WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER   2022

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT: D. Sugden (Chair), Mrs. A. Savory, A.Vipond, D Jones, I. Rodgers Mrs. Y. Bell, J. Bell, H.G Dobson (Clerk) Sarah Ann Stoker

MEMBERS OF PUBLIC:  J. Green, Mrs. C. Gibbons.

Welcome New Clerk: Sarah-Ann Stoker meet and greet 6.30 pm

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: O. Gardner, E. Johnson, Anne-Marie Parkin, Mrs. P. Dobson
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  12TH JULY 2022, agreed and signed as a true record
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. ​ 1) i)Wolsingham Wayfarers request permission to erect an Information Board at entrance to Demesne Mill, agreed in principle, but this would need planning permission.
      1. ii) Permission to site a Family Walk Map next to the Definitive Map on the Town Hall, agreed
      2. iii) Request for grant towards the cost of the project agreed £1805
      3. iv)  Agreement in principle to taking responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of these structures, agreed.
   2. 2) Thornley Village repairs to seats, seats had been replaced, as existing seats unsafe, thanks to Cllr. A. Savory.
   3. 3)Thornley Village Green Tree survey Oliver’s to be undertaken Friday 23rd September.
   4. 4) Seats in Market Place replaced as a temporary measure whilst existing seats are repaired. The chair expressed his thanks to DCC, for these improvements.
   5. 5) The trees at the allotments had been pollarded Friday 16th September, now awaiting cost and extent of rebuilding the wall.
6. CORRESPONDENCE: 
   1. Durham Wildlife Trust, work at Thornley Wood, A good deal of work had been undertaken to the undergrowth and paths, agreed to award a grant of £300 to the Durham Wildlife Trust. Mention was made to ask to eradicate some of the sycamore saplings.
   2. Correspondence re: planning objection Leazes Farm, D. Sugden to action regarding the objection raised by Wolsingham Parish Council re: workers dwellings and agricultural justification.
   3. Resident concerns with HGV traffic Angate Street and Uppertown. Cllr. Savory had spoken at length with one of the main haulage firms and because of time restraints and fuel costs, they were not minded to change their route. Cllr. Savory had also spoken to D. Lewin (DCC) on the matter and was awaiting the outcome of these discussions. Concern was also raised on the bridge weight limit.
   4. Cllr. J. Bell declared an interest and did not speak on the matter. A similar occurrence of rerouting traffic through Kirk Merrington had been successful in the past. To be further debated at the October meeting when more information was to hand.
7. RECREATION GROUND:
   1. Disposable BBQ’s There had been several incidents at the recreation ground in the summer, with disposable BBQ’s littering the park . It was mooted that dedicated BBQ areas be established, thus welcoming visitors to the park and so that these means of cooking could be controlled.
   2. Use of Metal Detectors, several of the parks, The Willows, Demesne Mill and the Recreation ground had been blighted by detectorists not replacing the divots and leaving areas akin to minefields. Mention to be made in the Town Crier, and that before this pastime takes place permission must be sought from the landowner.
   3. Members Request: That the Town Hall and St. Anne’s Centre are made available during the coming winter months as places that people can go to keep warm, where they are unable or cannot afford to heat and light their homes due to the forthcoming increases in the costs of heating and lighting. This was a very emotive and logistical undertaken, and needed careful consideration, re manning and control. Was there a need for both buildings to be used, how much would the cost be, who would oversee the project
   4. Following on from iii) hot food and drinks be provided – again where people are unable to afford to cook for themselves at home The Weardale Area Action Partnership were looking at the same issue for other communities and a winter warmer program was being considered, with Wolsingham School providing meals on a Thursday, but not necessarily to the same group or groups of people.
   5. CCTV cameras are installed in the recreation ground and, in particular, covering the St. Anne’s Centre, the car park and the children’s play area. Advice to be sought from Durham Constabulary Crime Prevention officer. Local police to be asked for any crime or anti-social behaviour statistics to support the use of CCTV. Data protection issues would also need to be considered.
8. FOOTPATHS:   Jack Walker Bridge footpaths 88 & 47 had been repaired, but the surface had not been compacted. Due to increasing foot fall, this had now happened, but concerns were still raised when frost or snow may occur in the winter months. As the footpaths were classed as “green paths” no surface dressing could be applied without the consent of the landowner.
9. MARKET PLACE:
   1. i) Christmas Market Cllr. Savory had been exploring the possibility of holding the market at the recreation ground car park, utilising a frame marquee, and the market to be held over the weekend rather than for four hours on the Friday evening as in the past. Use of the St. Anne,s Centre was agreed and maybe the marquee could be sited at the east side of the car park adjacent to Mill Race.
   2. ii) Christmas Lights/ Decorations Cllr. Savory in conjunction with WAAP, and DCC street lighting were working towards enhancing the lighting display in the Market and Recreation ground, with new motifs and the Christmas tree.
10. CLERK RETIREMENT:   
    1. i) Appointment of Clerk: Sarah-Ann Stoker, Agreed
    2. ii) Pension Contributions DCC 18.9% agreement needed.
    3.    For joining LGPS Pension Scheme (Durham County Council) Agreed.
    4. iii) Salary scale SCP 37 starting point with additional increments on completion of SILCa qualifications.
    5. iv)Holiday entitlement 11 days (88 hours p.a.)
    6. v) Agreed for Sarah-Ann Stoker to commence work 3rd October and also to pay outgoing clerk to end of October.
11. FINANCE:
    1. Cheques for Payment August/September. agreed
    2. Reports to End August agreed.
    3. Completion of Audit - Mazars , One minor issue raised regarding petty cash, and if Financial Regulations raised by the internal auditor were addressed no other matters came to their attention and the audit was signed off.
12.  a) PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/22/01674/FPA    8, Front Street, insert new door to front, and alterations in association with change of use from office to Gallery(part ground floor) and holiday accommodation part ground and first floor including ground floor rear extension. (Resubmission of – DM/2200151/FPA to revise the window arrangement to the southern elevation)

DM/22/01667/TCA    20, Riverside, pollard leaving the stem at 4.5m in height to T1, Ash, and pollard leaving the stem at 2.5 m in height to T2 Ash. The trees are prominent in the conservation area and a tree preservation order has been served to protect the trees and control the suitability of any future works

DM/22/01642/TCA    19, Riverside, Pollard leaving the stem at 3m in height to T1 Ash

                                    The trees are prominent in the conservation area and a tree preservation order has been served to protect the trees and control the suitability of any future works

DM/22/01624/FL       Viewley Hill Farm, High Stoop, Tow Law felling licence no objection

DM/22/00566/FPA    18, Meadhope Street, alteration to perimeter wall to increase height

DM/22/01824/FPA    1, Convent Gardens, replacement roof

b) PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

DM/22/01997/FPA    10, Meadhope Street, remove existing concrete roof tiles, and reroof front and rear elevations with natural slate. Site 12 no. pv solar panels rear roof slope No objection

DM/22/01910/FPA    35, Gateways, change of use from public highway to private drive. No objection

DM/22/01904/FPA    The Barn, Durham Road, replace external door with fixed window No objection

DM/22/01824/FPA    1, Convent Gardens, replacement roof No objection

DM/22/02229/TCA    1, Chapel Walls, Beech (T2&T3) crown reduce and reshape by 3m.Beech (T4) reduce height by 6M and prune sides in by up to 3.5m to shape. Beech (T5) fell as close to ground level as practical No comment

DM/22/02155/TCA    Land South west of Stanella, Thornley, pollard up to 7m T902 Oak No comment

DM/22/02306/TCA    Springbank Thornley, Fell T903 Ash No comment

DM/22/02095/FPA    Land opposite 21 to 23 Silver Street Detached garage. No comment

DM/22/02335/TCA    The Coach House 2A, Demesne Court Various tree/shrub works No objection

DM/22/02230/TPO    St. Mary & St. Stephens Church, various tree works No objection

DM/22/02434/PNA    High Jofless Farm, erection of 1 no. agricultural building for housing livestock Prior notification not required No comment

DM/22/01998/FPA    Kentmere Cott. 1, East End, change of use from residential dwelling to single holiday let

                                                Planning Permission not usually required for change of use, No objection