September’s Council Meeting
REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2025 MEETING
This report is an informal one, and should not be taken as an accurate and agreed record of the parish council meeting. It is written to give our local residents some general information about the meeting, but only the formal minutes, which will be posted later, are a proper record.
Minutes of previous meeting
The parish council agreed the draft minutes as an accurate record of the meeting held on 4 August 2025.
Public participation
Ian Grey reported that 251 homes in Nenthead had been visited, and this resulted in a letter to Nenthead Mines Conservation Society that really represented the community, with a heartfelt plea not to go ahead with the plans re the minewater (as discussed by Graeme Ransom at the previous AMPC meeting) AMPC Clerk reported that we had only recently received acknowledgment of our letter to NMCS sent just after the last council meeting.
Westmorland and Furness councillor’s report
Councillor Michael Hanley had contacted the officer responsible for bus services, who said they couldn’t get the new Hexham service up and running by the time the long-standing Tuesday one ended. Tenders have to be sought and received and the Cabinet then had to OK the funding. Because the 889 bus has fewer than 10 passengers on average, the subsidy per person is £9.50 and Northumberland Council has a maximum of £7. W&F hadn’t known about the termination of the current service until very recently.
The Monday and Wednesday bus to Carlisle is also ending; the intention is to have a replacement contract to April. The problems for Alston Moor regarding public transport have been flagged by MH to the Labour leader (who is in Barrow), who will bring it forward to scrutiny committee. The parish council emphasised that we need to be considered as the isolated community that we are.
Benches
The proposed new bench is likely to get agreement from the landowner. Nenthead Ward will write to the parish clerk so she can pass to W&F the need to repair the steps at the waste heap. Nenthead Play Park need a bench to be repaired, and it was suggested that they should apply to AMPC for a community grant.
In Garrigill, the hope is to get the benches all sorted out before the November Service of Remembrance at the church.
The memorial bench for Tyne Willows can go ahead, as the family have completed the application form and will pay for all the work.
Mount Hooley Mast
The company the Clerk wrote to, concerning the provision of back-up power for the Mount Hooley mobile phone mast, have passed our letter on to another company which is dealing with it. They have said they are looking at it and will let us know. There is a possibility of contacting another council, whose area has a similar problem.
Possible housing sites
W&F have been asking for suggestions for possible sites for new housing. A map from 2015 showing possible sites, the most recent such ideas that we have, was suggested to be sent to them.
Meet the neighbours
The proposal is to hold another such meeting for new and longer-standing residents and to include volunteer groups with which Sarah Stamford (the AMP’s Community Development Co-ordinator) has been working. Councillor Martin to present on this at the next meeting.
Policies
Councillor Monk has worked hard on a number of policies that needed updating, and asks that other councillors look at the revised versions and send her any comments. The updated policies are: Communication Policy; Co-option Policy; Data Protection Policy; Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy; Social Media Policy; Safeguarding Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy.
Assertion 10
The council has been advised that we must have a number of GDPR and other matters in place before the submission of the 2025 AGAR (Annual Governance and Accountability Returns). Fortunately, thanks to the work of the Clerk and Councillor Martin in ensuring that the website meets all the criteria, and the provision of iPads and .gov.uk email addresses for all councillors, we are compliant with everything required.
Reports and assets
- If there are any issues with the Walton Memorial, Alan Harty at W&F should be informed.
- Alston Moor Partnership reported that a meeting had been held with the Royal Countryside Fund, the funders for the Community Development Co-ordinator, and they are happy with all the work to date and future plans.
- North West Ambulance Service have been asked to attend the parish council meeting in October or November.
- The surfacing of the Tyne Willows car park and the Garrigill parking area will hopefully (weather permitting) be done on 10 September.
Planning
The application for retrospective planning permission for the ‘Headmaster’s House’ in Alston received comment about the inappropriate materials used, and this is to be sent as an objection.
Finance
One councillor voted against approving the payments for the new flag and for the handyperson’s payment, but no reason was given.
Money has been put aside over several years to pay for the Alston public toilets, which were to be transferred to parish council responsibility. This is now not needed as W&F will continue to take responsibility for the toilets. It was therefore suggested that this money should be transferred into the General Fund and that next month councillors will vote on whether to transfer a proportion of this Tyne Willows.
Miscellaneous
- The PTA bonfire has previously left a large mark, and they are to be asked to lift it off the ground or remove and replace the turf this year.
- We have still not heard from W&F about their takeover of the footway lighting.
- We are still waiting to hear from W&F concerning Nenthead Fountain.
- The PAT testing for the Christmas trees will be done as soon as possible, and brackets problems will be sorted out.
- It was agreed to fly the Union flag at all times, as is strongly recommended in government advice.
Correspondence
- Someone has written to ask about selling flowers from the Market Cross, and has been referred to W&F.
- A potential buyer for the former Blueberry’s café building has asked what we think about re-opening the café and having a b&b. We have suggested that they contact other businesses in the town.
- There have been letters concerned about some of what Fibrus has been doing. They do not need any planning permission for the poles and cables, so there is little to be done. However, the cobbles at the Potato Market must be reinstated properly (we have since been assured that this will happen in November).
- It was noted that local people need to know that we have no authority about such work as the Potato Market cobbles – the authority to contact is W&F.
Next meeting
Monday 6 October, Garrigill Village Hall
