Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Scott.

Minutes of the meeting of the Tynedale Local Area Council, held on 14 June 2022, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Tynedale Local Area Council held on 14 June 2022, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and 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;??

a.      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.?

b.      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.

c.      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.?

d.      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.

e.      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.

Councillor Riddle declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in agenda item no 6 planning application 21/03415/FUL as he had a very small number of shares in the Auction Mart below the threshold he was required to declare. He confirmed he had written advice from the NCC Legal Service that clarified that this was a non-prejudicial interest.

Likewise, Councillor Hutchinson declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in agenda item no 6 planning application 21/03415/FUL as he had a very small number of shares in the Auction Mart below the threshold he was required to declare.

The Chair advised members of the procedure which would be followed at the meeting.

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 committee was requested 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.

Construction of 44no. homes (Use Class C3) and 20no. apartments (Use Class C2)  including associated  access,  landscaping  and infrastructure (amended description)

Former Bellingham Auction Mart, Bellingham, Northumberland

There were no questions arising from the site visit videos which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the application with the aid of a powerpoint presentation and reported the following updates:

·        A further objection had been received from a resident at Westfield House, which raised concerns in relation to:

-       the proposed Class C2 apartment use on the site;

-       the effect on the character of Bellingham;

-       not enough local people in need of the number of properties proposed;

-       effect on local infrastructure.

·        Environmental Protection had initially raised an objection due to insufficient information relating to air source heat pumps (ASHPs).  The applicant had since advised that the intention is for ASHPs to only be used on the C3 dwellings, not the apartments, and this would adopt photovoltaic panels with electric panel heaters within the properties.  Environmental Protection had subsequently advised that details of ASHPs for the dwellings could be conditioned.

·        On the basis of the current layout, and not accepting the Council’s position on viability, the applicant had confirmed they would accept the £33,000 financial contribution to progress the application.  Whilst this would address the main purpose for recommending refusal reason 4, it should still be included as the Section 106 agreement had not been completed.  Reason 4 should also be amended to include reference to affordable housing as one of the obligations that would need to be secured through a S106 agreement.

·        Confirmed that the applicants, following discussion with the LPA, had submitted a late amendment to:

(1) remove one of the residential units, and

(2) allow an increased level of amenity space around the residential block.

The Interim Executive Director of Planning & Local Services, Regeneration, Commercial & Economy commented that the application provided an unusual opportunity to provide a significant number of affordable housing units which benefitted from external funding in a rural location.  He also confirmed that the site had remained “fallow” for many years because of site technical issues and consequent viability problems.  The scheme proposed therefore represented a viable route to overcome significant problems associated with the site.  He also confirmed that the site was allocated for residential development within the Northumberland Local Plan and that the principle of affordable/specialist housing in the location was fully supported.  He noted however, that whilst there had been extensive negotiations with the applicant, the application as presented did not fully meet design standards that the Local Plan sought to achieve. He therefore asked Members to determine whether the benefits of the application outweighed the harm, both of which had been outlined.

Mr Cresswell, a director of Maple Oak Living, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.  He highlighted the following: -

·        The site had a number of complex issues which was why it had remained undeveloped for 18 years.  The project provided a unique opportunity to deliver a scheme which would bring substantial benefits to the local community.

·        They had engaged with a wide variety of local stakeholders  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

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.

The report provided information on the progress of planning appeals.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Councillor Horncastle left the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 5.53 p.m. until 6.10 p.m.

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;

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.

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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

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;

i)       Wentworth Car Park & Hexham Alemouth Road Car Park, Hexham

To report that a new e-petition has been opened on the Council’s website.

b)         Consider reports on petitions previously received: (none)

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

a)      Receive any new petitions:

It was reported that the following new petition had been opened for signatures on the Council’s website:

Wentworth Car Park & Hexham Alemouth Road Car Park, Hexham

b)     Consider reports on petitions previously received:

There were none to consider.

c)      To consider updates on petitions previously considered:

There were none to consider.

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.

Members received the following updates from the Area Managers from Neighbourhood Services and Technical Services:

Neighbourhood Services:

·       The service had continued to experience severe staffing challenges in respect of HGV drivers, but with the assistance from colleagues in Highways and other depots, the service had continued with only a few missed collections which emptied on subsequent days.  Recruitment was progressing.

·       There were 7,200 garden waste customers in the west which was proving challenging when there were large tonnages collected.

·       Amenity grass cutting had been impacted by staff assisting with refuse collections however these had been caught up via overtime.  4/5 cuts had been carried out to date with the service on target for 10-13 cuts during the season.

·       Weed control was being delivered by a combination of a local contractor and grounds staff.  The service was 3-4 weeks behind schedule due to the number of windy days which had prevented weed killer from being applied.  Most areas had received a first application.  Members were asked to forward any locations which needed another visit.

·       Verge cutting was on target for completion by the end of July.  Local farmers were engaged to assist with 6.8 million m2 of grass verge in the county.  Areas would be visited promptly if there were any concerns regarding regrowth at visibility splays.  Any safety issues should be reported.

·       105 tonnes of glass had been collected from properties in the Hexham participating in the kerbside glass collection trial.  In total 299 tonnes had been collected from across the 4 trial areas between November 2020 to October 2021 and 204 tonnes from November 2021 to date.

·       They had worked in conjunction with Town and Parish Councils to ensure that In Bloom and Green Flag routes were well maintained and presented well before judging took place.

Responses to issues raised by Councillors included:

·       A food waste trial was scheduled to commence in the Morpeth area in September to gather information on participation and collection amounts prior to it becoming a mandatory service.  A hot box composting bin trial would also be commencing in some rural and sparsely populated areas where it would not be technically, economically or environmentally practical to provide a weekly collection.

·       The locations of areas of concern regarding the cutting of grass verges should be emailed to the officer to investigate whether there had been regrowth, or the location missed.  Verges in the most rural areas were last in the programme and may not yet have been visited.

·       Further information on the food waste trial was available in a report considered by the Communities & Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 June 2022.

·       A report on the alternative methods of weed control was being prepared by the Head of Neighbourhood Services and Neighbourhood Services Divisional Manager.  The alternative methods had generally been more expensive and less effective with several more visits being required.

·       Vandalism at the bandstand at the Sele had been identified as a priority for the police and community safety colleagues.  The damage was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Councillor Riddle left the meeting at 6.50 p.m.

Gillian Cowell, Business and Community Engagement Officer, iNorthumberland Programme, will be in attendance to give an update and answer questions about Broadband in the Tynedale area.

Gill Cowell, Business and Community Engagement Officer, iNorthumberland Programme, was in attendance to give and update and answer questions about broadband and connectivity in the Tynedale area.  (A copy of the presentation is enclosed with the signed minutes).

The presentation included information on:

·        Current broadband coverage in Tynedale and comparison with Northumberland and national data.

·        Expansion of Local Full Fibre Networks using BDUK and NCC funds to act as a catalyst to roll out fibre following installation at public buildings.

·        The Openreach Fibre First programme and roll out fibre to additional areas by 2026.

·        Delivery of fibre by Altnet suppliers within the next 12-18 months with more locations not yet publicised.

·        Project Gigabit provided a subsidy for commercial investment in hard-to-reach parts of the UK that would not be otherwise be viable to help meet the government’s target for 85% of UK premises to access gigabit capable broadband by 2025.  The closing date for tenders for over 62,000 properties in Northumberland and Durham was 28 July with a decision expected in November 2022.  A decision on a smaller Type A lot of around 4,000 properties was expected to be announced in August 2022.  A map depicted properties:Green – included within the Type A lot

Grey – included within the procurement exercise for Cumbria as served by the Brampton telephone exchange.  (A decision was expected in September 2022.)

Blue – deferred as potentially being rolled out commercially.

Red – included within the initial Type B roll out for Northumberland and Durham.

·        Gigabit vouchers had temporarily been frozen during the aforementioned procurement process. ?The vouchers provided £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses towards the costs of installing gigabit broadband for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas. ?NCC had also put in place top up funding to match the Gigabit vouchers to increase the amount available to £3,000 for homes and £7,000 for businesses who were eligible (i.e. rural designation and current speeds less than 30 Mbps).  Alternative methods were to be explored to connect very hard to reach premises.

·        The iNorthumberland website pages had recently been revamped and residents were encouraged to input their postcodes to check broadband speeds.

·        Officers would be meeting with colleagues in planning regarding gigabit broadband requirements for new developments.

It was noted that rural areas in Northumberland were identified as a priority to improve broadband speeds.  Alternative technical solutions would be required for some isolated properties where it would not be practical to dig miles of trenches to lay cables.

Whilst Members were pleased that progress was being made, delivery of the projects in some areas was not expected until 2026, which was frustrating, particularly in areas which did not have a good mobile telephone reception.

It was thought it would be useful if the presentation could also be given parish councils.

The Chair thanked the officer for the useful update and agreed that a copy of the presentation be circulated following the meeting.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

The Members Local Improvement Schemes for Tynedale Local Area Council are provided for information only.

The Local Area Council received a progress update on Members’ Local Improvement Schemes as at 1 June 2022.  (A copy of the report is enclosed with the minutes.)

RESOLVED that the report be 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).

A list of agreed items for future Local Area Council meetings was circulated.  (A copy is enclosed with the minutes.)

Members were invited to email any requests to the Chair and / or Democratic Services Officer between meetings.

The following presentations had recently been arranged:

September - North of Tyne Rural Business Growth Service

November – Highways Maintenance

RESOLVED that the work programme be noted.

The next meeting (planning only) will be held on Tuesday, 9 August 2022.

The next meeting (planning only) would be held on Tuesday 9 August 2022 at 4.00 p.m.