Wednesday 18^th June 2025, 7pm. Bellingham Town Hall – Meeting Room. 

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

Part A

Public Participation

i. Compliments received on newly improved path. 

ii. Weak communication from the bus companies meant that during the road closures there was a lack of signage explaining to the public whether buses were running or not. 

iii. A flagstone near the toilet block must be measured and reported to NCC as too high.

Part B

1.

Apologies for Absence

Cllrs Armstrong, Turner.

2.

County Councillor Report - None

3.

Declarations of interest

No changes. 

4.

Minutes of the last meeting

Agreed as correct and signed.

5.

Matters arising from the minutes

i.Karbon site plans are to follow. ii.Karbon have explained plans for the landscaping at Reenes Way, to begin soon. iii. Cllr Armstrong has offered to refurbish a bench (donated secondhand from NCC) to be dedicated to Elaine Hunter. iv. Speeding cars have been observed entering The Mart Site, CW to ask for their support reducing this. Speed watch volunteers are to be sought via public notices. There is to be increased Police action the village to tackle incidences of speeding.

6.

Planning 

6.1

Applications 

25/01908/FUL – Wall cladding etc - Anton Hill Farm, Wark. 
The parish council have no objection to this application. 

6.2

Decisions from NCC - None

7.

Finances

7.1

Income

Toilet Honesty Box: £145. Cemetery: £320, £160, £575. Interest: £4.58, £2.93

7.2

Expenditure

All expenses approved. 

7.3

Bank Balances

£37,0072.73 £1002.93, £1004.68

7.4

AGAR – annual audit review and signing

i. Section One of the Annual Governance statement was read aloud and signed. 

ii. Part Two Accounting Statements. Read Aloud. Signed.
iii. Discussion of the Asset Register during which Cllr Tilley has agreed to review moving forward.

8.

Correspondence

8.1

Volunteers are to tackle the weeds at Briar Hill playarea.

8.2

The council were pleased to be told of Ofsted’s official Good rating given to all areas of Bellingham Primary School

9.

Borderlands

Borderland meeting is imminent. Discussion to continue over Heritage Yard. 

Rural Asset Multiplier Program update. The bid by Bellingham Schools was unsuccessful, while there is local disappointment governors are determined to find other avenues to explore. Changes made by NCC to the Holiday Activities Funding application deadline were badly communicated. With support of C.Cllr Riddle this situation is to be reviewed in hopes provision can be made for this summer.

10.

Reports - None

10.1

Clerk – Discussion of the management of the allotments was continued. Further information to be gathered.

10.2

Cllr Turner, in absentia, asked for the future of the central cash point to be clarified in light of the co-op store moving premises. CW to seek further information.

11.

Any urgent business

i. Cllr Knudsen – update re Digital Voice: Battery back ups available for use but not able to function if the mast loses power. The local Starlink device needs to be better understood.

12.

Any restricted business - None

13.

Date of next meeting 

Confirmed as Wednesday 16^th of July 2025, 7pm Meeting Room. 

Meeting Closed:

20.20