Malcolm Robinson

Not allowed to Bedlingtonian.  As a councillor we are under Purdah and there are quite strict rules regarding this.  

As a private individual thats different.  

I said I would write a thank you to the people who helped make the Commemorative Plaque at the West Lea Cemetery possible.

Some might not know but West Lea Cemetery in Bedlington is a nationally recognised War Graves site and with this in mind I came up with this design for a commemorative plaque which could be attached to the entrance.

With over 28 graves directly attributed to the second world war and many more annotations on family graves mainly attributed to the first world war it was time we saw a permanent memorial plaque.

I was challenged to explain S106 developer funding recently and I can now have a go.
Pretty complex subject and to get it right here is the latest government guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-obligations

Part of the question also related to what’s been achieved and what has it been spent on, in the last 3 years?

I’m going to presume new house building which has been started, completed or planned for, is what this question is about.
Obviously I can only comment specifically on the applications in my ward because I’ve spent quite a bit of time on them, usually onto NCC enforcement!

Taking the 14 new houses on Netherton Lane, there was no S106 funding applied for! Inexcusable in my view but that was before I became the NCC elected member and it did have to go to a planning inspector to overturn the original refusal. Even the planning inspector raised eye brows and mentioned the fact that no S106 funding had been applied for.

Onto the Broadoaks development now and again before my time but once again no S106 funding. Although only a Town Councillor at the time I did question this and the reason came back that adverse ground conditions mitigated the S106 funding. I made the argument that if that was the case then the community were paying for the work needed to overcome these adverse ground conditions seeing as no community funding was attached! Again inexcusable in my view!
There were some ‘affordable homes’ within the development which I believe have been passed to Bernicia for affordable rents. I have a real problem with the term ‘affordable’ because in my view they aren’t for the vast majority of our young people and I have argued that point at several planning meetings!

Now onto the proposed new housing on the land north of the Chesters. This has been at committee 3 times now and on each occasion I have voted against, one reason because of a lack of suitable S106 agreements. Again this scheme had been originally planned for before I became the NCC elected member but I now had the chance to sit on the committee and question it.

In the first outing for this permission I saw the original £3.4M (I think!) allocation for education had been reduced to £1.3M and there was no allocation for Health. Even the Sport and recreation allocation had been agreed to go down to East Bedlington? This I challenged and managed to change so we saw a £346,500 allocation for health and West Bedlington are now included in the sports and recreation funding.

” 7.77 Objectors have raised concerns regarding increased pressure on local services and infrastructure. This matter is addressed through the Section 106 Agreement that runs alongside the outline planning permission with contributions secured for education (£1,331,000), primary healthcare (£346,500), off-site sport/recreation (£229,000) and the strategic highway network (up to £155,000).”

The strategic highways contribution is going to a Highways England project at the Moorfarm roundabout at Cramlington? I did make the case that there were plenty of highways works needed around Bedlington but Highways England seem to be holding a gun to the head of Planners because in quite a lot of cases around the SE of the county this has become the norm and they will object unless its included? Maybe we should take a leaf out of their book!

Having spoken to our local health and educational professionals it seems the education allocation is almost entirely going to Special educational needs and as we have little if any it will go to Guidepost. The health contributions off this and others are being rounded up and our health centre will get a share of that? How much I don’t know.

At the second hearing I argued the point that the proposed development was actually outside our settlement boundary as well as the reduced S106 funding. The reply was that planners needed this development to show government an agreed land bank for new housing. This time I did manage to convince one other member to back my assertions and there were two objectors at committee this time.

This week reserved matters came before committee and I had asked planners specifically to make this happen.
The Town Council submitted objections and I wanted to examine the proposed site access.
Again planning law has to be understood because ONLY matters in the application could be discussed and debated. This severely restricts what could be brought up because outline permission and detailed permission had already been agreed by majority vote. This was really only about site layout and reserved matters.

There are some affordable units included……

“7.18 The level of affordable housing provision for this site has already been agreed as 15% under the terms of the Section 106 Agreement which runs alongside the outline planning permission.”

After a lengthy and pretty protracted questioning session the application was agreed with only my vote against, citing the loss of the original £2M in the S106 agreement as the main reason!

Immediately after the meeting I was told by a member of the public that he was shocked to see all the party political members voting for this apart from me after receiving a political leaflet saying I supported wholesale housing without adequate infrastructural funding. The opposite is actually the truth!

The only other sizeable application I know of is the 16 houses opposite West Lea on Netherton Lane and again I believe no S106 funding has been attached? Although this never came in front of any planning committee once I was aware I did challenge the lack of S106 funding.
I hope that answers the questions.

October 2019.

October and after a short break straight back into it.  Being a Thomas Cook customer on top of everything else is sending the house into meltdown!

Having had to cancel my surgery because of a change in travel plans I now have several home visits to do.

First one in the Chesters.  After a nice chat and seeing first-hand what the problems were it was then a quick trip up to Netherton Village for another home visit. This one will be more problematical but given some of the meetings I have this week I should be able to get this mentioned during them.

Along with Russ and Bill I had a meeting with the local police team today but it had to be cancelled at the last minute. I had some constituency concerns to address so I insisted on a private meeting with them anyway. Lots of food for thought with this one and I’m afraid more questions than answers, which wasn’t really the fault of the local cops its just the complexity of the issues.

I have been trying to get a meeting with the NCC leadership for some time and received a message off the secretary saying if I could make lunchtime today they were all in one place at the same time! I went up and waited in the secretary’s office!

We had what I would consider a positive meeting and one I expect results to flow from! I put my positions forcefully and had agreement in the end.  There were several topics covered, each with their own nuances but in I think we worked out a strategy for each.

Once home I had a quick cuppa then it was off to a meeting at Gallagher Park. This one was with the Barnesbury Cycling Club as they try to get funding pulled together for a renewed BMX track. The other independent councillors, EBPC and WBTC had met earlier in the week with them and most had pledged some funding to support their ambitious plans. I had already shown them how to apply for one funding source and they have been successful with that one.

Strangely only EBPC and the Labour councillor for the Sleekburn ward have refused their plea for funding help. Seeing as they need to match fund a generous Sports England grant it was a no brainer for me because helping them reach half the amount unlocks so much more and improves the offer down there for all our young people, I just wish I could have offered more.

Again once home a quick cuppa then out for a WBTC meeting. During my update for them I told them about the Halloween event in Plessey Woods and the event aimed at our youngsters for next February.  I have even arranged for shelters for the seating area for the February one, just in case. Part of the challenge I was given when I got the money for the new play park down in Plessey Woods was to increase visitor numbers and I know how much extra its being used now and given we are using it for extra events as well even these numbers can only increase in the short term.  I also know there is another event for which a funding bid has been worked on and submitted.

Just had an audit committee meeting for Advance and good to hear the new governance and polices which we have been putting in place for the new company is starting to have the desired effect. I did have several questions for the external auditor which were answered in their entirety.  We were also given reports by internal audit and again very helpful as we transform the company.

Been up to see a couple of my constituents who are both reporting problem with roads and paths within the ward.  For some reason NCC have been out and marked the bad bits of roads but have never completed? In fact its been that long the marker paint has eroded off both. Why NCC fail to keep residents informed is beyond me and seems to me to be a prime requirement for any ‘business’.  I think a question at full council is called for because I have had many such issues!

Another likewise problem is with trees situated in our housing estates. Seems to me at some point in the past we have planted the wrong type of trees and they are now mature enough to cause real problems for residents.  The pretty rows of nice looking plantings the developers left as they moved out of the estates are now pushing up paths and pavements, undermining foundations, touching roofs and blocking reception and making some paths unusable. Forward planning at its best!

Given the amount of contact I have been having concerning these problems I will do a spreadsheet to list the item, concern and any actions forthcoming.  Thats the only way I can think of to keep on top of this seeing as some have been listed for action but in fact nothing has been done since the problem was reported.

Had to attend an internal audit for Advance and nice to hear things seem to be changing.  We did ask for a more contemporary update taking into account the changes which we have put in over the last few months to measure their performance.  That was agreed and I hope it shows the huge change in corporate governance we have put thorough recently.  No more “Arch” type shenanigans!

Had another Friends of West Lea Cemetery meeting tonight and I hope there are some actions forthcoming.  Plenty spoken about so getting them seen to is the way forward now.  Pleased the ‘spoil’ heap has been moved!

Local Area Council or LAC meeting tonight but it was just for planning matters. In fact there was only one item on the agenda, the new play area for WBTC.  Christine the Mayor gave a presentation about the project and we heard the response off the legal consultees.  One really surprised me.  It was off public protection and made mention of a noise assessment and secondly went on about floodlighting the area? I said I was bemused by this seeing as floodlighting wasn’t even in the application so by planning standards we shouldn’t even be able to consider it, but I wanted to know exactly what the noise assessment was about.  Are we really going to measure the cheerful noises off children playing in the new park? Seems it was more about the noise off the new equipment so I made sure that was listed as the sole reason for the noise assessment!  It was only in front of us because NCC own the land and it went through unanimously.

There was a Locality event on in the Community Centre today and I had tried to promote it as much as I could.  This will lead to a directory of local voluntary groups etc and should show people exactly what’s going on in the Town and environs. There was a good turn out and I hope it all gets listed. A directory of local groups would make my job of telling them where funding is available much easier so we get as much inward investment into the voluntary sector here as possible.

Fire fighters pension board meeting today and as usual a whole swathe of papers to go through. In fact I suggested doing this in bite sized chunks might be advisable so we have doubled the amount of meetings.  So much to consider and much of it very technical in nature.  Having shorter meetings but more often would make it much easier to keep on top of.

Just had a meeting with highways technical after residents got in touch to complain about their estate road. He agreed their road is needing quite significant works done but that has to go into the LTP for consideration and budgeting.  He did promised remedial action on the worst bits would be done ASAP though.

I had a meeting with NCC about my sports project this morning and after discussing the best way forward it was agreed to ask for the feasibility funding as a first step. That is now proceeding! Its taken 2 years to get to this stage!

On my way home I called in to report back to a resident about the concerns she had been onto me about and whilst they are going to be addressed I couldn’t tell her exactly when.  That depends on budget pressures but if not this financial year then certainly next.

I then had to call in to see a Development Trust member because they have agreed to fund an item for another voluntary group.

Next up a visit to the manufacturer for the memorial plaque I have commissioned for the West Lea Cemetery to make sure that’s still on track.

With all that done I could then get on with my own stuff for work this weekend.

I had a meeting with WBTC and NCC Cemetery’s about West Lea Cemetery.  Good positive meeting and the new Friends of Group is a welcome addition according to NCC officers!  Plenty to get on with and agreement on most.

Advance Board meeting this afternoon and again quite a lengthy meeting. We recapped the new strategic strategy we have put in place for the group and explained what the internal audit had said.

The Chair had to pull my horns in when I spoke about Bedlington but apart from that the company is being turned around slowly but surely and with a large new project in Blyth…… Ahem Mr Chair that will be Cambois or Bedlingtonshire, its our side of the river, not to be parochial of course! Still lots to do but at every meeting we see a whole swathe of new governance and policies put in place.  

I hope we soon see some business help put in place in Bedlington and help the businesses we have as well as help anyone thinking about starting one.

Just heard thats coming this month!  

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/News/2019/Jun/Council-to-declare-climate-emergency.aspx

All member Climate Change meeting tonight and a decent turn out of councillors for once.  We heard two presentations about the problems and what NCC intend to do about them. The projects are aimed at making us carbon neutral in about 10 years.

There were some pretty impressive facts and figures quoted and at the end we did have a chance to ask questions.

I asked about how much of our current energy usage is delivered by renewables, given the trends we see in vehicle production and the fact that gas supplies into new houses is to be ended in the near future are we reasonably able to take all that extra usage and still be carbon neutral by the anticipated date and lastly do we assess carbon footpaths into our calculations given things like battery usages.  Seems we are just over the 50% in renewables at present and if we get all the subsidies and grants off central government etc we stand a good chance of achieving the outcome we want.  As for measuring the carbon footprint of all associated items the answer was no but the speaker did admit there are some pretty nasty ingredients in batteries which would skew any resulting calculations!

Trees and peat bogs were spoken about as a means of carbon capture with a large investment going into tree planting in urban areas. Keilder was mentioned and I asked if broad leave or pine trees were better at carbon capture.  Broad leaf trees are much better but to me that means decades of growth before they reach their potential.  One item which did prick my ears up was the hydro power generation which is being looked at.  I think we have a reasonable possibility for that using the tidal estuary on our river.  In fact I have just wrote in and suggested looking at the possibility of using modern designed hydro units to generate power for Bedlington!

Maybe the old Iron Works could still yet give us an insight into using water to provide power for Bedlington!

Whatever happens change is coming and I want Bedlington into the forefront of any possible investment.

September 2019.

September started off with a bang!

First up was a site meeting up in Berwick. I had to be at County Hall for the bus then up to a pretty chilly Berwick leisure centre to hear what the proposals were.

Had a pre- planning meeting today about a possible new large scale development.  I did have questions, one of which was about offering apprenticeship schemes within the projects seeing as it would probably last 3 years plus.

Strategic planning and a rush to get down into the full council chamber to take my seat. I had to declare an interest in one agenda item so I had to leave the room for that one.  First one was the Berwick proposal and I questioned the officer about various aspects but especially pedestrian safety seeing as there are two schools at the other side of the main road and whatever way the kids cross they have to cross a road on quite a steep hill.  There was also the question about the roundabout which is actually on quite a slope. Other members echoed my concerns and some asked if we might impose conditions. I said could we not include a suggestion after the planning offer said we shouldn’t really impose conditions. Again after some discussion that was not allowed either!

During the course of my interchange with the highways officer it emerged that they could only consider present and historical pedestrian figures in their assessments? Now that sounds crazy to me, here we are proposing to build a new leisure facility with 2 schools opposite and we cant consider any future usage figures in the application. I thanked the officer for giving us an insight into the crazy rules and regulations they had to operate under! The application was passed with only one member abstaining.

I had to leave the meeting for the next item and halfway through I was joined by another member who realised he should have declared an interest too.

Returning there was another two applications to hear and after some discussion both passed with one member abstaining on one of them.

Full council today so I left work early to get home grab a quick shower and change before getting up to County Hall in time.  Seems our usual seats have been taken over by the last opposition leader and his cohorts so Russ, Bill and I found seats near the front. Lots of the usual political shenanigans at full council but I am more and more thinking that we could be doing this better, its all too stage managed!
I did have a question this one about the report by the standards committee which said anything I said in public, and that is verbally or written, I did so as a member of NCC.  I said I believed that subjugated my right to freedom of expression because I have a life outside these walls!  That had to go to the solicitor to answer because no one else understood what I was getting at.  He did and assured me it wasn’t a policy proposal only a repeat of a central government line which wasn’t even being proposed yet if ever!  It did produce reactions from other members one of who supported my warning.  Another said he expected conversations he might have in public places to be treated as confidential, but that isn’t what this sentence said!  The opposition leader said we were under the guidance of the Nolan Principles anyway which actually backed the point I had made when I said as elected members we operated under strict guidance anyway but as private individuals we were entitled to have personal views as well. If this comes back I will fight it because it curtails my ability to have a personal life.  I did say I realised there was a problem with this issue but gagging people  wasn’t the way to fix it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqxN2M-_1XU&t=3716s

Had a meeting with our highways technical officer today and we walked around the area I wanted him to look at.

Pleased to see the interactive speed signs have been fitted and working at Netherton Village and Hartford road.  Still more road markings to be done and taking out the 60 MPH sections as we leave/enter the Town on the B1331 and the A1068 in an effort to curtail speeding cars.

Had our Classical concert tonight and for once I was able to make it.  Absolutely stunning performances with something for everyone. I was pleased to see so many people turning up for this and many messages of congratulates. I passed them onto the organiser who along with the Staff at Plessey did a superb job for us all. Working on more events down there with the next at Halloween.  I have to say here that trying to make them free events while putting on real professional entertainers isn’t easy, but if it was everyone would be doing it!

STOP PRESS……..STOP PRESS………..STOP PRESS………..STOP PRESS…… 

Just heard the funding for our next Plessey Woods event has been agreed. Look out for a kiddies spectacular just after the New Year!  It will be super…..literally!   

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Had to go to Blyth today and do training regarding State Aid. Interesting session with lots of legislation to consider.  Given some of my ‘hypotheticals’ and the answers which came back I have to wonder how some of the more outlandish historical schemes and the associated funding by Arch was even considered never mind rolled out!

Had a meeting with the Advance officer who is in charge of project management and an officer from Active Northumberland.  I started off by asking about public loo provision within the Bedlington Town Centre  regeneration project.  Again I was told it was never considered which seems strange seeing as I now have the planning application which actually lists a public loo! I said he had better get an answer to that because I will be using it at any future public meeting!

Discussing a sporting provision then produced some interesting results, none of which I wanted to hear! Only one thing to do now so I’ve put a request into the top echelons of NCC for an immediate meeting.

Getting back from Ashington I had a detour to the WBTC office for a meeting there.

Pension training today along with North Tyneside Council up in Edinburgh. It was their session really but the Actuary used it to give us a private update on our, NCC, valuations.  Everyone is pleased at the valuations because going from a £200M deficit to an above 100% coverage is quite extraordinary and definitely a much better place to be in.  It looks like my pleas for trying to protect this position has been listened to as well and we all agreed to some de-risking in the portfolio.

LAC meeting tonight at Concordia.  With no planning on the agenda its wasn’t the usual mad rush back from work to get ready and the meeting started at 6pm.  Didn’t seem to be very much on the agenda but as ever these things change!  We had updates off the NCC public safety officer and the police and these turned into quite a long session, firstly with the safety officer.  I did have several questions some based off what he told us.  Next up was the police update and I think all the Bedlington councillors thought it was great!  He said he had just taken over the inspector role and the softer line taken by the police with regard to anti social behaviour (ASB) in Bedlington is now changed and a much harder approach is going to be taken.  Previously we had worked hard to stop our youngsters being criminalised but that obviously hadn’t worked given the repeated levels of ASB we have seen so back to old fashioned policing.  I nearly gave this new inspector a round of applause!  Funding had been acquired to increase on the beat policing and we all thanked him after the meeting and said if we can help with anything just ask.

Had the chance to speak to our manager for Local services and again asked him to look at the hedging along the front of the cemetery seeing as I have had more complaints about the fact that pedestrians now have to walk on the road to get by because of the state of the Blackthorn hedging.  He promised to look into it straight away and he has because it was cut the very next day!  Well done Local services.

Good meeting with the new Friends of West Lea Cemetery tonight and a constitution was adopted and officers elected. We now have a formal group to look after public interest in the cemetery.

https://www.facebook.com/Thefriendsofwestleacemetery/

Had a meeting with constituents today about some concerns they have and I have forwarded them as I promised to do.

Pension Panel today and another huge pile of papers for it.  9.30am – 4.30pm was listed for this meeting. Most of the committee had heard the Actuary report up in Edinburgh so no surprises there but that was just the first 30mins.  It was good to get home that night and get sorted for work this weekend!

Well the weekend wasn’t the normal because on top of everything else my holiday has disappeared!  Thanks Thomas Cook!

I had a LAC chairs meeting today and there was two presentations as well as the normal agenda to hear.  First one was the Library service.  There is a public consultation going to be rolled out soon as we try and increase library usage figures, which at the moment are declining.  I have already submitted my ideas for bringing the service into modern day usage and having been assured non library users will be included in this consultation I will be promoting it when it comes out. I think Library provision is important for any conurbation but changing it into something which appeals to a greater amount of users is important to keeping it.

Next up was a report and presentation about social care apprentice scheme, which seems to have been a huge success. Knowing first hand some of the problems within this service I asked if these apprentices would be subject to follow ups because I would be very interested in seeing how they interacted within other parts of our service.  It seem they will and given that education and increased qualifications are offered to all carers it will be interesting to hear how it all rolls out.  One item came as a surprise to some members, the fact that 82% of the workforce in this service was made up of women.  I assumed it would be quite high anyway seeing as the vast majority of carers I know are women. Anyway good to see it being presented as a credible career with good prospects for anyone.

We then had a presentation about the way some types of anti social behaviour is going to be reported and the figures collated and shared.  This was for things like dog fouling.  I asked about the way we respond to reports and could we do anything to bring the response more into real time. I had to explain that so I said I have several football pitches in my ward as well as a cemetery and there will be reports going in on say a Saturday when the footballers use the pitches but the ‘offence’ could well have taken place the previous Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and there might well be someone who saw it taking place. I think the answer was no we can’t react immediately which was what I expected to be fair.

It was good to hear the chair of this committee saying we really need to make these LAC meetings much more relevant to members of the public and drive up attendance figures.  Well its taken a year but at last my message seems to be getting through!  Wonder what’s happened to my lists of possible agenda items?

Had a follow up meeting with officers about the Bedlington Regeneration meeting we had last month.  Bill and Russ were there too and we thrashed out some ideas for potential future strategic projects in Bedlington. It was a pretty positive meeting with follow ups expected!

Last meeting this month is the Advance Board meeting.  Again dominated by putting new governance policies in place which are all aimed at putting to an end any possibility of malpractice from now on!

It was quite an intense meeting lasting nearly 7 hours non stop!

August 2019.

Second of August and I have a meeting with WBTC about the Local Transport Plan trying to get some real benefits out of it for all our residents. What a refreshing change to talk to Town councillors and other county councillors about schemes which address concerns residents have raised and the only thing on the agenda was improving the current situation. We went through all the concerns and suggestions which residents had sent in to NCC highways and settled on the ones which hadn’t already been addressed or were in the process of being addressed with a view to support them.

Strategic planning today and going into county hall for the meeting I chatted to other members of the committee who all asked me to curtail any objections or suggestions I had. Looks like I’m being blamed for the meetings overrunning, ha ha!  I did have to declare interests in two of the agenda items, as did another member, because Ascent Homes were the applicant and they are a division of Advance.

First application was about new school facilities within Haydon Bridge High School. This is a maintained school so NCC was the applicant.   After the presentation by the planning officer and as there were no speakers we went into members questions. Seems I was the only member to have some questions about this and I could almost hear an audible groan! I said while I had no problem with the school extension I did have a problem with the fact that we were cutting down 44 trees, which to me seemed an inordinate amount, with zero mitigation? I went on and said we have just declared a climate emergency and here we are ripping out the lungs of that area, we can and should be doing better!  I pointed out that there was already a condition in the application which specifies “agreed landscaping” and I suggested we insert the need for replacements for the trees lost. To add insult to injury some of the trees are to be cut down to provide more parking spaces! The rest of the members agreed with my comments so at proposal and vote we included this “aimed” condition. The legal officer suggested allowing the exact wording to be delegated to the chair and lead planning officer which I agreed but insisted it had to feature mitigation for the lost trees!  The application passed unanimously.

Next up was a varyco to a plan for an extension to Kyloe House at Netherton Park. Again this passed unanimously.

I then had to leave as did another member while they heard the Ascent applications.

I had a meeting with the head of Active Northumberland. We talked about the proposal I made at the last full council meeting about giving our armed forces veterans free access to our leisure centres. I did get a reply and it was quite thorough in explaining what discounts veterans can apply for now. I said I did understand the constraints imposed on Active but made a further proposal that any armed forces veterans injured in the line of duty get free access to our leisure centres. That seemed to fit in with the aims of a charitable company such as Active is. That proposal is going to their next board meeting and would at least be a step in the right direction of recognising service to country!

Two steps forward and one back as usual. Phone call today off Bernicia telling me the table I acquired for a group of residents is causing a problem? I was asked for help in tidying up a communal area within a block of flats in my ward and I got them some hanging baskets, thanks Brenda, and paid for the compost and hanging brackets myself. They also wanted a table so they could sit outside in the summer once the area had been cleaned up. So I asked around and one of my contacts within NCC came up with a suitable table with integral seating.  I even got them to deliver it and helped get it into place. Seems one of the residents has complained about it and I now had to have a meeting with the Bernicia officer. She did understand what was being attempted and we tried to get it sited in a couple of other places but the resident wouldn’t have it.  So it now has to come out!  This reminds me of the green at Red House Farm where I worked with a resident group to turn it into a kiddies football pitch and gardens.  Again one resident complained and that kicked the whole project into the long grass! Maybe when people complain about things not being done they might like to consider the stuff going on in the background and the real reasons for the associated unrealised projects!

Well the Bedlington Regeneration meeting finally took place yesterday after many months of trying to get one sorted. I didn’t like the make up anyway with supposedly 3 members from WBTC and 3 from EBPC which I said would unbalance the group and mean very parochial items were forwarded instead of strategic aspirations for the Town as whole.  It was said by one member that NCC should be doing everything but as the officer who lead the meeting explained that isn’t how this would operate the people present would have to do it all but they would get administrative backing off NCC.  We did discuss the Town Centre development of course and as the chair of Advance sat next to me and we had the regen officer from Advance too they gave an update on the current position.  The 2hr meeting overran by 30 mins and I had a chance to speak to the officers who had led it. I know what I took away from this meeting and told them so.

Busy few days as I keep up the pressure for the traffic improvements at Netherton and outside Hartford Home Farm.  They have been paid for and I’m wondering why we haven’t seen them installed as yet!

Had a meeting with our manager for local services and as usual took him  around my ward showing him the problems and concerns residents have contacted me about.  I also had a couple of suggestions about improvements at the West Lea cemetery and again they have been well received but I now have to get the rest of NCC departments on board.  The problem is most of the people I need to speak to are on holiday at the moment so a couple of weeks before I can progress them.

Well all the posts for the new interactive speed signs have been installed, just the signs to be fitted and by the mail I have received off Highways that happens next week, once the concrete has hardened.

I have been invited to go up to Hadston today and take a look at their sports centre. This is a smallish centre catering for local need and I have been told there are ideas there which might well translate well into one for Bedlington. Open to all and any ideas so a trip up there is called for.

I did go up to Hadston and met with Active Northumberland officers who showed me around and told me how they manage this centre.  Few lesson there for making a small sports centre sustainable, something which we have to get right if we are to have any hope of getting one in Bedlington.

At last Christine Taylor the chair of West Bedlington Town Council has called a meeting to try get a Friends of group for West Lea cemetery.  Lets hope we get a good turn out. Its not about doing what we expect the council to do its about keeping up the pressure so they know what we feel is important and trying to get even more done there than what’s currently being done. Well done Chris.

Just had a reply off my question about needing planning permission for one of my projects.  Seems its not needed so I can at last progress this one.

Just had the first meeting about forming a Friends of West Lea Cemetery. About 20 people turned up and some interesting suggestions, now to get it formalised and see what we can do. There is already a list of actions and more to come by the sound of it.  Great start!

As it passed through Bedlington............

This month my surgery was on Monday the 1st and as usual plenty of questions to get answers to.

Next day I had to be at county hall before 9.30am to get a small coach for this site visit to Kirkwhelpington.  I think only one member of our strategic planning committee did not show so most of us got to see the spectacular scenery the rural part of our county has to offer.  Getting up to where this monument was proposed to go was quite something as we had to stop and inch past tractors quite a few times.  Eventually we stopped beside Tit Hill where this was being proposed for the top of.  A few protesters lined the route with their placards but we were told not to speak to them under any circumstances because this was a delegated planning site visit under strict regulations.  Didn’t stop a couple of members engaging with the protesters and the chair had to call them back in!   Once we had a good look at the proposed site from this vantage point we had another two to get to and look from.  It was difficult to imagine what this monument would look like imposed on the landscape but the planners had done some mock up pictures with it superimposed.  I have to say this site visit did give extra gravitas to the proposal.  We made it back just after lunch and I nipped home for a cuppa then back up to County Hall for a meeting at 3pm, this time for one of my pet projects!

Once we had conducted that business it was about time for the strategic planning meeting at 4pm.  Again we heard off our planning head, residents, councillors and the applicants agents each with their own version of what should be done.  After many questions a proposal was made to reject this application and this time it succeeded.  It was gratifying to hear the reason put forward for refusal was exactly the reason I had stated at the last meeting about this, namely there was merit in the idea but not at this location!  This time I had done the background and listed chapter and verse within the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) why I thought refusal was the correct outcome.  I could see the head of planning nodding at my assertions.

Again I was left wondering if some members were just playing to the audience as one even stopped to get a round of applause!  Never mind I think the right result was reached.

I was supposed to have a meeting with our local services manager today but something cropped up at the last minute and he couldn’t make it.  I would like to see him sooner rather than later so I can progress residents requests.

Had a Corporate Scrutiny meeting this morning but I had to declare an interest in one agenda item, that being a revised governance of Advance Northumberland.  Getting the relationship correct with NCC is vital in making progress on the new internal governance within the group.  We also heard about the current position regarding NCC debt with regard to council tax and business rate payers etc.  Next came a report about the new road which is being proposed for Blyth and finally a last minute addition, a report about a new countrywide lottery.  Plenty of questions all of which got answered!

Had the afternoon meeting cancelled because of an accident.  It needs to be back on sooner rather than later because it’s about additional Bedlington investment!

Today, along with Bill and Russ, I had a meeting with the Leader and some of the other senior NCC  cabinet members.  We have all been pressing not just for more investment into Bedlington but also having some of our basic social  needs addressed properly.  It was a very businesslike meeting and there are some, what look like, halfway decent results.  I did make the point that we have heard plenty of rhetoric from the Administration it was now time for action!

Once that was over I had to run to my next meeting because I had to chair it.  This one was the LAC Community Chest and we had to go through several applications. I would urge everyone who applies to actuality read through the guidance because we had to take some of the applied funding out and dismiss one or two entirely because they clearly breached our guidelines for funding and that’s something we all hate to have to do!   That done I thanked the members who made the time to turn up and closed the meeting.

I had an extra LGPS Panel meeting this afternoon and I expected it would be quite a short meeting.  As usual it didn’t turn out that way because there were so many interconnected things to consider and we were making  a fundamental change to our strategic asset planning.  Again I did make the point that we are in the middle of a pooling restructure, considering a merger, implementing a strategic review and considering an asset reallocation, each one worthy of very careful consideration in itself and each one putting extra stress on our team, most of all our officers and the Board members.  That was acknowledged but we did finally make a decision to de-risk some of our assets, something which I have been arguing about for over a year.

I had a brief talk with one of the police officers who oversee our Town about a suggestion I had made at the last meeting we all had.  I have expanded that suggestion and I await the reply.  Hopefully it might help tackle the seemingly growing anti social behaviour we are seeing.

Nice meeting today at a special school in Cramlington.  This came about because of my comments when their new play area came in front of our LAC planning group.  The questions I asked were later answered by the school’s new head of comms and funding.  We eventually chatted about the school and the pupils and I was asked to go to an opening event they were holding for a new garden area the pupils had done for themselves.  I suggested asking all the LAC members and said I would ask our Civic Head to officially open it for them.  The invites went out and Ian our Civic Head of Northumberland and his deputy Eileen agreed to officiate.  Lovely to see all the undoubted hard work paid off in such an inspiring garden area. I chatted to the school liaison officer and suggested ways they might try and attract extra funding into their school.

Today I have our LAC to chair because Christine the chair is away on personal business.  So quickly back from work for a shower and change then straight out for the pre planning meeting at Seaton Sluice. Only two applications both of which were uncontested.  As Bernard was the chair of planning and I had to take it on temporarily until a new chair was found, this was the first planning meeting for our new chair Councillor Ian Swithenbank.  I opened the LAC gave a brief explanation how it operates went though the first three agenda items and then passed the meeting over to Ian for the planning part.  He took us through the two applications with the planning officers and both were agreed unanimously.  We had 30 minutes to wait until I could restart the LAC!

One restarted straight into public questions and the very first one was something we couldn’t consider.  I gave the speaker as much leeway as possible to eak out a question to us but in the end what was being said had no relevance to our LAC and I had to stop the line of questioning.  His next question was about members conduct during elections and I asked if he wanted an explanation of Purdah?  He said so and I gave him my understanding which was about the types of communications members used and the tools allowed to do it.  I was corrected when I suggested members should even say they were already elected members in the authority.  In fact the new Labour leader said no one would stop her saying she was an elected member and supported her preferred candidate.

After one other question, which I requested a written reply to because we couldn’t give a definitive answer verbatim, the meeting carried on and we had several updates from our local area managers, notably highways and neighbourhood services.  We then got to an update on the cycling Tour which is coming through Northumberland again.   A presentation ensued from very enthusiastic officers and they answered our questions afterwards.  I then wrapped the meeting up.

Today I had a meeting about the old council offices in Bedlington  trying to get something done.  Thats seems all but impossible given the way this was put together originally.  It’s almost like one step forward and two back sometimes!

Had to go to a planning training meeting today and again more empty seats than full ones.  In fact it looked like most of the planning department was here so even less member attendance and we all sit on one planning committee or another!  In fact the head of planning stated the Central government guidelines  which says members have to undertake training or they wont be allowed to sit on planning committees.

The head of planning then gave the presentation and launched into ‘what is planning’ as the first part of his presentation.   Some interesting points were brought up and in the Q&A session I had a few questions.  One bit I did want clarification on was the assertion that planning had to ‘facilitate economic development, that I hadn’t heard before.  I asked if that was a material consideration and the reply was yes it is.  That was a bit strange because profit, per say, isn’t and do you get one without the other?

Second presentation was about houses and again I have several questions.  I asked for specific training along the lines of what the Strategic Planning committee had asked for several times, S106 developer funding, and also I asked about conditions and varyco’s attached to applications both before and after a decision.  I said I had sat in committee and attached conditions to applications only to see them changed or just taken out  as soon as a developer started work.  I said that wasn’t right because the development didn’t now look like what we had considered.  I also questioned him about the term ‘affordable housing’ saying I thought the term at best misleading and I postulated that in actual fact infrastructural improvements were much more rewarding to a greater number of people in the local communities than half a dozen ‘affordable houses’ and the fact that they are now dished out to housing associations behind what looks like closed doors only adds insult to injury as far as I was concerned.  He took my points and said they warranted further consideration.

Well just come back from a site meeting with a sports facilities funding officer and he said he was impressed with my ideas because they were far more inclusive than just applying to one sporting body.  He is going away to do some work to help me progress this and I now have to think up ways to fund another feasibility study into need in Bedlington.  Last time I did this was back in 2010 and we got KKP to do a report but their conclusion was that a £20M investment into a new school with modern sporting facilities at Bedlington Station couldn’t be ignored and the easiest option would be to make them accessible for the greater community.  Of course what we actually got was a £10M new school and very limited community accessible facilities.  So the fight goes on to get Bedlington what it deserves!

Just come back from another Advance board meeting and again it was dominated with new governance and policy matters.  Anyone might suspect we could possibly end up with a regeneration company fit for purpose at this rate!  I did have to stop the meeting at one point to raise a concern and that will now have to be addressed before that particular item is progressed. As an aside it looks to me like the company really needs to assert itself and not be held back by quasi public sector restraints and ways of doing business.  Fleet of foot and agile of mind would be my maxim regarding how this company develops now, with the proviso that the governance is sorted of course!

Well someone was listening.  Several phone calls off Advance today but finally my concerns were addressed and we can now proceed with that particular project.  I did use this time to further ideas for more investment into Bedlington of course!

First meeting today was the LAC chairs. I’m only there because I am vice chair of ours.  Several item on this agenda and a presentation about the possible Northumberland Lottery project.  The chair moved the presentation up so the presenter didn’t have to spend all morning sitting listening to the usual meeting before she got to her bit.   She did say some of us would have heard her presentation before and I was one because she had given the same to scrutiny earlier.  As she explained this was all about getting good local causes potential funding because players picked which of the good causes listed they wanted to support with most of their stake monies.  I did have another couple of questions about this such as how long would players be subscribed for, seeing as it is entirely internet based.    Also was there any constraints on how the good causes spent their possible windfalls?   Other members had their questions answered too and the whole thing is going to cabinet for their approval, or not, at their next meeting.

On with the normal meeting and again I said I wanted to see a much greater turn out at LAC meetings so making the agendas interesting for the public was essential.  This time the business chair intervened and challenged me directly to list all the possible updates and presentations I wanted to see and send him the list so each one could be checked off as it was delivered.  I have already made a start on this list!

Back home for a quick cuppa and get some mails sported then back up to county hall for another meeting , this one the LDF or Local Plan update.  We had the update and its expected the governmental hearings will start in October with Morpeth Town Hall booked to deliver the public sessions.  A couple of items were on as separate updates, one being affordable housing and the other planning obligations.  Both of these topics enlisted several questions from members and I had a few of my own. The SPD’s or supplementary planning documents will be going out for consultations quite soon because we all want to see this local plan in place.

Again it was stated today that pretty soon if members do not take up planning training they will be barred from sitting on any planning committees. Seeing as all members sit on at least one planning committee there could be sparks soon with that one!  Planning law, like Local Government Pension training,  isn’t the easiest thing to get your head around  but the new head of planning is insisting members have to attend.  Might start to improve attendance records for some!

Had a meeting with our Highways Technical officer today about the road issues and the solutions we have been working on.  Russ was there too and he got his issues sorted while mine were about the new speed signs I have already paid for and other traffic calming measures especially on the B1331 and Netherton Village.   I had told residents I would not let this officer go until I have a set date for the installation of these signs because we seem to have been waiting months and months for their installation after being agreed and paid for!  Well I did get assurances that both the signs at Netherton and Hartford Bridge will be in within the next 2 weeks.  There are also other measures to go in and these are hoped to be completed before the end of the school holidays.  In fact it might look to some like overkill but Netherton Village especially has suffered far too long from excessive speeding and if these measures don’t have an impact a far more drastic solution is in the wings!  One of the measures is to reduce the speed along sections of  both the B1331 and the A1068.

Looks like the info you got is flawed minitoonmook, or its a case of comparing apples and pears.  

NCC took over all legal responsibilities when WDC was abolished.  

Bernicia is just a social housing provider and whilst they ended up with our old council houses they have no wider legal responsibility.   

So to me at least it would seem you need to be dealing with NCC as it is they who took on all covenants etc.  I am presuming, from what you have written,  you are buying your house and not renting off Bernicia?   

I would suggest trying to get indemnity off NCC in writing regarding this covenant.  

June 2019.

June already and last week we had an LDF, or Local Plan, update. Lots of last minute items to go through and several cases to be made but in the end the document left on time to go to central government for inspection. Like I have said this has been a mammoth task and all credit to the team of officers who have done such a diligent job on its production.

Next meeting was an LAC, Local Area Council, chairs meeting. I get to go because I’m the deputy chair of ours. Several items of business went through and one in particular I was very interested in, this being the new “council housing” initiative. The lead officer gave an update and as I was one of only a few who had actually attended his wider presentation earlier in the year, I mentioned some of the concerns I had spoken about at that presentation specifically the fact that the administration have done press releases suggesting we are building 1000 new houses for social rent whereas when I asked if we would see 1000 new council houses built the answer had been somewhat different! I did press this point and said I didn’t know why the opposition, who were at least at this meeting, had let the administration away with that claim! Seems I was being overly sceptical?

Next item was something I again wanted an input into as this was possible items for future meetings. I said we had been told when these LAC’s were initiated, that they would bring decision making closer to the local populace and they would hold their own budgets for things like regeneration projects and I haven’t seen any evidence of those! I said we always got a good turnout of Bedlington residents but even they are not attending because they have little input and the agendas are too weak. This caused a bit of a furore and I was told we had just seen a Bedlington regeneration presentation in Bedlington so we did have regeneration in our remit. I said that has nothing to do with the LAC and was only a presentation by an existing project. I was told in no uncertain manner to list what I thought should be included so I said things like the social housing project we have just been talking about, the proposed new rail link, the North of Tyne devolution deal which has just had its mayoral election, the Borderlands deal and I could go on. These are all things which affect residents in all our wards and we should see the local flavour. I was told to send my comments to the chair and business chair so I will!

Strategic planning today and only one application. I went along open minded and listened to the arguments for and against. The more I heard the less I liked the scheme on offer and had to ask several questions to the Head of Planning about it as he seemed to be taking over this application. Of all the questions I asked I think I only had one proper reply, in fact the chair had to say I was drifting towards debate which I refuted straight away because I wasn’t getting any straight answers. That bit done we had a proposer and seconder for approval and I spoke against. This application was for a piece of artwork installed in the middle of the Northumbrian moors. I understood the concept and even given it was to be 56M high I did like the idea but I said I just couldn’t accept it at this location. I said I would support it in 100 different locations throughout the county but in this location it was just too confrontational. Also the fact that it was being touted as a tourist destination but the road to it was a single track, there was to be no facilities such as toilets or restrooms, and the current parking which could accommodate one single bus or a handful of cars wasn’t being upgraded meant that argument was a complete red herring. Who ever suggested this was to be a tourist destination but didn’t want any tourists to actually visit it baffled me. Anyway we eventually voted it down but then one of the members who had proposed it and refused a site visit before the vote then proposed a site visit. I asked what were we going to look at because there was nothing 56M in height nearby which would give us an indication. I was told we were going to see the moors to which I responded I could see them on the pictures on the screen behind. So we now have a site visit to go on for an application which has been refused. I have said many times planning law has it own incongruous set of rules. It wasn’t just me who wondered what was going on either!

My application for the central government High Street funding which although turned down has born some fruit! I saw the way some other towns had been given a lead and that is done through business forums so given what I was told at recent NCC economic presentations all areas would be given equal consideration I asked for one to be set up for us. Just learnt we are getting one set up and it will include the parish councils in the first instance. Thats a step in the right direction but we then have to turn the rhetoric into real investment and regeneration. I have my own ideas on how this should proceed and I’ll wager there might be some fireworks because I don’t want to see some anodyne and insipid lip service being played out with this chance.

Another meeting with the head of Advance and this time we locked horns! I just couldn’t see the sense of what was being proposed and said so. We were joined by the head of investments and it was nice to hear some of my ideas have been taken seriously. Still gagged by NDA’s but that will soon be over. Our Town Centre regeneration will happen and once we can tell the real story behind this epic tale people will see for themselves why there has been so many false dawns! I can only see one way to get this over the line in the short term and that will become clear in the next couple of weeks.

One of the things stated on social media by the usual suspects which does rankle a bit is the suggestion that because I, as well as Bill and Russ, are new councillors we don’t know how to represent our wards or Town. I’ll leave this comment which I overheard at a recent NCC meeting…. “You always know when Bedlington is at a meeting these days!” As for not working to get any investment into the Town, well the £6.5M for our Town Centre regeneration is there in black and white now, it never was before, as well as an extra £1.4M! Having won that fight I now want to see it actually spent sooner rather than later.

As well as that investment into the Town we are pushing for other funding streams and I hope we can soon reveal details of those.

Scrutiny meeting today and a varied agenda. One of the items was about devolving an educational budget to the new North of Tyne Combined Authority. This one did make sense strategically but I asked if any other budgets were going to be devolved because this was a question I asked at the very first presentations about this years go. A direct answer was skillfully avoided but I was told devolving this budget had always been the case.

Actually I distinctly remember being told some of our Transport initiatives working toward an integrated transport network would be the only thing devolved at the time! I was told that had been shelved because of its complexity for the moment. I was also told back then there would certainly be no duplication of efforts and this would be new money for the twin stated aims of job creation and raising educational standards and any projects funded would be subject to a benchmarking process.

Once back to Bedlington I had some things to sort out and then a meeting with the police. This time I had invited a senior NCC officer to attend so we had first hand information and a potential route to get a multi agency approach to Beldington’s ASB problems. He did offer some help and advice but I’m not sure if this will have any benefits, however we did hear how other areas have tackled the same problems and the tools they used. If nothing else the NCC officer got to hear the problems firsthand!

I have now had notice of another meeting to discuss an initiative suggested at this meeting which I think could well have some merit. Personally I’m still pushing for somewhere for young people to congregate which they can call their own but with some supervision!

Back up to councty for further meetings but then across to Plessey Woods to do some PR for the Park.

Pension Panel meeting this morning and given the size of the papers I had its going to be a long one! Well it was another mammoth LGPS meeting and it threw some items up which we need other meetings to consider. Doing 9am-3pm for a meeting on a Friday left me little time to get sorted for the weekend at work so back to Bedders ASAP.

This week we had a full council meeting and as usual I finished work early to make it up to County for the 3pm start. I had two questions tabled at this one and other members have said how they were going to be interested in the answers I got back. I have to say out of 7 questions tabled to the Administration 5 were from independent members with the other two from a Conservative member. Got to wonder just who is trying to hold the Administration to account these days? Out of 7 questions tabled to the Conservative Administration at this full council meeting 5 were off Independent members and 2 off a Conservative member who really took them to task on his questions too. (Meeting starts about 16 minutes in?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIO8oFaxXDE&t=2024s

I have Director training at Advance Northumberland today. The only way I can see to get our Town Centre regeneration on anything like a proper time frame is to work from the inside so I have agreed to take up the poison chalice and become a director of the company. Having been one of the biggest critics about the way Arch conducted itself I will be making sure Advance isn’t allowed to go the same way. Of course I now have further constraints on what I can say because being a director places its own requirements on what can be reported. Having had all afternoon with the Chief Executive and the financial officer it was refreshing to hear that a complete set of new governance and accounting is being put into place.

Today I have my first board meeting and once installed it was a very open, amiable and accountable meeting. I did take part and all my questions were answered and suggestions considered.

Looking at next month’s calendar the days are being filled up with meeting after meeting. It’s going to be another busy one.

May 2019.

Once again May is a bit different to the other months and this one especially so with all the elections and purdah.  For anyone who doesn’t know about purdah….” The term ‘purdah‘ has come into popular use across central and local government to describe the period of time immediately before elections or referendums when specific restrictions on communications activity are in place.”  So I have been under some restrictions with my diary and when and how it has been published.

I think a brief overview of the major items of business going on over the last year, as I have done previously, is the best way forward.

I will preface this with the fact that I have been contacted by more and more residents with their concerns and questions and they are naturally confidential but I welcome the fact that people seem to have a renewed faith in contacting their elected representatives and asking for assistance.

This time last year we saw Arch transform into Advance Northumberland with a much stricter local remit.  Regeneration and investment has been curtailed so its directed at Northumberland only instead of seeing investment made into other councils and county areas.  Lots of issues with Arch which have been well documented in the media so I won’t go into specifics but I do feel that to regain the public trust we have to see a full and independent investigation carried out as a minimum.

We can now see the full council meetings in “glorious Technicolor” live as they happen on the NCC YouTube account.  While I welcome this step forward in transparency I do still have reservations about the nature of these full council meetings.  I have just been informed some committee meetings will be recorded now too and I have one next week which is one of the first to be recorded to see how it goes.   If nothing else I will bet we see members turn up who don’t usually or who very rarely do!

Work has been going on all year putting together a new Local Plan or Local Development Framework, as it was originally named.  I have said the last one which took about 8 years to bring together was just a carte blanche for housing developers.  It contained estimates for over 26,000 new houses with no associated infrastructure provision.  The new one, which has taken just over 1 year to put together, links all sorts of things to house building and has estimates of about 17,000 new homes.  Having worked on the committee which helped put this together, although in truth it was hard work by dedicated officers which has seen it produced, I can say incorporating most of the ancillary infrastructure needed is the way to go.  It isn’t a cure all but at least it starts to link policies and projects NCC now have in place.  This new version was listed to be finished and sent off to central government for inspection yesterday!  If it gets agreement then it will underpin our planning strategy in the short to medium term.

The new North of Tyne Mayoral authority was discussed and given cross party support.   Initially this was to be the 7 local authorities but that had been reduced to 3 because the others refused to sign up to a publicly voted in Mayor acting as chair.  We have now seen the election held and the new Mayor installed.   What struck me throughout the campaign was the suggestions by the candidates about how they intended spending the money government is providing.  This wasn’t part of any deal when we debated backing the creation and I will be asking questions about it!  It was supposed to be about job creation and raising educational achievement, using the funding as seed funding to lever in even more.  As far as I understood it wasn’t supposed to be used for any pet projects for whoever got elected.  I’m not even sure it can be given that it should be overseen by a committee of elected members from the 3 areas.

We started the work to enable a new play park and other park upgrades in Plessey Woods about a year ago.  We worked on an outline and then sent out tenders for the work.  I specifically asked the companies who tendered for the new park equipment to look at the site and see what they might recommend, given that I wanted exciting and innovative play equipment suitable for a good range of children, including disabled children.   I think we had 16 tenders to go through and score then see which 3 came top.  Again another session to examine the 3 in fine detail and at last we chose one.  Once that went out we had meetings with the company chosen and I pressed for some tweaks so the new equipment would be exciting to all age ranges.  We had a target completion date set for Easter 2019 and it did open on Good Friday 2019.  It looks like a great success with a huge swell of visitors to the park these days.  More to come with a bit of luck!

I couldn’t not mention our Town centre redevelopment and having called it a staccato development at the recent presentation I now see it being likened to Brexit!  For me the whole thing was badly judged at inception with at first housing which was then  squashed in favour of a wholesale retail development.  The way that was underwritten led to a whole raft of problems as work progressed to bring the scheme forward.  Unlike other developments all the proposed units had to be prelet to retailers and given the changes happening to our high streets up and down the land this was always destined to be hard work!

We have at least seen the preparatory work done after a main contractor was appointed.  Again unlike any other development there has followed a period of inactivity on the site and even though there is a considerable amount of pressure to get this development back on track I think there is only one way to get it across the line now!  On top of all the evidence of a change in shopping patterns up and down every high street in the country we really need to be innovative and imaginative with ours to make it as attractive as possible to as many folks as possible in an effort to make it sustainable.

I will mention the initiative to get the Blyth and Tyne line reopened for passengers.  Again this seems to have been a perennial promise by one administration and council after another.  Having been invited onto a specially sponsored train to travel the line from Morpeth to Blyth, stopping off at the old Bedlington station platform where I had the opportunity to shake hands with the Transport Minister and along with Russ and Bill press the case for the line reopening, I have to say the message coming from the Minister was pretty encouraging!  He took all of our concerns and suggestions on board even saying this was possibly the easiest of the national closed lines which were being looked at to get reopened!  It will take a considerable amount of funding but with NCC agreeing the seed funding and it now being a commitment by the new North of Tyne Authority to bring it about, I think we have the best chance in decades to see passengers on the line in 2022 as has been suggested.

I think we have to think about this not only in terms of people being able to travel outwards more easily, but also the fact that it will encourage people to come in and actually visit Bedlington.  This can only have a positive effect on infrastructure at the Station and the immediate surrounding area but also once we get our town centre redevelopment done it could encourage people to visit that too.  The over rider is of course, as I have suggested, we have to make our Town Centre redevelopment innovative, successful and fit for the 21st century and so entice added footfall.

Just to close there are now several new initiatives aimed at getting Bedlington the upgrades it has desperately needed for many years and as these are publicised I have no doubt the vast majority of people will see the work which has been going on over the last couple of years to get the needs of Bedlington up the pecking order within the county.

February 2019.

Busy start to this month. First up was a corporate scrutiny meeting at 10am in County Hall. This was a pretty important one as it scrutinised the medium term financial plan and this years proposed budget. I was a bit shocked to see so many unoccupied seats because members from all scrutiny committees were invited. I had several questions and again it was a bit of a two man show as the Lib Dem Leader and myself monopolised the question and answer session.

My questions were about post 16 school transport and why it only had one year listed in the accounts, why do we see a 2.99% council tax rise when at last year’s meeting we were told if we agreed a 2.99% rise for last year we would only need a 1.99% rise for next year, or this year as it now falls, a further question about recurrent financial pressures, the adult social care proposals, delegation of the strategic regeneration budget to 4 officers and members and could someone explain the quote ‘flexibilities of capital receipts’ when we are told time and time again capital and revenue budgets cannot be mixed. I was satisfied with most of the answers that came back. The opposition made a comment but did not question the financial plan or budget at all?

That meeting finished around 11.25am and it was a rush to get down into the council chamber for the State of the Area debate tabled to start at 11.30am.

Again I was surprised when it became apparent the Labour group and Lib Dems boycotted this meeting. Not sure how you can represent constituents by not attending meetings but that certainly seems to be the modus operandi of the opposition at present. I would make the point that I feel to effect change to prospective NCC policy, which is basically put in place by cabinet, I can only do that by engaging at committee level. Or before it becomes NCC policy. Trying to do it after the cabinet has accepted or declined suggestions, changes and amendments, and then voted for it is almost impossible, given they are the administration.

We heard the Leader talk about future plans and in particular those on education and tourism, in fact the cabinet members responsible for those, gave presentations. During the educational presentation we heard about large investments in new schools etc throughout the county. The portfolio holder said this is all about viable business cases being made. I was a bit annoyed at that and asked if that is the case then tailoring your offer to customer demand, or in this case schoolchildren’s needs, how do we see large investments in lower residential density areas and whilst I note there is a single new school planned within the South East of the county, where over 50% of the population resides, we do have extra educational needs based on huge influxes of new residents. The cabinet member responded and again said any investment would be based on sound business principles so I said I would welcome the undoubted investment coming into Bedlington in that case!

Next we had a presentation about tourism and the Discover Northumberland initiative. I did want to ask for help with a particular problem we have in Bedlington at present and I had to think of a way to factor it into a question. I used the antithesis of what was being presented to ask for a multi agency task force to help with the anti social behaviour Bedlington was being subjected to at weekends because that flew in the face of presenting a positive image for the county as a whole. The deputy Leader said he would get someone to contact me and tell the Northumberland Youth Service to get involved.

Next I had a mad rush to get home have a cuppa then out back to the Advance Northumberland HQ in Ashington. Bill and Russ came and again we discussed the Bedlington Town Centre Regeneration Project, this time with the MD and head of investments. This 30 minute meeting turned into 2 hours and some pretty straightforward talking took place. These meetings have been subject to strict commercial confidentiality and it’s a bit soul destroying seeing and reading huge swathes of social media principly put out by a local political group for their own political benefit at the cost of so much discord and division in the town.

I then had my usual monthly surgery for residents at Netherton Club, so all in all quite a busy Monday.

Strategic Planning and no real issues with any of the applications for a change. I did want to challenge planners on one item, wagon access to a opencast coal mine. I was particularly concerned this application was retrospective and was about road safety issues as highlighted by a local school and local residents. Our recommendation off planners was based on a new access route to the site not any alleviation of road safety issues especially for minors. Other members expressed their disquiet about this being a retrospective application too looking to change conditions as laid down when the original application was heard. Exactly what I have been banging on about for the last year! What’s the point of laying down conditions if developers etc just ignore them. Given there was just a very limited time left for this site to run we asked for a strongly worded letter to go out to the operator and I hope we keep our eyes open in future about such conditions breaches!

I have a meeting with planners at Westlea today and I hope I can get some resolution to their impasse.

Well you are never too old to be shocked. After listening to the arguments put forward by our planners I rebuffed their arguments one by one and they actually agreed with my take. So much so I now have their help in making this project happen. I would like to thank them for being so reasonable and open minded.

I then had to go down to the police station for another meeting with the officers charged to look after Bedlington. No prizes for guessing what took up the whole of the meeting. We are going to see a different tack from now on with police being far more proactive, something which I said I welcomed.

Had to be up and ready for a pick up at county hall today at 7.45am. Bill, Russ and myself have been asked to travel on the hopefully soon to be reopened Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Tyne rail line and we should be able to speak to the minister for Transport directly outlining our support and the reasons why our Town needs this so badly. After he was taken around the recently started upgrades happening to Morpeth station we got on a special train and first stop, according to the announcement, Bedlington. Had a nice ring to it!!! Once here we were able to get off, onot the old platform and press the minister for his support in getting this line reopened. Everything he said was positive! In fact 2022 is now being bandied around for the first passenger trains onto this line for decades. For my money this not only helps people travel out and into central station Newcastle where the full monty of rail destinations is available, it also helps bring people in which in turn will make Bedlington a destination instead of a crossroads to other towns. Lots of hurdles and lots of work still to be done of course but it does look like the political will is there now.

Sad news today, out of the blue, Councillor Bernard Pidcock has died. Bernard was a heart on his sleeve sort of bloke and spoke passionately in support of his particular beliefs. He took part in a number of committees I work on and many more. I for one will miss his mischievousness especially at full council meetings.

Next meeting was our community chest committee. Bernard was on this committee and even though a great deal of thought had gone into the make up of this committee so it was balanced politically he was usually the only opposition member to attend. His recent death has now resulted in no opposition members being present! So I had to check with the officer to make sure we were quorate. We were so I started the meeting and given this was about underspent monies in the normal community chest I suggested, as normal, considering any applications which had not had funding before. The three which met that criteria were assessed and then we went into the rest of the applications. Couple of hours later and we had allocated all of the outstanding monies at our disposal. This is something I believe we owe the local groups and charities based in our locale because I know first hand how difficult it is to actually get funding for community projects. Some of the other areas are still under their funding criteria, however ours is 100% paid out!

I have a site meeting with Miller Homes today after many months of complaints from residents about the way they have conducted the build at Broadoaks, most especially the effect it has had on the Green Letch.

Well we have just had the meeting and it looked like Miller had turned up mob handed with the North East manager, north of Tyne manager, technical manager and site foreman in the office with me. Our enforcement officer turned up to even things out a little. We spoke about the planning problems the site still has and I told them residents concerns. There was some pretty straightforward talking done and I have a new respect for our enforcement officer after she refused to back down on her demands and backed me and my resident’s claims up! They did agree to the proposals sent in by our ecology officer and I asked for them to be written down and sent back so we all had them in black and white.

We then walked along the site and on a couple of occasions I had to draw their attention to things which in the office they said they were not doing! I think in the end we both knew where we have to go, in fact the boss said we have heard things neither of us wanted to hear but at least we have cleared the air and solutions have been agreed.

The only thing I didn’t get was some answer to the Great Wall of Bedlington. Sitting in the officer when I asked about it I was told there was no building going on top of this structure. I asked to make sure, so it’s only going to be gardens and the reply came back yes. When we walked along the site I stopped the boss and said you have just told me there is no buildings going to be on top of this retaining wall and clearly there are foundations, footings, bricks up the damp course level and one half built house. He said he thought I meant directly on top of the gabion wall cages? He assured us that the foundations were at a depth and angle that no stress would be on the gabion wall anyway. OK but that’s not quite what was said half an hour ago in the office!

All in all I agree with the ecology officer who suggested to enforcement that sympathetic restoration rather than going for an out and out breach of conditions was the way to go and as long as we get what was agreed in writing and they complete, I think that is the best we can demand now. Course if we had some proper oversight in the first place…..

Busy week this week, first up we had a budget and financial plan presentation in our office at county hall. This is given to all parties and groups before the full council budget vote. The financial officer and the corporate cabinet member came and we had a long session of going through their budget and 3 year plan.

My first question was about the regeneration budget for our town centre development because this time it wasn’t shown separately. After going through the budget spreadsheet we were shown the line which contained it by the finance officer. It was a separate item in last year’s financial plan, this year it was included in the budget proposals for other Town centre regenerations. That done loads of more questions about where our Town fitted and might fit into this 3 year plan. We did have many questions about the proposed cuts to the social care budget and I made the point that these people by their very nature were passive and couldn’t really make representations for themselves.

I had the opportunity to question these financial plans at the corporate scrutiny committee at the beginning of the month but I was still able to drill down into the detail.

We eventually finished this meeting and then it was a rush to get back have a quick cuppa then get to Cramlington for the monthly LAC. This should have been a planning meeting only but we had a couple of presentations to hear, first one the Local Transport Plan and the other the new Local Plan. Nice to see several Bedlington residents had made the time to make the meeting.

Seems to me that a lot of places are faring quite well out of this year’s LTP, (Local Transport Plan) Bedlington not being one even though each of us had given our three priorities. I did question this and asked why over 12 months ago I had been turned down on two out of my three priorities but for one I had been assured I was going to be invited into a meeting to discuss it. This one was about school parking issues which affect residents in my ward. Again I was assured by the officer that he would look into it and get back to me within a day. Seems to have slipped again!

Next presentation was the new Local Plan and a brief rundown was given before questions were fielded. Again I did have several questions for the officer even though I had worked on this at committee. Very interested in the house build design strategy.

The chair did open these presentations up for any residents who attended to ask questions. Much better way of doing things.

Long day today, work at 6am a mad rush at 2pm to get back have a shower and change then up to County Hall for full council at 3pm.

The main bones for this one was the proposed social care cut and the budget. I argued that this social care cut was not the way to balance the budget and specifically questioned why do we seem to be charging carers to look after people? The answer came back that we charge for any specialist help carers need to look after people, people that are probably loved ones. What an insensitive policy and as its a continuation of the existing policy I wonder who put this in place? The vote came and we lost by 10 votes. Looked like the administration had all of their councillors there, pity the opposition didn’t or we might have been able to turn that over! Other non aligned independents voted against too.

Next came the budget vote and questions were asked specifically about the Bedlington Regeneration funding. The Leader said we are getting our regeneration, the chair of regeneration said its included and I said I had checked to make sure it was included and it is. Thanks for the concern! I was a bit taken aback when all labour members voted against the budget knowing full well it contained our much needed regeneration funding and not just Bedlington’s but other town centres too. Again putting politics before the needs of our communities.

Before I got home that night yet another report on a local political page saying I had voted for the social care cut? That seemed to entitle several people to make personal comments about me and people close to me insisted I made a counter statement. I did and put up the video of the meeting leaving people to make their own minds up about who was or wasn’t being truthful. The accusation was then changed to say that because I had voted for the budget I was in fact voting for the social care cut by association. I would just point out the advice given by the NCC solicitor during the meeting which resulted in the opposition Leader taking out his counter motion pre vote concerning this social care cut. It couldn’t legally be included having just been approved by the full council unlike our town centre funding!

I will just say this in conclusion, if I had voted against the budget knowing full well our town centre funding was included how on earth could I look anyone in the eye and tell them I was working for our Town’s benefit? I can just imagine the faux outrage if that had happened!

Local Government Pension Panel meeting today and as usual quite complex and long. It’s one thing keeping abreast of the current regulations but we also have to consider the new shared admin with Newcastle as well as the new Border to Coast group we are part of. It was good to hear off all the independent examiners, pension board chair, employee reps that they consider this panel to be out performing and our commitment to training was very commendable. Must be doing something right then! One of the questions I did ask was about this shared service and was the expected savings and improvements being seen. Seems they are.

Next meeting was another long training session, this time for planning. Improving planning design and delivering better homes not just in terms of build quality but also running costs is something of a soapbox for me and it was good to hear support for this when I mentioned it. In fact our new head of planning said he understood and supported what I was saying. Let’s hope we see real movement towards these ends soon. This session certainly gave us food for thought. It was a pity once again not all members made it but there was a good smattering of officers present.

Russ and myself had a meeting at the WBTC office today, this with NCC highways and the Town Council. Matters under discussion were the suggested road safety improvements we want to see. I was particularly interested in getting the new speed interactive signs fitted, seeing as I have agreed to buy three. Also getting new road markings to slow traffic on certain roads was again something we tried to get through. We did agree the upgrades we wanted to see and we were assured the final costings should be available next week. Many thanks to WBTC for their help and input, so much easier when we are all just trying to improve our area for residents.

I have been contacted by our road safety officer after my questions at our last LAC and we are meeting on Ridge Terrace to look into the school traffic problems.

We did meet and walked from Bishops Meadow along to the school exit on Netherton Lane. Several points were raised along the way and some agreed on. So hopefully we will see some further upgrades designed to aid the safety of our school children as they go to and from their schools, as well as some relief for residents!

Looks like I’m now being castigated on social media again for going on that train with the government minister. Well sorry but if I get the chance to talk directly to a minister advocating investment and regeneration in our area Im going to jump on it. Who was and wasn’t invited wasn’t in my remit but being able to tell the transport minister that this project is integral to the regeneration of this area for several reasons was reason enough to take part. I think a passenger rail link is one of the most crucial keys to lasting economic growth for our area, if its handled properly. I make no apologies for taking part, in fact I consider it part of the job!

Had an interesting meeting today about the new High Street Fund. Lots to consider even though Bedlington isn’t one of the 3 priorities NCC have listed or the one, Blyth, they are putting forward for this funding. I asked for and now have the data matrices concerning our Town. Looks like there are quite some options and I don’t see why we can’t go for them, albeit in a slightly different context.

Back up to County Hall for another meeting this afternoon. This one in response to my call, at the State of the Area debate, for a multi agency approach to the adolescent problems blighting this town at present. Nice to hear this is something being taken seriously and actions will be forthcoming from NCC. NCC Youth Services and Neighbourhood safety teams are initially being tasked to get involved and liaise with the Police.

Nov 2018.

We had a pretty packed strategic planning meeting tonight, or it was going to be until one of the large applications was pulled by the applicant.  The other biggie was the Bedlington application for the 500 houses north of the Chesters.  Having been awarded a new contract I was at work all week for training and exams and had to get permission to leave early for this meeting and the full council meeting tomorrow.   The other applications were not really contentious and we agreed with the planners and their advice.

The chair knew I wanted to speak about the Bedlington application and first up was the planning officer who outlined the application and its terms.  Next up was Christine, the current mayor of West Bedlington Town Council.  She gave an impassioned 5 minute speech about how disappointed she was with the terms of the S106 funding and especially where it was going to be spent.  We next heard off the applicant and then onto members questions.  One or two members asked a question about the application then it was my turn.

I said it seemed we had a dichotomy of guidance regarding this application seeing as the Wansbeck Local Plan had a boundary line which these houses lay outside of, therefore they should be disallowed.  Not only that but we are being advised that the new Planning Guidance off central government which actually meant these houses were needed, to bolster our housing land supply figures.  I said I saw that as an excuse, sorry for using that term, but would we as a county have enough land bank for housing if these houses were not permitted?  The silence was deafening so I gave them the reply they didn’t want to give me.  Yes we have more than enough identified housing land, isn’t that true.  Again none of the planners wanted to say but I pushed them for an answer.  It seems we do have enough but they want these as well.  I asked if that justified redrawing the town boundary line and again silence.  I then asked if the Wansbeck Local Plan was the only planning guidance we should consider because at every meeting we are told we can only consider material considerations and adopted policies.  Again a very muted response!

I then asked about the S106 agreement and said it wasn’t good enough.  The reply was that there is a framework for working out these agreements and some might seems more generous than others.  Well how can the same framework deliver almost £5M in S106 funding in Amble for the same number of houses and even about £4m for almost half the number in Blyth?  Ours totals just under £2M!  In fact the only change I could see since this was last before us is the inclusion of a £65 bus ticket for each house.  It really isn’t good enough.

Given highways and transportation were mentioned in the application I asked about a new road I have heard about linking the B1331 and Choppington Road.  I was told I couldn’t mention that because it wasn’t part of the application but I said in that case you shouldn’t be so ambiguous in the terms used in your guidance and my question stood.  No answer.

Next came the debate after two members proposed accepting the application.  One member even said he didn’t understand the new central government guidance but would vote for the application. Surly that should mean you don’t vote for something you don’t understand shouldn’t it?  It does whenever I don’t understand what’s on the table.  In my reply I said this was clearly outside the boundary line in the only policy in place and I will not vote for anything which seems to undervalue my residents in comparison to any other residents in the county.  When the vote came only two of us voted against it so it was agreed by majority.  I think we have lost an opportunity to get some real funding to address the imbalances we can all see here in our social infrastructure.

I have to mention some of the things which my refusal to accept this paltry community funding has brought to my attention.

First I hadn’t realised this application had been brought to the last administration.  In fact it looks like they were the ones to agree the first mishmash of community funding.  This was the agreement brought to strategic planning last year when I first heard it.  This had no health funding requirement and the educational requirement had been allowed to fall from £3.2M to about £1.2M, or about £2M was allowed to disappear.  To add further insult to injury the outdoor sport and play funding was to go to Bedlington Station?  So West Bedlington gets the houses and the demand while East Bedlington gets the goodies.  I wonder who put this deal together but I hope readers can see why I objected so passionately last year when this came up.

In the course of several meetings I had with the planners over this I got planners to ask the health trust again about some funding requirement and I also had that ring-fenced for East Bedlington caveat squashed.   So £335K for health funding suddenly appeared and the £229K for sport and play can stay in our ward.  Still think the figures are insulting given what other areas seem to be able to demand and in no way addresses the lack of infrastructure needed to service our current needs never mind considering the huge increases we will soon see I’m sure.

Full council today and it was quite a rush back from work because I’m doing training and exams all week.

There weren’t really any main bones of contention in the agenda but that was before the more politically motivated members got their hands on it.  So once again a political ping pong match which I think shows just how unwilling some members are to work with each other for the benefit of the county.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-_ELUoMGYA

I am really quite disappointed with these full council meetings.  Instead of reasoned debate which might just influence the direction we are taking we get the minutes of previous committee meetings and a chance to ask….TWO….questions….if they were submitted in time before the meeting.  This isn’t the cut and thrust of modern politics for local benefit, this is an old codgers club!   We really need to stop electing people because of the gang they belong to.

Interesting to see just how wildly taken out of context some of the ‘quotes’ are and that’s only the ones I have firsthand knowledge about.  I was truly shocked at the misrepresentation of one of the committees I serve on.  I now have to question everything those members utter in future.

Well it might have taken some time, months in fact, but after all the complaining, lobbying, phone calls and messages we eventually have a full set of working lights up the Netherton Village.  We were promised these were working some time ago but several faults came to light; pardon the pun, which resulted in temporary traffic lights for a couple of days while the faults were once and for all rectified!  Fingers crossed!

Sadly it has become apparent that once again I have been targeted by certain individuals in an effort to unseat me.  This was particularly distressing because it involved other people close to me and while I am fully prepared to argue my points and politically debate quite openly the oleaginous manner in which this was done left a lot to be desired!  This resulted in having to close down my social media accounts until I was sure I had regained control over them and was the reason my last month’s diary was late and this one somewhat truncated.  It would seem giving, principally, my constituents so much information within these diaries is not something certain people relish. I will leave the last word to one of our greatest political commentators,

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”     

― George Orwell.

September 2018.

First meeting was economic and corporate scrutiny at 10am.  I got there in good time and took a seat.  We had several cabinet members and the Leader there for this one because there were several bits on the agenda which we would be asking questions about.  We also had the ex-Leader there and as he sat at the table I presumed he must be speaking directly to us.

The meeting was called to order and we started with the chair altering the agenda because of clashes with some of the members and other meetings which they had to go to.

One of the agenda items was about the legal advice members could receive from outside the NCC legal team.  It had been proposed that due to legal action against 3 or 4 members and a member of staff by a multi-million pound offshore company, NCC should underwrite some of the cost of advice or we could well face say a rich development company from almost picking off any members who disagreed with it, especially in terms of planning!  The ex-Leader had headed up a counter proposal supposedly denying members and officers this help and he presented his case.  I was surprised at his opening remark that his group actually agreed with the proposal and it was only the way this had been brought to cabinet that he disagreed with.  I’m not sure given the time frames involved that the convoluted way which was the counter proposal could have been actually delivered.  I did agree with a couple of the points raised but given that a writ had been issued, time was of extreme importance.  The legal advice off the NCC solicitor was pretty unambiguous and the proposal failed.

We went through several items and then hit on the most controversial.  This one was about a report and consultation into possibly reducing the level of council tax working age claimants received.  I listened to the presentation given by the cabinet member with the responsibility and started asking questions.  This was soon drowned out by one member shouting that this should not even be tabled.  The reply off the cabinet member astounded me.  What was being proposed was the possibility of reducing this benefit by 8% from 100 to 92%.  During his reply the cabinet member mentioned the fact that the last administration were going to reduce this benefit by 50% not the 8% the current administration wanted to look at.  Seems only us and Durham give 100% reduction these days with most councils facing some hard facts as they try and balance budgets.  One of the members said yes but they weren’t going to do it straightaway.  Flipping heck the last administration were a curious bunch looking at what’s coming out now, in fact I’m starting to wonder if I’m in some alternative universe where the Labour group cosy up with multi million pound offshore companies and think about halving benefits  and the Conservative group are keeping any reduction to a bare minimum?

Anyway the three labour members were asked if they wanted to make a counter proposal and after quite some prompting they proposed taking this proposal for a report off the table.  A very dangerous option in my opinion because the administration could easily push this through without any due consideration or consultation!  As there were 5 conservative members, 3 labour members and myself their proposal fell and I asked specifically what the original agenda proposal was.  Producing a report and a consultation exercise only because this committee was not a decision making committee it was a scrutiny committee.  I agreed with this now because I felt getting a report done and a consultation exercise would give us the understanding of what the impacts of this measure might actually be.  The current administration could just push it through if they wanted so at least this would gave us the background needed to make any recommendation.

I left the meeting and hurried home in time to grab a cuppa before going up to Alnwick for a strategic site visit.  Once again I have to say the access route to the site leaves a great deal to be desired but at least the site is in the agreed neighbourhood plan.  Also the fact that the neighbourhood plan recommends the same number of houses went some way in my decision making.  The matter in question was the fact that the outline plans moved an area of housing nearer to the existing dwellings there so there would be a much better aspect to the development.  It was half a paddock nearer but this meant that the development could be built in the low lying area and not spoil any view looking from the conserved Alnwick fields just over a hill.

When I got home I had several messages about me being the target of attack by the mother of our MP’s communications manager?  Seems I had to stop everything I was doing to reply to her political accusations on social media.  In fact they were getting more and more deranged as far as I could see.  As well as these tirades the ex-chair of the local labour group joined in but that was just par for the course! (Hi Alex!).

I did do a reply the next day and I received an inbox full of well wishes!  Thanks to everyone who sent them!

Again once home I only had time for another cuppa then it was up to Netherton Club for my monthly surgery.

Today I had the strategic planning meeting and one item on the agenda was the detailed planning for the Bedlington redevelopment in marketplace.  The Alnwick application was before and that was eventually agreed.  One application had been pulled and another pretty straightforward.  Finally the Bedlington application came up and after seeing the application on the screen I asked about the parking provision.  Looks like it’s been reduced but adding in the parking for the anchor store it’s actually increased.  There were no other questions and I asked the chair to move to the vote.  I proposed it and it was duly seconded and with no comments from members I said we have waited 50years for this let’s get on with the vote.  It was passed unanimously.

Third day of my holiday from work and full council meeting today.  We had an update on some confidential matters pertaining to the Bedlington development and then downstairs for the full council meeting.

I had submitted a question for this meeting again, this one about the conditions we attach to planning applications where members feel they are necessary.  I had already asked our head of planning who oversees these conditions and her answer was our enforcement team.  This question was a bit different however because of what I have seen locally I basically asked if it was worth members attaching conditions to applications because developers seem to be agreeing conditions but then not adhering to them once they get their permissions.  I will let people make their own minds up about the answer I got back.

Full council meeting September 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVbuTqINJPk

I had two constituents to see and ask questions on their behalf then I was off on holiday for 3 days!  It should have been 2 weeks but unable to sort of the respite for one of the lads meant our holiday had to be cancelled so we could look after him.

When I got back I had a meeting to sort out which company got the contract for the new play park in Plessey Woods.  It took hours to go through all the responses and score each one but eventually we got it down to three.  Each had their good bits but we all eventually agreed on one.  If it goes in exactly like the plan it will be quite an improvement!  This is just one way I hope to make any parking charges for using this park worthwhile.  We already have the undertaking that monies raised will be used to further improve the park so getting these initial upgrades is really the icing on the cake.  Still working for more of course!

One concern has been raised by adjacent residents who are probably rightly concerned about conflicting parking.  I have requested a meeting between the park’s management, NCC highways and myself to see what can be done for residents along the road outside the park entrance.

We had a full council planning training session given by two QC’s specialising in planning law.  Seems the politicos wanted to pay games at question time but the QC’s weren’t playing those games.  I did ask a question, this one about the weight given to applications in consideration of any emerging strategies or polices.  I said this by it’s very nature was a subjective call by planners and maybe they didn’t fully appreciate the local ‘flavour’ as much as local members did so could this weight be challenged by members?  The answer was maybe, but given that the same information should be used the same conclusion should be arrived at.  Well that’s as clear as mud then!  Seems they didn’t appreciate my subjective comment?  Well it has to be doesn’t it?

The monthly Town Council meeting was on tonight but I had to meet constituents so I couldn’t give my usual monthly update.  It turned out to be a pretty productive meeting and I think we all know the direction, albeit a new one, we are taking now.

Well I have now been accused of voting for personal gain, again off the mother of our MP’s communications manager.  My legal advice, because this was something I wasn’t going to put up with, was that she either presented the case and listed where and what this personal gain is or apologised and took down her social media posting.  The posting was deleted but no apology has been forthcoming!  Might be worth looking at the recent BBC Newsnight update on NUM funds if we are to consider personal gain!

Last couple of days of my Holidays and I had a site visit with our chair of planning for our LAC.  This gave us a much better understanding of the application which is before us on Wednesday.

Today I have another site visit asked for by a resident.

After all the planning visits I’ve done over the last few weeks it was now time for another planning committee meeting at our LAC.  One of the applications was in my ward and after seeing first-hand the site, with the chair of planning, I thought it best to request a full site visit by the whole committee.  This was felt necessary by other members too as we progressed the application because it turned out the advice by the officer as he freely admitted was only his judgment.  The second application was pretty straightforward so went through unanimously.

As the chair couldn’t attend this meeting  I chaired it and after starting then passing over to the chair of planning for that bit, after which I took over again.  Public questions and only two were forthcoming.  Those answered, it was on with the agenda.  The police had come to introduce our new police neighbourhood officer and they gave a brief presentation about how they policed and the stats for Bedlington.  A few questions ensued and I opened this up to questions from residents.

First meeting of this week and it was corporate and economic scrutiny.  I had read through all the associated papers and had quite a few questions on several of the agenda items.

The chair changed the agenda items at the request of the Leader so we could hear the new Borderlands deal.  This was given in private because it hadn’t even gone to central government yet and had repercussions to their budget but I can say that if we had been given some of the details we heard today I wouldn’t have needed to abstain from the vote at full council.  I did ask to formally recognise and include the micro businesses in the resulting consultation where there were direct business links.

We then resumed the normal running of the agenda and had the initial budgetary report.  I had a few questions about this and almost seemed to monopolise the debate.  Again I have to say all my questions were answered in what seemed to be clarity and honesty by the cabinet member and financial officer.

One of my questions was about the £65M “black hole” which had been presented at public meetings last year.  This is now been reduced to £36M and I asked how that had been achieved, if only to make sure the previous figure was justified.  The answer came back both off the cabinet member and the financial officer and I was satisfied with their responses.  I then asked about the large potential reduction in children services for year 21-22.  Again the answer was about the culmative effects and their bedding in time more than putting off the biggest hit for future years!  I then asked about how the debt management figures for Arch were suddenly put into savings?  The reply was more about how the debt figures have now been effectively managed but more on that later!

My further questions were about “operational efficiencies” and “fee optimisation” as listed in the report and again I was satisfied with the answers.

I apologised for the time spent answering my questions but in reality I think many were happy to finally get questions based on the actual papers instead of political rhetoric.

I also asked about the proposed savings were had previously examined in our shared service project.  These have not been included and I then asked if or when would we see any given the bulk of the project has been put off until Universal Credit has bedded in.  That wasn’t really answered but the intent is to complete the shared service project at some point.

One last thing to mention is that I asked that commercial income generation opportunities which were listed are explored in detail and with even small incomes capable of enhancing some service provision this is something I have been working on and could really help with some of the more very frontline services.

One thing I did like is that this process (budget setting) is starting off earlier than it had been done, which means we can all have greater opportunity to see and examine it.

We then looked at the loan governance for Arch and again the loans, almost £300M, and their specifics were something of a direct risk worry given the way they have been written.  Some members complained about the way this was presented but the answer came back off the cabinet member that the way it had been handled, where the CEO and Leader of NCC sat on the board of Arch and proposed borrowing and then took their place next door in Council and accepted the proposal to loan Arch the money they had requested.  As the cabinet member remarked, that cannot be right, the conflict of interest has to be immense!

I had several more questions about this subject but they were getting more and more technical in a business sense.

My last question was about our social housing programme and would we be using Arch to deliver it.  My concern was that if we are now going to ‘tighten’ up any loans insofar as the interest and liquidity is concerned then my request that rents were genuinely affordable might be a casualty in that power play.  The reply was that social housing was seen as very low risk and it was hoped that would not be the case.  I said I will be watching!  I did get some support off other members on this question.

I have to say if this committee is supposed to be strictly scrutiny, making overly political claims and introducing political plays is something I hoped would not happen or even be allowed.  There are perfectly legitimate ways to examine the administration and its policies without resorting to the much easier politicking which is becoming the norm.  In fact the distinct lack of opposition members on several committees seriously compromises NCC to represent a balanced view in my opinion!

In fact the very next meeting was one I have been co-opted onto, the LDF committee.  This was because essentially the opposition have withdrawn from this committee and as it has to be quorate other members were needed.  I did voice the opinion that as all parties and members should be represented on something as important as this committee there should have been a place for an independent representation anyway!

This committee looks at the LDF or Local Development Framework which became the Core Strategy we hear so much about.  Strikes me that a group which pulls away from the working group looking into and suggesting the details of this  subject while at the same time bemoaning the fact that the one they worked on had been withdrawn for a revised version is not being as upstanding as they should?

We heard the results of the consultation completed by many thousands of our residents from all over the county then looked at how their opinions could be used to influence the current proposed draft.

As I was the only member from the south east of the county, where about half the population lives, it fell to me to speak for that area.  I could only reiterate the concerns I have with the basic infrastructure we have now never mind thinking about the huge influx of new residents given the house building and pre-applications we have recently seen.  I also had a discussion with our new head of planning about some of the terms used in planning, such as affordable, and especially listing all of our towns into a hierarchical structure.  I asked if that is the case will we see business rates in say a B or C town be less than those charged in an A town? And given we are seeking inward investment will that be naturally directed at the A towns first?  I was assured that wouldn’t be the case.  Well why not itemise our towns listing their natural assets and development potential rather than classify some which seem to be better than others.  The meeting continued and it is obvious there is a huge amount of work being done by staff to meet the government deadlines.  One of the other things I mentioned was based on a housing application I heard on the strategic planning committee.  This had suggested the affordable housing, which has become the norm for planning applications these days, is passed to the local parish council.  I was and still am very much in favour of this sort of arrangement because who knows local need better than these very local councils.  I was told there are problems with that application regarding this matter but I said regardless this is a good idea and one we should adopt across the board whenever possible.  This could have put up to £200K into that parish council pot annually if it was allowed and clearly would have major impacts onto either the parish precept or enhanced service provision or a mixture of the two.  Would have cost implications for the parish council in terms of management and oversight but the benefits would far outweigh any associated costs in my opinion.

I cant answer that before tomorrow!  The project is up for detailed planning tonight and putting up an answer might look to be predetermining the application because I sit on the planning committee.  

August 2018.

First official meeting in August and it’s at Corbridge.  It’s actually a strategic planning site visit with the planning meeting tomorrow night.  Another load of houses with associated planning matters but for once nice to see a designated drop off and pick up point for the adjacent school on the plans.   Seems we do allow these sometimes, a point taken and espoused by one of the Labour members on the committee!!!!!!

Anyway after walking the fields for a couple of hours and with some of my questions answered, others for tomorrow night, it was a quick drive back to Bedlington to see some people here.

Several people been in touch today and some very interesting projects outlined.  I will certainly try to help in any way I can.

Off up to County Hall in good time for the strategic planning meeting.  I wanted to see another councillor up there but he had tendered his apologies for the meeting so I presume is on holiday.

The meeting started and again a packed public gallery.  First up was an application for what is in essence an extension to the Haggerton Caravan Park.  Most of the issues had been dealt with and we supported the application unanimously.

I couldn’t help but think about the recent Alnwick Gardens application we supported and the potential these two venues create to back up our need for modernising the main road, the A1.  Both will result in increased traffic I have no doubt.

The second application was the Corbridge one and after the officer gave us more information as well as a written update, which we all had to hastily read through, I had several questions.  I saved my response until we debated the application at the end of this application just before the vote and after it had been proposed and seconded.  After members had said they thought the application had been thoroughly worked through my turn came.

I said I was of a different opinion and gave my reasons.  There were several outstanding issues, which I had asked about during questions and the answers all came back that they were being worked on.  I also pointed out the fact that there was a current public consultation being held which didn’t close until after a few days’ time.  This had been referred to in the papers we had received to examine for this application.   One paragraph in particular stated that depending on the result of this consultation and if a hitherto unidentified ‘material consideration’ was identified our decision now might not be upheld.   I said that taking all of these into consideration I didn’t think we had enough “Factual” information to make a decision and even though I thought the scheme was probably the best use of the land, apart from the absolutely crazy access road which we had not got to consider as it had already been passed at the outline stage, for these reasons I would be abstaining from the vote.  The head of planning didn’t like that but said I was perfectly entitled to that decision.

The vote came and all other members voted for it with only my abstention due to insufficient information.

Next came the Bedlington application.  This concerned a business on the Barrington Road Industrial Estate and one which we had previously turned down.   Previously most of us had objected to the increased hours wagons would be using the roads and estates but this had now been dropped out of the application and there was now no increased traffic asked for.  There was quite a loud dissent heard from the public gallery when the members started saying they would be supporting the application now.  Interestingly it was mainly the Labour members who did this.  For me this shows planning isn’t being used as the usual political football and members are applying themselves without fear or favour.

For me there was quite a surreal moment when one of the objectors in his address actually quoted from this Blog.  Nice to know someone is reading it and the member sitting next to him and advising was none other than one of our local political party officials.  Maybe this is now required reading for the local Labour group?

Back to the business in hand and I was again the last member to speak, this time I fully supported the application for three main reasons.   Firstly the increased traffic hours had been quashed, secondly the other improvements and changes were all within the applicants business premises and seeing as that was on an established industrial estate what’s wrong with the owner trying to maximise his potential return on investment, that’s something we should support if we can, notwithstanding the jobs there, and lastly I had read through the conditions attached to this application and with 25 conditions, most with subsections across 4 pages,  I was happy that most of the issues raised had been addressed or could be through these conditions if needed.  I did say monitoring might be a problem but that wasn’t something in our remit to question.

The vote came and it was unanimously agreed.  Course that wasn’t what the members of the public wanted to hear and again more vociferous dissent could be heard.  As one member said later, if you want to be popular don’t go on a planning committee!  If only people would realise that they have to come up with these ‘material considerations’ because we are not allowed to consider anything else by law!

After the meeting I had several things I wanted to ask the head planner about but she immediately thought I would be having a go about the lack of information which I had complained about.   Not so and after a brief exchange about that, where I think we both agreed in the end, I raised the local points I wanted her to look into which she agreed to do.

Looking at my latest emails it looks like the planners are taking things tougher now.

Monday and after a tough weekend I have several calls to make and letters to write.  I managed to get them all done by lunchtime.

Some of these did the trick straightway others went off in all sorts of directions.

One of them was something I have been working on with others for the last few months and I wasn’t best pleased that it might not happen.  Hopefully that has now been sorted and we will see our youngest kids playing their football on a new pitch soon!

I did make a request about community funding to planning and the answer that came back left me speechless.  I was under the assumption that all planning for houses carried its own obligations for community payback but it seems that’s not the case?  Seems only 5 applications can be used for community payback and we have had ours?  That’s just plain daft and that’s the exact words I used in my reply!

The tenders have come back for the new play equipment for Plessey Woods and I have meetings to go through them.  Hope we can get some real exciting stuff in there!

I have been advising lots of community groups how they can better access funding.  I hope we will see much better take up of funding routes by them all now and for once Bedlington will start to get its fair share!

Seems August is a quiet month for the routine NCC business but in our case that just means we get to lobby and attend meetings for our Town’s benefit.  One of the things that I and the other Independent councillors for Bedlington have been pushing is the Town Centre redevelopment and at last that is back on track.  We have seen one announcement but there is much more to come very soon.  The whole redevelopment is listed for detailed planning at our next Strategic planning meeting early next month and until that’s heard we are bound by confidentially and not predetermining an application.

Just had the last meeting to determine who gets the Plessey Woods play area contract and it’s been a hard decision.  We had around a dozen tenders to go through and each one was weighed against a set scoring card.  Eventually it came down to about 3 and then they were revisited and assessed again.  Thankfully one came through and I think we were all pretty much convinced it was the better tender.   So over the next couple of months there should be some pretty exciting play equipment and upgrades to Plessey.   Having gone through a similar process for the Town Council and its 2 play park complete upgrades the behind the scenes work it surprisingly difficult and exacting.   Just so considering the money which is being spent.

I have to make mention of my almost incessant contact with our planning enforcement team.  I am very concerned with the way some developers and behaving and this has culminated in me listing a question about ‘conditions’ at the next full council.

Well it seems having voiced an opinion about the current election for WBTC I am being rebuked for not seeing it as an example of democracy in action.  Seems a bit ironic getting reprimanded for my take on local democracy off people who have never been elected but isn’t that the way of these things?   At some point I hope we start to realise gang culture is wrong in all sorts of fields!

That’s all I can write about August really because it has been categorised by a large swell of constituents getting in touch rather than the normal NCC business which I do try and report.

July 2018.

2^nd of July and straight into the thick of it again.  Full council had been changed and was now on today.  Plenty of things to go through on the agenda plus two questions I had submitted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tIDjcTsPrM

The first one was pretty straightforward with the portfolio holder promising to get me and the other members the contact details for the right people within the various social landlord businesses, especially the largest ones.

My second question wasn’t so accommodating.  This was the one about the safe drive in’s and drop offs at new schools and having been told there was one included in the new school we at the strategic planning had passed for Loansdean then on further inspection been told we were not allowed to have them,  I was somewhat mystified.  Well after asking my question the portfolio holder told me on one hand there was such a facility in this new school and in the next breath told me why they couldn’t be included?  So when asked if I had a supplementary question my only response was that my original question stood.  Clear as mud!

I also question the Leader about the £20M a year we have been promised as part of the Devolution Deal.  It was £30M a year as far as I understood?  He assured me no it was £20M.  I have since looked back and both the BBC and ITV reported it originally as a £30M a year deal.  I can only assume it changed when the 7 members became 3!

Next day it was back up to county hall, first for the community chest panel, which I chair, and then later for a strategic planning meeting.

I had been around most of the community groups in my area telling them to apply for the NCC community chest funding and out of 8 applications 6 were from my area!   We had just started when the fire alarm went off and everyone had to leave the building.  After 40 minutes waiting outside we decided to hold the meeting somewhat apart from everyone else but under the shade of the trees.  Couple of problems with two applications but nothing that couldn’t be straightened out.  Still feel troubled by the lack of applications and we still have quite a wedge to award out at our last session in September!

Next came the planning meeting and yet more houses on the lists.  The Alnwick Gardens came up and while I fully supported the project I did ask if better and two way signage could be introduced to show visitors where the Town centre was so those traders might get a lift.   I also questioned the business plan which sees the need to turn the attractions into 2 days stays yet only allows for 3 hr parking?   I had also made the case for using this to boost our demand for road improvements on the main A1.

Another application came through for houses in Amble and in rounding up the application just before the vote I said out of the 1300 houses I have had to give outline planning to in Amble this scheme looked the most needed and sustainable.  It has a mixture of 1 and 2 bedroom houses, is adjacent to a modern estate, is getting new bus stops etc and the ‘developer’ is a social enterprise,  so a not for profit group!

Next up came a site visit for the planning side of our LAC.  This was at a stables in Seaton Valley.  Really pleased I checked Google maps before I set off.    Only 4 of us turned up, myself, Russ, Bill and Christine the chair of the LAC.  Once again the 3 Bedlington councillors turned up to discharge their duty yet none from the immediate vicinity!

We were taken around and shown the application then it was a very quick dash up to County Hall for the Economic Strategy presentation.

Again I was shocked to see only one opposition member had turned up for what is really one of the most fundamental and important policies we as a county council have to put together.

The meeting was led by our Economic Strategy officer and there was a good smattering of cabinet members present as well as the Leader and Business Chair.  I listened to the proposed changes to our strategy which are being introduced and got the chance to ask questions.  I asked what was the definition of these much heralded “better jobs” which we seem to be chasing.    I questioned whether it was just down to salary because job satisfaction must have to play a part and some people will feel they have great jobs but not necessarily the highest paid ones.  That point was conceded.

My second question related to two points in the presentation, one about our area not being a high wage earning area and another about affordable housing.  Again I stated this affordable term we are using for housing is in no way accurate, in reality it only means less expensive!  I said until we relate local salaries into the affordable nature of our housing then we are doing our people a disservice.  I also related the question directly at the Leader saying that if and when we start our social house building programme we have to make it really affordable, and that would be the dictionary definition,  in terms of sales and rent for our indigenous young people.

My third point was about job creation and it was nice to hear an officer repeat almost word for word what I had said to her previously about the potential our smallest business have in terms of job creation if we can get them to develop to their potential.  I said I thought we should start to look at this aging population which we as a county have going on and is forecast to grow even more so in the future.  Maybe there are lots of retired people who still want to do something and could well be interested in starting or restarting businesses if we went out and asked?  That raised some eyebrows.

I had already pressed the point that real sustainable regeneration doesn’t happen because someone wants it to happen in a certain area.  It’s about time we realised that and looked at the natural assets each area has which can be exploited to everyone’s benefit instead of seeing the same places get one regeneration package after another, most of which are destined to fail because the simple lessons haven’t been learnt!

At the end of the presentation I spoke to the officer at length about these community partnerships which are a central plank in the new policy.  I pressed him about how open the authority would be if places came together and presented viable business plans.  He said he knew exactly what I was saying and any area would get a full and fair hearing.

In my view this is the best chance Bedlington has to see a successor to the Market Place regeneration currently in place.  It is certainly something I will be pushing for.

This week is the LAC and I have several unanswered questions relating to the last LAC!

The LAC once again took place At Netherton Social Club and even getting their early there were no parking places left!  I had a feeling all these cars were there for one thing!

The planning meeting commenced at 4.30pm as advertised and there were two items which needed to be addressed.

The first one was the retrospective permission for the stables and there was plenty of opposition.  For my part I listened to all the arguments but most were not planning matters so I had to discount those.  The legitimate ones were answered by the officers and we then had it to decide.  I proposed acceptance, seeing as no one else was going to risk the wrath of the audience, and this was duly seconded by another member.  That meant I had to sum up and doing so countered most if not all of the weak planning arguments which had been presented.  The vote came next and it was passed by a majority, with some members voting with their hearts not their heads!

The second and even more contentious application came next.  This concerned a small parcel of land which the owner wanted to turn into caravan storage.  This had actually come to us last year and we had turned it down for two reasons, one overdevelopment of the land and two the impact it might have on the road infrastructure where it was.  In my opinion the owner had addressed both issues in this current application.  I still thought it a bad idea but couldn’t see any planning reasons to turn it down and I said so.  I was certainly not the most popular person in the room then!

The vote came and again it was turned down by all the other members, in my case I abstained saying I didn’t like it but couldn’t find legitimate reasons to actually vote it down.  I think the owner has been given a gold plated appeal and I would expect to see caravans on there before a year is out.  Of course everyone else thought it was a great decision but the wry smile I got off our planners told me differently!

One thing was did strike me was the bare faced playing to the audience done by a couple of members.  Now I know it’s hard not to address the audience but we are just supposed to address the committee.  Watching members quite openly fawn over and almost flatter the audience was a bit queasy and I know how the planners must have felt.

After the planning was over and about 80 people trouped out we had our normal LAC.

I was very happy to give out presentation plaques again on behalf of the LAC Community Chest.  Groups were there to receive them and there are more to come!

The main meeting started and several questions from the audience.  Some were answered, one or two deemed to have already been answered.

The main part of the meeting was to receive an update about the Local Plan.   We were taken through various aspects and all my questions were answered, as were others.  I was particularly happy to hear my view that ‘Bedlington was now full of new house builds’ was generally agreed with by officers.  I also asked about house design.  One being some sort of Northumbrian vernacular and the other forcing new houses to be of better standards as far as future proofing and basic stuff like insulation went.  Again they were generally accepted.

The meeting closed about 7.45pm and I had to run to catch another community one.

This week all members were invited to a presentation about Devolution.  I went up to County Hall to take part and again mainly cabinet members and admin councillors.  Again one opposition member and another independent from the West of the county.  One Conservative councillor came in and sat down next to me jokingly saying he didn’t mind sitting next to the troublemaker.  I said I consider that a badge of honour given that it was mainly cabinet members!

So we were taken through the presentation and I have to say while I still do support the intent some of the detail is far from worked out.  Well according to some of the answers I got back anyway.  At least I was able to get a better understanding about how this will work and the functions it will contain.   I even suggested making Bedlington the central plank in the economic policy for commercial development and job creation.   I also spoke about the potential Cambois and North Blyth offer in terms of river usage and developing the potential of the Enterprise Zone.  My only reservation was that if the Tripartite authority are looking to expand port facilities will Newcastle and North Tyneside somehow out vote us arguing for investments for the River Blyth.  I was assured no because our offer is vastly different from theirs.   I honestly hope that is the case.

I do think this is something which we might exploit and I will be thinking up ways to put in some suggestions regarding future develop and investment into Bedlington.

I went up to the Local Plan presentation held in Bedlington and was slightly bemused when the officer told me the two main topics which people had been asking about.  One was the possible Golf Club development and the other the Town Centre regeneration project.  I said one I didn’t know anything about because I have kept my distance as I sit on a planning committee and the other I hadn’t heard anything untoward or anything which had been changed.   I was surprised when I was told the detailed planning would go in by September with a start date of January next year.   That’s wasn’t something I understood to be happening but before I could get the answers off the people who would have them, I needed I had to get over the weekend at work.

Unsurprisingly social media here is alight with claims and counter claims for each of those subjects and whilst I can’t get involved with one I can certainly get involved with the other!

After the weekend I made some calls and had some meetings lined up to check out what exactly was going on with our Town Centre regeneration.  I was assured it was proceeding as planned and that whilst an act of God couldn’t be foreseen everything being equal we will see work start very soon.  I explained why I was concerned, and a lot of people in the Town too and there doesn’t seem any rhyme or reason for the planners to have told people there was a long delay?  That’s being checked out.

I am of the opinion that it’s still a sound goer and whilst there are several reserved matters to be attended to which may incur a slight delay, it will certainly not be months and months.

I do have to say I find it a bit strange when people are questioning the exact day, hour and second this development will commence when for the last 50 years we have had nothing like it for the Town.  It’s almost like Schadenfreude to some and even though they might have a political reason not to want this to happen surly supporting it for the greater good is the right thing to do?

I completely understand why people are hesitant and some even doubting Thomas’s because we have been ‘misled’ for so many years in the past but I hope when this does start and people can see real action they get behind it en masses and prove Bedlington can have a successful development of this type.