Wednesday 16^th April 2025, 7pm. Bellingham Town Hall – Meeting Room. 

Present: Clerk. One member of the Public. 
Councillors: Wilkinson, Tilley, Knudsen, Richardson, Kirkbride, Moore, Armstrong, Turner.

Part A

Public Participation

i.2024 needs corrected to 2025 in minutes. ii. A parishioner is complaining about the use of a field their house overlooks, this is a private matter. iii. An area of fence by the Riverside path is still down, responsibility lies with NCC who will be reminded again. iv. The surface of Lock up Lane and the area opposite the co-op was noted to be very uneven. Clerk to check if this meets the measurements required for NCC to address. v. Degrading concrete on a wall near the back of the Town Hall was noted but ownership was unclear. vi. The police have been notified of deliberate damage to a private wall. vii. The matter of parish council operated CCTV had to be dismissed because of logistical problems and a lack of resources. viii. Plans for a pathway towards Fairshaw Crescent were discussed. It is expected this will form part of the construction at the Mart Site. C.Cllr Riddle monitoring the situation to ensure this is achieved. 

Part B

1.

Apologies for Absence

Cllrs Kirkbride, Irving.

2.

County Councillor Report

i.NCC had hoped to reduce council tax but the removal be central government of the Rural Delivery Grant made this impossible. No frontline services have been lost. ii. The number of insurance claims made in Northumberland because of pothole damage is nationally low. iii. Using correctly trained agency staff for highways services, when additional help is needed, is proving cost effective. iv. Housing at the Mart site: the local letting policy, which prioritises giving available social housing to people with strong links to Bellingham, is the strictest possible. v. £9,000 from C.Cllr Riddle’s Local Fund has been allocated to Bellingham School. vi. While various technicalities prevent official classification as a car park, parking is encouraged at Station Yard to ease pressure on the village. Yellow lines are now in place at Foundry Yard. 

3.

Declarations of interest

No changes. 

4.

Minutes of the last meeting

2024 changed to 2025, otherwise agreed as correct and signed.

5.

Matters arising from the minutes

i.An information evening about become more dementia aware as a community has been scheduled for 14th of May. All welcome. Clerk to organise bunting and a webpage of information to promote dementia awareness. ii. Damage at the paly area was reported to the police. Further damage, this time of a gate, noted. CW to organise repair. iii. A request for further picnic tables at Jubilee Field was determined to be too expensive. 

6.

Planning 

6.1

Applications 

25/01042/FUL – Change of use. Dwelling to Beauticians. Lock up Lane, Bellingham. 

The parish council support this application. 

6.2

Decisions from NCC - None

7.

Finances

7.1

Income

Cemetery £595. Precept £20,000. Interest £5.81. Interest £9.44

7.2

Expenditure

Chris Mowatt (Landscaping) - £968,
C Woodcock (Clerk Wages) - £319.05, HMRC £24.20,
Natalie Green (Cleaning) - £199.33,
Brierley Maintenance (Street Cleaning - 55hrs) - £880,
Town Hall Rent - £20, Cemetery Inspection £1,156.39. Alan Graham (Park Maintenance) £350.

All expenses approved. 

7.3

Bank Balances

£28,347.07, £7,075.33, £11,490.59

8.

Correspondence

8.1

AGAR annual audit paperwork has arrived, clerk to commission TyneRede and complete. 

8.2

A cemetery inspection shows 3 amber rated unsafe grave markers. Clerk to contact families and organise that these are made safe. Use of a memorial mason preferred over a short term fix. 

8.3

A parishioner has reported a degraded no cycling sign, clerk to ask NCC for replacement. 

8.4

Off lead dog has been reported again at cemetery. Clerk to write to owner. 

9.

Borderlands

No update.

10.

Reports - None

10.1

Cllr Irving – Railings at Manchester Square. Discussion postponed in Cllr Irving absence. 

10.2

Cllr Irving – Ambulance Cover. Discussion postponed in Cllr Irving absence.

10.3

Cllr Wilkinson – Plaque Chapel Wall. Clerk to follow up with family directly. 

10.4

Clerk – Standing Orders and Financial Regulations Review. Clerk to update financial regulations to comply with legal changes. Council approved amendments. 

11.

Any urgent business

i.Cllr Moore has met with NCC about logistics organising parking at Percy Terrace to allow a large vehicle such as an ambulance full access. Several issues arose so talks are ongoing. ii. Company cars have been observed speeding at Percy Terrace. Clerk to speak to company and ask for assistance keeping the parish safe. iii. Digital Voice update: further info to be shared with the council from Cllr. Knudsen. Contingencies vary between providers with Digital Voice’s plans only application to BT, EE and plusnet customers. iv. Changes to the planning permission granted at Land NE of Bridgewater View have been requested by Advance Northumberland. As these were classified as immaterial they did not require PC consultation. v. Clerk to request a wider bottle bank as some large diameter bottles are being left on the ground. 

12.

Any restricted business - None

13.

Date of next meeting 

Confirmed as Wednesday 21^st of May 2025, 6.30pm.
Main Room – Town Hall. To include Annual Parish Meeting. 

Meeting Closed:

20.20