WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF  MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY   14TH SEPTEMBER   2021

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

PRESENT: D. Sugden ( Chair) Mrs. A. Savory, I. Rodgers, D. Jones,

 Mrs. Y. Bell, A. Vipond, Mrs. P. C. Dobson, Mrs E Johnson, J. Bell, O Gardner, AM Parkin

 

     MEMBERS OF PUBLIC: S. Small. G. Barber, J. Green, T. Buckle

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:
4. RECORDING COUNCIL MEETINGS: Cllr Bell was reminded by the Chair that he is entitled to record the meeting , but he must ask and make other councillors aware that he is recording. Further the Chair asked that a copy of the recording be forwarded to the clerk within 24 hours .Mr. Bell thought that 24 hours was to short to provide a copy of the recording.
5. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD  13th  JULY 2021 , signed as a true record, Cllr Bell wished to place on record the format and detail of these minutes.
6. MATTERS ARISING:

A)  Removal of trees from allotments, this topic was brought forward as members of the public attending wished to express their views on the trees.

Mr. Pybourne had been advised that the Parish Council, had agreed an ex gratia payment of £150 to have the wall reinstated. This offer was refused and Mr Pybourne reiterated his previous statement that all six trees should be removed to prevent any more of his wall from collapsing.

11 members of the public had written to the Parish Council wanting the trees to be retained.

G. Barber commented that it was grossly inappropriate to remove the trees as some were probably over 80 years old, and wished for them to be retained, on ecology , environment issues and some of the trees were undoubtedly used for bat roosts.

Mr. T. Buckle, had visited the site and outlined a recent UN report on Climate Change whereby  there were 400 trees per person in the world and felling was totally unnecessary and drastic action was required to control greenhouse emissions and in his opinion no more damage was likely from the ash tree, for the foreseeable future.

J. Green had been an allotment holder for over twenty years and this was the first occasion when any of the wall had collapsed, and maybe pruning of the trees would be acceptable. 

Sarah Small , another allotment holder, had a young family and thought felling of the trees was not acceptable and the Parish Council should work with what they have.

Councillors Y Bell, and Mrs. E Johnson were not in favour of felling.

Cllr. Jones commented that an adjacent landowner , whilst rebuilding fence lines had left gaps to facilitate future growth 

Cllr. J. Bell original letter referred to the legal status and in his opinion the trees should be removed, and professional advice should be taken as the trees were in a conservation area, have an aboricultural survey undertaken , apply for planning permission to ascertain what could be done.

A detailed examination of the structure of the wall had been undertaken and the wall had been built with alluvial stone, which by its nature was rounded and the wall had been built with lime and mortar which had been poorly maintained over the years and there were gaps and fallen stones along the length of the wall.

Agreed to engage the services of Oliver’s Tree Surgeons to complete a report and also a competent stone mason to survey and recommend a way forward.

It was not the the wish of the Parish Council to remove the trees, it is a criminal offence to remove trees in a conservation area without planning permission, as well as bats being present in the area, and it was also agreed to ask for legal advice on the way forward.

B) Thornley Wood , the clerk was awaiting an invoice to pay for the refuse bin.

C) Signage at Waskerley Beck/ Demesne had been installed at the sill falls but not where the original site asked for. Cllr. A. Savory had not had sight of the Risk Assessment and repairs to the embankment, this was awaited.

D) The draft proposal of a diversion to the bridleway and footpath at Low Harperley had been walked with the landowner and the improvements outlined would lead to better accessibility

E) An incident had occurred at the recreation ground on show weekend and travellers had entered the recreation ground which had led to a confrontation and the police were called to the site. Cllr. A Savory suggested that a combination lock should be purchased so that the occupiers could close the park, this was also supported by the local police.

F) Cllr J. Bell had offered to be responsible for closing the park gate at 10.00 pm each evening, with a combination lock, this was agreed, the gates to be opened on a morning by members of the bowls club.

G) Cllr. J. Bell had asked that the laurel hedge be removed, from the west side of the bowls green, following a letter from the bowls club, on how the hedge was a benefit, and a good windbreak this suggestion was not agreed to.

H) Following a discussion with Cllr J Bell and the groundsman the embankment to the skate park had been cut and was looking a lot better.

I) The hard core track to the skate park was not now needed and would be removed.

1. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD  17th  AUGUST 2021 , signed as a true record, Cllr Rodgers and Cllr Gardner asked for their respective names to be corrected, as they were wrong in the minutes. 

Cllr J. Bell did not agree that the minutes were correct and wished for his name to be recorded as not being in agreement. No mention was made on the skate park costs and funding.

1. MATTERS ARISING: 
2. PARISH CLERK

1. Wellbeing Returned to Work 1st September
2. Apprenticeship Scheme Cllr A Savory declared an interest as a Durham CC member and Chair of the WAAP.

CDALC Executive Officer Steve Ragg had been contacted on the matter as to training. 

Cllrs, Savory and Parkin agreed to look at suitable training courses.

1. CORRESPONDENCE:

 

1. Request to support art exhibition : Sue Abel,  agreed to offer free use of the St. Anne’s  Centre for the exhibition  in October
2. Research report : Gary Bosworth had forwarded a Power Point presentation on Daleton  A Story of Rural Change and how rural communities were developing plans  for the future , agreed to invite to a future meeting.
3. Footpath Maintenance : Wolsingham Wayfarers, a meeting had taken place with DCC, Wayfarers and  the Parish Council to agree a way forward on the maintenance of footpaths , particularly in the Demesne and Jack Walker Bridge area. As the local landowner had fenced off large areas of land and set aside wide tracks of land the area had not been grazed, and was leading to excess growth , coupled with the underlying unsafe surfaces, was making walking in this area hazardous , which could lead to injury to walkers.

Owen Shaw the Rights of  Way officer walked the paths in question with the clerk and agreed to put forward some remedial works and to have more of the paths strimmed.

Cllr. A. Savory offered funding from her neighbourhood budget and the Parish Council would also assist with extra funding.

1. Market Place: Request for easement  right of passage and positioning of wheelie bin, agreed.to request.
2. “Formal Complaint” Cllr. J. Bell 20th August 2021, Related to a meeting with the clerk on 28th September 2020, regarding Electors Rights to inspect the annual accounts this was a complaint and a decision on previous complaints to DCC had not yet been determined , it could not be dealt with.

Cllr A. Savory moved progress and the outcome of the complaints would have to follow the democratic process.

1. Complaint from Cllr J. Bell about website notes , any person could attend a public meeting and take notes, this was not thought to be an issue
2. Request for Information : Michelle Bell 23rd August and response
3. Richard Holden MP request to meet with Parish Council, agreed.

Cllr Gardner declared an interest on the grounds of his affiliation to the Labour and Cooperative Party

1. Health & Safety Policy
   1. Health & Safety Council Statement – website (review due March 2020) considered and adopted. With thanks to David Jones for his deliberations.
   2. H& S Requirements for contracts – David Jones
   3. H.& S Responsibilities – David Jones
2. Angate Street Toilets : Progress Report, specifications were now to hand and had been agreed with DCC Building Control which meant tenders for work could be invited.
3. Recreation Ground:  
   1. Tennis Courts update, a rejigged schematic drawing of the preferred location had been prepared by Cllr. Jones, the size of the courts would meet the LTA minimum size, and as permission had been granted by NWA to place over the existing sewer pipeline this would now be some 3 meters from the football pitch, and could in fact be moved further away if needed. The planned meeting at DCC on playfields had been again postponed to October , so no indication as to funding was to hand.

 Cllr A.Savory asked that the football club be kept appraised of  progress

There were no perceived ecology issues as the land was short cut grass parkland.

The plans were agreed and councillors supported the venture as being able to offer a sporting activity which had been lost to the community , following the demise of the courts at the upper school site and would ultimately lead to the future wellbeing and health of residents. Cllr. A Savory declared and interest as a member of DCC.

b)  Toilets / Kiosk Progress Report , Plans and Building Regulations had been agreed and the scheme could now be put out to tender. The fall to the sewer had been calculated at 1 : 84 but it was in fact 1 : 100 which was acceptable to NWA

c)   Pump track proposal, this report would be circulated to members. The proposal was a cycle track to be positioned alongside the skate park, it was thought this could lead to a conflict of pedestrians and cyclist and the loss of more open green space.

It was thought to be more appropriate to extend the existing pump track in the wooded area to the south.

1. Issues Raised by Cllr. J. Bell
   1. Progress Report from Helen Lynch DCC Monitoring Officer, not yet to hand
   2. Exceptional complaint Process in Council

Cllr A Vipond questioned the veracity and continual complaints being levelled at the Chair and clerk and asked for them to desist, from Cllr J Bell.

The Chair also informed Cllr. J. Bell that his continual and confrontational attitude to disrupt the meeting would lead to him being “ not heard” and if the issues continued then he would be excluded from the meeting.

 

1. Mr J. Bell had previously asked for information on the income and expenditure of the St. Anne’s Centre. The clerk had spent some considerable time on the statement and reported as follows:  From April 2006 to 31st March 2021  income £106684.15  expenditure £111239.19   an excess of expenditure over income of (£4555.04)
2. As to all other issues raised by Cllr.. Bell , the chair affirmed his intention that these would be addressed as soon as possible

1. FINANCE:

1. Reports to End August 2021 read and agreed .

 Cllr Bell asked various questions on items of expenditure which were  answered by the clerk.

1. Cheques for payment , agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. PLANNING :Matters : Use of website link for updates, still working as planned

   PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

DM/21/02893/FPA      Azalea ,38 Lydgate Lane, change pitch of roof to extension , alteration to first floor window and installation of roof lights No comments

DM/21/02872/TCA     3, Chapel Walls, Uppertown, crown lift to 5m  to T956 large leafed lime, fell T957 and T958 Scots pine , remove lowest limb T961 Scots pine and crown lift to 3m to G1 3 no. beech trees No objection

DM/21/02755/PNE                 Land south of Wiserley Barn Plantation Shull Bank Hamsterley

                                                Creation of fertiliser lagoon, no objection

DM/21/02762/FPA                  1, Angate Street, installation of new door on principal elevation, no objection

DM/21/02682/FPA                  18, Meadhope Street, retention of fence , repairs to chimney ( retrospective)

DM/21/02561/FPA                  19, Wesley View, replace timber windows with UPVC, no objection

DM/21/01832/FPA                  Land West of 1 Durham Road, construction of 20 affordable homes and associated works This development was welcomed and supported. Cllr A . Savory declared and Interest as being a member of the planning committee at DCC

DM/21/01717/FPA                  Land West of Armond Carr Works, Inkerman , Tow Law, change of use of agricultural land, to accommodate extension to existing builders yard/depot and associated developments. No objections

DM/21/02625/FPA                  Pole Tree Farm, Wear Bank, demolition of egg production building change of use to livery yard erection of stables, hay barn, and menage  and associated external works. The existing site had been a “ blot” on the landscape for a number of years, but to agree to the new proposals would not remedy the situation and it was agreed to object , as being in An Area of Outsatnding Natural Beauty the proposals would not enhance the views and natural beauty and should not be approved. Cllr J. Bell thought that the proposal would be better than what was there now, this view was not supported.

              PLANNING : DECIDED

DM/21/02124/FPA                  66A, Uppertown, single storey front conversion of garage to bedroom and car port

DM/21/01935/FPA                  Grosvenor House, 56, Lydgate Lane, loft conversion, with roof lights to front and rear

DM/20/01839/FPA                  Middle Fawnlees, Leazes Lane, conversion and extension of agricultural building into 5 bedroom holiday accommodation together with ancillary building to form cycle store and associated landscaping and highway passing places ( amended plans) Some councillors could not quite believe how this could have been approved .

                                                Part of the original submission was a proposed diversion to the footpath to the front of the buildings ,this was objected to by Wolsingham Parish Council, the Rights of Way officer had asked if the views of the Parish Council had changed . This was put to the meeting and the original objection would not be changed.