There were numerous objections to the license application for South Newsham pavilion.

 There will therefore be a hearing at Blyth Civic Centre, on 30th July. Members of the public are entitled to attend, but unless they have already objected, or supported,  they may not speak.

I will attend as ward councillor. There are  arguments in favour and against the application. It may make for a lively meeting. 

My council papers arrived today, (no doubt delayed by the industrial action)

There are no planning applications for South Newsham or South Beach wards.

Unison and Unite/T&G have confirmed that they will be taking industrial action on 16th and 17th July.

I don’t yet know how this will affect “front line services” , but there will be hopefully access to an emergency number.  All council committee meetings on those days are cancelled.

Northumberland County Councillor Lesley Rickerby will be holding a surgery at South Beach library on Wednesday 9th July between 6pm and 7 pm.

There will be district councillors be in attendance.

If you cannot get to this surgery we can be contacted through the usual channels

At last nights meeting of the Regulatory Panel the two taxi items were discussed.

On fares the panel were advised that we could not sanction an immediate increase in fares as an interim measure (we need to advertise the proposed fares), but we agreed that the structure would be brought in as soon as the 14 day consultatation period had passed, providing that there were no objections.

On reduced licensing fees for bio-diesel it was agreed that the loss of income had to be agreed by Cabinet, and so it will be passed to them for a decision. This is an out and out cop-out! Although no figures on overall costs to the authority were available at the meeting, it was calculated to be less than £5,000. And that would be for the whole year, we only have 9 months of this authority left. 

I am certain that the supposed loss can be met from balance or from other savings, and in the scheme of things is not a huge amount. But in terms of environment and air quality it is a small price to pay.

And one leading taxi firm who wishes to bring in bio-diesel is left with a possible investment for no return. I hope that he goes ahead and introduces bio-diesel cars anyway , and that the savings in costs will follow, along with the reduction in license fees.

At a meeting this afternoon, County Councillors Lesley Rickerby (Lib Dem South Blyth) and Jeff Reid (Lib Dem Plessey) met with residents and others to discuss the various problems arising from the construction of the Academy.

Of course there was no representative from the Emmanuel Schools Foundation (ESF) who are behind the application.

The residents aired their problems and action will be taken on various matters. Another meeting is to be held and again Mr Vardy, or a representative form ESF  will be invited to attend. 

At this week’s Regulatory Panel there is an agenda item about increasing taxi fares, mainly due to increasing fuel prices.

In the last 6 months I have become increasingly reliant on taxis, so I can understand that this is a blow to many. However I can see how fuel prices are affecting ALL drivers, not just taxi drivers.

 I think that it will be a difficult decision whichever way the vote goes.

However on a different note, there is an item where the taxi trade are requesting reduced license fees for bio-diesel fuelled vehicles. A good principle no doubt, but how are we to ensure that the vehicles actually use bio-fuel?

Again, an interesting debate is in prospect!

My July council diary is again fairly quiet.

July 1st       Regulatory Panel ( of which more later)

July 3rd       Full council

July 16th    Sustainable Communities Review Commission

July 22nd     Development Control Panel

Before the full council meeting on 3rd July there will be a Public Question Time, to which all residents are invited. Questions can be put to the Mayor and the portfolio holders. If a full reply cannot be given , a written reply will be given. 

At tonight’s meeting of the Development Control Panel there was yet another applicaation for a mobile phone mast, this time on the roadside between houses and the Brockwell Centre in Cramlington. It’s not in my ward but the principles are the same wherever.

The application was only for “siting and design”, not a planning application as such.

Understandably local residents had concerns about this application, mostly about the possible health problems that come with these masts. I say possible health hazards as we don’t really know what to think as there is so much conflicting information (and mis-information?)

But we could not even debate these as under the law (Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development ) Order 1995) phone masts under 15 metre are permitted developments.

Luckily the recommendation was to refuse under the siting part of the act, but as I said in moving the recommendation to refuse , “I feel the same frustration as the residents in that we cannot take possible health matters into account in these applications”.

 We are there representing the people of Blyth Valley and looking at these matters in their best interests. And yet the law does not let us do that, it gives more or less automatic approval to these masts.

The application WAS refused, but the moment was spoiled by one Labour councillor saying that the (opposition) councillors who spoke against the mast were playing to the gallery. And that is rich coming from that councillor!!

The council has recieved an application for a premises licence for South Newsham pavilion. The football club (Blyth Town FC) envisage opening hours on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays and Sundays.

Any representations should be made to Blyth Valley Borough Council before 27th June.