows and 12 No. houses and including roads, servicing, and associated works.

Land South of Village Meadows (Phase 2), South Road, Lowick, Northumberland

J. Sharp – Senior Planning Officer introduced the application with a PowerPoint presentation and gave the following updates to the committee:

·       Paragraph 7.2 in the report should have read “The application proposes 2no affordable units within the development”

·       Paragraph 7.73 in the report. Legal advice was received after the publication of the report stating the works to be carried out the replacement of the septic tanks could be conditioned using a Grampian condition as opposed to a S106. The proposed condition would read along the lines of: “The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the proposed works to replace the two septic tanks at Middleton Low Farm, Belford with modern package treatment plans have been carried out in accordance with the details to be approved in writing by the local planning authority” Exact wording of the condition would be delegated to the planning officers.

·       Paragraph 7.74 in the report. Lowick did not meet the trigger for a second homes condition, therefore there would be no primary occupancy clause on the proposed dwellings.

·       Condition 9.1 would include Nutrient Neutrality and maintenance.

J. Huddart spoke in objection to the planning application and gave the committee the following information:

·       The scheme clashed with the community’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was yet to be adopted.

·       The Neighbourhood plan had been through all phases of public consultation and was being prepared for the Inspector. No objections to any aspect were raised by any party. The plan included the village boundary, excluding the application site.

·       The plan maintains a vibrant and healthy community which satisfied the needs for new and better housing and facilitates of all types and affordability’s, preserving the rural character of the village.

·       The Neighbourhood Plan noted the existence of 37 undeveloped sites with planning permission, and the existence of brownfield sites and other land within the village which could prove more, exceeding the national and county development requirements.

·       The Neighbourhood Plan village boundary sought to limit encroachment on open farmland until 2036, aiming to preserve the character of the settlement and encouraged the use of its existing “land bank”.

·        The proposed development was adjacent to the Village Common, valued by all as an open space, offering a direct link to fields and an uninterrupted view of the nearly Kyloe Hills.

·       The previous proposal was not described as “Phase 1”, the remainder of the field was left as farm land, which the dumping of building waste was negated.

·       The development would add to the pressure on village community facilities.

·       Phases 1 and 2 together would bring around 50 people to the village – a 10% increase in population.

·       The adjacent stream, the Low, floods the Common in extreme weather, when water was trapped and could not drain away. In the Northumberland Local Plan on p213, part 11 – Water Environment, section 11.2 bullet 3 identifies “maximum resistance and resilience to flood risk”. Nearby residents feared that the drainage scheme to be provided would not help to mitigate the increased number of bad  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Creation of a secondary entry/exit point to existing car parks.

Signage at Entrance, Tweedbank Retail Park, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD15 2AS

J. Hudson – Senior Planning Officer introduced the application with a PowerPoint presentation.

Councillor Hunter spoke as the Local Member in the public speaking slot, the following information was given:

·       Paragraph 7.11 of the report states the nearest properties 7, 8 & 9 Turret Gardens were consulted but there was no reference to No’s 36 – 36C Northumberland Road being consulted, which were to the North of the proposed secondary entry/exit point.

·       The A1167 was the main entrance from the A1 into Berwick Upon Tweed & Tweedmouth from the south.

·       The proposed secondary entry/exit was the only access for all deliveries to all businesses on the Retail Park, many of which would take place during opening hours.

·       The current entrance/exit to the retail park regularly had stationary traffic on the A1167 heading south waiting to turn right into the retail park.

·       There was regularly stationary traffic, including HGV’s on the A1167 heading north.

·       Changing the service entrance to a junction for all vehicles accessing the retail units would cause more congestion.

·       The pedestrian crossing was not well used by shoppers from the Retail Park, as the majority of the pedestrians entering and leaving, use the footpath taking them to the junction of the A1167.

·       School children from 9-16 years from Tweedmouth use the footpath along the A1167 to access Tweedmouth Middle School and Berwick Academy.

·       Members were asked to consider a condition that all vehicles existing the Retail Park turn left only.

Following questions from members to the planning officers, the following information was provided:

·       There were no objections from Highways.

·       Condition 4 in the report noted that an internal pedestrian crossing at the entry/exit point to the service road was to be submitted.

·       If members had concerns and wanted  a “no right turn” condition, a highways officer would need to be consulted upon and members could defer the application to the next meeting.

Councillor Hill proposed to accept the officers recommendation, this was seconded by Councillor Pattison.

A vote was taken and was it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED in line with conditions set out in the report. 

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 this was noted.

For Members’ information to report the agreement monitoring and collection of s106 contributions in the planning process.  This is a monthly report and relates to agreements throughout Northumberland during the previous monthly period.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

A comfort break was announced to allow Officers to change over.

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.)? 

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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.?? 

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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:? 
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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.? 
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And/or:? 
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• 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.? 

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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.?? 

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

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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.? 

No questions had been received.  

This item is to:?? 

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

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(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received - None 

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

(a)      No new petitions had been received.   

(b)      There were no petition reports for members to discuss.        

(c)      No updates on previous petitions.  

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.?? 

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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.?? 

Highways

Resurfacing

Multiple resurfacing schemes across all wards in the Northern Area had been completed as well as 13 surface dressing schemes. There were 9 LTP surfacing schemes to complete as well as 8 schemes from the U and C roads programme.

Schemes to complete included:

- Etal Road

- Guyzance

- Elyhaugh near Longframlington

- Preston Towers

- Magdalene Fields, Walkworth.

Members noted that a major new car park at Amble had been completed, alongside various minor drainage schemes, traffic safety schemes and footpath improvement schemes.

Storm Arwen clearance had restarted, a team of tree surgeons cleared over 140 trees that had blocked across a little used U road near Hazon.

Maintenance

The jet patcher was in the area for 8 weeks, and had filled hundreds of potholes mainly up the Valleys.
The Gully tanker was working its way around the secondary network after clearing all gullies on the A697, 698 and 1068.
Members noted that Highways Inspectors were continuing to deal with hundreds of complaints every week while trying to complete their routine inspections.

The Highways Maintenance team had begun the annual inspection of grit bins.    

Following the update from G. Bucknall – Lead Highways Delivery Manager, members were invited to ask questions, in which the following information was provided:  

·       The bird nesting season had ended, and trees were starting to be cut back to allow clearer visibility for road signs.

·       The Alnwick to Lesbury resurfacing scheme had been deferred to the 2023 programme. 

Members thanked Graham and the team for their continued hard work. 

Neighbourhood Services  

Waste Services 

Residual, Recycling and Garden waste collection services were all operating well, with the income from garden waste and commercial waste exceeding targets.

Members noted that there had been an increased demand for bulky waste collections and also additional collections for bottle recycling facilities.

The kerbside food waste trial had been delayed due to supply chain issues and was scheduled to start in November.

Grass Cutting 

Members noted that grass cutting had remained on target but there had been some challenging periods throughout the tear due to long spells of warm and dry weather. The team was on cut number 10 out of 11 for the year.

Members were informed that winter works were starting to be scheduled for maintenance commitments, but requests from members were welcome.

Following the update from B. Hodgson – Neighbourhood Services Area Manager, members were invited to ask questions, in which the following information was provided:  

·       The out of hours service covered: fallen trees, road incidents, dangerous electrical lighting, and dangerous potholes.

·       The gully tanker worked on an 18-month rota but would focus on hot-spots for blockages. 

·       Any road with a speed limit of over 30mph would need a traffic management system in place for verge cutting.

Members thanked Bob and the team for their continued hard work.

As the meeting approached the 3?hour?limit Members were asked if they wished to suspend standing orders in order to continue the meeting.? Upon being put to the vote it was:? 

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RESOLVED?that in accordance with the Council's constitution, standing orders be suspended and the meeting continue over the?3 hour?limit.? 

To receive a presentation from the Ivan Hewitt, Rural Business Growth Programme Manager on the Rural Business Growth Service. 

I. Hewitt – Rural Business Growth Manager, introduced the service to members with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation.

The RBGS was delivered by Advance Northumberland on behalf of Northumberland County Council and worked with micro, small and medium sized enterprises, located in the rural areas of Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.

The aim of the RBGS was to grow the rural economy in North of Tyne, with the key outcome being the creation of growth and jobs. The service would be a single point of contact and provided access to one-to-one business secure funding and financial support. The capital grand for business to grow, expand production and diversity. The grants would start from £10,000 upwards at a maximum intervention rate of 40%.

The capital grant was available for eligible businesses with clear growth potential that required direct capital investment to grow, expand productivity capacity or diversify into new markets or products.

Businesses would include:

·       Food and drink production

·       Manufacturing

·       Knowledge, intensive business

·       Culture, creative and tourism – excluding retail and accommodation

·       Energy products and services

·       Environmental products and services

Members thanked Ivan for attending and for the information on the Rural Business Growth Service.

Details of the North Northumberland Members Local Improvement Schemes for the period 2021-25 are provided for information only.? 

RESOLVED that this was noted.

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). 

Councillor Swinbank suggested “Space for Shorebirds” to be added to the work programme.

Councillor Watson requested a representative from Highways to attend the next meeting to discuss the sustainability issues that were mentioned in the planning reports.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council is scheduled for Thursday, 20 October 2022 at St James URC, Pottergate, Alnwick, NE66 1JW

The next meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council was scheduled for Thursday, 20 October 2022, St James’ URC, Pottergate, Alnwick, NE66 1JW

RESOLVED that this was noted.