Agenda and draft minutes

Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee - Monday, 13th January, 2025 4.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions

Contact: Lesley Little 

Items
No. Item

32.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors, Bawn, Dickinson, Dunn, Foster and Jones.

 

The Chair highlighted the notifications sent out by Modern Gov had caused confusion with some Councillors thinking that the meeting had been cancelled.  Those present advised that they had thought it was clear that it was only the Planning meeting that had been cancelled. 

 

33.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 187 KB

The minutes of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 18 November 2024, as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee held on Monday 18 November 2024, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

 

34.

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 or asked at 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 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:

  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 Committee.

 

Minutes:

No public questions were submitted.

 

35.

PETITIONS

(a)    Receive any new petitions:

 

This item is to receive any new petitions. The lead petitioner handing in a petition at the meeting is entitled to briefly introduce their petition, and a response to any petitions received will then be organised for a future meeting.

 

 

(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.

 

Minutes:

a) Receive New Petitions – No new petitions were received.

 

(b) Petitions Previously Received – None

 

(c ) Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously considered:   No updates were provided.

 

36.

THOMAS POCKLINGTON TRUST

To receive a verbal presentation from Jack Moffatt, Engagement Officer at the Thomas Pocklington Trust on the accessible streets project.

 

Minutes:

Jack Moffatt, the Engagement Officer at the Thomas Pocklington Trust was in attendance to provide information and raise awareness of the accessible streets project.   He advised that the Trust was involved with groups of other visually impaired (VI) people who campaigned on projects both locally and nationally to improve equalities for VI people such as access to sports and leisure, transport, health and the built environment. 

 

Members were advised that he had met with a number of Town Councils in Northumberland in relation to accessibility to town centres and whilst the information provided had been well received, action was required to implement recommendations to allow VI people to be confident in accessing towns.  Advertising boards should be against business premises and a gap of 1.8m – 2m, sufficient to allow a wheelchair or double buggy to pass without having to go onto the road should be allowed, and it would be good if businesses understood their responsibilities.  Amble Town Council had agreed to take leaflets to distribute to businesses within the town centre on what they can do to help with accessibility.  These were small improvements, but they would make a big difference to people with visual impairments. 

 

Tactile paving was another big issue in that it often was laid incorrectly, out of date or worn.  It was recognised that this was a large investment for Councils, however other things were within the control of Councils such as the placement of planters, street furniture and bollards.  Simple things would make a difference such as the use of contrasting colours or flashes on these that would stand out. 

 

Whilst Councillors had taken part in simulation spec walks which showed the effects different impairments may have on vision, it did not simulate the anxiety felt by VI people when trying to navigate towns independently and how one incident or fall could destroy all confidence and prevent people from leaving their homes.   It was acknowledged that no one wished to purposely make it difficult for VI people, but this needed to be given a higher priority than at present. 

 

Councillors advised that they had taken part in the walks previously and that these had been very educational.  It was also thought that businesses were very confused on where boards should be placed.  Members thought it would be good to be able to promote towns within Northumberland as good places to visit as they were accessible to all.  In response to a question in relation to whether it was felt that people were less tolerant now, specifically highlighting issues with guide dog users being discriminated against and being denied access to taxis, restaurants, shops etc, Jack advised that he had never been made to feel uncomfortable or uneasy using his long cane within Northumberland, however in his opinion there needed to be a societal change, but there was nothing in schools to educate children on such things.   

 

Councillor Wearmouth advised that Morpeth Town Council talked regularly about boards outside businesses, but it probably would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

BUDGET 2025-26 AND MEDIUM-TERM FINANCIAL PLAN

This presentation will outline the Council’s approach to the 2025-26 Budget within the context of the Corporate Plan.   The presentation will provide details of the approach to setting the budget for the next financial year and the broad impact this will have on the delivery of services.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Sanderson, Leader of Council, was in attendance to provide a power point presentation on the budget for 2025-26.  A copy of the presentation would be filed with the signed minutes and uploaded to the Council’s website.  He advised that this was the first LAC to receive the presentation and that there was to be a Policy Conference in 10 days’ time for all Members on this subject.  Members were asked to acknowledge the achievements in 2024-25 delivering value for money such as the outstanding Ofsted inspection in relation to Children’s Services, the delivery of services such as dealing with potholes and the action taken in respect of fly-tipping, continuing to provide free car parking within town centres and support for libraries and leisure.  Schools within the County were in the top quartile for the Country and the authority had the highest tenant satisfaction in the region. In terms of investing in growth and jobs, highlighted were the opening of the Northumberland Line, the £10bn investment secured at the NEP3 site and continuing investment in the school estate.  Northumberland was also responsible for the portfolio for the Environment, Coast and Rural within the North East Combined Authority.  Continuing Council Tax support, providing warm zones in conjunction with partners, and the establishment of a County Partnership working together on health and housing were highlighted as achievements in tackling inequalities.

 

Details were provided on the financial context of the budget for 2025/25 stating that whilst funding to NCC had increased in cash terms by £13.2M this was only an increase of 6.8% compared to the two previous years which had equated to 11% and 13%.  Highlighted against this were the additional pressures on the budget such as the new responsibilities from Government which would cost almost £9.5m, the anticipated pay award for 2025/26, pressures in Children’s Social Car and Adults, growth and pressure on home to school transport.  Also of note was that Northumberland was one of only seven North East Councils not to receive any Recovery Grant from Government and the Rural Services Delivery Grant had been abolished.  On top of that, it was unclear if there would be additional funding for pot hole repairs and £3m - £4m would need to be found from the LTP for the Mitford landslide.

 

The Leader advised that it was a disappointing picture, but the Administration would continue to follow their priorities including providing value for money, and to provide the services that residents appreciated, with no cut to front line services. The next steps would include a consultation with the public, with encouragement being provided for all to complete the questionnaire.  He highlighted that he was incredibly grateful to staff for all the work undertaken across the whole range of services provided by the Council.

 

Members were pleased that free car parking would continue to be offered within the County’s town centres as it was considered this contributed greatly to the economy of town centres.  It was confirmed that space within County Hall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 153 KB

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:

The work programme had been circulated for information.   Members requested that the Police be invited to attend a future meeting and also for officers from Local Services to attend.  There may also be a need to revisit concerns regarding parking in relation to Newcastle Airport.

 

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

 

39.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Local Area Council will be on Monday 10 February 2025 in the Council Chamber, County Hall on the rising of the Local Area Planning Committee.  This is a special meeting being held to discuss the draft Local Transport Plan only, and there will be no public question time or information on petitions. 

 

Minutes:

The next meeting was scheduled for Monday 10 February 2025 to discuss the Draft Local Transport Plan only.  Please note that there would be no Public Question Time or discussion on Petitions.  The meeting would take place immediately after any Planning Committee business.