Notes 16th April 2024
Notes of Parish Council Meeting held on 16th April 2024.
These notes are taken by the Editor of the Town Crier. The official minutes taken by the Clerk will be published on the council’s website following their approval at the May meeting.
There were four members of the public in attendance.
Questions from members of the public: a resident asked if the council could support the ‘No Mow May’ initiative whereby areas of grass or lawns are not cut during May. This benefits wildlife, particularly insects who feed on the wildflowers. It is supported by the RSPB, Durham Wildlife Trust and Plantlife. Councillors expressed their support but pointed out that verges often are cut as residents prefer a ‘tidy’ look and there can be a highway safety issue if verges are left to grow long. The Chair explained that the number of cuts where the council have control are being reduced this year.
Declaration of interest: Councillor J Bell stated that he had previously declared an interest in the new toilet proposals at the Recreation Ground. He has since been advised that he no longer is required to declare an interest on this matter. Any councillors who do not agree with this should report the matter to DCC Monitoring Officer.
Minutes of the meeting held on 12th March 2024: Councillor J Bell requested changes to the minutes as he considered them inaccurate because he does not agree with the record of his comments. He referred to a letter sent to the Chair dated 12th March in which he stated that the way the contract for the toilets was let was not in accordance with the council’s standing orders and will be taking the matter further. Councillor Yeulet suggested that the matters raised in Councillor J Bell’s letter of 12th March be brought back to the meeting after they have been considered by the monitoring officer. Subject to an amendment put forward by Councillor J Bell the minutes were signed as a true record.
Matters arising:
Steelworks building: the council will again invite the owners of the Steelworks building to the May meeting of the council. A resident asked about the current Bellway Homes planning application for the remainder of the steelworks site. Councillor Savory advised that the application is progressing. The Chair advised that Dr Hotson who wishes to build an industrial unit on the adjacent land has been seeking a discussion with Bellway Homes. He had asked that the council consider asking Bellway Homes to engage in discussion with him, but council did not think that to be appropriate.
Policy reviews: councillors agreed the adoption of the Complaints Procedure Policy subject to an amendment that Stage 1 complaints are dealt with in 28 days. Health and Safety Policy adopted. Other policy reviews are ongoing.
Risk Assessments: awaiting some reports. No urgent matters were raised so far.
New toilets: work to commence this week on converting the pavilion building in the Recreation Ground.
Correspondence:
Cleaner at St Anne’s: a thank you letter to the council has been received from the retiring cleaner.
Library rent: DCC have put forward a rent contract for the library in the Town Hall for 4 years with a 2 year break. The Clerk confirmed she had asked for an increase in the amount offered to take inflation into account and negotiation with DCC is ongoing.
Parish Nurse: the new Parish Nurse, Mr Brook, will be invited to a meeting of the council so that he can explain his role in the parish. Residents will then be informed about his role through the notes of the parish council meeting in the Town Crier.
Park that Bike: DCC are offering, through the Park that Bike scheme, free cycle racks or secure storage for cycles. Councillors agreed that this was a great idea and will apply for racks at St Anne’s and in the Market Place.
Diversion of Footpath no. 28: councillors expressed concern over the length of the proposed diversion route for Footpath no.28 that is proposed around the proposed development of 16 dwellings on land east of 20 Durham Road (DCC planning application reference 20/00479/FPA). The footpath is proposed to be rerouted around the edge of the development site with an upgraded surface of whinstone dust. Councillors considered that the line of the footpath could be accommodated within the proposed housing site thus avoiding the detour and the expense.
Monitoring Officer’s report: this relates to a unanimous complaint by councillors about Cllr J Bell’s behaviour. The final decision was that the matter be resolved locally and that Councillor J Bell must receive GDPR training and Code of Conduct training with a specific focus on the respect provision. The decision is in the public domain and so will be displayed on the council’s website.
Maintenance works: St Anne’s Centre:
Heating and further decorating: quotes are being sought for a new electronic ‘hive’ thermostat to enable the heating to be controlled remotely. Most of the decorating has now been completed, with councillors helping. Councillor Savory asked that the councillors be thanked for helping with the decorating and the donation of furniture for the meeting room.
New flooring: Councillors agreed to consider such expenditure in the next financial year.
External painting of roof-lights: still to be done.
Car Park lights: Councillor J Bell asked about the time that the external lights were set to go off as this was not happening at 10.30pm. The Clerk confirmed that they were set to go off at 10.30pm.
Security barrier at the Recreation Ground: this has collapsed. Councillors agreed that there was a need for some form of barrier or gate to stop people driving onto the Recreation Ground. Councillor J Bell pointed out that it had been agreed previously that the trench next to the barrier be dug out to deter vehicles driving round the barrier. Councillor Savory agreed that some form of barrier was required so as to prevent anti-social behaviour in the Recreation Ground. Councillors agreed to replace the barrier with a 5 barred locked gate with a fence either side. Access to the allotments would be maintained by unlocking the gate.
Parking meters/signage/ residents’ permits: the Clerk confirmed that the parking meters at Demesne Mill and the St Anne’s Centre would be installed on 26th April and commissioned on 29th April. Parking charges would apply from 1st May. Payment can be by coin or card. Existing signs regarding parking charges at St Anne’s would be removed and new signage put up. Councillors agreed it was important that the sign on the gate at St Anne’s giving the time that the gate was locked was kept in place. Residents’ permits covering both car parks are available for residents of the parish for £5 per year. Passes for people hiring the St Anne’s Centre would be available inside for people to display in their cars. Drop-in sessions for the purchase of residents’ permits will be held in the Town Hall on Wednesday 24th April from 5.00pm to 6.30pm and on Monday 29th April from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Residents should only give their name and address.
Tree Reports/quotes: reports on the condition of the trees at the top of Demesne Mill and the bottom of the Recreation Ground that were missed from the earlier reports are awaited. An application to DCC Planning (reference DM/24/00685/TCA) for works to an ash tree in the Demesne Mill has been withdrawn at the request of DCC’s Tree Officer who has requested that a further survey is done in July to confirm whether the tree has ash die-back.
Demesne Mill potholes: the contractor carrying out road repairs on Front Street has undertaken to repair the potholes in the Demesne Mill when the road repairs are completed. Councillor Savory will chase up the reinstatement of the public footpath signpost that has fallen over at the entrance to the Demesne Mill.
Closure of The Causeway: Councillor Savory confirmed that this is due to take place in May so that repairs to the bridge across the river can be carried out. The road will be closed from 9.00am to 3.00pm on Monday-Friday. Councillor Savory has since confirmed that, in order to carry out roadworks, The Causeway will be closed from Tuesday 7th May from 9.00am to 3.00pm on weekdays (open Saturday and Sunday) until Wednesday 15th May.
Office move: the Clerk will move from the Town Hall to the St Anne’s Centre in early May. The Chair advised the Weardale Area Action Partnership (AAP) had asked if they could take the vacated Clerk’s office in the Town Hall free of charge as they were having to move out of the Dales Centre in Stanhope to an office in Crook. The Chair suggested that this room could be included as part of the rental contract for the library. Councillor Savory outlined how Wolsingham and Thornley had benefitted many times from funding from the AAP and that the council may wish to bear this in mind when considering the request for the AAP to use the vacated office in the Town Hall. Councillor Rodgers expressed concern about the potential for perceived bias towards the parish were the office to be let to the AAP rent-free. Councillors agreed to pursue the idea of including the office as part of a revised library rental agreement with DCC. Councillors agreed to write to DCC expressing their disappointment that the Weardale AAP are having to move out of the dale.
Agenda items deadline: the agenda must be made public 3 clear working days before the date of the meeting. The Clerk asked that the deadline for items to be included on the agenda be put back to 10.00am on the Monday of the week before (instead of the Tuesday of that week) to allow time for the agenda to be drawn up, as she is not working for this council on Tuesdays. Councillors agreed move the deadline to noon on the Monday of the week before the meeting.
Finance: Payments/Accounts for March were accepted.
Planning matters: no comments were made on the list of planning applications set out in the agenda.
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 14th May at 7.00pm in the Town Hall. All are welcome to attend.