Monday 12th May 2025, 7pm. Annual Parish Meeting

Corsenside Parish Hall, West Woodburn

Opening Remarks

The Chair extended a warm welcome to those present and expressed hopes for better attendance in future.

Apologies for absence

Cllrs Smith and Anderson

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 13^th of May 2024 

The minutes were agreed as correct and signed at the parish council meeting in June 2024.

Matters arising from the minutes held on Monday 13^th of May 2024

There were no arising matters.

CPC Chairman’s Report

A full report was read aloud by Cllr Hamilton. To be included in the online appendix.

Corsenside Parish Hall Committee

The Parish Hall reflected back upon a successful year in which the use of the hall has vastly increased. Regular events include Wednesday afternoon coffee sessions and a fortnightly craft session. The children of the parish have benefitted from Christmas and Easter events. The finances continue to be sustainable with a minimum balance of over £5,000 maintained. It is hoped the newly installed solar panels will offset some energy costs in future. Future plans include improvements to the gravel parking area, some floorboards and the cooker. Trustees: sadly David Newton passed away this year, John Clyde is to step down as Chair, Angela Wilson joined the Trustees and it is expected Tony Gibson will join at the AGM. The parish council are eligible to have a councillor as a Trustee but no one is able to make this level of commitment. Volunteers continue to be needed to help with some practical tasks in the hall.

Ridsdale Village Hall Fund

The Ridsdale Village Hall fund officially closed this year. During the previous financial year all proceeds had been donated to The Corsenside Parish Show. This item will be removed from the next agenda.

Mission Hall Trust

A report from Peter Scott was read aloud. To be included in the online appendix. The council made suggestions surrounding whether the profile of the fund could be raised by asking the local schools to share information to attendees from within the parish.

The Corsenside Parish Show

A report from Danny Findler was read aloud by Cllr Mole. To be included in the online appendix. The council was interested to hear that this is the 180th show and suggested the local news may be interested. The council extend their thanks to the Parish Show committee for all the work that they do for the community.

Parochial Church Council

Correspondence from Hugo Remnant was summarised and read aloud. Recently public meetings were held to discuss the future of the two churches as the financial commitment is becoming untenable. The community reaction was very positive and discussions of ways to raise funds were productive. There is public support to keep both churches open.

The Ridsdale Community Group – The Gun at Ridsdale

Nothing received. 

Friends of Corsenside

A report was read aloud by Chris Woodcock. To be included in the online appendix. The council passed their thanks to the group.

Parish Council Finance

A short summary read aloud. To be included in the online appendix.

Any other Business

No other business. 

Meeting closed at 7.50. 

Monday 12^th May 2025, 7.50 pm. Annual General Meeting

Corsenside Parish Hall, West Woodburn
 

Apologies for Absence – Cllrs S. Smith, D Anderson 

Declarations of interest & Declarations of acceptance of office
Cllr C. Hamilton in respect of The Gun at Ridsdale & the Corsenside Flood Resilience team, Cllr C. Hawman in respect of North Tyne Youth and The Gun at Ridsdale. 
The councillors have signed new declaration of interest forms to reflect their newly elected status. Declaration of Acceptance of Office forms will be signed at the June meeting.

Opportunities for members of the public to raise issues

A parishioner said they’d noticed that C.Cllr Riddle has not been in regular attendance at PC meetings for at least 4 years. The clerk reported that most issues with NCC are now raised via email in between meetings. The parishioner has failed to solicit a response from the County Councillor via email on matters they’d contacted them on personally.

Election of Officers

Cllr Mole nominated Cllr Hamilton for Chair, seconded by Cllr Hawman. Cllr Mole nominated Cllr Hawman for Vice Chair, seconded by Cllr Hamilton. Cllr Hawman has stipulated that in the event Cllr Hamilton resigned as Chair she would not take on that position permanently. The council expressed thanks to Cllr Hamilton for his continued service and the additional work he undertakes for the parish.

Minutes of the last meeting –agreed as correct and signed.

Matters arising from the minutes 

i. The repair to the road beyond Chesterhope is reliant on a JCB, NCC plan to complete this within a few weeks. ii. NCC does not supply signage relating to off lead dogs. It was decided that CPC would finance this initative. A budget of £60 was agreed for some 8-10 signs with bespoke and branded wording to be designed and printed. CW to action. iii. A ground investigation has taken place at the site of the landslip on the A68 which is necessitating the temporary traffic lights, results awaited. CW to ask when the repair work will take place. iv. Corsenside Parish Council now have a Facebook page used for sharing meeting and traffic information and community notices. 
v. An advert for the parish show programme was approved. 

Notification of any other business for discussion, at the Chair’s discretion, under item 18 below – Two points. 

County Councillor’s Report – none 

Ongoing Actions List – No changes to the action list. CW to follow up warranty.

Play Area & Village Green 

i. Several contractors have been approached for quotes to repair the gates. CW to follow up. ii. No response yet re funding of the meadow. iii. It was decided the car park could benefit from weed removal and sweeping. It was agreed to pay Brierley Maintenance who undertake local street cleaning to spend two hours on site, quarterly. iv. Damage reported to the grass verge which is NCC land. This will be flagged on Fix My Street.

Volunteers and Community Spending

After agreeing to look into this if he retook office, C.Cllr Riddle will be approached for funding of a new defibrillator.

Wind Power Stations – No update received. 

Parish Hall - Please see the APM report.

Planning Matters

a)

For decision - none

b)

Decisions from NCC - 

25/00607/FUL Braewell Workshop West Woodburn. Parking structure - GRANTED

Correspondence -none

Reports

i Cllr Hawman – Parking at Entrance to Armstrong Street
Parishioners have approached Cllr Hawman about road safety when emerging onto the A68 from Armstrong Street, visibility is infringed by certain parking configurations. It was suggested the planter owned by The Gun could be relocated to discourage parking too close to the corner. Cllr Mole to discuss this with The Gun and also request permission to erect a sign in the porch. The ongoing problem of the entrance to Armstrong Street being made too narrow by cars parked on either side was also discussed. Signs and social media posts are to be published to remind of the need for emergency vehicle access.

Finances

a)

Invoices for payment – all approved

b)

Bank Balance - £16,976.05

c)

A Mulitpay card has been organised which will allow for purchases to be made directly from the bank and reduce the need to reimburse the clerk.

Matters for discussion at the Chair’s discretion

i.Cllr Mole raised concern that local events often clash with one another. Could communication between venues and communities be improved to avoid splitting the audience which may have otherwise supported both. It is understood that plans led by NCCs communities together for a joint local webpage for notices will not be progressing. The clerk advised that a Whats On page on Bellingham Parish Council’s site could serve this purpose if enough people knew about it and shared their events there. CW to share details. ii. Cllr Hamilton addressed the two councillor vacancies. CW to check the period of time allowed for co-option following an election.

Date of next meeting - Monday 9^th of June, 7pm

Meeting closed at 9.30

Arising Actions:

Responsibility:

• Declaration of Office forms have not been received from NCC as in previous election years. CW to investigate
• CW to ask when the A68 repair work will take place
• CW to follow up re sign warranty - ongoing. 
• CW to finalise quotes for gates. 
• Add damage to verge to Fix My Street
• CW to ask for defibrillator fund from J.Riddle. 
• CW to share details of ‘what’s on’ page. 
• CW to check the period of time allowed for co-option following an election.

          CW

• Cllr Mole to speak with the Gun about ideas to mitigate parking problems at Armstrong street

          DM

Parish Clerk: Christine Woodcock, 44 Brierley Gardens, Otterburn NE19 1HB. corsensideparishclerk@hotmail.com