WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 11TH JULY 2023

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL

                                                                                                                                              

                PRESENT: D Sugden (Chair), A Savory, Y Bell, J Bell, D Jones, I Rodgers, O Gardner, P Dobson

    T Willis, A Bonar, A. Vipond, Sarah-Ann Baxter (Clerk)

            BUSINESS PERSONS INVOLVED WITH STEELWORKS SITE: G & K Hotson

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: Gordon & Karen Hotson presented an alternative use for the old steelworks site which, if they purchased the site, would be to provide a manufacturing base with the potential for the creation of 350 new jobs, some of which would be technical and well paid. Presently they cannot disclose what would be manufactured but it would be a health product and manufacturing will be a 24 hour operation Monday to Friday with a half day working on Saturday. Goods would be transported from the site using the rail system going onward to Tees port for shipping around the world. If it goes ahead, they wish to use local people for the build as much as is possible, there would be community investment as well as apprenticeships and permanent full-time work. Durham County Council, Environment Agency, Central Government are all aware of the project, Cllr Savory explained that the meeting with DCC had provided more information regarding the scheme but as all attendees had been asked to sign a non-disclosure document, she was unable to give more information. The timescale would be to have their first production in 2025/26. Cllr Sugden and Cllr Savory thanked them for coming and presenting their proposals to the Council of which most of the Council were for the development.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savory declared an interest in planning due to her duties on the DCC Planning Committee and the items related to the Christmas Lights & Kiosk.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  13TH June 2023: The minutes were accepted as a true & correct record and signed by Cllr Sugden as such.
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Parish Council Email Addresses – No further update
   2. Christmas Tree Lights – No further update
   3. St Anne’s Maintenance – Cllr Willis provided an update and went through the action plan. Cllr J Bell, who had attended the working group meeting, was disappointed that some works were schedule for 6-12months but others for 12-18months. It was explained that some works, such as the painting could only be practically done during the school holidays as the hall is quieter and some works will need to be completed before others could start. Cllr J Bell had also been talking to residents regarding the proposed new kiosk and the general view was that they would prefer the money to be spent on updating St Anne’s rather than providing the new kiosk building. Cllr Rodgers suggested that we should also be looking at sustainability for the longer term, such as providing solar panels etc. Councillor Vipond will attend the next working group meeting as he has experience and knowledge considering the decorating proposals. Cllr Jones pointed out the electrical systems are overdue their circuit testing. Cllr Sugden explained that the cleaners contract runs out in September if the Council were considering a caretaker’s role instead. Cllr J Bell thought that a caretaker would be more appropriate, and Cllr Rodgers suggested that due to the timescales the current contract be extended to the end of the financial year. Cllr Savory asked that as the Brass Band concert on the 19th August would require a marquee would it be suitable to utilise this in the afternoon and run a makers market, this was agreed.
   4. Jack Walker Seat – The footway and seat works are now complete, and several Councillors expressed their thanks for how well these works had been carried out.
   5. Road Safety – Cllr Willis gave an update which included arranging a public meeting to invite discussions regarding traffic. The meeting would be held at St Anne’s on the 19th September at 6.30pm for two hours. Cllr Savory pointed out that a meeting had already been held with Durham County Council representatives and the Police to take advice and get their opinion. Hauliers and others from the village are concerned that some options, such as double yellow lines, may be put in place which no one wants. Cllr Rodgers wanted the meeting to go ahead and stated that peer pressure may help to change the minds of DCC and the Police. Cllr Willis stated that this issue was not just about her. It was agreed that the public meeting should go ahead.
   6. Show field Footpath – a response had been received from DCC which was read out. DCC do not have any funding for the creation of new footpaths on the network and that funding should be sought from either the local Councillors AAP fund or external funding.
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:
   1. St Anne’s Car Park – Cllr Vipond had received complaints that there had been cars in the car park after 10pm and the gates have not been closed. Cllr J Bell explained that he had stopped locking the gates as people were using the St Annes Hall after 10pm. Council agreed that the gate should be locked again and Cllr J Bell agreed to do this. Cllr Savory thanked Cllr J Bell for carrying out this task.
   2. Coach Parking – A letter had been received from a walking club asking where was best to park a coach as they were wanting to visit Wolsingham. It was agreed that both St Anne’s and the Demesne Mill were too small and busy on a weekend. Suggestions of dropping off at the Town Hall bus stop and parking in the layby opposite the old steelworks site were suggested.
   3. Mobile Barbers – A letter had been received from All Cuts mobile barbers requesting to be able to park in the Market Square on a Wednesday. Cllr Savory declared an interest in this matter. A discussion took place, and it was agreed that a letter of discouragement be sent as the Parish Council has already received correspondence from local businesses concerned about losing trade.
   4. Litter Picking – Jo McIntosh had written in to let the Parish Council know that he and his son litter pick around the village every day and collect at least one bag of litter a day. It was agreed that a letter of appreciation be sent, however it was also agreed to go ahead with a litter picker contract.
   5. Old Steel works Development – a letter was received concerning the proposed housing development and questioning if the Parish Council had put forward the village’s views on the development and increased traffic. It was agreed to send an email confirming that the Parish Council had indeed supported the development but raised the issues concerned.
   6. Recreation Ground Wall – A letter had been received concerning damage to the wall between the recreation ground and Mill Isle. Cllr Dobson agreed to ask the previous clerk if he knew who was responsible for the wall.
7. Swift Boxes – Item deferred to another meeting.
8. Complaint Cllr J Bell – This is still ongoing with the monitoring officer.
9. New Kiosk – Both Cllr Savory & Cllr J Bell declared an interest.  Councillors were given four options to consider regarding the new kiosk proposals:
   1. Option 1 – Scrap the scheme completely.
   2. Option 2 – Original plan which currently has planning permission but does require access to build from neighbouring property.
   3. Option 3 – Revised proposal to allow build without needing access from neighbouring property and providing two public toilets.
   4. Option 4 – Revised proposal to allow current storage area to remain but providing two new public toilets.
   5. All proposals were discussed and with the current estimates to build Option 2 currently coming in at around £100,000 it was decided that this cost was prohibitive and in the current financial climate, a vote was taken with 5 for investigating Option 4, 3 for Option 1, 1 for Option 3 and 0 for Option 2. Cllr J Bell thought an Option 5 should be considered which was to reconfigure the St Anne’s building and use the toilets there. Cllr Jones pointed out that the survey on the drainage system which connects the St Anne’s centre does not have adequate fall for any further toilets to be added. Cllr Savory pointed out that the AAP monies she had set aside for the new build may not be available as the project had now changed, the Clerk asked if Cllr Savory would be able to confirm this with Durham County Council AAP team.​
10. Finance
    1. Payments for June – agreed
    2. Reports to end of June – agreed
    3. Update on Maintenance Work – New elements of the ‘whirlygig’ play equipment are needed as parts of it are now unsafe, the cost to replace the parts would be £1090.22 – the Council agreed to carryout the works. It was agreed that the Clerks office should have some form of fireproof safe to allow safe storage of documents etc – the Clerk will look into this.
11. ​PLANNING:  NOTIFIED

DM/23/01854/NPC – Application for proposed change of use from shop to residential. 6 Angate Street,

Wolsingham, DL13 3EW – No objection raised

DM/23/00389/FPA – Two storey rear extensions, porch to rear and solar panels to front. Prospect House,

72 Lydgate Lane, Wolsingham, DL13 3EZ – no objection raised

           

PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/23/01255/TCA – Land to the South West of St Mary & St Stephens Church, Church Lane, Wolsingham,

DL13 3AJ. Reduce up to 6m including sympathetic reprofiling of the crown and

remove dead branches to T1 Lime – raise no objection

DM/23/00992/FPA – Durham Road Farm, Durham Road, Wolsingham, DL13 3JB. Change of use of barn to allow the storage of cars and installation of cladding and roller shutter doors – Approved

DM/22/02540/FPA – Thornley Hall, Thornley, Tow Law, DL13 4PE. Conversion of building to holiday let – Approved

DM/22/02541/LB - Thornley Hall, Thornley, Tow Law, DL13 4PE. Conversion of byre to holiday let – Approved