WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 16TH April 2024

7.00 PM

Thornley Village Hall

                                                                                                                                

              PRESENT: D Sugden, J Bell, I Rodgers, Y Bell, A Savory, H Yeulet, J Bartram,

     Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk)

                            MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J Green, S Able, AM Burke, T Stewart

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: A Hirst, S Bittlestone
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: A resident asked if the Parish Council would support No Mow May. Cllr Sugden explained that the number of cuts to the Closed Churchyard had been reduced for the forthcoming year, but the Parish Council do receive complaints if it gets untidy.
   1. A resident wished to give thanks for the supply of the new seat in Angate Square and also for the repairs/clearing of another seat near the Bay Horse – Cllr Savory had arranged for this to be done.​
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr J Bell had previously declared an interest in the new toilets, after taking advice he was withdrawing this interest. Cllr Savory declared an interest in planning and the items relating to the Kiosk/new toilets.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  12th March 2024: Cllr J Bell disagreed with a comment in section 4, a discussion took place involving various Councillors until it was agreed that the minutes be signed as a true record.
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Steelworks Building – The owners of the Steelworks building were invited to this meeting, but they requested they attend the next meeting which will be held in Wolsingham. Dr Hotson had approached the Parish Council requesting they ask Bellway to enter into discussions with himself, Councillors considered this inappropriate.
   2. Policy Reviews – The sub-committee met on 26/3/24. Council was asked to consider the Complaints Procedure, Cllr J Bell requested that a timescale should be put in place for the Stage 1 hearing, Cllr Savory suggested 28 working days, this was agreed and the document adopted with this change. The Council also considered Privacy Notice & the Health & Safety Policy, both were adopted.
   3. Risk Assessments – Risk Assessments are ongoing and will be circulated once complete.
   4. New Toilets – Works are due to commence on site this week.
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:  
   1. Cleaner St Anne’s – A thank you letter had been received from the retiring cleaner
   2. Library Rent – DCC have come forward with a proposal for a new contract of 4 years with a two-year break, the Clerk has requested a small increase due to inflation, and is now in negotiations.
   3. Parish Nurse – A new Parish Nurse has been appointed and it was agreed to invite him to the next Parish Council meeting so he may explain his role within the community.
   4. Park That Bike – This scheme is offering free installations of cycle racks and Council agreed to put in an application.
   5. Diversion of Footpath 28 – A discussion was had regarding the proposed diversion and it was agreed that a response be written highlighting the concerns over the diversion route and a request that the footpath could be accommodated within the proposed development site.
   6. Monitoring Officers Report – The decision notice concerning the full Council’s complaint against Cllr J Bell has been received. It concluded that the matter be resolved locally and that Cllr J Bell receive training, by the monitoring officer, in GDPR & Code of Conduct with specific focus on the respect provision, within three months. It was agreed that due to the size of the document it be put on the website rather than the notice boards.
7. MAINTENANCE WORKS:
   1. St Anne’s Heating – The Clerk advised they are still awaiting quotes for the Hive system.
   2. St Anne’s Further Decorating - Cllr Vipond has completed decorating the office and is now organising painting of the meeting room, kitchen and doors in the toilet/changing room area. Cllr Bonar has donated a sofa for use in the meeting room. Cllr Savory asked that thanks be recorded to both Cllr Vipond & Cllr Bonar for their work which has been voluntarily.
   3.  St Anne’s Flooring – The decision has been deferred until later in the next financial year.
   4. St Anne’s Roof lights – This work is still to be completed.
   5. Recreation Security Barrier – The existing barrier has collapsed. Councillors agreed some form of barrier was required, it was agreed to investigate costs for a new gate with fencing either side to prevent anti-social behaviour. Cllr J Bell raised the issue of the car park lights, the Clerk confirmed that the lights had been adjusted to go off at 10.30pm.
   6. Parking Meters / Signs/Residents Permits – Clerk confirmed installation of the parking meters would be on the 26th April with commissioning on the 29th April, Council agreed that parking charges would formally commence on the 1st May. Residents of the Parish can buy a parking pass for £5 for the year, valid in both car parks. It was agreed drop-in sessions be held for residents to obtain their passes. 15 passes would be available to anyone hiring St Anne’s hall.
   7. Tree Reports / Quotes – DCC have requested that a planning application submitted for works to an Ash tree in Demesne Mill be withdrawn until a further survey can be carried out in July to ascertain if there is evidence of Ash die back.
   8. Demesne Mill Potholes – The contractor has confirmed that the repair to the potholes will be complete when they undertake other road surfacing in the village
8. Office Move – The move to St Anne’s will happen in early May. Cllr Savory asked if any more enquiries had been made for the use of the Town Hall office, the Clerk confirmed there had been none. Councillors agreed to write to DCC expressing their concerns & disappointment of the Weardale AAP team moving out of the dale.
9. Agenda Deadline – The Clerk asked if the deadline for items to be included on the agenda could be moved to the Monday the week before the meeting instead of the Tuesday of the week before. It was agreed to move the deadline to 12noon on the Monday of the week before the meeting.
10. Finance
    1. Payments & Reports for April 2024 – agreed.

12)

1. PLANNING:  NOTIFIED –

DM/24/00842/PNA - Bradley Hall Durham Road Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JH. 2 new buildings. A grain store and a general storage building. Building 1: 40 m long x 15 m wide plus 1.5 m canopy 6.6 m to eaves. Building 2: 20 m long x 15 m wide 6.6 m to eaves – No comment

DM/24/00685/TCA - Demense Mill Car Park And Picnic Area Angate Street Wolsingham DL13 3ES. T34 - Ash - monolith at height of 3m - Section 211 notice – No Comment

DM/24/00603/TCA - 2 Rectory Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3AJ. Felling of T6 Sycamore, T26 Ash and T20 Ash. T28-29. Prune back to boundary to clear for vehicle access. G1. Ivy removal - Section 211 notice – No comment

DM/24/00609/FPA - 17 Wesley View Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3RL. Replace windows with UPVC – No Comment

DM/24/00610/PA56 - Bradley Hall Durham Road Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JH. Prior approval application for the erection of 2 No. agricultural buildings for the storage of grain and general purpose storage – No Comment

DM/24/00565/FPA - Frimley Dale 32 Lydgate Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3LF. First floor extension with internal and external alterations – No comment 

1. PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/24/00684/TCA - St Annes Centre West End Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3AP. T38 & T39 - Copper Beech - remove major deadwood and snapped branches - Section 211 notice – No Objection Raised

DM/24/00649/TCA - St Mary And St Stephens Church Church Lane Wolsingham DL13 3AJ. T5 - Sycamore - remove major deadwood and split branches, aerially inspect the crown - Section 211 notice – No Objection Raised

DM/24/00202/TCA - 22 East End Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JX. T1 - Silver Birch Tree - reduce by 1.5 - 2 meters in height and 1 - 1.5 meter spread with a 10% thin. T2 - Conifer Tree - Reduce in height by 2 meters and re-shape to maintain size and shape. T3 - Spruce Tree - Re-shape and balance. T4 - Rowan Tree- Fell. T5 - Rowan Tree - Fell. G1 - Group of 4-5 leylandii - Fell. - Section 211 notice. No Objection Raised

DM/23/03478/DRC - 4A Rectory Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3AJ. Discharge of condition 3 (Materials) pursuant to listed building consent DM/23/02661/LB. Approved

DM/23/03479/DRC - 4A Rectory Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3AJ. Discharge of condition 3 (Materials) pursuant to listed building consent DM/23/02662/LB. Approved

DM/23/03414/FPA - The Hemmel Thistlewood Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3HG. Change of use of agricultural byre into one bedroom holiday cottage. Approved

DM/23/03419/FPA - Land To The North Of 31 Lydgate Avenue Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3LJ. Change of use of open space to garden land. Approved

DM/23/03191/FPA - Holywell Farm Holy Well Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3HB. Demolition of agricultural building. Approved

Date of next meeting – Annual Parish Meeting Tuesday 14th May 6.30pm at the Town Hall, Wolsingham followed by the monthly Parish Council meeting at 7pm.