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March 2020 Minute

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 10TH MARCH   2020  

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

PRESENT:    Chair: D. Sugden, J. Norman, Mrs. Y. Bell, Mrs. A. Savory, R. George, D. Jones,

Mrs. A. Nelson,  Mr. Ian Hirst, Iain Rodgers, A. Vipond

PUBLIC:                   M. Bell, K. Slack, M. Emerson, Mr. Morris  D. Stephenson

 

  1. Prospective Junior Parish Councillors : - Wolsingham Primary School Robyn Morris / Maisie Slack
    1. Questions were asked by the two girls as under:- Toilet in recreation ground, why was there no toilet paper, this facility is owned and run by DCC and Cllr. A. Savory would ask the question of the staff who look after the toilets.
    2. The road leading to the sports centre and swimming baths was full of potholes and very uneven, Cllr. Savory again agreed to take this issue up with the relevant DCC department but intimated that the raod surface would be repaired when building work commences.
    3. Why do cars park on pavements and pedestrians have to walk on the road? A topic which has featured on the agenda over a prolonged period of time, which has never been satisfactorily addressed by the local police or highways dept. of DCC. Because of this inconsiderate parking pedestrians are being put in danger and something should be done.  Particular areas of concern are Angate St. &  Uppertown Cllr. Savory would also address this issue at county level.
    4. When will the Parish Council be conducting a” litter pick”,? Nothing was planned, and again the problem of litter collection is a duty performed by DCC, they pick up and take to waste recycling centres or for persistent offences of littering, on the spot fines can be issued by the Neighbourhood wardens, fines of up to £100 can be imposed.
    5. The chair thanked Maisie and Robyn for their attendance and would look forward to meeting more students in the future.
  2. Durham County Council Ecology Officer:  Wildflowers on Council owned Land Stuart Preistley 
    1. Stuart briefed members on the methodology of planting wildflowers and maintenance thereafter.
    2. It was a fairly, labour intensive operation and takes several months of preparation and ultimately in harvesting, some of the tasks which could not be done by the Parish Council as they do not have the resource in manpower or machinery.
    3. The plans for planting which had been submitted had to be bigger and bolder to gain maximum benefit , the first operation was to kill off the existing grasses using ( glyphosate) a product which now has a chequered history., then rotovate /till to form a tilth, sowing of both annual and under planted with  perennial seeds takes place when soil and weather conditions are acceptable.
    4. At the end of the season the grasses , flowers are cut and baled and taken to landfill, subsequent years the perennial flowers will flower, but with less intensity as the annual flowers.
    5. Cllr. George, clerk and Gary, would liaise with Jimmy Bennett ( Clean & Green team) Identify sites, order seed, to be placed on April agenda. The estimated cost of the exercise is in the region of £1000 per hectare.​
  3. Chairs opening remarks: - A warm welcome to Iain Rodgers our new co-opted member for Thornley.
  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: J. Wilson
  2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
  4. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 11TH FEBRUARY  2020 , confirmed as a true record and signed as such
  5. MATTERS ARISING:  
    1. A) No one had contacted the clerk or Cllr. Savory on the prospect of holding VE day celebrations , so the Parish Council would not go ahead with this event.
    2. B) Gary Bosworth Research Student Lincoln,  Research Project:- changing nature of village economies            Gary had met with the chairman and clerk and several business owners , entrepreneurs , but as yet no findings or report was to hand. Expected report for April 14th meeting.
    3. C) Cllr. Norman asked if any correspondence had been forthcoming regarding High House Chapel , Ireshopeburn, none was to hand.
    4. D)  BXB Ltd. Would be holding consultations in the Town Hall, Thursdsay 19th & Friday 20th March to appraise residents of the plans for the former steel works site.
    5. E) as yet no extra litter bin had been installed at Thornley , clerk to follow up.
  6. CORRESPONDENCE:  Mrs Atkinson Holywood re:_ History of Holywood and Bulb Planting, the work done on the history aspects were noted and may well be included on the website. As to funds for planting additional bulbs in Holywell lane , maybe an approach to Weardale Area Action Partnership , would be able to generate funds through the Small Grants Fund allocation.
  7. RECREATION GROUND:  Additional toilet facilities?
  8. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN : The draft policy statement was adopted and approved, outlining the future development plans for Wolsingham, particularly the Recreation ground and St. Anne’s. For matters of significant financial input the need for extra facilities needed to be addressed, as well as continuing support for coaching in tennis and skate boarding.
  9. MEMBERS REQUESTS: a) letter of thanks to be sent to Wolsingham Primary School , thanking Maisie & Robyn for their attendance and contribution to the meeting.
  10. NEWSLETTER : Iain Rodgers new member for Thornley.
  11. PLANNING:  BXB LTD. Consultation event re steelworks site : Town Hall March  19th & March 20th 11.01                                       The following applications have been approved:

DM/19/01967/FPA                Viewley Hill Farm, Tow Law, conversion of farm building to dwelling

DM/20/00188/FPA                Sewage Treatment Works, Durham Road, widening of existing vehicular access and upgrades to existing track

DM/19/03564/FPA                Land to the West of Bowlees Farm, erection of a general purpose storage building

11.02                                       The following application has been withdrawn:

DM/17/00106/FPA                Land to the East of 20, Durham Road, construction  of 13 live/work space and associated development

11.03                                       The following applications have been notified

DM/20/00479/FPA                Land to the East of 20, Durham Road, construction  of 17 no. dwellings and associated works

Cllr Savory declared an interest , as being a member of the local planning committee for Wolsingham & Weardale on DCC., and her comments on the proposal had already been submitted.

It was agreed to hold a site meeting Thursday 12th March 1.00 pm .

Cllr. George suggested that Wolsingham P.C. should have a Neighbourhood Plan , so that large scale developments can be identified and critiqued in more of a proactive approach rather than reactive ,when the plans are submitted. Neighbourhood plans had been obtained from adjoining Parish & Town Councils in the past and they were thought to be very labour intensive and expensive exercises , albeit grants are available to further the principle of Neighbourhood Planning.  Lanchester P.C. had just completed their plan and were in the final stages of consultations with DCC to have them incorporated in the wider Durham County Plan , whenever that may be finalised and approved.??

DRC/20/00071                       Viewley Hill Farm, Tow Law, Discharge of Condition 3,window & door details,6,(Contaminated land phase 2/3 and 7 (Contaminated Land phase 4) pursuant of planning permission  DM/19/01967/FPA

DRC/20/00057                       Dobinson’s Yard West End, discharge of condition 3 (windows & doors) of planning permission DM/19/02133

DM/20/00288/FPA                Land to the East of Kingfisher Country Park, construction of new railway platform and access

DRC/20/00037                        Site of former Low Harperley Farm Discharge of condition 5 (building recording) pursuant to application DM/19/03206/LB

12                                            Finance Reports End February 2020 read , and accepted

12.1                                         Fixed assets Register ( For Information)

12.3                                         Quotations for Works to Skate Park perimeter not as yet to hand maybe May.

12.4                                         Quotations for work to surface of Carousel , deferred to April meeting.

13                                            Complaint update , the Complaints Panel met and finalised a date for submission to the complainant for approval.