WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD

TUESDAY 13TH JUNE 2023

7.00 PM

TOWN HALL

 

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

T Willis, A Bonar, A. Vipond, Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk)

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: J Stockdale

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: None
2. TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savory declared an interest in planning due to her duties on the DCC Planning Committee and the items related to the Christmas Lights & Kiosk.
4. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 11TH April 2023: Cllr Gardner pointed out that his name had been misspelled in Item 8, other than this the minutes were accepted as a true & correct record. Cllr Sugden explained that the website has been amended regarding the confidential items of the meeting as discussed at the previous meeting.
5. MATTERS ARISING:
   1. Parish Council Email Addresses – No further update
   2. Christmas Tree Lights –Cllr Savory informed the meeting that the AAP had had a couple of queries for the funding application which have been dealt with by the Clerk.
   3. St Anne’s Maintenance – The DCC toilet has been blocked again caused by wipes/nappies etc being flushed down the toilet, Cllr Savory advised us that she has asked DCC why a bin isn’t provided in the toilet and been told that a bin is a fire risk, it was suggested that signs may be erected advising people to not flush these items down the toilet. The Council agreed that the Clerk should organise a tender for a litter picking contract. The washed play sand for the sand pit will be £405 instead of £175 for building sand, it was agreed to use washed sand. The Scouts had approached the Council with regards to planting a tree in memory of the late Queen in the vicinity of the Diana memorial tree, this was agreed. Cllr Willis explained that the working group should now look to prioritising work at St Anne’s and that a meeting will be arranged, Cllr Savory cautioned that the Council need to be mindful of costs and budgeting. Cllr J Bell advised that further signs directing visitors to the overflow car park are needed. Cllr Savory had been approached by a local business who are not happy that the Kiosk in the car park is now serving pies, pasties and sausage rolls. The Council agreed to monitor this, but these items had been added at a request from people using the play park and recreation ground.
   4. Jack Walker Seat – Cllr Savory reported that DCC’s footway officer had explained that the landowner is willing for the seat to be replaced in the same location and that resurfacing works to the footway will also be undertaken.
   5. WRECASS – a meeting was held, and it was agreed to continue with WRECASS as the AAP use it as a route for funding. Several Councillors have volunteered to be trustees and the charity commissioners report has been submitted.
   6. Road Safety Working Group – No further update
   7. Showfield Footpath – No further update​
6. CORRESPSONDENCE:
   1. ​ Weardale Renewables – WR have met with the angling club to go through their concerns. The costs are quite prohibitive although there may be funding options available of up to 75% of the cost. Cllr Savory advised that WR have also presented this option at Stanhope Parish Council. It was decided to put this on hold until further information becomes available.
   2. Demesne Mill Seat Request – A discussion was had on the number of seats now in the park area. It was agreed that this current request be approved, however this will be the last seat approved for the Demesne Mill with further requests either being accepted for a planted tree or another location such as the recreation ground.
   3. Swift Boxes – Item deferred to another meeting.
   4. Recreation Ground 19/8/23 – Cllr Savory advised that a brass band concert will be held at approximately 5-7pm which will be free for all. Cllr Savory also advised that the Wolsingham Football Club will now be disbanded due to lack of interest and that they will be running a charity match on June 24th.
   5. Complaint Cllr J Bell – This is still ongoing with the monitoring officer.
7. Finance
   1. Payments for May – agreed
   2. Reports to end of May – agreed
   3. Update on Maintenance Work – Dealt with previously in meeting.

a) PLANNING: NOTIFIED

DM/23/01255/TCA – Land to the South West of St Mary and St Stephens Church, Church Lane,

Wolsingham, DL13 3AJ – Reduce up to 6m including sympathetic reprofiling of the crown and remove dead branches to T1 Lime – no objection raised

DM/23/01227/NMA – 66a Uppertown, Wolsingham, DL13 3ET – Nonmaterial amendment of planning

permission DM/21/02124/FPA to change render to box profile metal cladding and

oak composite cladding - no objection raised

DM/23/01023/FPA – Scotch Isle Park, Durham Road, Wolsingham, DL13 3JG - Provision of general purpose

building and new access track within showfield site for Wolsingham Show - no

objection raised

DM/22/03212/FPA – Bonds Foundry, North Road, Tow Law, DL13 4JS – Subdivision of site and existing

buildings into 5no. individual plots for industrial and storage use - no objection raised

PLANNING: DECIDED

DM/23/00809/TCA – 5 Rectory Lane, Wolsingham, DL13 3AJ – Remove up to 1m from top of T1 Bald

Cypress – No objection raised

DM/23/00616/FPA – 5 The Causeway, Wolsingham, DL13 3AZ – Replacement of the existing windows

and doors. Window to gable wall, bi-fold doors to rear. Render rear elevation and

the installation of a flue to rear to serve a new wood burning stove - Approved

DM/22/01546/TPO – 25 Front Street, Wolsingham, DL13 3DF – Removal of T1 to repair grade II listed

stone wall – Refused

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS

Monthly Parish Council Meeting 11/07/2023 7.00pm Wolsingham Town Hall