Notes 14th May 2024

Notes of Parish Council Meeting held on 14th May 2024.

These notes are taken by the Editor of the Town Crier. The official minutes taken by the Clerk will be published on the council’s website following their approval at the June meeting.

 

At the Annual Parish Meeting held prior to the monthly Parish Council meeting the Chair, David Sugden, tendered his resignation after 9 years in the post. Councillor Iain Rodgers was nominated and duly seconded as the new Chair and Councillor Ali Bonar was nominated and duly seconded as the Vice-Chair. Councillor Rodgers thanked Councillor Sugden for all his hard work and service over the years. Councillor Sugden read out his Annual Report. This will be published on the council’s website.

 

The Parish Council meeting then commenced. There were 7 members of the public in attendance.

Minutes of the meeting held on 16th April 2024: agreed and signed as a true record.

Matters arising:

Steelworks’ office building: no one involved in the re-use of the building was able to attend the meeting.

Policy reviews: work on these is nearly complete.

Risk Assessments: these have been carried out for the Town Hall and the St Anne’s Centre and no major issues were identified in the reports. Risk Assessments for the land owned by the council will now be carried out.

Toilets at the Recreation Ground: work to convert the pavilion building into two toilets is progressing well. No funding will be given for the works from the Weardale Area Action Partnership as work has already started and grant aid cannot be given retrospectively. Other funding sources may be available such as from the Northern Lithium Community Fund or the Spar Community Fund. Councillors agreed that a charge to use the toilets of 30p would be levied and automated doors installed that would mean the toilets would lock in the evening and open in the morning without the need for the caretaker to carry out this role. This would also make the toilets more secure and less prone to vandalism. Payment would be by card only.

Library rent: the Clerk confirmed that a reply from DCC was still awaited on the level of rent put forward by the council.

Parking meters: these have raised over £800 since they were installed. Councillors agreed that disabled blue badge holders could park free of charge in the Demesne Mill and at St Anne’s Centre and that new signage to this effect would be displayed. Councillor Bonar noted that the marking of the disabled bays in the Demesne Mill needed repainting. Councillors agreed to a request by Councillor Savory that employees at Creative at Wolsingham Station be issued with parking permits for the Recreation Ground whilst the bridge at the Causeway was closed for repairs so that they could park there and walk to work. As the enforcement of parking charges was not the responsibility of the DCC Parking Wardens, councillors agreed that spot checks will be carried out at the two car parks. Councillor Rodgers noted that no provision for motorcycles was made in the car parks but councillors agreed that they would be subject to the same parking charges as motorists. A resident asked whether a signpost could be installed at the Demesne guiding visitors to the Market Place and the toilets. Councillors will consider this.

Correspondence:

Mr P Gardner: HGVs, traffic: Mr Gardner has asked why a meeting with DCC Highways to discuss the issues of traffic in the town, particularly in Uppertown, has not taken place and asked that the council be more proactive in gathering and assessing information about the impacts of traffic from development proposals on residents. Councillor Sugden pointed out that these were matters for DCC Highways rather than the parish council and that Mr Gardner has been previously advised of this. The Clerk will reply to Mr Gardner to this effect. Councillor Savory stated that a Senior DCC Highways Officer is happy to answer any written questions that Mr Gardner may wish to put to them.

Mr P Gardner: lithium extraction: Mr Gardner has asked whether the parish council have considered the impact of the proposed lithium extraction on the residents of the town in terms of traffic impacts. The Chair advised that a Transport Assessment is available for viewing as part of Northern Lithium’s planning application on DCC’s Planning Portal and this considered that the transport impacts of the development during both construction and operations will be minor. Residents can view and comment on the planning application on the Planning Portal (under reference DM/24/00957/MIN). Issues relating to traffic impacts will be assessed by DCC when they determine the planning application.

Freedom of Information Request: this was regarding the costs of installing and maintaining the parking meters and the relevant council minutes when the matter was discussed. A reply has been sent to the resident who requested the information.

Police Engagement: the police have offered to provide support and advice on fraud awareness to local community groups.

Camping in Demesne Mill: following complaints about 2 campervans being parked in the Demesne Mill car park, Councillor Sugden confirmed that he had spoken to the owners of the campervans. They left the next morning. Councillors agreed to monitor for any similar overnight camping which is not permitted there. It was agreed that a height barrier at the entrance to the car park would be too costly and would prevent the farmer accessing his land through the car park.

Maintenance works:

St Anne’s Centre heating, further decorating and rooflights: these are awaited. New flooring will be considered in the next financial year.

Recreation Ground security barrier: councillors agreed to the installation of a five bar gate with fencing either side to replace the rotten metal barrier. The Clerk will check that the width of the proposed gate will be wide enough to allow the Wolsingham Show vehicles into the ground. A combination lock will be installed on the gate.

Demesne Mill potholes: the Clerk confirmed that these will be repaired this week by the contractors working on Front Street.

Car park lights: the Clerk confirmed that the timer for these was set correctly.

Christmas lights: councillors agreed to the cost given by DCC for the installation of the lights and tree in the Market Place.

Crepe Van: the Clerk confirmed that the rental payments were up to date.

Patio area at St Anne’s Centre: Councillor J Bell asked whether this could be tidied up. Councillor Bonar and the Clerk offered to do some gardening and planting there.

Availability of monthly accounts: Councillor J Bell asked whether these could be made available for the public to view. Councillors agreed that certain parts would need to be redacted (such as salaries) if they were published on the website or notice board but agreed that, as the public can already ask to see the accounts on request, then this means that they are available to the public.

Use of emails: Councillor J Bell proposed that council decisions should not be being made by email. Councillor Sugden agreed and advised that consultations by email to councillors were only made when urgent matters needed to be considered.

Finance: the internal auditor's report and the Annual Governance Report were accepted by Council. Payments/Accounts for April were accepted.

Planning matters: no comments were made on the list of planning applications set out in the agenda.

Date of next meeting: to be held on Tuesday 11th June at 7.00pm in the Town Hall.  All are welcome to attend.