Please note that these are draft minutes until their approval at the next meeting of the Parish Council
DRAFT Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 13th July 2026 at Stocksfield Community Centre
Present: Mr T Hills (Chair), Mrs C Daltry, Mr M Parker and Prof P Vickers
Mrs G Maughan (Clerk to the Council)
Also present: Mrs A Dale (County Councillor)
The Chair opened the meeting at 7.02pm and welcomed those present.
26/07/054 Apologies for absence
It was AGREED to authorise the absence of Mr C Liddle and Prof L Paley.
26/07/055 Declarations of Interest
The Clerk declared a conflict of interest for agenda item 21 (Clerk’s Probation Review).
26/07/056 Public Participation
None.
26/07/057 County Councillor update
Mrs Dale updated Councillors on issues at NCC regarding refuse collection, changes to recycling of books and clothes at Prudhoe Household Waste Recovery Centre, speed survey results and VACS, neighbourhood plans, Guessburn carparking survey and plans to speak with residents, maintenance of hedges in snickets (NCC responsibility with the undergrown being SPC responsibility), Kate’s Plain, planning matters, specifically the Tyne Valley Taprooms change of use application not yet validated, Community Governance Review, grass verges, overhanging branches and encouraging people to use FixMyStreet. Mrs Dale also informed the Council that there had been some activity of sticking notes on car windows which has resulted in police involvement, as well as highlighting an issue around bee nests.
Mrs Dale was asked to expand on the meeting regarding Kate’s Plain and it was agreed that the Clerk will put together a process and agenda for the proposals which can then be agreed by the parish council to be taken forward.
Action: Clerk
26/07/058 Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2026
It was AGREED that the previously circulated minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2026 were a true and accurate record.
26/07/059 Matters Arising not otherwise included in the agenda
The Clerk provided a verbal update on the provision, not obligation of having a burial site, Cricket Club land transfer, Kate’s Plain counter, Branch End leak and NALC councillor training.
26/07/060 Finance
- a) Payments for June 2026
It was AGREED (proposed Prof Vickers, seconded Mrs Daltry) to approve the payments for June as detailed in the previously circulated schedule.
- b) Budget Monitoring
The budget monitoring report was noted. It was AGREED (proposed Mr Parker, seconded Mr Hills) to accept the Clerk’s recommendation to increase the Sports Field budget heading to take the Maintenance Contract into account.
Action: Clerk
- c) Reserves and Earmarked Funds
It was AGREED (proposed Mrs Daltry, seconded Prof Vickers) to retain the current level of earmarked funds in the reserves.
26/07/061 Financial Regulations Update
Councillors discussed the proposed changes in depth, it was AGREED (proposed Prof Vickers, seconded Mr Hills, to defer this agenda item to the next meeting to allow Councillors more time to consider the changes.
Action: Clerk
26/07/062 Planning Advisory Group
- a) Use of delegated powers
The use of delegated authority with regards to planning was not used through the month of June.
26/07/063 Parish Council Representatives
None.
26/07/064 Local Transport Plan Feedback
Councillors noted the feedback.
26/07/065 Neighbourhood Plan
Following a meeting with the Planning Manager from the Neighbourhood Planning Team at NCC, the Clerk recommended that the Council wait to see the outcome of the consultation with Parish Councils in September before moving forward with a Neighbourhood Plan. It was AGREED (proposed Mrs Daltry, seconded Mr Hills) to accept this recommendation and defer further discussion to the next meeting.
Action: Clerk
26/07/066 Community Governance Review
Councillors noted a verbal update from the Clerk regarding Mickley becoming part of Stocksfield Parish rather than Prudhoe Town. Comments have been noted by the elections officer and discussions are ongoing.
26/07/067 Markings on Sports Field Car Park
It was AGREED (proposed Mr Hills, seconded Prof Vickers) to refer the item back to the SFUG to see if they would like to fund the painting.
Action: Clerk DISCH
26/07/068 CCTV
Councillors discussed the need for CCTV and agreed for the Clerk to continue researching and report back to the next meeting following a meeting with NCC.
Action: Clerk
26/07/069 Office Rental Agreement
Councillors noted that a new agreement would be presented to a future meeting.
26/07/070 Interactive Speed Signs
It was AGREED (proposed Mr Hills, seconded Prof Vickers) to further investigate options.
Action: Clerk
26/07/071 RoSPA Reports
It was AGREED (proposed Mr Hills, seconded Prof Vickers) to give the Clerk delegated authority up to the value of £2,000 to rectify issues on the reports. It was further AGREED to defer the surface repair work discussion to another meeting. The Clerk informed the council that KOMPAN have confirmed the rocker can stay in situ as it conformed to the relevant regulations when it was installed.
Action: Clerk
It was AGREED to suspend the section of Standing Orders relating to the length of the meeting to allow it to continue beyond two hours.
26/07/072 Tractor Training & Usage
It was confirmed we have an equipment use policy in place. It was suggested that the Football Club are best placed to make a proposal regarding its intended use and operators.
Action: Cllr Liddle
26/07/073 NE43 News Competition
It was AGREED (proposed Prof Vickers, seconded Mr Hills) to go ahead with the Clerk’s competition idea.
Action: Clerk
Mrs Maughan left the meeting due to a conflict of interest.
26/07/074 Clerk’s Probation Review
The Chair & Vice Chair summarised the meeting they had held with the Clerk in relation to her probation review and their recommendation to confirm the Clerk’s probation period has been successfully passed was AGREED.
Mrs Maughan returned to the meeting.
26/07/075 Any other urgent business
The Clerk informed Councillors about an issue with the commercial use of the Sports Field Carpark. An Ice Cream Van had been parked in the carpark at school pickup time. It is a decision of Stocksfield Parish Council that commercial use of the car park is not allowed and will not be approved by the council. This is separate to other agreements and procedures in place for community events.
This led onto a further issue relating to the Y4 leavers party which uses the car park for pizza and ice cream vans. The council have previously agreed, that community events can be approved by the council. The Clerk informed the council that a booking form and risk assessment has been created and the completed form for this event has been received. The Clerk has approved the use of the carpark for this event. The Clerk will bring a process policy for booking the carpark to a future Council meeting for approval.
Action: Clerk
26/06/046 Date of next meeting
Monday 14 September 2026
The Chair thanked members for attending and closed the meeting at 9:22pm