WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF    MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 9TH  APRIL   2019  

7.00 PM

 TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT:     Chair: D. Sugden, Mrs. Y. Bell,   J. Norman,  Mrs. A. Savory, S. Palombella, J. Wilson

R. George, A.Vipond, Mrs. A. Nelson

PUBLIC:        Mrs. Heron

POLICE:       P. C. G. Moore

 

Guest Speaker: Mr. J. Ferstenberg Wolsingham School

Mr. Ferstenberg gave a very informative talk on the future of Wolsingham School, and “Building for the Future”, The aim being to join a Multi Academy Trust , with other schools in the area. The advantages being that the cumulated debt would be written off by Durham C.C., sharing of resources , and economies of scale, which would reduce the running costs of the school. The intake for new pupils is set at 150 per year and this has been exceeded.

The Multi Academy Trust would become a registered charity with trustees appointed, who would in turn appoint directors, a chief executive and board of governors. 60% of schools are now academies and can then become a member of a national chain of academies leading  to better education, better teachers and specific experts in various fields, sharing their respective expertise across a number of schools and  a wide range of topics.

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: D. Jones , unable to attend interview , to re arrange for May.
2. POLICE REPORT:  PC Geoff Moore gave the report, It had been a quiet four months , there had ben some opportunist crime , a recent burglary at the Baptist Chapel,, 7 reports of poaching. Scrap dealers had been operating in the area , and using red diesel, and DVLA & H.M.C. & Excise had been involved. To combat ASB PCS’s had been visiting schools, the recreation ground, certain camps/ dens had been constructed with  alcohol being consumed. A house had been raided , and it was discovered drugs were being grown, enquiries were ongoing.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr. Savory & Cllr George declared an interest in matters relating to Wolsingham School, as they are governors.
4. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 12TH MARCH  2019 , copy attached ,e mailed
5. MATTERS ARISING

A         Durham C.C. have agreed to fence off embankment at Willows playground

      B         No further information was to hand regarding the Fish & Chip van hours of working from Demesne Mill., apparently the owner had been on holiday.

1. RECREATION GROUND:

  A) Update on Skate Park , the initial location had been wrongly marked out and new location on site was awaited. Much debate followed on the lack of urgency in getting the skate park built. It was considered that the contractor be invited to a meeting at the Town Hall , Monday 15th April at

 B) Bowling Green boundary paving , Contractor has agreed to repair at 50% of cost . Concrete ( popped) due to frosts, work was due to start Wednesday, the greens would be open at the week end.

An invitation had been extended to Parish Council members to visit the bowls green and participate in a match or two

1. RESIGNATION  OF COUNCILLOR:   Wolsingham Ward.

Resignation of Councillor : Karl Tippins, a letter of appreciation to be sent to Karl for all his hard work , particularly concerning the documentation on the skate park.

1. DEMESNE MILL : Wood plantation  fencing has been removed  and strimmed.
2. ST. ANNE’S CENTRE:  Request for demountable stage , from Flower Club , the St. Anne’s centre has a very low ceiling so any staging would have to be no bigger than 40 cm. A brochure was to hand and a 1m x 2m stage would cost £390, and it was felt four of these would be required. Other user groups to be asked , if they would use the staging.
3. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN : Report on Workshop held Saturday 30th March . From the report it had been identified that there were major projects, minor projects and ongoing projects, a need for events and possibly seminars to  help with business support. A further meeting to be held 29th April 5.0 pm at the Town Hall

A Weardale Craft & Food Fair would take place at the Sports Hall , Wolsingham 27th April., this was being sponsored by Cllr. A. Savory from her neighbourhood budget and any surplus to be used for the senior citizens Christmas dinner at the school. It was requested that the parking in the recreation ground , should be free for the event, agreed.

1. MEMBERS REQUESTS: Cllr. Savory had recently attended a meeting of Stanhope Parish Council and there was an item on their agenda which may be of interest for public participation at meetings being given a 15 minutes time slot.

Cllr. Savory had also instigated “ Operation Spruce up” with the neighbourhood team at Durham C.C. and they would be at Wolsingham at the end of April.

Cllr. Rob George as an active member of the Wolsingham Wayfarers asked that the seats at the riverside be re furbished. These seats were not a liability of the Parish Council and was not agreed to.

A number of trees at the riverside of the recreation ground had fallen, wind blowing and snapped branches, all needed attention to clear up the area, agreed for the clerk to contact the DCC tree officer Simon McGinnity to see what can be done, as the wood is in a conservation area.

Cllr Palombella asked if a Parish Council meeting could take place at Thornley,agreed.

1. NEWSLETTER: Annual Parish Meeting Tuesday 14th May 6.30 pm  TOWN HALL all welcome

        13 .         PLANNING:    The following applications have been approved:

DRC/19/00043            The Barn Road, discharge conditions  3(Materials) 4(enclosures) and 5 (Landscaping)

DM/19/00411/FPA      land to south of 3, Orchard View, detached dwelling

DM/19/00362/FPA      17, Melbourne Place, solar panels to front.

DM/19/00335/FPA      11, St. Anne’s Drive, UPVC conservatory to rear with wood burner flue

DM/19/00181/VOC    Oakleaf Caravan Park, variation of condition 3 amend season restriction

DM/18/03541/FPA      Leazes Farm, alterations to track at farm entrance

DM/18/03161/FPA      Deneside Lodge Park   erection of 6 business units (use class B1)

DM/19/00729/TCA     Recreation ground , tree works

DM/19/00624/TCA     Allotments , recreation ground, remove branch T1, T2 remove two lower branches.

13.01          The Following Application has been withdrawn

DM/19/00285/FPA      6, Silver Street, replacement of timber casement windows with UPVC Sliding sash

1. The following applications have been notified

DM/19/00932/LB       Tunstall House Farm, taking down of single storey masonry wall and rebuilding same using natural stone outer leaf and concrete block inner leaf

DM/19/00654/FPA     Shooting Hut land to west of Tunstall Reservoir

DM/19/00548/LB       27-29 Front Street, remove ground floor partition wall, alter boiler location, remedial works to walls and roof, installation of new kitchen, insulation to roof and attic wall, replacement of window, installation of wood burning stoves.

 

1. Finance Reports End March 2019, read and accepted.
2. CITIZENS ADVICE Co. Durham : request for funding. Agreed to award £500 under the 2011 Localism Act. Clerk to enquire what services are available to Weardale residents.. Request copy of bank statements and accounts.
3. CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR : Wolsingham Ward Candidate could not make the meeting.