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Minutes 8th May 2018

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF   MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 8TH MAY   2018  

(Following the Annual Meeting)

7.00 PM TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT: Chair   D. Sugden, R. George, K. Tippins, Mrs. Y. Bell, A. Vipond,  Mrs. A. Savory,   Mrs. A. Nelson, J. Wilson

 

PUBLIC:                   Mrs. M. Epsly, S. Harris, M. Ward, D. Stephenson, Mrs. J. Wilson, Mrs. J. Henderson, Mrs. A. Bell plus 2 others. 

           

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: J. Norman, S. Palombella
  2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
  3. The question was asked as to what actions the Parish Council were taking in regard to safety in the park especially in and around the car park.The complainant thought it was an accident waiting to happen. Anti social behaviour had increased in the park, underage drinking , kicking a football across the road, and loud music. Most recently some youths set fire to a deck chair and hung it on the goal posts. Litter and bottles being broken and left in the park. Should a skate park be built the ASB and nuisance would probably increase.

However, when the police come to the meetings no reports of ASB have been given recently; in effect we live in a very low crime area. All incidences of ASB should be reported, as the police are statistics. If reports are received and confirmed by police then Policing may be adjusted. As youth service provision has greatly diminished in the country as a whole, as government policy, it is left to organisations like the YMCA to provide youth services , and no such service exists in Wolsingham. Some youth work involvement is being considered as part of the Skate Park plan. The matter to be referred to the local police.

 

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
  2. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 10TH APRIL  2018 , minute 6D from April was questioned, as it had been agreed that the public could remain for finance matters. The topic was left over for discussion at the May meeting, to clarify with particular regard to contractors and tenders.
  3. MATTERS ARISING :
    1. Complaints Procedure; second draft to consider, moved and agreed to adopt.
    2. General Data Protection Regulations; Agreed that correspondent identities need not be disclosed, if they request this.
    3. Motion on Anonymity, to accept Proposal B
    4. GDPR Finance disclosures; agreed that public may generally remain in attendance for Finance agenda item.
    5. Silver St. resident’s request for “access only” street; DCC response - not considered a high risk area regarding accidents, and because of access to emergency and utility vehicles etc. not a priority.
    6. Not sufficient for election, so Council can Co-opt. Person Specification provided, which candidates need to have. To decide the matter was deferred to meeting with condidates to be held Tuesday 15th May, 6.30 pm at the Town Hall.
    7. Report on Sixth Form suspension Cllrs. Savory & George, declared respective interests as they were governors, and left the meeting.

The group had met with Chair of Governors, the acting Head and Laura Pidcock the MP. It had been a frustrating meeting and various FOI requests had been made. Meeting arranged to explore other outcomes with parents from Northumberland schools, who were also facing similar problems. Transport times would be a problem as the maximum travelling time should be set at 75 mins, whilst for some pupils this will be exceeded to 120 minutes which was against guidelines. Times which may well be further exceeded due to weather conditions in the upper dale. Cost of transport to other Sixth Form centres was also a big issue. The Weardale Labour Party had committed their support and Wolsingham P.C. would continue to support and lobby as necessary.

No provision had been made for children with Special Educational Needs and some pupils would need this facility, as they will be in the Education system until 25 years old.

A letter will be sent to Phil Hodgson Head of Education Durham C.C.

h ) Mrs. J. Henderson asked permission of the council to pursue a course of action to identify the sender of the e mail regarding her disqualification as a councillor, who is not on electoral roles or known to exist. Permission was granted.

 

  1. CORRESPONDENCE: Two residents had requested an election, e mail passed to Democratic Services. Ten requests are needed for election to be held.
  2. RECREATION GROUND: Report on Consultation Day 21st April re Skate Park. 80% were in agreement to go ahead with the project and 20% not in support. Agreed to proceed to the planning stage. A working Group of councillors to be set up with the first meeting to be held Tuesday 15th May 7.00 pm at the Town Hall. It was seen to be a thorough public consultation exercise. Objections would be considered positively and concerns mitigated wherever possible.

A user profile would be required so that a specification could be drawn up.

To enable a planning application to go forward, a consultant could be employed and a local landscape architect may assist with this phase.

  1. MEMBERS REQUESTS .
    1. The perimeter wall at the former steelworks site was crumbling, and some guttering was falling and unsafe, clerk to meet with the member on site and to inform DCC of the concerns. Hopefully the current site owner will arrange for remedial work to be undertaken to make the wall & building safe.
    2. Recreation ground car park, a recent check had revealed a number of cars without relevant tickets/ permits, checks to be undertaken and penalty notices to be issued.
    3. A request had also been made to have parking bays identified and painted. Clerk to action.
    4. A large number of rabbits had been observed in the churchyard, burrowing under gravestones. In the past the church had engaged the services of a pest controller to solve the problem, but rabbits return.
  2. NEWSLETTER :   Summary of Skatepark consultation and results.

Congratulations to Mrs. A. Nelson on being invited to the Royal Wedding.

  1. CLERKS BUSINESS:

11 .PLANNING: 

11.01  The following applications have been approved:

DM/18/00721/TCA    8, Church Lane , T1 willow re-pollard

DM/17/03300/.FPA   4, Hound Hill, increase height of side extension and re-roof

DM/18/00625/LB   Fawnlees Hall, internal alterations to main house, Coach House & swimming pool, removal of modern elements, re modelling of bathrooms, bedrooms, circulation areas, and associated works.

DM/18/00724/TPO    29, St. Anne’s Drive T1 prune sycamore

11.02  The following applications have been withdrawn:

11.03                       The following applications have been notified

DM/18/01028/FPA    Peel Cottage, 35, Market Place, two storey & single storey extensions

                                    Cllr. Savory declared an Interest and took no part in the planning application above.

DM/18/00898/FPA    22, Meadhope St. single storey extension & first floor dormer to rear.

12.1     Finance Reports End APRIL 2018 , agreed and accepted.

13 Confidential consideration of a personal matter; process agreed.