WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 13TH DECEMBER   2022

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

                                                                                                                                              

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

                                       O Gardner, Sarah-Ann Baxter (Clerk)

                MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J. Green, T. Willis, J. Clarke, T. Buckle

                                                          

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: D Jones, I Rodgers

1. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Sugden declared an interest in the planning application DM/22/03101/TCA. Cllr Savory declared an interest in planning due to her duties on the DCC Planning Committee.
3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD  8TH November 2022: agreed & signed as a true record
4. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Cllr Sugden read out a statement to clarify that at the last meeting he did not intend to imply that Cllr J Bell had had any financial gain with regard to the issue of the allotment wall/trees but was pointing out the personal involvement of time and effort that Cllr J Bell had afforded the situation.
   2. Cllr Sugden read out a statement concerning the incident at the recreation ground on 24/7/22, an informal hearing had taken place between Cllr Sugden, Cllr Savory, Parish Clerk S A Baxter and the complainants who wished to pursue a formal complaint. After taking advice the matter has been referred to the DCC Monitoring Officer.
   3. HGV concerns Angate Street & Uppertown. A meeting has been held between Cllr Savory, Cllr Gardner, Parish Clerk, local resident and officers from DCC Highways and Durham Police. DCC stated that they would not implement a weight limit as the location does not hit the criteria. A speed survey has been undertaken and we are awaiting the results. Mr Clarke stated that the traffic does not appear to be heavier however speed appears to be an issue, he asked could some sort of control be implemented. Trish Willis has spoken directly to the Spar who have immediately stopped their wagons from using this route, Trish is now trying to identify other firms so that similar conversations can be had.
   4. BBQ’s. A site meeting has been carried out and a location at both the Recreation Ground and Demesne Mill has been identified, although it has been decided rather than provide full BBQ facilities it would be more appropriate to provide a solid platform onto which disposable BBQ’s could be placed rather than destroying the existing wooden tables and scorching the ground. Cllr J Bell stated that 13 residents had approached him who were against this proposal, it was decided to allow comments, by Tuesday 3rd January, on the locations to be considered at the next Parish meeting and that a plan of the proposed locations be displayed on the website and the Town Hall noticeboard.
   5. Co-Option of Councillors. There have been four applications for two vacant posts. A selection interview will be carried out on Friday 6th January 2023.
   6. Christmas Market. Cllr Savory reported that there had been a steady stream of people all day and that the stall holders who attended were happy, there had been no issues and no complaints. Cllr Savory has had a request that the market be moved to the Market Place but this would involve a road closure, extra costs, weather etc. which will all have to be considered for next year.
   7. Christmas Tree Lights. Sarah-Ann Baxter, Parish Clerk, explained the situation of the Christmas tree light following several residents expressing their disappointment both directly and on social media. DCC would not allow the Parish Council to connect directly into the power supply as in previous years and require an upgraded supply for any future lights, therefore the tree has had to dressed with battery operated lights, this all had to be arranged at very short notice. The tree that has been supplied is much taller than anticipated and required a cherry picker to dress the tree rather than just ladders and DCC did not have any spare units they could provide, therefore a private source had to be found. Shortly before the lamp column motifs were going to be erected DCC condemned the light units, the Clerk managed to source the LED wraps which are currently in place. It is agreed that the situation is not ideal at all but one that had to be implemented at very short notice, Cllr Savory thanked the Clerk for her hard work and explained that she is already in talks with DCC regarding the upgrading on the electrical supply through AAP funding.
5. CORRESPONDENCE:
   1. Resident, Francisco Silveira has kindly offered to plant around a dozen oak tress which he has grown from acorns on Council owned land. Councillors were asked to propose locations which could be discussed at the January meeting.
6. RECREATION GROUND:  Terence Buckle has kindly offered to organise a monthly litter pick, possibly on the third Saturday of every month at 10am meeting at the Recreation Ground. He asked if the Parish Council could purchase the necessary equipment and that it could be stored at the St Anne’s Centre. Cllr Savory informed the meeting that the equipment could be obtained from DCC, which she would arrange and the necessary insurance would also be covered by DCC.
7. TOWN HALL CLOCK: The cost to have the clock serviced annually was discussed at a cost of £274, this was agreed.
8. CORONATION: Cllr Savory asked if the Parish Council would be willing to fund a commemorative medal to go to all Wolsingham primary school children, this would be at a cost of £2.99 per unit with around 160 pupils, this was agreed and Cllr Savory was looking to fund all Wolsingham School pupils from her DCC budget. Cllr Sugden asked if the Parish Council would wish to organise an event or whether to fund other groups who would be willing to take on the project. It was agreed that residents could make suggestions which would be considered at the next Parish Council meeting in January.
9. FINANCE:
   1. Cheques for Payment November - agreed
   2. Reports to End October – agreed
   3. Clerks Hours – Council agreed that the Clerk could claim additional hours, if required, due to the current extra time that has been expended

 

10 a) PLANNING:  DECIDED

DM/22/03101/TCA    Wascrow 1 Uppertown, Wolsingham. Crown reduction and reshape up to 50%

to T5 Copper Beech, height reduction up to 10% to T6, Larch and reduce crown and reshape up to 50% to T7 multi stemmed Elm – No Objection

DM/22/02873/FPA    Greenacres, Leazes Lane, Wolsingham. Proposed single storey extension – Approved

DM/22/02884/TPO    Land West of Springbank, Thornley, Tow Law. Crown reduction up to 2m all round, removal of deadwood and remove infected branches to T2 Ash. – Approved

DM/22/02883/TPO    Land South West of Stanella, Thornley, Tow Law. Crown reduction up to 4m to T3 Oak – Approved

DM/22/02815/TPO    Land South of Maryland Cottage, Thornley, Tow Law. Crown reduction up to 1m, pruning to remove soft growth on outer parts of tree crown including shortening of secondary branches under 50mm only and removal of deadwood to T1 Sycamore - Approved

DM/22/02524/FPA    12 Lynndale, Wolsingham. Single storey rear extensions, partially convert garage to habitable room and additional first floor window – Approved

DM/22/01771/FPA    Leazes Farm Leazes Lane, Wolsingham. Agricultural worker’s dwelling, laboratory building, integrated tack room, stables, office and machinery store and associated demolition of existing structures – Application Withdrawn

DM/22/01594/FPA    Redgate House Farm, Redgate Bank, Wolsingham. Provision of farm access road onto public highway – Approved

DM/21/03639/FPA    Bowlees Farm, Durham Road, Wolsingham. Proposed 15no holiday lodges – Refused

DM/20/01421/OUT    Site of Former Wolsingham Steelworks, Durham Road, Wolsingham. Outline planning permission for up to 151 new homes of mixed type and tenure, conversion of former office buildings for up to 750sqm of mixed use floorspace providing for flexible use within Use Classes A1, A2, A3, B1, D1 and D2 with Town Centre uses extending to no more than 399sqm, site remediation, structural landscaping and ancillary works; and associated infrastructure with all matters reserved except means of access from Durham Road - Approved

 

b) PLANNING : NOTIFIED;

 

DM/22/03487/FPA    Leazes Farm, Leazes Lane, Wolsingham. Conversion of existing barn to form dwelling, laboratory building and intergrated tack room, stables, office & garage-resubmission of DM/22/01771/FPA – No Objection

DM/22/03452/FPA    1-3 Deneside Business Units, Wolsingham. Alterations to previously approved

scheme and creation of additional access and parking area – part retrospective– No Objection

DM/22/03400/DRC    Middle Fawnlees, Leazes Lane, Wolsingham. Discharge of conditions 3,6, 7, 8, 11 and 17 to planning permission DM/20/01839/FPA– No Objection

DM/22/03324/TPO    14 Leazes Lane, Wolsingham. Fell T1 Sycamore and Fell T2 Sycamore

DM/22/03262/FPA    41 West End, Wolsingham. Alterations works to include extension, demolition of existing detached garage and construction of detached garage, raise the ridge height to create rooms in the loft and extension to Southern elevation. – No Objection

DM/22/03146/FPA    11 Riverside, Wolsingham. Single storey extension to rear– No Objection

DM/22/03145/FPA    The Old Station House, Wear Bank, Wolsingham. Erection of 1no. detached dormer bungalow with detached garage. – Objection due to development does not respect the historic form and setting of the Grade II listed Old Station House.

DM/22/02847/AD      Demesne Mill Car Park and picnic area, Angate Street, Wolsingham. Replacement notice board– No Objection