The Parish Council often receive complaints, queries, suggestions for services over which it has no control, or indeed powers to provide.  The main areas being:

Roads and footpaths on main roads and housing estates.  The repair, maintenance and improvement of these roads and paths are the responsibility of the Northumberland County Council.  The parish Council can help by putting people into contact with the responsible officers at County Hall, and in some cases involving the need for major changes, the Council will discuss the issues, which could result in a case for remedial action being put to the County Council.

The A696 trunk road running through the village is the Government Highways Agency  responsibility with Northumberland County Council acting as Agents on a day to day basis with Colas Ltd being the main  contractor for repairs

Grassed areas on housing estates, often referred to as amenity areas.  The Maintenance of such areas is the responsibility of the Borough Council, after being adopted as maintainable at the public expense.  Main road grassed verges are the responsibility of the County Council. In some cases the Parish Council arranges for certain grassed areas to be cut often to a higher standard allowed by the funding provided by either the Borough or County Councils.

The provision of street lighting is the responsibility of the County Council. The County will adopt street lighting, provided to its specification by developers on housing estates, as maintainable at the public expense.  On main roads the County Council will provide and maintain the necessary lighting for the type of main road.

The River Pont is the responsibility of the Environment Agency who provide river bank maintenance, clearance of debris, weed control, stocking with fish, and pollution control, including the control of discharges into the river.

Main drainage, i.e., disposal of foul and surface water sewerage is the responsibility of the Northumbrian Water Ltd. who maintain the sewer system and carry out minor capital works.

Town and Country  Planning The planning authority is the Castle Morpeth Borough Council.  The Borough Council consults the Parish Council on all planning applications in the Parish, and the parish Council has a right to comment on any application.  The planning authority will take such comments into account when considering whether or not to grant planning applications.  The Borough Council supply the Parish with a great amount of detail when planning applications are received which relate to substantial development involving large population increases and possible changes in the character and amenity of the area.

Country footpaths and bridleways. The County Council, is the responsible authority for creation, diversion, repair and maintenance of such paths and bridleways.  The statutory footpaths and bridleways map is held at the Parish Council Offices for public inspection during normal office hours.

The Parish Council has provided, and maintains a substantial number of roadside and park seats, litter bins, bus shelters, and Ponteland Public Park.  The Council also lease from the Castle Morpeth Borough Council two play areas at Twizell place and the Sports Centre which the Parish Council has provided playground equipment and for which it has responsibility for repair, maintenance and replacement.

It is apparent that the Parish Council is active in many areas, and has achieved a considerable amount of progress through expansion of its own services, and its involvement in important planning, highway and leisure and recreation issues.

There is always more to be done but the effort and use of resources must be related to the time and money available, and the level of Parish rate acceptable to local ratepayers.