WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF   MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 14TH  MAY   2019  

7.15 PM

( Following the Annual Meeting)

 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:        D. Jones, Mrs. J. Henderson, D. Stephenson plus 2 others

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 9TH APRIL  2019 , agreed as a true record and signed as such.
5. MATTERS ARISING; A member asked for an update on the fish & chip van operating in the Market Place. A charge of £5 per visit would be appropriate but as the Parish Council want to promote businesses the charge would be waived for a year. The operator no longer needs use of Demesne Mill. Clerk to ask for copy of their Public Liability Insurance, Food Hygiene Certificate and draw attention to our Safeguarding Policy.
6. CORRESPONDENCE:   
   1. Angate Toilets request for planters / screening, agreed to formulate a plan via the strategic planning meeting,  considering art, history boards on Town, town trails, sculptures.
   2. Riverside: request for tree works to cherry tree adjacent to family walk, clerk to advise complainant that the best course of action would be to contact the tree officer at Durham County Council as the tree in question is in a conservation area.
   3. Complaint from Fit Steps Class via Facebook; agreed to offer an apology and also the use of the hall free of charge for one week.
   4. A request had been received to have a zebra crossing from the Doctors surgery to the Market Place across the A.689. Previous requests for a similar crossing had not been agreed by Durham C.C. Highways, but none the less Cllr. A. Savory would raise the matter again at County level.
   5. The extension of double yellow lines at Front Street had also been investigated , having reviewed the lines only three years ago Durham C.C. were not going to review them again.
   6. A letter was received from Tom, Wolsingham Primary School thanking the Parish Council for the recent donation of money for a safe surface play area under the climbing frame. Received with thanks to Tom and the school.
7. RECREATION GROUND: MINUTES OF SITE MEETING 15TH APRIL agreed and signed as a true record
   1. Update on Skate Park, excavations had taken place, and back filled with stone, the steel fixings were now being prepared. A further site visit would take place on Wednesday 15th May to review progress.
   2. Variation of Contract, upon a vote being taken 4 were for the 5% and 3 for 10%, so agreed to set final retention at 5%. Contract signed by the Chairman. Post meeting, apparently the practice is to have 10% retention for interim payments , but a 5% retention for the final settlement.
   3. An invoice had been received requesting an interim payment; this would have to be agreed by GRLA before payment.
8. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Report on Workshop held Monday 29th April was accepted. Details of the plan to be on the website, and Weardale Notice Board (Facebook) , with any feedback directed to the clerk. Strategic Development to be an agenda item for June meeting.
9. MEMBERS REQUESTS:
   1. Allotment holders to be advised to have fires if needed after 6.00 pm as a complaint had been received. This to be part of the lease agreement going forward, also to ask for e mail addresses so that information can be passed on more readily.
   2. A letter of thanks to be sent to Durham C.C. “ spruce up” team for the excellent job done in Wolsingham, over the last couple of weeks.
   3. Requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Weardale Area Action Partnership for their support and the funding for the skate park.
   4. Clerk to request more litter bins in recreation field towards the football pitch
   5. The ever popular riverside walk is being blighted by irresponsible dog owners not “ picking up” . Request DCC install more signage and have the neighbourhood wardens patrol the area more frequently.
   6. Durham C.C. ran a campaign in 2014 to have all play areas “Smoke free”, albeit it was only an advisory notice. The clerk had obtained sample posters, which need to be added to the notice board in the recreation ground. A preference for ‘graphic’ posters was expressed and samples to be sought.

10  NEWSLETTER  David Sugden to action

 

        13 .   PLANNING:          The following applications have been approved:

            13.01  

DM/19/00310/FPA     8,Lydgate Lane , two storey extension to the side and single storey extension to the rear

DM/18/01868/FPA     Leazes Farm , agricultural building on land west of Leazes Farm

 

1. The following applications have been notified

DM/19/01288/FPA     2A, East End, front porch and rear extension

DM/19/00929/TCA    3, Church View Thornley, pruning of sycamore tree

 

1. Finance Reports End April 2019 agreed and accepted
2. Insurance Quotations Four quoatations had been received

Zurich Insurance  £3336.68

WPS Insurance      £2053.90                  underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance

BHIB Insurance     £2029.84                   underwritten by Aviva

Came & Company £3437.06                  underwritten by Inspire AXA   

The quotations were based on the existing schedule , with the addition of cover for the Platform Lift.

Agreed to BHIB Insurance quotation cover to commence 1st June 2019.

1. CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLOR : Wolsingham Ward Mr. David Jones attended the meeting and after a short discussion was unanimously accepted as a co-opted member for Wolsingham