WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF    MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 13TH  MARCH   2018  

7.00 PM  TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT: Chair   D. Sugden, ,  Mrs. Y. Bell,  J. Wilson, Mrs. J. Henderson, Mrs. A. Savory

 S. Palombella, A. Vipond, R. George, K. Tippins, Mrs. A. Nelson

PUBLIC :      9 members present

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  J. Wilson
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

A resident from the Market Place asked if it was possible to provide parking permits for residents. A request had been put to Durham C.C. but no reply had been forthcoming. Cllr. Savory would also contact DCC highways to see what can be done.

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:Cllrs. Savory & George Declared an Interest when the Wolsingham School parents discussed the proposed closure of the sixth form and left the meeting

Cllr Henderson declared an interest should the position of caretaker be discussed.

1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 13TH FEBRUARY  2018 , copy attached . Mention of the date of the skate park consultation was missing , this would eb Saturday 21st April at St. Anne’s Centre.

The minutes were moved and agreed as a true record and signed as such.

1. MATTERS ARISING: Urgent Business Re correspondence S.L.Martin  regarding Cllr. J. Henderson, no new information was to hand and until such time as clarification was forthcoming Cllr. Henderson would continue as before.

Further discussions had taken place regarding the retention of the ATM., at Barclay’s Bank and it had been , confirmed in the press that the ATM would remain, after the closure of the bank.

1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 27TH FEBRUARY 2018, copy attached, items 1 – 4 had been reviewed and the document on the Parish Council priorities would be added to the website.
2. MATTERS ARISING: Thornley Wood had another successful planting day on 24th February when 22 volunteers had attended.
3. Guidance Notes for Members of the Public attending meetings: copy attached. This was approved by members and would be adhered to for meetings.
4. CORRESPONDENCE: D. Stephenson Questions

Four questions had been raised and answers were given , chair to send a written reply also.

 

Wolsingham School Andrea Wakefield , progress report, a considerable amount of time had been spent on this topic by parents who were becoming frustrated at the lack of response from DCC and the Governors. The group were still in favour of retaining the sixth form at the school, and were arranging a meeting with the local MP Laura Pidcock , to try and resolve the issue. The lack of statistics concerning numbers of potential pupils, financial restraints and where the overspend at the school had occurred was not being helpful, and as and when such statistics would be  available , the parents thought they were deliberately being kept “in the dark”.Wolsingham Parish Council along with Stanhope Parish Council would support the group as best they could.

 

Via Web site: An enquiry re how to complain about a councillor had been received. To date no complaints procedure had been in place. The Chair had drafted a model procedure, which would be necessary if a complaint was received. .For future reference such matters can also be dealt with via Durham C./C. Monitoring Officer. Agreed to develop the Complaints Procedure Draft  with amendments.

1. RECREATION GROUND: Consultation process re Skate Park :KT

Cllr. Tippins is collecting evidence for a consultation document, to be presented at the consultation event 21st April at St. Anne’s Centre 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, more information is still needed.

Northumbrian Water Building Regulations office had provided a map of the sewerage pipeline at the bottom of the recreation field and from their attached statement had indicated that as long as the manhole covers are not covered then they do not have a problem with a skate park in the locations proposed. However what was not mapped was the surface water pipelines running from the A.689 to the bottom of the field , these plans had been requested from DCC Highways , but as yet were not to hand. Replies had been received from Peterlee Town Council, Spennymoor Town Council and Great Aycliffe Town Council regarding the experiences they have had with their respective skate parks.

Inspector Tuck Durham Police had made a positive response to the skate park proposal and was in favour of the plans, but would also like to see the provision of a “ shelter”, Wi Fi, and floodlighting.

A skate park provider had submitted various plans for skate parks over specific price ranges.

Concerns regarding noise were discussed, and efforts to mitigate noise would be investigated if needed.

All of the points raised by Joy Orr, DCC planning officer to be discussed at the April meeting, as well as the guidance notes from ROSPA.

The access road to the site could be a further factor which needs investigation.

Cllr. Tippins to set in motion a “ survey monkey “ to run from 29th March to 16th April, cost would be in the region of  £35 , agreed to spend. To highlight the proof of need, to link with schools website and WPC website via links.

Further funding streams to be explored via Stanhope P.C. , Tow Law Town Council and any monies from an aggregate levy , regarding the recent sand and gravel extraction from Low Harperley , by Breedon. ( R. George to action)

From information received there appeared to be vey little spend on ongoing maintenance costs, graffiti could be an issue , but this could be mitigated by sympathetic painting before completion, weekly cleaning and maintenance checks to be undertaken.

1. ST. ANNE’S CENTRE: Following a recent boiler test , the engineer had indicated that a replacement boiler may be necessary as the boiler was 13 years old and parts would become more expensive and difficult to source. This would be further reviewed in September at budget setting.
2. TOWN HALL : Repairs to clock,  were due to be undertaken March1st but owing to the extreme weather had been cancelled, an update was awaited.
3. MARKET PLACE : Charity Event Saturday 12th May request to site Burger Van  4.pm – 11.30 pm ,agreed
4. MEMBERS REQUESTS: Cllr. Palombella requested that two roadside seats in Thornley be looked at and possibly replaced. Cllr. Savory to contact DCC Highways.or alternatively ask Weardale Area Action Partnership for funding.  Cllr. Palombella also asked that a defibrillator be located in Thornley. The cost is around £1600 and fundraising would be required , maybe through the British Heart Foundation.

Cllrs Savory & Henderson were planning a community event in June in the Recreation ground with a possible marquee , to be funded through Cllr. Savory neighbourhood budget. Permission was agreed , but as yet no date had been chosen..

Following the recent snow storms , it had been apparent that very little, if any, snow clearance had been undertaken around the old age bungalows or estates. Other towns , ie Tow Law had been cleared by local business personnel, but nothing had been done in Wolsingham. Historically Wolsingham P.C.

had been very proactive in this regard , but the Parish Council no longer had the equipment or personnel to carry out the works , and is not a responsibility of the Parish Council.

1. NEWSLETTER: Survey Monkey contact details
2. CLERKS BUSINESS:

17 .PLANNING: 

17.01  The following applications have been approved:

DM/18/00106/FPA      25, Rectory Lane, block up side door, replace window with French door, replacement French door, and new stone wall to rear.

DM/18/00271/FPA    land opposite 21/23 Silver Street, detached garage and partial demolition of stone wall for vehicular access

DM/17/04027/FPA                Bradley Cott. How Lea Lane Hamsterley Agricultural Building

DM/1800195/TCA   The Old Barn, Grange Cottages, Thornley, Sycamore removal T1 raise no objection

DM/17/02790/FPA                The Barn, Scotch Isle, Durham Road, erection of 3 camping cabins, in land rear of the Barn

17.02  The following applications have been withdrawn:

DM/18/00201/FPA      Change of use, Methodist Church Hall(D2) to dwelling (C3)

 

17.03                       The following applications have been notified

DM/18/00369/FPA    6, Lydgate Avenue, two storey side extension and single storey rear extension

DM/17/03300/.FPA   4, Hound Hill, increase height of side extension and re-roof

1. 18.0         Finance Reports End February 2018 satements agreed and accepted
2. 18.01       Fixed Assets Register for information, agreed.