WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 13th February 2024

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL

                                                                                                                                

PRESENT: D Sugden, A Savory, J Bell, I Rodgers, A Bonar, I Rogers, Y Bell, J Bartram, A Hirst, S Bittlestone, H Yeulet,  

Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J Green, I Watson, T Stewart

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: A Vipond
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: A question was raised regarding the seat on Angate Square. Cllr Savory explained the situation and hopefully the seat will be replaced in the new financial year. Another seat near the Bay Horse was highlighted as being overgrown, Cllr Savory agreed to investigate. A question was raised concerning the cleaning of the DCC toilet at St Anne’s, Cllr Sugden confirmed that it was cleaned by DCC daily. Cllr Sugden also confirmed that the contract for the conversion of the pavilion building at St Anne’s, to provide two toilets, had now been awarded to local contractors.
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/new toilets. Cllr J Bell declared an interest in the Kiosk/new toilets.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  16th January 2024: The minutes were accepted as a true & correct record.
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Christmas Tree Lights – Nothing to report.
   2. Bowling Green Hedge – The Clerk confirmed that the hedge would be decreased in height and that the contractor would be starting works soon. Cllr J Bell asked if any objections had been raised, the Clerk confirmed the bowling club were happy for the works to go ahead.
   3. Policy Reviews – Due to the number of reviews/changes to go through it was agreed that a sub-committee would meet on the 20th February 2024 to discuss further.
   4. Allotment Wall – The planning application has now been approved to remove the trees and works will hopefully commence by the beginning of March.
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:  
   1. An email has been received from David Jones outlining the need for updated Fire & Risk assessments to be completed for all Parish Council property. The Clerk confirmed that these had been arranged and would be completed soon.
   2. New Kiosk / Toilets – Cllr Savory & Cllr J Bell declared an interest. The Building Regulations application for the works will be submitted to DCC by the architect. Cllr J Bell raised issues with the costs in the contract and the lack of waste drainage. The Clerk explained the drainage had been quoted for and was included in the information provided to Councillors. Cllr J Bell then stated that, in his opinion, this work by the Parish Council was not a good use of public money. Cllr Sugden reminded Cllr J Bell that it was not appropriate for him to comment on the details of the contract due to his declared interest, Cllr J Bell did not agree with this and thought this statement, by Cllr Sugden, was completely wrong. The Clerk pointed out that David Jones and the architect, who had worked on the contract, would be happy to discuss any details of the contract. Cllr Savory expressed her support for the employment of local contractors to carry out the work.
   3. Broadband / Telephone - The landline number for the Clerk is now disconnected, it has been replaced by a mobile phone which is 07852 480637. It was agreed to advertise the new number in the Town Crier and the Primary School will be informed of the change. The Council’s broadband contract is currently being reviewed.
7. Maintenance Works
   1. St Anne’s Heating - The plumber and electrician have both confirmed that the heating system is working fine, however, after having placed thermometers in the hall, it is apparent that the hall takes a long time to heat up. Cllrs agreed to the look into the cost of installing a Hive electronic thermostat system so that the heating can be controlled remotely.
   2. St Anne’s Curtains – The new curtains are now in place in the hall.
   3. St Anne’s Further Decorating - Cllr Vipond agreed to look into obtaining quotes for the decorating of the kitchen, entrance hall and inner room.
   4.  St Anne’s Flooring – Cllr Vipond is currently seeking quotes for new flooring in the hall, the Clerk pointed out that this would need to be appropriate for all the current users of the hall.
   5. St Anne’s Roof lights – Cllr Vipond will look to get another contractor for this work as the previous contractor has been unable to complete the works.
   6. St Anne’s Car Park Lights – The timer on the lights has now been adjusted, however Cllr J Bell queried the 11pm switch off requesting 10pm. As the hall is hired out until 10pm Councillors felt switching the lights off when people were leaving was inappropriate, it was agreed that the lights be turned off at 10.30pm.
   7. Parking Meters / Signs – an installation date is still to be agreed by the parking meter supplier and the wording on the new signs is currently being worked on.
   8. Tree Reports / Quotes – The Tree Reports have now been completed and quotes have been obtained for carrying out the works. The costs for all the works if done by the company who completed the tree surveys would be £11660, however a local firm has quoted £9225. Councillors agreed to carryout the urgent ‘A’ works immediately with the lower quote and then look to complete the rest of the works over the next two years before the next tree survey is due, which will help spread the costs. Cllr Sugden advised that the reports had not included areas within both the Recreation Ground and the Demesne Mill and that these have now been requested to be completed. Cllr Bartram raised the issue of liability of damage that could be caused by ash trees that have ash die-back disease but cannot be felled due to TPO’s. Cllr Sugden confirmed that any tree which is ‘dangerous’ can be felled.
   9. Demesne Mill Potholes - The Clerk confirmed, after a meeting with the surfacing contractor, they have works further up in Weardale at some point in March and it is hoped the pothole repairs will be completed free of charge at the same time, however this is dependant on the weather and their programme not being altered.
   10. Cllr Sugden advised that a group who used the St Anne’s Centre have asked for a stage in the hall. The quote from several years previously had been more than £800. Councillors agreed that it would not be appropriate to spend funds on a stage when the Town Hall, which has a stage, could be used instead.
8. Office Move
   1. ​ Councillors discussed the matter of moving the Clerk’s office to St Anne’s. It was agreed this should be explored as the location is more accessible with easier parking and ground floor access. Cllr Savory raised the issue of lone working, it was felt that similar measures that are currently used at the Town Hall could be put in place. Cllr Sugden confirmed that the caretaker at the Town Hall has agreed to take on the caretaking duties at St Anne’s. The current cleaner at St Anne’s is retiring at the end of March, Cllr Savory asked could the outgoing cleaner be thanked formally for her hard work.
9. Finance
   1. Payments & Reports for January 2024 – agreed. The Clerk raised the issue of acquiring new contracts such as phone, electricity etc is now particularly difficult as all suppliers wish you to sign up online for direct debits, however this requires you to enter the debit card details which the Parish Council do not currently have. This means that a person’s own bank card details will need to be used. Councillors agreed that this was not acceptable and also not good for accounting purposes, it was agreed that some form of debit card be looked into with a limit on spending for smaller items.
10. PLANNING:  NOTIFIED –

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 Comment

DM/24/00135/TCA - Allotments The Causeway Wolsingham. Felling of Sycamore, Hazel, Elder, Hawthorn and Ash trees - Section 211 notice – No Comment

DM/24/00036/TCA - Binks Cottage Thornley Tow Law Bishop Auckland DL13 4PA. Pruning of one Crab Apple tree to reduce by 1/3rd. - Section 211 notice – No Comment

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 – No Comment

PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/23/03851/TCA - Land East Of Mill Race Wolsingham DL13 3AX. T1 - Removal of one Ash tree - Section 211 notice. Raise No Objection

DM/23/03561/DRC - Durham Road Farm Durham Road Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JB. Discharge of conditions 3 (carbon emissions) and 4 (bat boxes) pursuant to planning approval DM/23/00992/FPA. Approved

DM/23/03459/FPA - 15 Leazes Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3DP. Change of use of part of existing residential garage (C3) to mixed use (C3/E) for the operation of cycle repair business. Application Withdrawn

DM/23/03363/FPA - Parish House 50 East End Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3JX. Convert one dwelling into two dwellings. Approved

DM/22/03451/FPA - Brown Horse Inn High Stoop Bishop Auckland DL13 4HJ. Extension to inn to accommodate swimming pool, gym, and 11 additional bedrooms. Erection of new building for storage and function use. Extension of car park (part retrospective). Refused