Monday 6th October 2025, 7pm.
Corsenside Parish Hall, West Woodburn
Present
Councillors
C. Hamilton (Chair), S. Smith, F. McCombe, F. Woodgate
Clerk
C. Woodcock
County Councillor
Not present
Public
None
1.
Apologies for Absence – Cllr D. Mole, D Anderson, C. Hawman
2.
Declarations of interest
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. Cllr D. Mole Parish Show Committee. Cllr S. Smith in respect of the Corsenside Flood Resilience team. Cllr F. McCombe Parish Hall.
3.
Opportunities for members of the public to raise issues - None
4.
Minutes of the last Meeting, agreed as correct and signed
5.
Matters arising from the minutes
i. Cllr Smith lead by expressing the thanks of the council to the Parish Show Committee for all their hard work organizing a successful event acknowledging the additional challenge the weather presented. Also thanked was Cllr Hawman and the clerk for representing the PC.
6.
Notification of any other business for discussion, at the Chair’s discretion, under item 17 below – Two points.
7.
County Councillor’s Report – none
8.
Ongoing Actions List
Two further emails re the warranty of the speed signs have been unacknowledged. Clerk to seek prices for repair with other providers.
9.
Play Area & Village Green
i. Installation of the rope line, noticeboards and picnic tables is complete at the parish green. Friends of Corsenside have begun preparing the area to add wildflower seed in autumn. ii. Ongoing – small improvements at play area, exploration of equipment cleaning and fence staining. Clerk / Cllr Hamilton.
10.
Volunteers and Community Spending
Cllr Riddle is finding out if his fund could pay solar and wind powered defibrillators for EW as well as a replacement for the West Woodburn defibrillator. Ongoing.
11.
Wind Power Stations A report was read aloud (see appendix). Thanks were extended to Alison Thomson for acting as liaison and sharing information.
12.
Parish Hall
i Wifi is now operational ii. The Bay Horse have donated early 20th Century maps which will be used for decoration. iii. Quotes in hand for removal of meters and installation of low energy lighting. iv. Gravel to be renewed at parking area. v. Floor to be repaired in 2026 – decisions needed over scope of the job. vi. Recent events - Macmillan coffee morning raised £390 for charity. The cake stall at Bellingham Town Hall raised £185 for the Parish Hall. vii. Upcoming events – Evening of Music 25th November. Table top sale 29thNovember, Christmas Pay 30th November. Children’s party 13th December.
13.
Planning Matters
a)
For decision -
25/03372/FUL - Stable Cottage Townhead Farm West Woodburn - First floor outbuilding to master bedroom - The PC have no objections.
25/03297/COU – Brandy Bank House, West Woodburn - Retrospective change of use, guesthouse to holiday let - The PC have no objections.
25/03190/COU – 15 Armstrong Street, Ridsdale – Change of use offices to dwelling.
- The PC have no objections.
b)
Decisions from NCC - 25/02598/FUL – 65 Armstrong Street - Front porch - GRANTED
14.
Correspondence
i NCC & SLCC – Community governance review. NCC sought opinions on the suitability of the current parish council arrangements. Several questions were read aloud and collectively answered. Clerk to share response.
ii. NCC - Polling Place Review. NCC seek views on the accessibility of current polling places. In light of little to no public transport between the villages CPC will request the reinstatement of polling in The Gun, Ridsdale.
iii. Local Transport Priorities will be entered as 1. Average speed cameras for Ridsdale and West Woodburn (done with the support of C.Cllr John Riddle). 2. A Footpath/Cycleway from Sarelaw Ridsdale to The Station West Woodburn (approximately ½ a mile and in keeping with current sustainability goals). 3. Ridsdale improvements: advance notice with repeaters/countdown of the 40mph limit for traffic heading North into the village, such as is used in Belsay. Resurfacing of Armstrong Street.
15.
Reports – none
16.
Finances
a)
Invoices to pay
Chris Woodcock
Clerk Wages - 21 hrs
£ 306.60
Brierley Maintenance
VG install
£ 80.00
AMC Photographics
Signs - parish show & VG
£ 38.47
Sign Shed
£ 44.25
windmill supplies
parish show
£ 8.99
parish hall
rent for meetings to date
£ 65.00
Chris Mowatt
grass cutting
£ 390.00
PCC
grass cutting
£ 400.00
Parish Hall
children's Christmas party
£ 150.00
Cumbria Wildflowers
Wetland seed - VG
£ 278.94
RBL
Poppy Wreath
£ 29.49
All expenses approved.
b)
Bank Balance - £20,040.00
17.
Matters for discussion at the Chair’s discretion
i. Ticket prices for the Christmas play were discussed and it was confirmed prices will remain the same at £3.50 for children, £7 for adults and £17 for a family of 4. CW to organise sales. ii. The potholes an Armstrong Street are now so numerous and the repairs so uneven it would appear best to resurface the road, the poor condition of the rear access to the Gun Car Park has also been noted. Clerk to report both to NCC.
18.
Date of next meeting - Monday 3rd of November, 7pm
Meeting closed at 8.30pm
Arising Actions:
Responsibility:
· Follow up re VAS warranty - ongoing. Find quotes elsewhere.
· Liaise JR re defibrillator equipment (ongoing)
· Send an email newsletter to followers.
· Get quotes for cleaning play equipment.
· Arrange paving slabs at park entrance
· Tree survey for winter
· Submit response re parish review
· respond to polling station review
· Submit choices for LTP
· Consider options and costs for treating fence / wood benches etc
· Confirm play booking
· Play tickets to go on sale.
· New cllrs to add to Bank
· Email NCC re surface of Armstrong Street & rear entrance Gun
CW
Parish Clerk: Christine Woodcock, 44 Brierley Gardens, Otterburn NE19 1HB. corsensideparishclerk@hotmail.com
Appendix:
Ray Windfarm Fund CIC Meeting
Met: Date 31st July 2025
Corsenside Parish Hall
Time 7.00pm
The grant award for the coming year was discussed and allocations made to include the small
donation fund, employment and education bursary, transport, village shows, schools, B4RN, North
Tyne Youth, community grants and business grants.
Grants awarded
● Three Kirks PCC
Request for funding towards the creation of a new footpath with handrail to allow those with
mobility issues to access St Wilfrid’s, levelling the existing footpath to ensure safe access for
visitors to the church with handrail and handrail into chancel of the church. A sound loop
system will also be installed for those with hearing impairments. Awarding the grant ensures
all visitors can access the heritage asset helping to preserve its legacy and maintain visitor
numbers. Some match funding has been secured and others are in the application process. St
Wilfrid’s has been used to host a popular concert series for several years and this will allow
everyone to attend.
● Birtley Village Hall Committee
Request for funding towards the replacement of the main access path to the village hall which
currently poses a health and safety risk. The facility is used throughout the month by
community groups and private hirers and is the only community facility in the village.
● Natural Northumberland
Request for funding towards the expansion of the retail space into the vacated unit next door,
development of a website to promote retail and trade products and the renovation of the
manufacturing unit to produce products while creating employment. There was a financial
analysis of the business accounts which were well presented with realistic forecasts and an
applicant contribution from turnover.
EAT bursaries
● A second year at Askham Bryan College, York
● Advanced course in Agricultural Business Management with the Worshipful Company of
Farmers.
B4RN Update
Scots Gap has been signed off to build due to commence from 11th August with most of
Cambo now connected. There have been some issues in Cambo due to listed building
Consent. B4RN have been trialling alternative options for connection which would enable
connections to occur without the requirement of listed building consent. The route past
Scots Gap is served by BT and there has been minimal interest and no voucher available
for connecting properties, therefore if people would like to receive B4RN connections
they must raise funding themselves in their communities to enable this.
Succession Planning and Director Recruitment
An advert to be circulated in local parish magazines and email newsletters. To
ensure the parishes outside of the six main parishes are listed in case eligible candidates
wish to apply. To share with The Chimes, The Broadsheet, Meeting of the Waters,
Redesdale Village Notes, Parish Councils, Schools and social media. Also enquire if they
can be placed on village notice boards.