Stephen

Could somebody please help me out with some boundary issues? North Bedlington covers Choppington Guidepost and Stakeford but how is East and West divided?

West Bedlington Parish is the Bedlington West and Bedlington Central wards of the County. Gallagher Park is in East Bedlington Parish, Beaufront Park is in West, then the boundary south of Gallagher Park cuts through Rosalind Avenue, Lily Avenue and Cornwell Crescent. All a bit arbitrary. I think Choppington aka North Bedlington is a natural community but splitting Bedlington in two was daft.

Having spent some time 'workshadowing' the lady organising the Remembrance Day Service and Parade (the Town Council will be taking it on as an official duty from next year), I know there was some doubt about the road closure but not the service. I was told by the local police that their events officer said it would be unlawful for a police officer to be involved in traffic management for a pre-planned event. I'm told that it was the county council who stepped in and saved the day, contrary to rumours.

Merlin, I've always assumed that Bedlington's service was at 2pm so that the MP and Wansbeck District council officials could go to the Ashington one in the morning and Bedlington in the afternoon. Now that Wansbeck is no more I think it would be worth looking at moving it to the more traditional 11am.

Apparently the ice rink has been booked for the market place for 19th and 20th December, and there may be other Christmas events over the period 3rd-20th December. Hopefully I'll be able to post an update after Monday.

The next meeting of WEST BEDLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL will be held at the SALVATION ARMY HALL, Hartford Road West, Bedlington on Thursday 15 October 2009 at 6 pm

The Agenda for the meeting is set out below.

David Francis

Clerk 9 October 2009

__________________________________________________________________________

OPEN SESSION

The Chair to invite members of the public present to put questions to, or draw relevant matters to the attention of, the Council, prior to commencement of business. This question time will last for a period of 15 minutes overall (which may be extended if the Chairman deems it necessary), and each question is limited to 3 minutes per person. In order to give every member of the public a fair chance of asking a question, each person will be limited to two questions at each session. A second supplementary question may be submitted. The above covers both verbal and written submissions. Any member of the public who asks a question should first state their name and address.

A G E N D A

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the West Bedlington Parish Council meeting held on 10 September 2009.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

To receive from members, in respect of any items included on the agenda for this meeting, disclosure of any personal or prejudicial interests.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive announcements on any matters which the Chair wishes to bring to the attention of members.

6. NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

To discuss with the Director of Street Scene, Bill Batey, the County Council's plans for working with local councils on environment issues, including allotments.

7. CORRESPONDENCE

To receive any items of correspondence addressed to the Council.

8. WORKING GROUPS

To receive reports from working groups:

• Finance (Councillors Aynsley, Major and Allen)

• Communications and Events (Councillors Barrett and Shephard)

• Premises (Councillors Harratt and Pegg)

• Recruitment (Chair and Vice-Chair)

• Planning (Councillors Major and Todd)

.

9. FESTIVE LIGHTING

To consider proposals for festive lighting (Attachment A). ITEM 10 Att A.doc

10. COUNCILLOR VACANCY

To note the progress in filling the casual vacancy on the Parish Council.

11. CODE OF CONDUCT

To confirm adoption of the Code of Conduct for Parish and Town Councils (Attachment B ). Item 11 Att B.rtf

12. BOUNDARY COMMITTEE

To agree a reponse to the Boundary Committee Review.

13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To agree a date and time for the next meeting of the Council.

Malcolm, yes I'm that Stephen!

The car parking issue is probably the first of many inevitable consequences of a unitary county, with some former districts thinking the rules should be the same for all now there is one council. I think the county needs to nip it in the bud right now and make it clear they won't try to be one size fits all. As for the parishes, it's too early to say. We are still setting up, a bit too slowly for my liking but I hope we can start making a difference from year one.

West Bedlington Town Council by the way decided to oppose car parking charges on the folowing grounds:

we would have to install ticket machines at great expense

it would create a greater problem of illegal and unsafe parking which would require extra policing again at extra expense

if the parking charges were high enough to pay for themselves or even make a profit, it would destroy businesses in the town

the negative effect of destroying business in the town would far outweigh any revenue the scheme could raise

Morpeth Chamber of Trade who suggested this have claimed that the southeast has better public transport, but unlike Morpeth, Berwick and Hexham we have no railway station

the rest of the county are also able to generate more car parking income from tourists than we are

Since the chairman of the Town Council is also a member of the County leadership team I am optimistic that the charges won't happen, but people should keep up the pressure until the decision has been taken.

The Town Council will be discussing what response to make to the County Council questionnaire on car parking at the next meeting:

6pm on Thursday 10 September at the Salvation Army Hall

There will be ameeting of WEST BEDLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL to be held at the SALVATION ARMY HALL Hartford Road West, Bedlington on Thursday 10 September 2009 at 6 pm

The Agenda for the meeting is set out below.

__________________________________________________________________________

OPEN SESSION

A G E N D A

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

2. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the West Bedlington Parish Council meeting held on 15 July 2009 (to follow).

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

4. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

To receive from members, in respect of any items included on the agenda for this meeting, disclosure of any personal or prejudicial interests.

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS by the Chairman

a. Bill Ashbridge

b. Questions from the Public

i) The Chair will invite members of the public present to put questions to the Council, prior to commencement of business. This question time will last for a period of 15 minutes overall (which may be extended if the Chairman deems it necessary), and each question is limited to 3 minutes per person. In order to give every member of the public a fair chance of asking a question, each person will be limited to two questions at each session. A second supplementary question may be submitted. The above covers both verbal and written submissions.

6. CORRESPONDENCE

7. PUBLIC QUESTIONS

8. WORKING GROUP

To receive reports from the informal meeting held on 20 July 2009, including:

• Premises

• Recruitment of Clerk

• Publicity and communications.

.

8. CHANGE OF NAME

To consider the options for possible re-naming of the Parish Council.

9. MEETING WITH DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

To receive a report from the Vice Chair of a meeting of all new South East local council chairs with the Deputy Chief Executive of Northumberland County Council.

10. CAR PARKING STRATEGY

To agree a response to the County Council questionnaire on car parking issues (Attachment .

11. COUNCILLOR VACANCY

To Note the procedures for filling a casual vacancy on the Parish Council.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

To agree a date and time for the next meeting of the Council.