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Minutes Annual Meeting May 2017

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF  THE ANNUAL  MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 9th MAY 2017

 

 

 

 

PRESENT: Chair   D. Sugden, Mrs. J. Henderson,, R. George, K. Tipping, Mrs. Y. Bell, A. Vipond

  Mrs. A. Savory, J. Norman,  Mrs. A. Nelson , J. Wilson

 

PUBLIC:                   J. Stephenson ,M. Bell, M/s L. Richardson, G. Dixon, M/s C/ Moffat,

E. Bloomfield, Mrs. A. Boylan

POLICE:                   P.C. G. Moore

 

Election of Chairman: David Sugden  was proposed and seconded and being no further nominations, duly accepted the appointment of Chairperson, and signed the Declaration of  Acceptance of Office.

Election of Vice Chair: Mrs. J. Henderson was proposed and seconded and there being no further nominations duly accepted the appointment of vice chairman.

Minutes of Last Annual Meeting held 10th May 2016 had been circulated and agreed to accept as read, were moved and seconded as a true record.

 

Matters Arising: None

Annual Report:  Mr. David Sugden gave his annual report as under::

 

 

  1. The work of the Parish Council has continued in a similar vein to that of recent years, guided by the priorities established three years ago, which are as follows;
    1. Making Wolsingham a better place to live and work.
    2. Maintaining the character of Wolsingham as an attractive market town with good facilities.
    3. Supporting local business and employment by developing good provision for visitors and employees.
    4. Encouraging visitors, which brings economic and social benefit to everyone in the community.
    5. Improving the environment by attention to the local ecology, in balance with commercial interests.
    6. Improving safety by managing risks, including traffic, footpaths, green spaces and the buildings for which we have responsibility.
    7. Responding to changing local needs and developments in a way which reflects long term effects as well as short term issues.
    8. Reducing the environmental impact of population growth by efficient energy use, by encouraging sustainable development, and by reducing waste.
  2. The development of our website (www.wolsinghamparishcouncil.uk) continues. It gives a means of communication suitable for the 21st century, both for residents to see what is happening and for messages to be exchanged. Despite publicising this through the Town Crier, Weardale Gazette and Northern Echo, awareness seems to remain limited and only about 8 people have used it to communicate with us this year, although many more have visited the site for information, or communicated directly through our Clerk. The site remains open to further development and any contributions are welcome. The council considered a draft Facebook page but decided against this at that time.
  3. The Recreation Ground and St Anne’s Centre have benefitted from the new outdoor gym, which has been well used in the summer. It still attracts attention from visitors and residents. Repairs and enhancement to the bowling green have been completed, making the green more accessible and safer. The football fields continue to be well used and are maintained to a good standard. Detailed annual inspection and certification for the children’s play equipment ensures that it too is maintained well, despite occasional damage. Some additional fencing has been agreed, to protect against any future incursions by traveller vans, although a visit last year passed off with no harm done. The car parking charges make a significant contribution to the maintenance costs of this facility.
  4. A consultation meeting was held on 7th March, about a proposal for a skate-park in Wolsingham. At the end of this time it was apparent that;
    1. The clear majority of those present supported such a development in principle, though there was a small number who strongly opposed it.
    2. Of the several potential locations identified, only two were supported in a vote. The ‘old’ school site, adjacent to the Sports Hall had 18 votes, and the recreation ground had 12 votes. Discussion of the recreation ground focussed on the area to the west of the football field, beyond the tree-belt.
    3. The Council should therefore explore these options and report what we find. As with any such development, the Council will have to apply for planning permission in the usual way, and the development would be subject to all the usual constraints.
    4. Since the budgets for 2017 have already been set, this project would be in a planning process for implementation in 2018 financial year.
  5. This year’s enhancement of the Town Hall has been with the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting, and the installation of new double-glazed windows, as well as the replacement of the clock on the market place after the old one failed. These changes have enhanced both the appearance and the efficiency of the building.
  6. Demesne Mill picnic area continues to be popular with walkers and well used this year. Local walking guides produced by Wolsingham Wayfarers have received wide recognition and are available free of change. The duck population seems to have reverted to a more ‘normal’ level with no complaints this year. Some new tree planting has been carried out to fill ‘gaps’, as well as thinning the growing trees where they were becoming enmeshed.
  7. Our development continues at Thornley Wood. The parish council has responsibility for managing this ‘access land’, which had been planted with conifers many years ago. It is hard to see now that this used to be an industrial waste site. We have an agreement with Durham Wildlife Trust to replant with broad-leafed indigenous trees. Footpaths are laid, and appropriate access with car parking is in hand. This work is progressing well, involving schools in Wolsingham and Tow Law as well as adult volunteers. Projects like this take several years to complete, but this will be a recreational and educational resource, as well as serving a sound environmental purpose in developing bio-diversity and providing a wildlife corridor. From summer 2017 we may be able to picnic there and enjoy the views across Weardale!
  8. The substantial housing and commercial projects to the south and east of Wolsingham have stalled at present but remain approved and planned. Employment and good quality housing are essential if the village is to continue to develop. Our responsibility is to ensure that it is suitable for this area, and that local needs are met as fully as possible.
  9. We note that, whilst there has been substantial development and maintenance work this year, your parish Clerk has implemented this in a cost sensitive way, making full use of grants and subsidies available from outside organisations. This will benefit all our residents.
  10. In attempting to ‘reduce waste’ (one of our objectives) we have been trying to negotiate other uses for the ‘old’ school buildings, especially the sixth-form building which was only opened in 1999. It seems ill advised for DCC to pay to demolish such a building when other users might bring employment or services into Wolsingham.
  11. This year is an election year, so all of the councillors need to be elected. We thank those long-serving members who have decided not to be nominated for election for the new term; Maureen Epsly, Martin Bell, David Pattinson, Lesley Richardson, Geoff Price and Steve Calvert. Thanks for all your work on the many small tasks and issues, trying to resolve conflicting views and opinions to get the best outcomes for residents of Wolsingham and Thornley.
  12. We shall therefore also be welcoming a completely new council; this is an opportunity to refresh and renew our approach, and over the next few months we shall develop the necessary understanding and probably revise our plans. It is reassuring that all of the candidates shared similar views on the importance of local needs and local views, and commitment to improvement in all those matters which we can influence.
  13. In conclusion, this has been a productive and successful year and we already have plans in hand for further improvements in the next year. These plans will be implemented in a similar democratic and cost effective way, to benefit the majority of our residents.

 

            Public Remarks:

 

Mrs. A. Boylan addressed the meeting and gave an account of a  recent road traffic collision at Lydgate Lane , where three cars were damaged , one of which was written off. She went on to present the meeting with a petition requesting that speed restrictions of some kind be implemented to try and resolve the issues in the Lane as the primary school was also located nearby some action needed to be taken..

The Parish Council were wholeheartedly in favour of action to be taken and the petition was passed to Durham County Councillor Mrs. Anita Savory to pass to the Highways Dept. at Durham County Council.

Also to look at imposing a weight restriction on HGV vehicles using the lane.

It was reported last year on the housing development at the former steelworks, sawmills and Watson’s garage. To date very little has developed; Watson’s Garage site will be completed by autumn 2018,

The former steelworks site had recently changed ownership , no information was to hand regarding the sawmills site.

John Stephenson asked what was happening at Pole Tree Farm as it was still an eyesore regardless of planning permission being refused, nothing has improved. Apparently a revised application is to be submitted and the applicant was working with the planning authority on the matter.

John Stephenson asked what could be done at the entrance to Leazes Lane , the right hand side has no waiting restrictions in place and when the school “drop off pick up”  occurs each school day there is “grid lock” Clerk to speak to DCC Highways Dept.

Martin Bell asked what progress had been made to upgrade the footpath at Leazes Lane , Clerk to discuss with John Hodges at the Wolsingham Depot and PROW.

P.C. Moore asked if a caravan could be sited on the Market Place, agreed.

Eric Bloomfield  commented that the Union Flag and the flag of St. George had not been flown recently and asked whether there was a list of dates available for the flag to be flown.?

 

Financial Statement for year Ended 31st March 2016

The clerk gave the figures for 2016/2017 which showed an over  spend  of funds, of £3916

Mainly due to replacing the Town Hall clock£1965 and Angate Toilets new urinals £1861 which were not budgeted for.

The uncontested ward of Thornley would be reconvened  and if contested the election would be 15th June 2017 . The cost of th entire process of elections would be in the region of £5k -£6k

Moved and seconded and agreed to accept the Statement of Accounts for 2016/17.

             

Review and adoption of Standing Orders / Financial Regulations

The adopted Standing Orders and Financial Regulations had been previously circulated. There was a variance in quotation criteria as to goods / services costing over £500 - £2000 . Wolsingham Parish Council have adopted £1000 as the criteria for obtaining 3 quotations.

            There being no other variations the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations were adopted.

 

Code of Conduct

Wolsingham Parish Council adopted Code of Conduct had been previously circulated and subsequently adopted without variation.

 

 The meeting closed at 7.10 pm.