WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of Meeting

TUESDAY 12TH JANUARY   2021 7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT:    Chair: D. Sugden, Clerk H.G. Dobson

MEMBERS / PUBLIC: Via Zoom: Cllr. Mrs. A. Savory, J. Norman, Mrs. Y. Bell, Iain Rodgers, D. Jones

Mrs. A. Nelson, Mrs. M. Bell, Mr. J. Bell

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: J. Wilson,  A. Vipond
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 10TH NOVEMBER  2020, Agreed as a true record and signed as such
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1.   POST OFFICE, The Post Office at Wolsingham would be temporarily closed as of 1st February 2021, A mobile van service would be available for two afternoons a week. This was thought to be an unsatisfactory service and more representations would be made to the Post Office, with a view to having a permanent Post Office in the town. DCC Councillors Savory and Shuttleworth would make further representations to have permanent Post Office
   2. GEORGE F. WHITE , the premises were now closed as the business had moved to Pity Me, no planning applications had as yet been submitted as to the properties future use.
   3. FORMER IMPLIMENT SHED RECREATION GROUND CHANGE OF USE TO TOILETS AND KIOSK A planning application has been submitted but not yet validated. (Post meeting, an ecology survey is required, for bats.) When the application is validated, all residents will have the opportunity to object or to support the proposals. Mr Bell raised a query regarding the timing of the submission of the application as in the Notes on the website outlined that the decision to submit would be at the next Parish Council meeting, which in Mr. Bell’s opinion was tonight. The clerk explained that the Parish Council had held a meeting on 21st November, when all councillors were invited and the decision to proceed was taken at that meeting.
   4. ANGATE STREET TOILETS: CONVERSION TO PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE TOILET Awaiting final drawings from architect.
6. FOOTPATH ISSUES :
   1. DEFINITIVE MAP MODIFICATION ORDER CLOSED PATH AT LEAZES
   2. INTERVIEWS TO BE ARRANGED VIA ZOOM TOWN HALL TO DURHAM CC Under the present COVID 19 restrictions this has been delayed once again.
   3. Following the recent cold spell and snow falls, the footpaths in and around Wolsingham were unsafe, and at least one person had broken an arm. It was asked that Wolsingham PC attend to the paths.
      1. The Clerk outlined the procedure for clearing paths in winter conditions and DCC are responsible for this not WPC. It could lead to unnecessary liabilities and litigation if we take on this responsibility. Ice and snow occur naturally and DCC are best placed to deal with the issue. They have a strict protocol and a priority list of locations which need to be treated first.
      2. Clerk to ask for a salt bin to be placed in Demesne Mill, Cllr. Savory to ask for salt bins to be re-filled, particularly the bin at the Willows playground.
7. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS:RECREATION FACILITIES
   1. A draft long-term plan had been circulated outlining where possible tennis courts, MUGA, football and cricket pitches, together with a sports pavilion, could be located in the bottom field at the recreation ground, with an area below the bowling green left as green space and overflow parking area.
   2. Talks were ongoing with a number of tennis enthusiasts and to date 94 residents had expressed an interest in forming a tennis club and playing. As the methods of operating the courts were varied , this would be left to the tennis fraternity/club to work out the best solution
   3. The development plans were fully supported and a working group of D. Jones, J. Norman, D. Sugden and I. Rogers would meet to progress the idea and implementation.
   4. A question had been raised by Cllr. Wilson asking that a professional consultant be brought in to further the plans. This idea was mooted in October 2019 and when the fee was forthcoming we did not take the offer up. The clerk had once again asked the same firm to submit a fee proposal and this was read at the meeting and agreed to engage with the firm for a topographical and arboriculture survey of the park to be undertaken.
   5. The development to be a long-term phased development, depending on grants being made available.
8. ST. ANNE’S CENTRE;   COVID VACCINATIONS?
   1. The St. Anne’s Centre has been thought to be under utilized. 30% of the building is dedicated to changing rooms, which at present are used approximately 15 times a year. In most instances football teams arrive dressed for football and leave without using the changing rooms.
   2. When the St. Anne’s Centre was built in 2005 there was a thriving football academy with boys and girls partaking, and changing facilities were necessary. Alas the football academy has moved to the Wolsingham School premises.
   3. Responding to the national pandemic of Covid 19, the clerk had contacted the local doctors’ surgery and offered the use of St. Anne’s Centre as a vaccination centre.
   4. In order to make the building more suitable for such a venture the changing rooms had been deep cleaned, benches removed in preparation of laying an NHS approved vinyl flooring , as this part of the building had only been a sealed concrete floor. The cost for supply and fitting of the vinyl was £1100 and this was agreed to. 
   5. The rooms are currently being painted before the vinyl is laid, and the benches removed, to be stored for future use.

 

1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 21ST NOVEMBER 2020 agreed as a true record and signed as such.​
   1. MATTERS ARISING: None
2. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 4TH DECEMBER 2020 agreed as a true record and signed as such.​
   1. MATTERS ARISING: None
3. DEMESNE MILL
   1. E MAIL FROM RESIDENT ASKING FOR CAR PARK TO BE CLOSED...
      1. Cllr. Bell thought the park had been overcrowded and there were too many potholes and some people were parking on the grassed area.
      2. Current guidance is that outdoor exercise should continue, and this is what the car park is used for. In the last lockdown when the park was closed visitors were parking in the side streets which raised complaints from local residents as they could no longer park where they would normally.
      3. Cllr. A. Savory moved that the park remain open until such time as we are directed to close it. It was agreed that the park remain open until further notice.
   2. ...ALSO TO INSTALL PARKING METER :
      1. We had previously decided to keep this car park free, to encourage visitors.
      2. The park was now a favourite car parking area for walkers and tourists.
      3. Wolsingham PC had signed up to the Walkers are Welcome initiative and had encouraged vehicle owners to use the car park rather than the Market Place and streets which inconveniences shoppers and residents.
      4. To install a parking meter would deter visitors from using the park. Recently, when the Demesne Mill car park was full, the recreation ground which has a parking meter was empty
      5. We agreed to defer the consideration of parking charges at Demesne Mill to a future meeting, so that it is available free for outdoor exercise, as the government Covid Guidance suggests.
      6. In the meantime it was proposed and agreed that to be consistent the parking charges at the recreation ground be suspended during the current Covid pandemic. We have received grant funding which would cover the loss of fees income. It was agreed that the recreation ground remain open as the guidance is that play areas remain open.
      7. It was agreed that the Demesne Mill be gritted. ​
4. FINANCE:
   1. REPORTS: END DECEMBER 2020 ENCLOSED, agreed and accepted. Various variances were now apparent as an effect of Covid 19.  These were explained by the clerk and accepted.
   2. BUDGET / PRECEPT 2021/2022   A report had been prepared and circulated prior to the meeting. The clerk outlined the preparation of the precept/budget request, and as the current financial year had been badly affected by Covid 19, historical data in the preparation had been taken from the previous year.
   3. A cash flow statement had also been prepared, taking into account the Covid 19 grant monies received to date. This justified the reduction in the precept for next year.
   4. Any future additional developments in facilities could be financed from reserves and grants.
   5. The conclusion was that, with all our existing plans, a reduced precept was appropriate and the request could be reduced from £29080 to £27383, which would mean a comparable Band D property would pay £ 27.76 p.a. a 6% reduction
5. REQUEST FOR FUNDING: for Durham Police Speed awareness vehicle. This request had now been withdrawn.
6. PLANNING : DECIDED:

DM/20/02974/VOC  34, LYDGATE LANE, VARIATION OF CONDITION 2( APROVED PLANS)           PURSUANT TO PERMISSION DM/17/00447/FPA FOR DESIGN ALTERATIONS

DM/20/02773/FPA         LAWSON FIELDS FARM, CONVERSION OF STORE TO FORM RESIDENTIAL ANNEX CHANGE OF USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO DOMESTIC CURTILAGE

DM/20/03158/FPA         CIU CLUB 14-16 MARKET PLACE, CHANGE OF USE PART OF FIRST FLOOR TO OFFICES, RE-INSTATE DOOR TO WESTERN ELEVATION, DOORWAY TO REAR EASTERN ELEVATION. 2 ROOFLIGHTS TO WESTERN ROOF, NEW WINDOWS TO REAR. PITCHED ROOF TO REAR EXTENSION

PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

DM/20/03646/FPA         2, FRONT STREET, RELOCATION OF  ATM AND FORMATION OF NEW ACCESS DOOR ON EASTERN ELEVATION AND ILLUMINATED SIGNAGE

DM/20/03565/FPA         13/ 15 SILVER STREET, DEMOLITION OF GARAGE, CONSTRUCTION OF ONE DWELLING , RENEW PERMISSION  DM/18/00271/FPA

DM/20/03330/FPA         9, ANGATE STREET, REPLACE WINDOWS AND DOORS WITH UPVC AND REPLACE GARAGE DOORS.

PLANNING APPLICATION REFUSED

DM/20/02952/FPA         16, MELBOURNE PLACE CREATION OF VEHICULAR ACCESS AND HARDSURFACING INCLUDING RECONFIGURATION OF FRONT GARDEN WALL AND LOWER KERB  RESUBMISSION

 

1. Comment was made on the recent planning application at Middle Fawnlees. The applicant had been requested to amend the plans and re submit, so the application was still pending consideration.
2. The SPAR shop at Durham Road would be open end of January or beginning of February and Cllr. Wilson had raised the question of having the 30 MPH sign moved west.
3. The clerk had asked the planning office why this had not been considered at the application stage. John Byers the Principal Planning Officer for South West Durham had replied, and as the site was already a fuel station and shop there would not have been a need to alter the location of the sign. The Highways Department of DCC had not found it necessary to impose this condition either.
4. After some debate it was agreed to propose that a step down limit of 40 MPH be located past Durham Road Farm so that motorists would slow down before entering the build up area of Wolsingham