WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 12TH September 2023

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL

                                                                                                                                

              PRESENT: D Sugden (Chair), A Savory, Y Bell, J Bell, D Jones, I Rodgers, O Gardner, P Dobson

    T Willis, A Bonar, Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk)

              MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J. Green, G. Dobson, D. Bell

BUSINESS PERSONS INVOLVED WITH STEELWORKS SITE: J. Ridgeon Hedley Planning Services,

B. Martin-Denham

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:
   1. ​A presentation was given by Mr Ridgeon on the current planning application for housing on the Steelworks site. Contracts for the sale of the site will be finalised upon the reserved matters planning application being granted by Durham County Council. The proposals do not include the old steelworks building. The application is for 120 houses, 10% of which will be affordable and 10% will be bungalows, there will a sustainable urban drainage system and extensive tree/landscaping proposals. Funding for the local community will include £224000 open space contributions £10000 highways contributions, which will be secured through a Section 106 agreement. Cllr Rodgers asked what sustainability measures will be put in place – electric charging points will be provided for each house and it is likely that the houses will have solar panels, but this is to be confirmed. Cllr Jones asked if the railway noise had been considered for future residents and also what remediation works are likely for the site – a noise assessment has been completed with no issues raised. A full remediation report has been carried and submitted to the planning authority along with a construction management plan and transport plan. Cllr Sugden asked for timescales for the development – If planning is approved likely to start on site in Spring 2024 with a 4-5year development plan. Cllr Willis raised the issue of health & social care in the community due to the extra housing – this is not a matter for the reserved matters stage but it had been considered in the outline planning and there would be no additional funding for these areas. Gordon Dobson raised the issue of PROW 126, which is to the West & South of the site, and asked if any works were being done to stabilise/maintain this footpath – the footpath is not within the site boundary and there is no intended works. David Bell queried if 10% of the housing would be affordable how many of these would be 2,3 or 4 bedroom and will locals take priority in obtaining the affordable housing – the affordable housing would most likely be the smaller units and Housing Options would probably be managing these properties.
   2. Gordon Dobson raised issues with trees at various locations in the Demesne Mill, potholes in the car park and overgrown vegetation on PROW 92 which runs from the Causeway to Stanhope Road and is the responsibility of the Parish Council. The Parish Clerk confirmed that a tree survey of all the Parish Council sites has been organised and that it would hopefully be completed in the next two weeks. Durham County Council had been asked to fill in the potholes when they used the Demesne Mill car park for storage of their equipment during the road resurfacing works, Cllr Jones agreed to chase up this matter with the contractors. Cllr Savory asked could the overgrown footpath be dealt with asap and it was agreed it would be attended to.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savory declared an interest in planning due to her duties on the DCC Planning Committee and the items related to the Christmas Lights & Kiosk.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  11TH July 2023: Cllr Gardner requested that ‘members of the public’ should be changed to ‘business persons interested in the steelworks’, this was agreed and the minutes were accepted as a true & correct record and signed by Cllr Sugden as such.
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Parish Council Email Addresses – Cllr Gardner informed us that Durham Web are not currently taking on anymore work, therefore as a short term measure it was agreed that Gmail accounts would be set-up for every Councillor.
   2. Our current website host, HugoFox, has in the past been free of charge but from October there will be a charge of £19.99 +VAT which will include the planning applications tracker – this was agreed.
   3. Christmas Tree Lights – All funding had now been received from Cllr Savory’s Neighbourhood Budget and payments would be made to DCC for the new electrical work. Gordon Dobson queried why other quotes had not been obtained, the Parish Clerk informed him that as it is DCC apparatus the Parish Council have to have the works completed by DCC, he then asked should the financial regulations be not set-aside because of this – Cllr Sugden advised it would be looked into. Cllr J Bell raised the issue of no Christmas lights at the recreation ground, Cllr Sugden reminded everyone that it had been agreed to possibly look into this for next year as the costs could be several thousand pounds.
   4. St Anne’s Maintenance – Cllr Willis explained that the plan had be outlined and would need to be prioritised with time & budgets. She advised that a consultation should be carried out and suggested an open meeting. Cllr Savory suggested using the Town Crier with comments being sent to the Parish Clerk, Cllr Willis said she would liaise with the Clerk. Cllr Bell suggested that the outside maintenance works should be prioritised before winter and Cllr Jones agreed with this. Cllr Sugden informed the meeting that two applications for grant funding had been submitted, both to provide solar panels to the Town Hall & St Anne’s. One bid had already been rejected and we are still awaiting the outcome of the other.
   5. Road Safety Working Group – Cllr Gardner advised that the public meeting would be held on 19th September at St Anne’s. Cllr Savory informed the meeting that any speed surveys carried out are now chargeable.
   6. Steelworks Development – Following on from Dr Hotson’s presentation last month, the Secretary of State had decided not to call in the Bellway Development, therefore the site is more likely to be housing. Cllr Jones queried when the non-disclosure agreement would end, Cllr Gardner thought it was once a reply had been received from the Secretary of State.
      1. Mr Martin-Denham explained that he had purchased the office building with a view to utilising it as a community hub with café, office space and meeting rooms. Cllr Sugden raised concerns on the impact more community spaces would have, considering the amount of existing community halls that are already under used in Wolsingham, Cllr J Bell agreed that it was a concern.​
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:
   1. ​ Fairground Noise – A resident had complained to the Parish Council regarding the noise from the fairground, that it seemed to be louder than previous years. Cllr Sugden had checked with the fairground, who were using the same equipment as previous years, and had provided a response.
   2. Dumped Seat Recreation Ground – Several correspondences had been received regarding a dumped sofa in the Recreation Ground – Cllr Savory had arranged for this to be removed.
   3. Primary School – A letter of thanks had been received from the pupils of the Primary School thanking the Council for the donation of the Coronation Memorial Coins.
   4. Angate Toilets - A letter of thanks had been received thanking the Parish Council for the new handwash facilities in the ladies toilets and also for the cleanliness of the toilets.
   5. DCC One.Network – Details of a website provided by DCC which gives information on all roadworks, events etc that will effect travel on roads.
   6. Weardale Renewables – A discussion took place regarding funding and it was decided that the cost of the scheme was beyond the scope of the Parish Council. Cllr Rodgers suggested that the instigators of the scheme fund themselves or provide help / clarification on grant funding.
7. Unregistered Footpath – Cllr Jones advised that this is still currently ongoing
8. New Kiosk / Toilets – Cllr Jones advised that a planning application had been submitted to use the current building as a store and two public accessible toilets. The current estimate to carry out these works will be in the region of £34000, of which Cllr Savory has £5000 to go towards this project, it is estimated that ongoing running costs will be approximately £10000. There is a clear need for toilets in the Recreation Ground and Cllr Rodgers pointed out that the DCC toilet had been closed several times over the summer holidays. Gordon Dobson voiced that the cost was excessive and unacceptable and the new toilets should not go ahead, he suggested that a new toilet be built near the existing DCC toilet. Cllr Jones and the Parish Clerk both pointed out that the drainage levels from this area were woefully inadequate, this being the reason the DCC toilets blocks up. Cllr J Bell thought residents would want the option of a toilet near the existing toilet investigated before any decision was made and that perhaps another solution was to use portable loos over the summer season. Cllr Savory agreed to discuss the matter with DCC.
9. Finance
   1. Payments for July & August – agreed
   2. Reports to end of July & August – agreed
   3. Update on Maintenance Works
   4. New Playground Equipment & Inspection – new equipment has been installed and the annual inspection completed with no issues raised.
   5. Parking Meter – The current parking meter will no longer be maintained by the Company owing to its age. This will need replacing and it was agreed that costs for replacement with a card/coin machine be investigated. It was also agreed that discussions about charging for parking in the Demesne Mill would be discussed at a future meeting.
   6. Fire Proof Safe – The Parish Clerk has managed to source a second-hand safe at a accost of £80.
   7. St Anne’s Caretaker Contract – discussed under confidential items
   8. Window Cleaning – The Parish Clerk has received a quote for window cleaning, Cllr Savory asked could the Parish Council use a company local to the village. It was agreed to ask for more quotes.

10PLANNING:  NOTIFIED

DM/23/02475/FPA - Old Park Farm Durham Road Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JH.

Full replacement   of the stone slates on the northern pitch of dwelling. No Objection Raised

DM/23/02476/LB - Old Park Farm Durham Road Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JH

Full replacement   of the stone slates on the northern pitch of dwelling. No Objection Raised

 DM/23/02351/RM - Site of Former Weardale Steel Durham Road Wolsingham DL13 3HX

Reserved Matters Application for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale and submission of details relating to conditions 11 (landscaping), 12 (landscaping), 14 foul drainage), 15 (surface drainage), 16 (noise and vibration), 17 (M4(2) and older persons), 21 (pedestrian access) pursuant to Planning Permission DM/20/01421/OUT for 120no. dwellings. No Objection Raised

DM/23/02297/FPA - Westfield House Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3DT

Change of use from agricultural building to residential use. No Objection Raised

DM/23/02202/DRC - Low Harperley Sand And Gravel Quarry Durham Road Wolsingham Crook

DL15 8DY. Submission of details pursuant to Conditions 3u (Scheme of working), 3v (Restoration) and 3w (Aftercare) of Planning Permission No. CMA/3/31 for Year 6 (Phase 13) and Years 7-10 (Phases 14 - 16) only. No Objection Raised

 DM/23/02157/FPA - 12 Mill Race Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3BW

Installation of heat pump to replace existing gas boiler. No Objection Raised

    

1. PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/23/01957/TCA - Ivy House 72 West End Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3AP – Pruning of overhanging branches back to the boundary wall - Section 211 notice – No objection raised

 DM/23/01960/TPO - 15 Leazes Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3DP - Shortening back of branches by up to 2m to an appropriate pruning point to Lime (L1) and Sycamore (S2), light pruning of up to 1m of the Hollies (H3)- TPO - WVDC-2-2002 – Approved

DM/23/01854/PNC - 6 Angate Street Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3EW - Prior Notification for change of use from retail (Class E) to residential (Class C3) – Prior Approval Required and Refused

DM/23/01227/NMA - 6A Uppertown Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3ET - Non material amendment of planning permission DM/21/02124/FPA to change render to box profile metal cladding and oak composite cladding - Approved