WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 10TH September 2024

7.00 PM

Town Hall, Wolsingham

                                                                                                                                

              PRESENT: I Rodgers, Y Bell, J Bartram, A Hirst, J Bell, A Bonar, A Savory,

     S Bittlestone, H Yeulet, A Vipond, Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk)

               MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J Green, T Stewart, S Burtie, D Lough

          D Stephenson, S Richardson

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: D Sugden
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: A resident raised the issue of a recent letter sent to an allotment holder concerning their plot, they felt the issue had not been dealt with appropriately and that the Council need to alter their approach. The Chair explained a procedure had been followed, however it was agreed that an apology be sent to the allotment holder. It was also agreed that a working group be put in place to look at procedures and how different issues would be dealt with and who will have authority to action these, Cllr Yeulet, Cllr Bittlestone and Cllr Savory agreed to be in this group.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savory for planning.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  9 July 2024: Minutes were agreed as a true record
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. New Toilets – Decorating & ramp complete, awaiting costs for link footpath and the uplink on the contactless payment system.
   2. Library Rent - Still awaiting decision from DCC
   3. Office Rental – The office has now been let for a 12 month period.
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:
   1. Safety of Lithium Batteries – A campaign to support a Bill in the House of Lords highlighting the safety of lithium batteries in households.
   2. Car Park Management – It was agreed not to bring in a car park management company to manage the Parish Council car parks.
   3. Footpath 28 Diversion – Agreed to the proposed amended footpath diversion around the housing development.
   4. Ragwort – Agreed to allow a volunteer to remove the ragwort plants in the Recreation Ground.
   5. Footpath Closure & Road Strategy – DCC are diverting the public footpath away from the edge of the quarry at Thistlewood, therefore alleviating the need for any remedial works. Cllr Savory is going to look into whether any progress has been made on the 40mph buffer zones at the entrances to Wolsingham.
   6. Hamsterley Forest Action Group – This group is asking for support against the proposed development at Hamsterley Forest. Council agreed to wait until a planning application had been submitted prior to making any comment.
7. MAINTENANCE WORKS:
   1. St Anne’s Hall– Agreed to install smart heating device for the hall and camera at entrance to St Anne’s Hall. Cllr Savory will look into funding a new main door to hall and it was agreed to defer the new flooring until next year.
   2. Recreation Ground – Council agreed to complete overhanging tree works.
   3. Town Hall – Some archiving of old documents had been completed. Council agreed to look into clearing and fixing the guttering.
   4. Demesne Mill – after repeated issues with the parking meter it was agreed to raise concerns with the manufacturer.
   5. Thornley Woods – Agreed to repairs to the boundary fence which has been damaged.
   6. Allotments – After a complaint from a plot holder a contractor has inspected the site for rats and will be installing a poison box.
8. Website – Agreed to go ahead with the quote for works to provide a new website which will include Councillor’s email addresses.
9. Hall Hire Charges – Agreed to defer to the Confidential section of the meeting
10. Christmas – Cllr Savory to make known the date for the Christmas Market very shortly. Agreed to look into running a Christmas Tree Competition with a working group of Cllr Y Bell, Cllr Yeulet and Cllr Bonar.
11. Flag Pole – Height of existing flag pole is now an issue, Councillor’s all agreed the importance of having a flag pole. Cllr Savory to enquire as to whether the fire brigade will put up the flag for this year’s Remembrance Day and the Clerk will look into options for a new ground operated flag pole.
12. Allotment Correspondence – dealt with in Item 2
13. Finance
    1. Payments & Reports for July & August 2024 – agreed.
14. PLANNING – Council agreed there were no comments to be made on current applications

 

Date of next meeting – October 8th 2024 to held at the Town Hall, Wolsingham at 7pm