On this page you can find the minutes of the Belford Parish Council meetings.

The Parish Council of Belford
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 21st July 2011 at 7.00pm, in Bell View Belford.
Present: M Young, (Chairman) Vice-Chairman Mrs. B Stanton Parish Councillors M Brookes G O’Connell C Rosby & I Carruthers County Councillor Mrs. P Scott,

1 Member of Public

Apologies: Parish Councillors A Young .J Barbour, & Mrs. B Jackson Clerk Mrs. I Hunter
Declarations of Interest- None
Meeting suspended while members discussed the Community Forum.
County Councillor Mrs. P Scott asked if Belford Parish Council would host a meeting of the Community Forum as £100 was available towards expenses – room hire, etc. Parish Councillor G O’Connell said there had been difficulties because elected members were constrained by the need to declare an interest whilst community organizations and other attendees did not have this constraint. Thus when decisions were made by voting they were often made by those who did not have to declare an interest. He asked if the Community Forum had made any progress in last 3 years. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott said in affordable housing in Beadnell, the Community Forum had facilitated this. Parish Councillor G O’Connell said this had been initiated by the Parish Council in Belford. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott agreed Belford Parish Council was very proactive but that the Forum was a catalyst in others areas. Marjorie Dodds said she felt that the Community Forum was useful and showed real engagement between elected members and community groups and she said it had power and cited Broadband issue in coastal villages – Northumberland County Council had made a real push following discussion by the Community Forum. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott said David Francis had produced a code of conduct for the Community Forum that everyone has to adhere to. Parish Councillor G O’Connell was reassured. Marjorie Dodds said that all of the councils in the cluster and the community groups worked together on common cause such as social care and information was dispersed to everyone. County Councillor Mrs. P Scott said the exchange of views was like the old tripartite. The members unanimously agreed to host the Community Forum.
Minutes: The Minutes were signed as a true record of the Meeting held on 16th June 2011 by the Chairman
Matters Arising: None

Min 750.Accounts:
• Barclays Premium A/c £ 576.70
• Barclays Community A/c £ 3274.97
• War Memorial Fund £ 2212.28

Min 751- Accounts for Payment:

• Mrs. E I Hunter £ 150.00 Clerk’s Salary
• Bell View £ 20.00 Hire Room June Meeting
• C Rosby £ 27.00 Compost Bonny Belford
Min 752-- Planning Application- Observations
11/01142/FUL Change of use to residential- 13 High Street Belford Northumberland NE70 7NG Councillors are deeply concerned over the loss of retail unit. Sympathised with owner since it had been for sale for sometime but felt they had to object to change of use – if this unit is lost others will follow the precedent. They suggested that the owner considered the rental market – in these straitened times there may be an infant business that could afford rent but not purchase
11/01467/FUL- Erection of a 15m high wind turbine- 8 Warenton Law Belford Northumberland NE70 7HW– Councillors agreed to object on the basis of effect on visual amenity. Doubt that existing building will mask the tower.
Min 753-- Planning Applications- No Observations
11/01276/FUL Proposed Rear two storey extension- 4 Burnside Belford Northumberland NE70 7QG
11/01381/FUL Application to Extend the Time Limit of Planning Reference 08/B/0476 and 08/B/0475 (Change of use to Residential Dwellings) Cresswell Farms Newlands Farm Belford Northumberland NE70 7DS
11/01037/FUL Erection of 1 bedroom detached bungalow to remain part of existing property- Barona 35 Diningside Belford Northumberland NE70 7NP
Min 754-Correspondence:
• NCC- Review of Polling Stations
• Dorman- Leaflets on Hazard Warning Lighting Technology
• Age UK Northumberland – Questionnaire & Literature
• Seahouses Development Trust- Letter Re Future of Seahouses Library
• Belford Flower Festival- Letter of thanks
• NALC- Receipt
• NCC- Area Committee Meeting with Parish Councils
• Clerks & Councils Direct- Newsletter
• NCC- Letter Re Northumberland News
• AONB- Card informing link to Coastal Views
• CAN- Newsletter
• CPRE- Newsletter
• Sovereign- letter RE Play Equipment
• David Simpson Architect - Belford Development Trust

Any Other Business

Min 755- Feedback from meeting with Northumberland County Council Re transfer of Local Services- The Chairman advised the meeting that he, the Clerk and County Councillor Mrs. P Scott had met with, Kevin Bartlett, Terry Garnick, and County Councillor Dougie Watkin from Northumberland County Council at Bell View to discuss the options. Seats and three of Belford’s bus shelters are the responsibility of Belford Parish Council, the other bus shelters are currently the responsibility of the County Council, the toilets are probably strategic tourist toilets, the future closure of St Mary’s Parish Church graveyard is probably the responsibility of the county, Allotment rents will be paid over to the Parish Council. Paperwork to follow.

Min 756- Skatepark/recycling e mail- Parish Councillor I Carruthers will move the skatepark equipment as soon as possible. The Golf club has now indicated that it no longer wishes to accommodate it.

Min 757- Information Exchange.

Parish Councillor I Carruthers- Raised a complaint about unguarded electric fence near the hen shed/concrete road at the South Meadows area of Belford. The meeting agreed that the Clerk should write to the landowner.

Enquiry about graveyard – in hands of County

Parish Councillor C Rosby- Raised a complaint about speed of traffic at top of North Bank County Councillor Mrs. P Scott said it was in hand, reported last week - another speed survey is due.
Groove in road near Bank building has been ‘repaired’ but it extends all the way down the main street. The meeting agreed that the Clerk should contact Northumberland County Council’s Highways Department raising concerns about the poor remedial work that has been undertaken asking for the work to be completed, also asking for the loose paving slabs in the Market square to be remedied and finally ask once again about the removal of the railings on the west side of the High Street adjacent t the dental surgery. The meeting also agreed that Ross Bullerwell should be invited to the September meeting. There are still concerns about the general appearance of some buildings and areas on the High Street and their effect on the ’look ‘of Belford to visitors arriving there. Letters will be sent to specific addresses. Parish Councillors G O’Connell and M Brookes agreed to draft letters to specific property owners for consideration by the Parish Council.

County Councillor Mrs. P Scott- New residents in Dixon Way have complained about dog mess behind property along the concrete road. This is an area which Brian Rodgers (Belford’s Environment Champion) has previously suggested for improvement. The Parish Council asked the Clerk to contact the Dog Warden for suggestions.
Seahouses library meeting- all difficulties seem to have been resolved. A second floor will be created for the bowling club in the refurbished Sports and Community Centre. A library, coffee shop and meeting rooms will be created. Lorraine Jewison was present – executive member with county.

Parish Councillor G O’Connell- Asked if the Parish Council could write to the Highway’s Agency (in support of our neighbouring Parish of Adderstone with Lucker Parish Council) about the hole in the A1 road which is becoming even larger near Adderstone Garage on the southbound carriageway.
Could the Parish Council also continue to monitor the condition of the pavement adjacent to the quarry on North Bank Nothing appears to have happened in response to our report to the County Highway’s Department.
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Date of next Meeting – 15th September2011 in Bell View