Annual General Meeting
At the Annual Meeting of Castle Morpeth Borough Council on 15th May, Councillor Mrs Irene Brumwell was elected Mayor, with Councillor Edward Trevelyan as Deputy Mayor. Irene represents Ponteland South whilst Edward has represented Stamfordham for 30 years. The Administration remains a coalition between Conservatives, Labour + Councillors Best & Beynon. There was no attempt to include the 12 Liberal Democrats in the Administration for the second year running.
Councillor Jackson was re-elected Leader with Councillor Sambrook as Deputy Leader. Councillor David Parker (Morpeth South) continues to be the Liberal Democrats Group Leader, whilst I remain Deputy Leader. Two changes in Committee representation for the Liberal Democrats sees David Moore (Morpeth Kirkhill) replace Joan Tebbutt (Morpeth South) on the Executive, with Joan going to Improvement & Communities Scrutiny. Les Cassie (Morpeth North Central) & Peter Angus (Pegswood) have “swapped” Scrutiny Committees, with Peter being subsequently appointed as Chair of the Environment & Economy Scrutiny Committee.
Standing Down as Scrutiny Chair:
After 3 years as a Scrutiny Chair (and 6 years in a position of some special responsibility) I have stood down following my nomination as a Portfolio Holder in the new Northumberland County Council Cabinet. This should be ratified at the Northumberland County Council AGM on 21st May when a minority Liberal Democrat Administration is expected to be elected.
Castle Morpeth Borough Council Executive
8th May 2008
A largely “internal matters” meeting, full details of which can be seen on the Council’s Minutes & Agendas website link. However the Council continues to prepare for the transfer of all its functions and assets to the new Northumberland Unitary Authority from 1st April 2009. One matter resolved on 8th May was to invite Morpeth Town Council to take over allotments in Middle & East Greens as well as Tommy’s Field. The transfer “cost” would be a peppercorn, and the allotments would be managed by an Allotment Society (Tommy’s Field is already well- established) and this offer will be considered by Morpeth Town Council in the next few weeks. There is a lot of logic to this proposal as it would allow Morpeth Town Council to protect this land under statute – thus guaranteeing they remain allotments.
Close to Morpeth the Executive gave further support to creating a nature reserve at Tranwell, something I welcome. There are reportedly great-crested newts in the reserve, which is justification in itself.
Schools Scrutiny Event:
The other reported matters were the outcomes from a very effective Schools Scrutiny event, which I attended, held at King Edward VI School in March. Sadly I didn’t report on the event before the website closed for the election period. I would urge website viewers to look at the report in full on the Council’s Minutes & Agendas website link – item 5.2 of this agenda.
In brief summary the Council and the students in the school have started work on a waste management policy; the school is attempting to significantly increase its recycling record; the Council is helping students to present a schools transport policy proposal to Northumberland County Council; and links are being made with Groundwork Northumberland, Carlisle Park & the “Save Our Red Squirrels” group. Help is also being given over the development of an energy efficient community garden project and with preserving some very old & quite precious records of the school – dating back 300+ years. There are 40+ detailed recommendations for further action listed in the detailed report, together with a summary of the presentations made by 4 groups of students. It is hoped to follow up this event by further contacts, and to hold a similar one in Ponteland later this year.
