WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Notes of Annual Parish Meeting held on 10th May 2022

 

Two members of the public attended the meeting.

Election of Chair: agreed as Councillor David Sugden, who advised that this would be his last year in this role.

Election of Vice Chair: agreed as Councillor Jeff Bell.

Annual Report April 2021 to April 2022: presented by Chair and agreed by the council. This can be viewed on the Parish Council’s website at: http://www.wolsinghamparishcouncil.uk

 

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 10TH MAY  2022

Following the Annual Parish Meeting

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

1. PRESENT: D. Sugden (Chair) Mrs. A. Savory, I. Rodgers, Mrs. Y. Bell, Vipond, Mrs. P. C. Dobson, Mrs E Johnson, J. Bell, O Gardner, AM Parkin       
2. CLERK: H. G. Dobson
3. Members of Public: J. Green, G. Barber, T. Buckle, Mrs. S. Hunt, Mrs. J. Snelling, Mrs. Bloomfield, S M Denham, Mrs. Boothroyd, plus three others
4. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: D. Jones
5. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
   1. Mr. T. Buckle raised the question of litter picking in the recreation ground. He was prepared to form a group of volunteers to pick litter on Saturday mornings. Mr. Buckle already does some voluntary litter picking in the park but needed some assistance and equipment and also to be fully insured. Cllr. Savory advised Mr. Buckle that she would liaise with Durham County Council (Litter Free Durham and Civic Pride Team)) on the matter and report back to Mr. Buckle, as DCC would provide litter picking tools and also provide for insurance. Once collected the litter bags could be placed at the disposal point to be collected by DCC.
   2. An area of land in the park had previously been planted with willow trees, which had been removed as they had been uprooted by wind and were in a poor state. The area had been under planted with daffodils which needed protecting. He proposed maybe leave as a rewilding project to creating wildlife corridors. Also maybe planting some cherry trees as had been proposed earlier.
   3. S M Denham advised the meeting that a family from Ukraine had settled in Weardale and requested that a notice be placed in the notice board asking to meet with interested parties. Agreed Also agreed to purchase a Ukrainian Flag for Town Hall.
6. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
7. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  12TH April 2022, agreed as a true record with one small amendment Order of State to read Order in Council. signed with this amendment
8. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Mr. Holden had written expressing his thanks for being invited to address the Parish Council April meeting, and advised that The Weardale Practice, surgeries were up and running including GP’s and that Kati Makepeace the Practice Manager would attend a future Parish Council meeting.
   2. Received e mail from Kati Makepeace unable to attend May meeting.
9. CORRESPONDENCE:
   1. Through traffic In Wolsingham, density and speed. Mrs. Snelling had also been in contact with Cllr. Savory on her concerns, and Cllr Savory advised that a survey would be undertaken in school term time by DCC Highways.
   2. Beavers /Cubs : Litter Picking Parish Council parks Demesne and Recreation Ground summer Agreed.
   3. Gary Bosworth Business Workshops to be held at The Charles Attwood Thursday 12th /26thMay & 9th June 2022, the meeting had been advertised in the Town Crier.
   4. A request had been received to site a “crepe van” at the Market Place or the recreation ground or Demesne Mill. The proprietor to be asked to contact the clerk to agree what operating times, food hygiene and insurance details and what food to be served. Van to operate from Market Place and not the Recreation ground as there is already a vendor in situ. 
10. PLATINUM JUBILEE:
    1. Request for funding Sarah Martin Denham Sports Day, funding for hire of sports hall / 3 G pitch and refreshments, the total amount requested was £1332, agreed
    2. Request from Thornley Village for funding amounting to £300 agreed. Cllr Rodgers declared an Interest and took no part in the debate.
    3. Mrs Y Bell asked if funds could be made available for the Primary school to fund a time capsule, amounting to £108, agreed
11. ALLOTMENT TREES: Report of site meeting 28th April e mailed / attached, also an arboricultural survey undertaken by Olivers. Previously the Parish Council had wished to retain the trees, but the survey gave two options for dealing with the trees in question. Several residents and allotment holders were adamant that the trees be retained and ‘ash die back’ could not be used as justification. The wall had been compromised not by the trees touching the wall but by the ground swell at the base, and this would persist unless the whole of the root system was taken out. Option one was to fell the remaining ash trees and one sycamore and to use a stump grinder to take out the trees in their entirety, option 2 was to take off the limbs to ash and sycamore, leaving one stem and no work to the remaining ash at the bottom of the site.
    1. A motion was put forward for all the trees to be felled; 4 for 5 against, motion not carried
    2. A second motion to have limbs removed from ash and sycamore; agreed.
    3. A third motion to fell the remaining ash; not agreed.
    4. This would now entail a new planning application and as the trees were coming into leaf a bat survey would be needed, so work could not commence until the autumn.
    5. Clerk to contact tree officer to agree the necessary way forward and planning application.
12. RECREATION GROUND: Request for car park to be opened 7.00 am Saturday 18th June long distance walking group. Agreed.
13. FINANCE:
    1. Cheques for Payment agreed
    2. Reports to End April agreed and accepted.
14. PLANNING:  DECIDED
    1. DM/22/00779/TPO    41, The Causeway, Fell T1 pine – potentially dangerous
    2. DM/22/00164/FPA    21, East End, alterations to ground floor bay window and replace first floor bay window with flush UPVC and replacement door
15. PLANNING: WITHDRAWN
16. PLANNING: NOTIFIED;
    1. DRC/22/ 00120    Land West of Armond Carr Works, Inkerman discharge of conditions (surface water drainage),4,(tree planting) and 6 ( dust management) DM/21/01717/FPA refers No objection
    2. DM/22/00381/FPA          Redgate Head, conversion of existing outbuilding to residential annexe no objection