PRIDE IN PONTELAND

MAYOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 2010

COUNCIL MEMBERS
Robin Ramsay
David Butler
Eileen Armstrong
Mel Armstrong
Alan Chilton
Peter Cowey
Joyce Butcher
Liz Thompson
Archie Cave
Richard Hutchinson
Alan Mee
Carl Rawlings

Clerk to the Council
Kathleen Mavin

Deputy Clerk
Jeanette Dodd

Assistant Clerk
Christine Holleyman



PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL
MAYOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 2010 SUMMARY

Vision
Provide services and support that will promote PRIDE IN PONTELAND
Change
This year has e have said farewell with thanks to Councillor Mrs Brumwell and welcomed new Councillors Hutchinson, Rawlings [by election] and Mee and Cowey [by co-option].
Partnership Working
Much of our work is carried out in conjunction with others. This includes work in the Park [with the Friends of Ponteland Park], help to Citizens Advice Bureau, Age Concern, Community Cleaning [with the County], Youth work at the High School, Ponteland Community Partnership [for Pont News and Views, the re-equipping of the Callerton Play area and the creation of Forum] Darras Hall Estate [for speed monitors] and small grants to several local organisations. A major involvement is the improvement of the local street scene –with historic signs and new entrances to the Park as well as Northumbria in Bloom. This latter event was supported by several local businesses.
Other aspects of our work
We maintain the play areas at Callerton Lane, Twizell Place, and Guardians Court.
Much work is involved, responding to various documents regional and county, local planning submissions, and discussions with the local police and Highway authorities. We also represent the community view on various outside bodies.
Work has continued on the development at Merton Way with the County and the developer. Unfortunately the development at Broadway has been suspended.
General
The Band D Council tax rate for next year is £62.07 which is below Morpeth Town Council [£98.27], and above Prudhoe [£57.55] and Hexham [£48.00]. It has to be borne in mind that Ponteland has to maintain the Park, the Play areas and the toilets out of the precept unlike other adjacent town councils.
The council holds over 50 meetings a year. The public is welcome to attend our monthly and fortnightly planning meetings. There is a question and answer session at our monthly meetings.
The community’s thanks must go not only to the council and its staff but to any resident who has helped to improve the quality of life in Ponteland. This year the Community Service award goes to Andy Anderson principally for his work in conjunction with Party in the Park
There remains much to do if we are to achieve our full aim of PRIDE IN PONTELAND.





PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL
MAYOR’S ANNUAL REPORT 2010

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the annual general meeting of the Town Council. This is the third year of the current council and the second as a Town Council. I have much pleasure in presenting the Mayor’s annual Report for 2010

VISION AND AIM

PRIDE IN PONTELAND
• The Council’s aim is to supply, and encourage others to deliver services and facilities that will promote Pride in Ponteland.

COUNCIL
• Quality Council serving over10,000 residents
• Progressive thinking and being proactive.
• Operate on an a-political basis
• Provide a range of local services such as :-
(i) litter picking,
(ii) gritting,
(iii) grass cutting,
(iv) gardening
(v) minor building services
(vi) play areas

I hope by a review of some aspects of our community life and our involvement to show the strength of our community and how the Town Council is contributing towards the improvement of the quality of life.

Councillors and Staff
This year one of our councillors has resigned, Irene Brumwell who provided much sterling work particularly as the last Mayor of Castle Morpeth Borough Council. We are pleased to welcome new Councillors –Richard Hutchinson and Carl Rawlings [by election] and Alan Mee and Peter Cowey [by co-option].


New Unitary Authority
The new Unitary has now completed its first year with a continuation of both county and Borough services. There have inevitably been several bedding in problems. We are still waiting with some trepidation further discussions on the transfer of responsibility for the cemetery. As we are responsible already for all other local council services no other duties have been transferred. However there is still not a level playing field as full transfer of other services has not been achieved within Northumberland.

Ponteland and Stamfordham Forum
A new Forum has been established to provide a venue for various community concerns to be addressed and local solutions proposed. Currently it is looking at the development of a local plan.


Park
The maintenance and improvement of the park has benefited enormously with the involvement of the Friends of Ponteland Park [FOPP}. The results can be seen by anyone who uses the Park. We have now implemented the management Plan for the Oxbow lake
A scheme for the long term stabilisation of the slopes is now out for tender.
The works to the Park entrance and footpath area has now been completed and well received by the community. A new entrance on Callerton Lane has also been completed
The amount spent on the Park by the council last year amounts to some £39,000 and it is encouraging to see the continuing increase in the use of this Park.

Youth work
Ponteland Community High School has continued its work for youth in the area. We also continued our support for the detached youth workers which form an excellent link with non-clubbable youngsters. The council contributed £5,000 towards this work.


Community cleaning
The main responsibility for maintaining the general cleanliness of the community [grass cutting, litter removal, graffiti removal, toilets etc] lies with the County. However in order to augment this work we have spent about £15,000 in the last year. This is achieved by using our own contractors as well as purchasing extra services from the County. We have established excellent working relations with the Neighbourhood team from the County. Litter unfortunately is always with us and we need all the help we can get to reduce its impact. The continued assistance of several residents in picking up litter is greatly appreciated and if this voluntary work could be extended it would make an excellent contribution to improving the quality of life in Ponteland. Thanks should also go to all those residents who help with the litter picks. On the same topic the planting at road junctions brightens up the road scene. Our thanks should go to those residents who have this concern for the community.

Community Halls
There are three community halls within Ponteland – Memorial, Merton and Dalton. We are able to provide essential support to these Hall which are not as well supported as they should be. They provide cohesion to the community and we are pleased to continue this vital support. Last year we contributed £14,000 to these facilities as well as assistance with various services.
We have continued our discussions with the Memorial Hall in order to establish a sustainable future for the Hall.


Darras Hall Estate
We have always made a small contribution to the maintenance of the Bridle Path. . This year we have also continued our co-operation with the sharing of the running costs of the speed display unit which subjectively still appears to have a beneficial effect. Joint provision has been made to provide a cycle for the police in Ponteland to patrol the bridle path and similar areas.
Environment
A major activity of the Council’s environment group is the provision of planting [and maintenance] of flowers and our entry into the Northumbria in Bloom. This year we had a magnificent display. Unfortunately we were up against Sedgefield which has significant County support so we had to make do with the Silver gilt. Great credit must go to the environment working group, the staff and contractors {Iain and Michael] for their excellent work. Our thanks must go to the local businesses who contributed to this effort. We hope that this next year we can increase the number of those involved in this venture. We also provide the Christmas Lights which are much appreciated. Our total expenditure in this area was £38,639.

Ponteland Local Partnership
We have continued our work on the regeneration proposal with the partnership, the County Council and the developer.
We have continued to support Pont News and Views which is distributed to all residents. The Council is represented on the Editorial group and has also been able to help with providing significant financial support. Our contributions this last year amounted to some £7500.

Grants
There are a number of small grants given to local organisations to help their work or events for instance Party in the Park. This amounted to about £2000 in the last year

Play areas
The council is responsible for Play areas at Callerton Lane, Twizell Place and Guardians Court. This year with the tremendous support from the partnership we were enabled to re-equip the Callerton play area, and also refurbished Twizell play area.

Consultations
A major part of our work involves consultation with various outside bodies and submissions in respect of major documents. We have made submissions to the Electoral commission, the draft economic strategy and the car charging policy for Northumberland to name but a few.
The development of community forums and a new charter for local authority have been the subject of much discussion. With the arrival of the new Unitary authority, the implementation of these two documents will take up much of our time in the comng year.

Highway matters
We have had discussions with the County on Highway matters. These discussions have been useful and improved mutual understanding of each other’s problems. As in such matters progress has been slow but there are some signs of work Greater attention has been paid to our annual submission on minor works and a willingness to implement them as soon as practicable bearing in mind the limited funds provided for Highway maintenance. We now have a number of routes which are fully accessible for people with impaired mobility and we hope in the coming year to extend the coverage.
This is a slow process and I would urge everyone to report specific defaults to County at 0845 600 640. This will ensure that a complaint will be properly logged and can be followed up.

Planning
The Planning sub-committee meets every 2 weeks to review all planning submissions and make representations to the County where appropriate. When we consider there are grounds for objection to a proposal because it does not conform to the Local Plan we elect to make a verbal submission at the County Planning committee. When we object the proposal has to go to the full committee and cannot be delegated because of lack of any other objections. This is a power that we have to use with care as abuse could well result in its withdrawal. This work represents a high demand on our resources both staff and councillor.

Crime
We are fortunate to live in an area where recorded crime is amongst the lowest in England. However the yobbish behaviour of a small group of youngsters and the inconsiderate parking are now receiving the particular attention of the police. The police have provided greater contact by regular drop-ins at the Library and the URC church on Broadway. There is also a regular meeting of the “Local Area Multi Agency Partnership solving (LMAPS)” which has provided a useful venue for solving particular problems. This year we are part way through replacement of the CCTV equipment. We have been enabled to carry out this work with the support of the County Councillors, the CDRP and local business.

Budget
The budget precept for 2010/11 is £336,000 which represents an annual Band D contribution for Ponteland of £62.09. Fuller details of the precept breakdown are included in annexe C .The gross cost is £495,5000 with loans, income and transfer from reserves to give the budget precept of £336,000.

General organisation
This work places considerable demands on staff and councillors. During the year we have over 50 meetings which all require agendas and minutes as well as the implementation of decisions as well as many ad-hoc meetings. In addition we have representatives on various outside bodies such as Ponteland Partnership, Airport Consultative Committee and Prestwick Pit liaison Committee to name but a few.
If you are interested in our activities the Monthly meeting and the planning committee are open to the public so that you can actually see us at work. There is also a question time before each monthly meeting where written questions are considered and hopefully a full answer can be provided.

Community service award
As recorded above this work cannot be achieved by the efforts of the council alone. The community thanks must go to all of those residents who devote their energies either as individuals or through organisations to enrich the quality of life in Ponteland.
This year we are awarding the annual prize to Andy Anderson for his work particularly in connection with the Churches “Party in the Park” and many other activities in the community.

Conclusion
I hope this review will provide you with some idea of what we are striving to do.

What we have achieved so far has been the result of hard work by my fellow councillors and enthusiastic staff and contractors who have all gone the second mile. The grateful thanks of myself and I trust the community will make them feel it has all been worthwhile.

There remains much to do if we are to achieve our aim of PRIDE IN PONTELAND.


ANNEX A
PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL
WORKING PARTIES/COMMITTEES

ENVIRONMENT WORKING PARTY

Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor Mrs J Butcher(Chair)
Councillor D Butler
Councillor A S Cave
Councillor A Mee
Councillor Mrs E Thompson

NORTHUMBRIA IN BLOOM WORKING PARTY

Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor Mrs J Butcher (Chair)
Councillor A S Cave
Councillor A Mee
Councillor Mrs E Thompson

HIGHWAYS WORKING PARTY

Councillor P M Armstrong
Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor Mrs J Butcher
Councillor A S Cave
Councillor A Mee
Councillor R G Ramsay (Chair)

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor David Butler (Chair)
Councillor T A Chilton
Councillor P Cowey
Councillor R Hutchinson
Councillor A Mee

Accounts Committee

Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor P M Armstrong
Councillor Mrs J Butcher
Councillor A S Cave
Councillor T A Chilton
Councillor P Cowey
Councillor A Mee
Councillor Mrs E Thompson




ANNEX B

PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES ON LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Merton Hall Recreation Centre Management Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Committee Councillor Mrs E Thompson

Ponteland Memorial Hall Committee Councillor J Butcher

Richard Coates Education Foundation Councillor A Mee

Newcastle Airport Consultative Committee Councillor Mrs J Butcher

Northumberland Association of Local Councillor P Cowey
Councils Executive Committee

Prestwick Pit Liaison Committee Councillor Mrs E Armstrong
Councillor R G Ramsay

Ponteland Community Partnership Councillor R G Ramsay



PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL

Summary of Precept Details 2010/2011 [Overheads distributed]
Annexe C


ITEM 2010 COMMENT
Highways & Environment 98000 Notice board £3000; Speed indicator £7000 Repairs to PC £5k
Park &Play area 260,000 Slope £156,000 with £100k loan+ 50k reserve
Grants 64,000 PN&V £9k; Transport £2k, Memorial Hall Development £5k
General Administration 56000 Increased staff resources full time clerk
Capital reserve 15000
Total Budget 495500
Income 159500 Transfer from reserves £51k;£100k loan
Total 336000 Net precept
Band D
Ponteland [10871] 62.07 Included Park, toilets, play areas
Morpeth[11092] 98.27 Excludes Park, toilets, play areas
Hexham[11446] 48.00 Excludes Park, toilets, play areas but includes cemetery
Prudhoe [11086] 57.55 Excludes Park, toilets, play areas but includes cemetery