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Notice of Annual Meeting of the Parish
7pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in the Memorial institute, Dinnington – Public welcome
Chairman’s Annual Report 2011 – 2012
It is with regret that I inform you that our clerk John Woodcock resigned in December for family reasons. We all wish him and his wife good health in their retirement. We welcome our new Parish clerk Brenda Joyce. Brenda has a wide range of experience in local and central government over the past 20 years.
We welcomed new Parish Councillors Joan Walker, Kristine Smith, and Steven Phelps, co-opted in September.
The chairman visited Mrs Sadie Bhugra (formerly of The Winding) at Kenton Nursing Hall on behalf of the Parish Council to present a flower arrangement on her 100th birthday on 21st October and joined the celebration party. On Friday 18th November another flower arrangement for 100 year old Matilda (Tilly) Shield was presented. Tilly moved from Hazelrigg into her new house when Horton Crescent was built in 1950, is still very independent and has a very good memory of people in the village from the past.
The Parish Council has continued to seek improvements to the environment in the Parish through liaison with your Ward Councillors, as well as directly via the City Council, Your Homes Newcastle, and Northumbria Police. If you would like further information please contact any of the Parish Councillors, or check our website for updates http://www.dinningtonparishcouncil.gov.uk/
The Parish Council continues to monitor planning applications and is currently involved, together with the Dinnington Action Group, with a draft plan for Newcastle Gateshead - One Core Strategy. This plan is being considered and amended following the first phase of consultation and further consultation will follow. Up to date information about the One Core Strategy can be found on the website www.newcastle.gov.uk/haveyoursayonplanning
A new bench seat has been provided by Newcastle City Council at Prestwick Carr Road junction around the Carr, to replace the old seat on Prestwick Road.
The Parish Council was unhappy with the state of the flower beds on the Main Road to the village in 2011 and was told by the Neighbourhood Response Manager they would be greatly improved for summer 2012. We considered reducing the shrub beds with more perennial plants put into the remaining beds to give more colour. A request was made for some planters to be placed under street signs as in Kingston Park and elsewhere in the City.
Residents have drawn attention to the unsatisfactory nature of the recent rubberised spray on the footpaths on Dinnington Green which have been uneven, ponding and dangerous in icy conditions. Likewise standing water on Cochrane Terrace, Main Road especially around East View Flats and the bungalow next to the church, as in wet weather pedestrians get drenched going to the shops due to poor workmanship by the contractor.
Residents reported problems with the road drains at the bottom of Sycamore Avenue near to number 44, 45, & 46 which has now been rectified. Several road signs are still missing down Prestwick Road, a problem the Highways Department has promised to address.
The Parish Council wrote to M.P. Catherine McKinnell expressing residents concerns about current drainage measures at Prestwick Carr and sought her help in obtaining some assurances from the relevant organisations about future arrangements. Ms McKinnell had received responses from The Environment Agency, Newcastle City Council, and Northumberland Wildlife Trust and each agency had explained the actions they were currently taking to maintain the area and to reduce the risk of flooding. At present there are no plans to change these arrangements.
The Parish Council has also received letters from Catherine Mckinnell MP regarding the Arriva Bus Service to the village. She promised to keep us advised of developments. Ward Councillors held a public meeting on 13th March at the school to discuss local bus and transport issues, Arriva and Nexus representatives were present. The meeting was well attended and some good points of view expressed to Arriva and Nexus. We now await their response.
Allotments The Parish Council has increased the rent to £333 for 2012/2013 for 2,700 sq metres of allotments, index linked at 4%, as with all allotments in Newcastle City Council. We spent £300 on the allotments last year removing the hump on the access track, and levelling the spoil heap to create new allotments in the future, and we are endeavouring to persuade Bellway, as owners, to cut the hedge on the adjacent field boundary.
Queen Elizabeth 11 Field Challenge The Parish Council have nominated Jubilee Park, so named in 1977 during the Queens Jubilee year, as a proposed site for the Queens Diamond Jubilee for the Queen Elizabeth 11 Field Challenge. This guarantees its continued use for recreational purposes as at present. Mr Don Earley deputy chief Executive visited the site on 2nd February, 2012, but must write to the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation for their approval. We plan to plant an Oak Tree on the site to mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee.
Tyne & Wear Archives The Parish Council was established by the County of Northumberland (Dinnington) Parish Council Powers Order 1909. The following were recently handed in for safe keeping:-
1. Receipt & Payment Ledger 1975-1996
2. Financial Statement Book (Receipts & Payments) 1950-1961
3. Agendas/Minutes May 1990 to September 2004.
Your Homes Newcastle Consultation to build 4 two bed room bungalows off Elm Avenue (former Garage site) has commenced.
Youth Club At the January meeting Cllr Laverick informed the Parish that the new administration had decided to move youth clubs to more deprived areas of the City, and there was a lack of provision across Castle Ward to continue in the 3 outer villages.
The Parish Precept has been increased by £500 to £9,500 from April 2012 (the last increase was April 2010) to help with running costs & refurbishment of the village hall. (see Village Hall update).
Banks Mining Employ over 200 local people and spend over £1.5 million annually with local suppliers. The Banks Community Benefit Fund has spent £400K in Northumberland. Locally grants have been awarded to Dinnington Village Hall £12,500, Hazlerigg Action group (New Play area £30,000), Horton, Havannah and Brenkley Residents Association (Renewal of outdated Childrens Park £30,000, Stannington Village hall £10,000, and the committee is currently considering an application from Dinnington Playgroup. Banks Mining have an advance future plan to extend their workings to the south of the Brenkley Lane site – residents will be informed in due course
Raymond Thompson
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