WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 8TH NOVEMBER   2022

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

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

                               O Gardner, HG Dobson, Sarah-Ann Baxter (Clerk)

            MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Green, T. Willis, G & B Pybourne, N, R & D Galbraith, D. Stephenson

                    

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: A.Vipond,
   1. Mr Sugden presented Gordon Dobson with a card and collection and thanked him for his 20years service as Parish Clerk and being the front contact for the Council. Gordon thanked the Chair and all the Councillors and expressed the importance of the Parish Council for representing the community.
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: Councillor Y Bell asked that due to the number of hall hires required could the WI Panto have free use of the hall for rehearsals and the shows. Councillor Savory raised a point that this may cause issues with other user groups if the hall was given free of charge and proposed the WI to be given the hall hires for a one off charge of £100, this was unanimously agreed.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  11TH October 2022: agreed & signed as a true record
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Resident concerns with HGV traffic Angate Street and Uppertown: Councillor Savory has arranged a meeting with Durham County Council Highway Team, Police, herself, resident Trish Willis and the Parish Clerk on the 17th November 2022 to discuss the issues raised. Councillor Savory has also arranged for a speed survey to be carried out in Uppertown which is not related in anyway to the survey being recently carried out on Redgate Bank. Councillor Jones has spoken to Aggregate Industries regarding their vehicles and use of the Uppertown route and they supplied a comprehensive report which the Chair read out. Using their on vehicle tracking systems they showed that 95% of their vehicles travel out of Weardale either via Crawleyside at Stanhope or on the A689 via Harperley. They will however brief their drivers again however vehicle descriptions/registrations would be useful in identifying which companies are using the route concerned.
   2. BBQ provision was discussed and several options such as brick/stone construction need to be considered. Councillor Bell asked where the BBQ’s would be located and three sites were discussed namely the recreation ground, Demesne Mill and Thornley woods. Councillor Savory suggested a site visit might be in order and it was agreed that this would be arranged. Councillor Rodgers highlighted that due to the nature of Thornley Wood it perhaps would not be a good site to encourage BBQ’s and this was agreed.
   3. It had been brought to the Councils attention that the handwashing facilities in the Angate ladies toilets had not been working for some time. The cost to replace the current unit (which has been in place for over 15years) with a similar unit was £4574.59. Councillor J Bell proposed the unit be replace, seconded by Councillor Savory and the proposal was passed.
   4. The Council has had the go-ahead to co-opt members to the two vacancies and the information to apply is now on the website, noticeboard and will appear in the Town Crier.
   5. Warm Places – This is still being explored by the Area Action Partnership with the use of the Town Hall & St Anne’s centre being considered. Through the Churches Together Initiative the Methodist Church have a warm space on a Monday 10-12noon and a Wednesday 10-1pm to include a soup lunch.
   6. CCTV Recreation Ground / St. Anne’s I.C.O. – The Council has received a quote for £3350+VAT to install CCTV. Councillor J Bell said the driving force for the installation was the incident which occurred on the 24/7/22 and that due to the seriousness of the incident it was worth the money, however until the incident can be discussed openly he asked that the matter be deferred.
   7. Allotment Trees – the Chair read out a letter from a resident which asked why the Council was once again considering the issue of the trees again when a resolution for all parties had already been found. Councillors were then provided with an up to date summary of events and conclusions/suggestions from the Chair. Councillor Rodgers suggested that Mr Pybourne is responsible for maintaining his own boundaries and it is not for the Parish Council to arrange the repair, however it can recompense Mr Pybourne for any works where it has been shown that the trees have caused the damage. Councillor Jones pointed out that the Stonecraft report suggested only a small part of the wall has been damaged by the trees. Councillor J Bell said the Council has caused a civil wrong to occur through the seeding and growing of the trees and a legal Tort could be commenced due to negligence. Councillor J Bell then asked what would happen if the wall is left and legal costs could then be incurred. Councillor Jones stated that the Stonecraft report is at complete odds to the statement made by Councillor J Bell. Councillor Rodgers asked if the trees have been such an issue, which have been in place for 30+ years, why has Mr Pybourne only brought it to the attention of the Council in March 2021. The Chair made a proposal that the Council pay Mr Pybourne for the repair to the wall damaged by the trees and added that Councillor J Bell appeared to have a personal investment in this situation. Councillor J Bell then asked the Chair to retract this statement otherwise he would be filing a formal complaint, the statement was not retracted. Councillor Gardner stated that he did not understand how Councillor J Bell could threaten Tort to the whole of the Council when the Council had already agreed a compromise. Councillor J Bell suggested that the Council write to Mr Pybourne to outline their proposal, this was agreed.
6. CORRESPONDENCE: None
7. RECREATION GROUND:  Councillor Savory confirmed the date of the Christmas Market as the 19/11/22 and that Stanhope Silver Band would be playing between 1-3pm.
8. MARKET PLACE: Chair informed the meeting that new wiring is being provided inside the Town Hall for the Christmas window lights. Mr Dobson informed the Council that the Christmas tree was ordered. Councillor Savory has funding for Christmas lights and has had a meeting with street lighting.
9. FINANCE:
   1. Cheques for Payment October - agreed
   2. Reports to End  October – agreed
   3. Clerk had received an email from the Wolsingham Playgroup requesting funding to help with running costs as their numbers had dropped. Councillor J Bell proposed that the playgroup not be charged for the hire of the St Anne’s Centre, this was not agreed. Councillors agreed it is an important service but free hall hire would set a precedence for other groups. The chair suggested the issue be considered at the budget meeting being held later in the month and Councillor Gardiner suggested the playgroup be invited to the Council’s December meeting. Councillor Savory suggested they also approach WAAP as small grants money is available for such issues.

 

10 a) PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/22/02637/TCA    25, Front Street, removal of T1 Monkey Puzzle Tree – no objection

DM/22/02301/FPA    Dapple Farm, High Stoop, Tow Law. Construction of menage, hard standing area and resurfacing works of existing access/hardstanding with associated drainage (part retrospective) - approved

DM/22/01998/FPA    Kentmere Cottage, 1 East End. Change of use from residential dwelling to single holiday let - approved

DM/22/02947/TCA    Land South & West of The Cootage, Thornley, Tow Law. Tree works to maples T1, T2 and T3 –no objection

DM/22/01910/FPA    35 Gateways. Change of use from public highway to private drive - approved

b) PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

DM/22/03037/LB       27-29 Front Street. Replace selected windows and French doors to the garden and perform repairs to the garden room roof – no objection

DM/22/02973/TCA    Land East of 4 Uppertown. Remove branches and dead wood that overhang property and reduce height up to 4m T1 sycamore – no objection

DM/22/0294/TCA      Land South and West of The Cottage, Thornley, Tow Law. Trees works to maples T1, T2 and T3 – no objection