ELWICK PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of meeting held at 7.00pm on Thursday 31 January 2019 at Elwick WI Hall

 

Present: Cllrs. P. Hutchinson (Chair), H. Thompson, D. Atkins, E. Hurst, B. Irving, R. Musgrave, R. Thompson

 

In Attendance:Mike Hill MP, Ward Cllrs B. Loynes and M. Young, Mrs. M. West, Clerk

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, the first of 2019, especially Mike Hill, MP, for whom this was his first Elwick parish Council meeting. 

1. Mike Hill MP:Mike spoke about the town being the focus of much of what he hears, rather than the whole of the Borough, and expressed the wish to come as regularly to the Parish Council as he can. Hartlepool is often seen in a poor light – media coverage tends to focus on the bad, but there are lots of good things happening too, often not talked about, such as the new, major business investment in Hartlepool. He then asked what issues were of current concern to the rural area. Issues raised included:

• The design of the Bypass and premature closing of the A19 crossings which will impact Dalton Piercy residents as well as those in Elwick;
• No mention of the villages in HBC publications
• Volume of traffic through the villages, accessing the A19;
• Lack of affordable housing to purchase, which would allow the elderly to downsize;
• The need for pedestrian crossings and a speed limit on the A689 at Wynyard; HBC has agreed to undertake a speed survey but no timescales have been given for the actions agreed by HBC;
• Lack of facilities at Wynyard – including public transport;
• Concern about the decision to leave the farm crossings open on the 19 – this is going to be very dangerous;
• HBC not taking action on issues raised with them, such as the poor state of the pavements in the village;
• Poor broadband in the area, especially at Wynyard and on the other side of the A19. 

Mr. Hill listened carefully to the concerns and agreed to do what he could to help.

Mike Hill MP left the meeting at 7.50pm

2. Apologies: None

                          

3. Public Forum: No members of public present. 

4. Declarations of Interest:None.

                                                                                                                        

5. Minutes of 29^thNovember 2018: It was resolvedthat these were a true record and the minutes were signed by the chairman.

 

6. Matters Arising:

(a) Youth Focus:The Clerk reported that she had received an email from Heather Insull at Youth Focus, apologising for the breakdown in communication and stating that the survey was now ready and asking if the Parish Council wished to run it during the February half-term? If so, we would need to provide personnel to help deliver it. During the following discussion, Cllr Young expressed the feeling that YFNE were not competent enough to deliver, a view supported by others. Cllr H. Thompson proposed, seconded by Cllr Musgrave, that “The Youth Club survey be abandoned for the time being”. The proposal was unanimously supported and it was therefore RESOLVED to discontinue the Youth Club idea for the time being. It was also agreed to that the idea of the survey would be useful to pick up in the future. Action:The Clerk to inform Youth Focus NE that we would not be proceeding with the survey. 

(b) Fence at Wildlife Garden:Cllrs Irving and Musgrave reported that they had looked at the fence, that it was not falling down and they could see no urgent need for its replacement.  They therefore proposed that the fence be left for now. This was unanimously agreed, and it was RESOLVEDto leave the fence at the Wildlife Garden for the time being. 

(c) Church Bank fence:Cllr H. Thompson reported that Foster Law (the fencing company) were willing to install estate fencing if the Parish Council insisted, though they believed it would neither be safe, nor meet current Health & Safety legislation. After a brief discussion the view was expressed that public safety overrode the conservation requirement and that the Parish Council should only install fencing that met H&S requirements, and would make the bank path safe for all users. It was RESOLVEDto submit a pre-planning application, at a cost of £140, with the type of secure fencing preferred by the Parish Council. Action:The Clerk to submit a pre-planning application for the repair and renewal of the path and fence down Church Bank. 

(d) Ash Tree behind garages in Manor Close:The Clerk informed that the tree has now been removed. Cllr Irving noted that Mr. Bryan Claughan of Potter’s Farm had done this. Thanks were expressed to Mr. Claughan for resolving the problem. 

(e) Tree inspection:The Clerk informed that no response had as yet been received from Derek Wardle. 

(f) Highways England: The Clerk informed that a letter had been received, which simply reiterated the need for the closures and did not address the issues raised. 

7. Ward Councillors’ Reports: Cllr Loynesreported as follows:

• Drains on Church Bank have collapsed and it will require the road to be closed once HBC is ready to undertake repairs, not likely to happen soon; Cllr Irving reported that he drain half-way down the bank on the opposite side was completely blocked
• Street lights on Church Bank – to be looked at again; 
• The Manor Close sign is to be repaired;
• Pavements in North Lane – are now on the list for repair;
• Black box in North lane has been removed; 
• Cllr Atkins reported that the street lights on the Hartlepool side of the junction of the new road with Wynyard Woods, are working fine;
• HBC is to inspect, realign and repaint the lamp posts in Wynyard Woods in the spring; 
• HBC has inspected the uneven cobbled paving;
• Cllr Musgrave reported that the chevrons at Pudding Poke bend in Coal Lane were still not up, residents have now waited for 2 years for these! 

Cllr Young thanked everyone for their warm welcome to Elwick, since his move into the village. 

       

 

8. Wynyard Report: Cllr Atkins stated there was nothing further to report. 

 

9. Village Maintenance Group Report:The report had been circulated in advance of the meeting (see below). Cllr Irving reported that someone had slipped on the mossy pavement in The Walk, and there was also a pothole there. Simon Hutchinson has kindly raised the zip wire – Cllrs Irving and Musgrave to check that it was now at the correct height. 

    Tasks Completed:

• New benches in Playing Field and North Lane 
• Zip wire raised

 

     Tasks still waiting:

• Stones around green to be painted 
• Complete clearing of edges of greens
• Street lights on Church Bank still on 
• Manor Close road sign still not replaced
• No Parking signs on the green – in hand
• Blocked drain on Church Bank
• Railings on Church Bank – still awaiting decision on design
• Pavements in North Lane
• Grass in cobbles in Martindale Close – needs to be sprayed in the spring
• Chevrons and crash barrier at Pudding Poke, Coal Lane

10. Social Activities Sub-Committee: Report circulated in advance.Cllr H. Thompson reported that she had now received the photographs of the children’s Christmas party taken by Mrs Heslop; these cost £29.60 to print. The committee had agreed to see if parents wished to purchase those of their children at a cost of £1.00 each. She was delighted to report that over 100 people had turned out to sing carols around the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve. 

11. Financial Report:The Clerk presented the monthly reports, which it was resolvedto accept.

 

                  Receipts:                                         £            Payments                                                                                                            £

 

                                                      0.00          SLCC (conference fee replacement cheque)                                                  90.00                                                                                               D.M. Ireland (salary 3 months)                                                                        558.72                                                                                               HMRC (PAYE)                                                                                                      139.68                                                                                               Hartlepool Round Table (Donation)                                                                50.00                                                                                               Ords (Signs)                                                                                                        234.00                                                                                               Wynyard Residents Association (Collection boxes etc.)                          160.98                                         Total:                           0.00          Total:                                                                                                                1,233.38                

     Cllr R. Thompson asked if the Clerk could circulate the financial reports with the agenda in future; this was agreed by all. Action:Clerk to circulate financial reports with agenda.         

 

12. Budget 2019-2020                  

The Clerk presented the anticipated outcome figures as at 3 March 2019 along with a draft budget which included the proposals identified by Councillors earlier. These were fully discussed. Cllr H. Thompson raised concerns about the overfilling of the skips and the consequent rubbish left behind. She then proposed that the skips should not be provided in the next financial year. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Musgrave and put to the vote. 5 voted in favour, 1 against with 1 abstention; the vote was therefore carried. The Wynyard representatives explained that their proposal to fund an audit, actually meant a road safety audit. Cllr R. Thompson explained that this was not the role of the parish council, but that of HBC and therefore should not be funded from the precept. Cllr Atkins stated that the proposed summer play days were to be held in the school premises. It was noted that £2,800 was held in the parish council’s reserves towards the cost of a planning application for a community centre at Wynyard where there were no community facilities at all.  

The Ward Councillors left the meeting at 9.15 pm. 

After some further discussion on the figures, Cllr. Thompson proposed that the precept demand be held at the same level as in 2018. Cllr Atkins seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. It was therefore RESOLVEDthat the precept demand for 2019-2020 be £12,905.     

13. Correspondence:(a) letter from Mr. Tiplady- noted; (b) response letter from Daniel James, Planning   Officer – noted; (c) HBC- Statement of Community Involvement consultation – noted; (d) Civic Voice – survey in response to Govt Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission – all to complete by 12^thFebruary; (e) Affordable Landscapes tender for replacement of bridge in playing field £960. Agreed; (f) Age UK – no action.

 

14. Planning Applications:  

H/2019/0004 – Manorside, Hanzard Drive, Wynyard – no objection

H/2018/0457 - Land to north of A689 adjacent to roundabout at The Wynd and The              Meadows – no objection

H/2018/0508 – Whelly Hill Farm, Worset Lane – srongly object. This is further industrialisation in the rural area and contravenes the Rural Plan, which is now part of Local Plan. 

H/2018/0513 - Plot9, The Beaumont, Wynyard – no objection

H/20180498 - Land to north of A689 – No objection in principal, but top layer of bund should be 100% sub-soil in order to reduce fertility and encourage biodiversity and wildflowers rather than grass/weeds 

H/2018/0459 – 31 Snowdrop Road, Hartlepool – not in Elwick parish

H/2019/0009 – Plot 24, Wellington Gardens, Wynyard - no objection

H/2018/0516 – Plat3, Musgrave garden lane, Wynyard – no objection

H/2018/0415 – 30 North lane, Elwick – planning approved

H/2018/0246 – Close Farm Cottage, Close Farm  - invitation to go to Planning Committee to be held on 19 December – invitation arrived too late. 

Cllr Atkins raised concern that the Supplementary Planning Documents did not include the Wynyard Master Plan. This plan (not yet extant) was heavily relied upon in the Stockton Local Plan examination:

• The Examiner required evidence of collaboration between SBC and HBC – Matthew King, HBC agreed with SBC representatives that the Master Plan would be evidence of this; 
• Both Councils’ representatives agreed the Master Plan was required to make Wynyard a sustainable settlement, as stated in the Local Plan. 

 

15. Matters of Concern toCouncillors:Cllr H. Thompson raised concern about vehicles parking on the verge at the corner of Hillcrest and North Lane and also by the flower tubs in North Lane’ she believed the vehicles belonged to people attending the school. Cllr Hutchinson raised concern about the number of glass alcohol bottles being dumped on stewardship margins. 

       Cllr R. Thompson wished to put on record that policeman Tony Oliver continues to pick up litter and is doing an excellent job. Councillors expressed their appreciation for his efforts in keeping the village clean. 

16. Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 28^thFebruary 2019 at Elwick WI Hall

 

Meeting closed at 10.18pm.