Minutes of the 231st meeting of the Stainton & Thornton Parish Council held on 14th February, 2017 at 7.15 p.m. in the Memorial Hall, Stainton
Present: Parish Councillors A. Liddle (Chair), J. Holmes (Vice Chair), D. Coupe, A. Conroy, A. Cooper, C. Dean and B. Neale; M. Newbould (Clerk to the Parish Council); Public 7.
1/17, Apologies– none. 2/17, Declarations of Interest – none.
3/17, Public Participation – Opportunity for members of the public to address the Council Seven members of the public were present and able to address the Council re the Neighbourhood Plan and other parish matters. Richard Wilson offered to put the Neighbourhood Plan on social media for the Parish Council.
4/17, The Minutes of the 230th meeting held on Tues. 13th December, 2016 were approved by the Parish Council and duly signed as a true record by the Chair.
5/17, Neighbourhood Plan update– an informative talk was given by Charlton Gibben, Senior Planning Policy Officer, Middlesbrough Council, assisted byhis Group Leader. Notices re the N/Plan had been displayed on notice boards throughout the village and Middlesbrough Council had received the N/Plan application from the Parish Council. There was still a week to go before the end of the 4-week consultation period (Stage One). A number of responses had already been received, mainly in support of the application. Charlton Gibben requested that even more responses in favour of the N/Plan be sent to MBC before the deadline of 5.00 p.m. on 20th February, 2017. The link would be re-circulated by the Chair and Cllr. Jim Holmes to those on the Comm/Council database. Charlton would report back to the Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr. Charles Rooney, who would be dealing with the S& T N/Plan. The Plan defined the area which would be covered and the Parish of Stainton & Thornton Boundary had been suggested as the plan boundary. Further details were available from Cllr. Alan Liddle (Chair), Cllr. Jim Holmes(Vice Chair) or the Clerk to the P/Council. The Neighbourhood Plan would be re-discussed at the Parish Assembly/Community Council joint meeting on 14th March, 2017 at 7.15 p.m. in the Memorial Hall, Stainton. All interestedresidents were welcome to attend!
6/17, Matters arising from the above Minutes
(a)Church View, No. 1, Hemlington Road, a grade 2 listed building within the Stainton & Thornton Conservation Area: an update was given by the Chair on Parish Council action taken. He had consulted with Elizabeth Green, MBC’s Senior Environment Protection Officer, who had visited the site, contacted the part owner, Stephen Rose, with no response, and had also contacted Leigh Dalby (MBC Planning) to report residents’ concerns about the untidiness and poor state of thisprivate property in the centre of Stainton and the appearance of the gable wall. There were no enforceable issues. The interior was in a reasonable condition. Replacement windows must comply with Grade 2 Listed Building regulations. Page One
(b) P/Councillor profiles for the website Cllr. D. Coupe had promised to send his profile to the Clerk.
(c) Defibrillator Cllr. J. Holmes reported that a familiarisation session was being offered by the Ambulance Service. The P/Council agreed in principle to fund the session and authorised payment. However,the Memorial Hall Committee might be able to share the cost. (d) Plaque for Maelor’s Seat at Vernon Court: The Chair had progressed the plaque engraving for the seat in Maelor’s memory. The Plaque was now completed. (e)Dog Fouling problems: A complaint had recently been received from a resident, Malcolm Brown, re Dog Fouling around Fawcett Avenue. He wondered if a local bye law could be introduced to ban extended leads. It was resolved that Cllr. A. Cooper would mention the complaint in her Community Council notes. The Chair would also get in touch with John McQuade, who had stickers for the refuse bins that they were dual purpose, including the 2 new bins in Maelor’s Wood. On 9th March, there was to be a “Walk the Ward” in S & T with Cllr. D. Coupe, John McQuade and others. Any environmental problems could be reported on that occasion. Cllr. Alan Conroy asked if it would be feasible for the householders to adopt the grass verges, moving the boundaries of the houses out by 3 or 4 ft. to solve the DF problems around Fawcett Ave.if the Borough Council was to donate the grass verges to the residents. (f)Christmas Lights The P/Council thanked Cllr. A. Conroy very much for his work on this item. (g) Transport – funding for a village bus service. The Middlesbrough Local Plan stated that new housing developments should be provided with easy access to public transport. Cllr. D. Coupe would keep pressure on MBC to enable this. A document had been received “Connecting the Tees Valley”, i.e. connection by public transport for residents to get to shopping centres, hospitals, medical centres, dentists, hairdressers, etc. He would attend a meeting on Friday, 17th Feb. with representatives from Nunthorpe, Coulby Newham and Marton to look at a Community Transport Bus proposal, which would include Stainton & Thornton. The cost would be £25,000 p.a. from sponsorship. Cllr. Charles Rooney, the Deputy Mayor, had accepted the fact that S & T needed public transport. (h) Roads resurfacing A large pothole had appeared in Thornton Road and there was subsidence on Strait Lane. Cllr. D. Coupe had discovered that the ‘sink hole’ was down to Taylor Wimpey. (i)Gala Day agreed for 16th July, 2017 Portaloo now to be booked by the P Council. The P/Council Environment Committee would run a Plant Stall.
7/17, The Report of the Clerk to the Council
- Transparency Code Funding – the sum of £240.00 hadbeen received from CLCA and paid to the Clerk to facilitate compliance with TC regulations.
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- On circulation to P/Councillors: the Clerks & Councils Direct magazine and the Local Council Review.
- NALC information, circulars and newsletters received from CLCA had all been forwarded to the 7 Parish Councillors.
- Two Raffle Books had been provided to Cllr. Jim Holmes for an event at the Memorial Hall, Stainton.
- The Precept Demand for £6,500 had been duly submitted to Middlesbrough Council.
- An invitation had been received from CLCA by the Clerk to be on the Accreditation Panel for the Foundation Level Quality Council Award scheme. The Clerk had accepted.
- The Financial Statement: Balance in the Account at 14/02/2017 was £4986.85, After Adding: CLCA re Transparency Fund £240.00 and HMRC VAT refund £571.96; and Deducting: SLCC sub. £55.00, M. Newbould, 2 months’ Clerk’s salary £396.00, M. Newbould re Transparency Fund allowance £240.00, A. Liddle re boxes for Xmas Lights £19.98 and Baines Jewitt (RTI) £37.20. These payments were fully authorised by the P/Council.
8/17,Committee Reports: a) Planning Committee: Cllr. A. Liddle reported:
Applications granted by MBC and any new applications:14, Cedar Drivesingle
storey extensions at front & rear; conversion of garage to habitable room and
widening of vehicle access. Stainton Grange Cleveland Police Safety Hub – ESH
had been appointed as the main contractor; Silk Healthcare Care Home and flats on
Strait Lane: modifications were being re-assessed, the flats might be discontinued;
Strait Lane (Taylor Wimpey Phase 3) choice of housing; many complaints had
been received about the messystate of the roadand pavements; Cllr. Liddle had
spokento TaylorWimpey about this;Upper Farm, Maltby Road, Thornton – app. to
build3 x 5-bedroomed properties next to thebarn – the P/C had objected; tree
cutting. It was noted that alot of planning applications were now Officer-led and did
not evengo before the MiddlesbroughCouncil Planning Committee.
b)Environment Committee:Cllr. D. Coupe reported: Northumbria in Bloom 2017
Spring Judging Inaugural Meeting on 1st March in Gateshead. The Chair would
attend. The next Committee meeting would be held on Friday, 17th February, 2017
at 5.00 p.m. in the Memorial Hall, Stainton; Letters of thanks to helpers – one reply
received; bench donated for Thornton T-junction; Vernon Court bed; possible
Gardens Comp. with Nunthorpe; renovation/purchase of barrels; beds at
Thornton andon Strait Lane. A lot more helpers were required.
©Crime & Disorder Report: Cllr. A. Liddle reported:a burglary at 112, Cedarwood Glade and a car broken into. Lead had also been stolen from the Parish Church roof. The Chair advised residents to lock all doors and windows, not leave anything of value visible in cars and to ring 101 to report anything suspicious. Cllr. A. Cooper had seen 2 lads on bikes in Low Farm Close acting rather suspiciously. A shed had been broken into in LF Close. The PCSO had visited Thornton, Maltby Road. A Rural Crime Officer was now available for advice.
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9/17, Friends of Stainton & Thornton Green Spaces Cllr. Alan Liddle reported that thenext meeting would be held on Monday, 27th February 2017 at 10.00 a.m. in theMemorial Hall, Stainton and gave an update re the Quarry LNR, Kell Gate Green andMaelor’s Wood carvings. The nature rubbings trailwas up and running; the trail sheets forchildren were available in the Memorial Hall, Stainton Pub, the Brow Bar, Sandy’sHairdressers and the Sporting Lodge;the new signswere all in place andthe wildflower meadow was being progressed. Nicky Morgan and her One Planet Pioneers had done amarvellous job in Maelor’s Wood. The new bench seat would be installed near the owl down at the bottom end – all agreed. The Chair was trying to get quotes for the footpaths to KGG to reduce bogginess during the winter season but the hard-core path to the deer would be too expensive. An attempt was being made to obtain a quotation to dust the top of the paths that run through the Quarry because the large pebbles were moving. Drainage was required for the High Rifts Field. The TM Group would erect a new notice board at Vernon Court on Thursday, 16th Feb. The seat was on the left-hand side where there was a large area of land. The Thornton rosebed had been dug out. A memorial bench had been donated by the sister-in-law of a former resident, Margaret Davidson. Turf and paving slabs would also be purchased for the re-arrangement of the flower-bed. The Chair had produced a Facebook page for groups such as the Friends of S & T Green Spaces.
10/17, Buckingham Palace Garden Party 16 May – Cllr. J. Holmes nominated by the Parish Council Unfortunately, this submitted nomination was not ‘picked out of the hat’ at the CLCA mtg.
11/17, Parish Assembly – joint meeting with Community Council, 14th March, 2017 at 7.15 p.m. Speakers arranged by the S & T Community Council were Liz Burn from the Police & Crime Office, re The Safety Hub; and also, it was hoped, Simon Nickles from Cleveland Police to speak about Action Fraud Online. The Neighbourhood Plan would also be on the Agenda.
12/17, Date for the next Parish Council Meeting, Tues, 11th April, 2017 at 7.15 p.m. in the Memorial Hall, Stainton
The Chair formally closed the meeting at approximately 9.30 p.m.
Accepted and agreed as a true record ......
Dated ......
M.Newbould, Clerk to the Parish Council, 4 Thornton Close, Thornton, TS8 9BT E-mail: Tel: 01642 590340
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