Northwood Parish Council

Posted by NPC Admin on 8 March 2016, 7:17 pm

NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Northwood Parish Council, held in Northwood Primary School, Wyatts Lane, Northwood, Isle of Wight on Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Present: Councillors Chris Riddet (Chairman), David Jaggar (Vice Chairman), Paul Fuller and John Nicholson, Malcolm Nicholson and John Ward
Also in attendance:
Barbara Herbert (Clerk and RFO)

There were five members of the public in attendance.

Prior to the start of the meeting Mr L Measurers addressed the Parish Council, referring to the recent speed watch activity and suggested that councillors submit a formal request for a traffic speed survey to be undertaken along the lower end of Pallance Road, specifically in the vicinity of the Chapel. Cllr J Nicholson agreed to take this matter forward.

204/15-16 To receive and approve any apologies for absence
Apologies had been received from Cllrs John Pullen and Derek Smith, and PCSO Derek Howard.

205/15-16 Members’ interests
There had been no written requests received for Dispensation on items forming the agenda.
Cllr M Nicholson declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute 216 a.iv.a Floral Art Group as his wife was a member of the group.

206/15-16 To receive a report on any local safety neighbourhood issues occurring since the last meeting held of the Parish Council
In the absence of any representative from the Local Neighbourhood Police team, the clerk read from the report she had received. This had changed very little from that reported previously. However, particular mention was made that eight crimes had been committed during the month of February, compared with five crimes during the same period last year.
Councillors considered that it would be very useful to have further information on each incident, as just being aware of the total number of crimes committed was of little value. The crimereports website was unfortunately no longer updated. The clerk agreed to pass on the request to the Neighbourhood Police team.

207/15-16 To consider the proposition from the Northwood Women’s Institute
Councillors had before them the letter from the Northwood Women’s Institute (WI) inviting the Parish Council to consider taking over the complete management of Northwood WI hall. The proposal had been unanimously approved by their members.
However, councillors considered there to be a distinct lack of vital information in the letter to enable a decision to be taken. Clear details were required outlining the proposed respective responsibilities of the Parish Council and any Management Committee. Although it was noted that there should be no financial cost to the Parish Council, fundamentally, no information had been provided on who was expected to undertake the duties outlined, which would give effect to the proposal. In addition, the parish clerk had no spare capacity to take on any additional duties so councillors questioned whether it was being suggested for this to be a paid position or to be undertaken by a volunteer. Councillors, while expressing an interest in working in partnership with the WI, queried whether one of their own members or someone from the local community should be appointed, under the guidance of a Management Committee to completely manage the WI hall.
The representatives of the WI were urged to liaise with Gurnard Bay WI, as they had some experience in establishing a Hall Management Committee. An informal meeting could then be arranged between all parties to discuss the proposal further.

RESOLVED :

THAT a WI Working Party be established comprising of Cllrs Pullen (lead councillor), Malcolm Nicholson, Chris Riddet and John Ward to consider the proposal for the Parish Council to take over the complete management of Northwood WI hall and to report back to a future meeting.

208/15-16 To confirm and authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council held on 2 February 2016

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2016 be confirmed and the Chairman authorised to sign them on behalf of the Parish Council.

209/15-16 To receive any matters arising on the Minutes, not requiring a resolution
a. Minute 189/15-16 b Draft MOU with Northwood Community Partnership – Cllr Smith had agreed to attend the meeting of the Community Partnership scheduled for 15 March, in the absence of Cllr Pullen. The clerk was still awaiting the signed copy of the MOU.
b. Minute 193/15-16 Island Roads – The clerk confirmed that she had submitted the whole of Oxford Street to be included within Island Roads carriageway resurfacing programme planning. Some carriageway repairs were to be undertaken at its junction with Wyatts Lane between 7 and 9 March.
c. Cllr Ward thanked councillors for the card and their best wishes.

210/15-16 To consider the update report regarding the one-off payment of £5k to be used for the benefit of the residents in Northwood
During the following item of business Cllr Fuller entered the meeting room.

The Chairman and the clerk had met with representatives from two companies, Wickstead Leisure Ltd and Jupiter Play, both of which were competent to install a simple all weather MUGA on the Venner Avenue play park. Details and costings would be provided at the April meeting. Investigations to source available funding opportunities would be the next step.
Cllr Ward volunteered to make inquiries with regard to grant funding at the Isobel Centre, in Newport, as they had installed a very large MUGA.
Councillors were requested to consider any other alternative schemes to utilise the one-off generous sum of money, should the provision of a MUGA be beyond the Parish Council’s funding ability. The clerk referred to details of an HM Queen Elizabeth II 90th birthday commemorative medal, appropriate for schools, that she had received, after the despatch of the agenda. These were available at a cost of £1.99 each. This would be included as an agenda item for the next meeting.

211/15-16 To consider the recommendation agreed in Minute 109/15-16 of the meeting held on 6 October 2015 – to undertake a Big Tidy Up
Councillors agreed that a Big Tidy Up should be organised, which could increase the marks awarded in the Best Kept Village competition. Cllr J Nicholson agreed to seek the assistance of the local scout troop. A request would also be made in the next edition of the Northwood News for volunteers to take part. In the meantime, the clerk was requested to write to Northwood garage, Aldi stores and BAE Systems welcoming their assistance in making Northwood a good place to live by keeping their hedges trimmed back and by increasing the frequency of litter picks around their boundaries.
The clerk would check on the condition of the phone box at Four Cross, as this received the lowest score in last year’s competition.

RESOLVED :

THAT consideration of a Big Tidy Up, form an agenda item for the April meeting.

212/15-16 To comment on the wording of the draft Welcome to Northwood booklet and to approve the proposed new plan of the parish
A suggested form of words for the Welcome to Northwood booklet had been circulated prior to the meeting. Some minor amendments had been forwarded to the clerk and she would amalgamate these and re-circulate the proposed wording. The rough Parish map, tabled for comments, was generally welcomed. Some further detail was suggested. This was to include Medham village, local facilities such as the school, post office and newsagents, the naming of some of the major roads in the village and the correction of typo errors. Councillors requested that the updated draft be circulated prior to its finalisation.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Welcome to Northwood booklet and new Parish Plan be generally approved, subject to the addition of the number of minor amendments/additions outlined and for it to be circulated to all councillors for comment prior to its finalisation.

213/15-16 To receive a report for information on Community Wellbeing
Cllr J Nicholson provided an oral report on various areas of progress.
• the significant progress of change emerging nationally, with funding assistance available via central Government to drive the process through;
• representatives from Public Health were to be invited to talk to Cowes Town Council about direction and involvement to improve wellbeing in their area. This would align nicely with the emerging recognition on the significant importance of the mental state on health, education, crime, performance, work and community on the island. It was suggested that the Parish Council could join with Cowes in implementing some shared initiative.

214/15-16 To receive progress reports for information from Working Party leads
a. Traffic and Transport Issues Working Party
Cllr Riddet had no urgent matters to report. Cllr J Nicholson provided some detail on the ongoing roadworks, which formed part of a new water main project between Three Gates Road, along Newport Road to the Newport side of Northwood traffic lights.

b. Northwood in Bloom Working Party
The clerk was currently obtaining quotations for watering the summer bedding and for the tidying of the six gardens around the village.
c. Parish Plan Working Party
There was no further update to report.
d. Green Space Project Working Party
Cllr Ward advised that funding under this scheme depended on being the most successful project out of three, chosen by customers at Tesco’s. The next round was due to commence in April.

215/15-16 To receive the report for information of Cllr J Nicholson, the IWC Ward Member for Cowes South and Northwood
Cllr J Nicholson referred to matters set out in his report. Particular mention was made of the following:
• the inspection of new road surfaces. A number of problems still remained, particularly the middle section of the bottom run along Pallance Lane and in Pallance Road where some cracking had occurred over the new drainage, at the bottom end of the road;
• it had been confirmed by the District Steward that Oxford Street was listed in the Island Roads carriageway resurfacing programme planning.

216/15-16 Clerk’s Report
a. Finance
i. The interim budget statement to the end of February 2016 and the bank reconciliation with Statement No 91 were received and duly noted.

ii. Cheque No 000446.

RESOLVED :

THAT approval be granted retrospectively, for the payment of cheque 000446 in favour of Community Action IW, for £762.87 and for the clerk’s salary, on 16 February 2016.

iii. To authorise payment of the following cheques:

RESOLVED :

THAT the following cheques be approved for payment:
000447, £53.50, Mrs B Herbert, clerk’s expenses;
000448, £25.00, Northwood House Charitable Trust, Annual Subscription;
000449, £398.00, Isle of Wight Association of Local Council, Annual Subscription.

iv. To consider the following requests for funding:
a. Northwood Floral Art Group
Cllr M Nicholson having declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item of business took no part in the discussion or decision thereon.

RESOLVED :

THAT a donation of £100 be made towards the staging of the flower festival “Destination Isle of Wight” at St John’s Church, Northwood on 24,25 and 26 June.

b. Isle of Wight Walking & Cycling Festivals 2016

RESOLVED :

THAT the request for a donation towards the Walking and Cycling Festivals in 2016 be declined.

b. Administration
i. To confirm the attendance of any interested councillors at the IWALC workshop to be held on Friday, 18 March between 1.30pm and 4.30pm at the Riverside Centre

RESOLVED :

THAT councillors should confirm their interest in attending the IWALC workshop on 18 March, to the clerk.

ii. The latest list received from IWALC indicating Parish/Town Councils views on contributing towards the planning enforcement service, was duly noted

217/15-16 Correspondence
Correspondence received was listed in the report circulated with the agenda and updated further at the meeting.

218/15-16 Councillors’ reports
Cllr Ward advised that IWALC were to finance Cllr Harry Rees to go to Strasbourg to promote the implications for Parish and Town Councils situated on an island.

219/15-16 Future Agenda Items
There were no additional items raised.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE MEETING AT 7.50pm
Signed ……………………………………………. Dated ……………………………..