December 03 Minutes

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD
TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2003
AT 7.00 PM IN THE TOWN HALL

PRESENT: Chairman K. Charlton, Vice Chair J. Anderson, Councillors,
B. Thompson, K.Rogers , I.Gardiner,
Mrs. V. M. Welsh, Mrs E. Ridley, M. Bell, V. Shuttleworth

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
D.C. Pattinson, Mrs. C. Gatenby
2. POLICE REPORT
P.C. I. Craggs attended the meeting and gave the report for November. There had been 36 calls, of which 7 were crimes, 1 assault, 3 damage, 2 theft and 1 theft from motor vehicle. The seven crimes were again half of October which was most encouraging. P.C. Craggs submitted a questionnaire for completion on the Best Value Review for the force as part of the Community Consultation Process. Feed back from the questionnaire would be available in the New Year. P.C. Craggs confirmed it was possible to have a link with the Durham Constabulary website to the Wolsingham website.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Signed as a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING
a) Wolsingham on the Web, update, following the demonstration at the Working Men’s club , there had not been the number of businesses taken up the opportunity to have a free listing on the Wolsingham website, which was disappointing.
b) Parish Plan progress report. The consultation process was now being actively progressed with a pro forma on the web, and being hand delivered to homes, these were being responded to and more consultation was to take place at the Christmas fayre.
c) Holbeck Mill exposed shaft, the stone slab had been replaced,
d) There had been no response from the Parochial Church Council regarding the revised maintenance regime for the closed churchyard.
5. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
a) Durham County Council , Local Government Review, Meeting 24th November, the clerk had attended the briefing session at Chester le Street and gave his report. In essence should the referendum for a North East Assembly be voted against , then the proposals for one or other means of Unitary Authority, will collapse. The Durham County Council scheme would include area boards and there would be one for Weardale, and they would promise to work closer with Parish & Town Councils.
b) Durham County Council , Demesne Mill Picnic Area, Safer Routes to School, tarmac of footpaths. Agreed to the scheme in principle, the clerk to write and give more background information to the County on the proposals for the development of the site and adjacent land.
c) Mrs. M. Robson had written regarding the bus stop signs either missing or in a poor state of repair, Durham C.C. had replaced three signs to date and the other nine signs were in the process of being repaired or renewed. Clr. Charlton to liase with Mrs. Robson

6. YOUTH FACILITIES



7. RECREATION GROUND
a) Update on developments, the plans for the new pavilion / centre were now to hand and a consultation process with user groups would be arranged and a meeting held Wednesday 17th December, all prospective user groups to be invited, Clr. Shuttleworth to arrange.
8. BOWLING GREEN

9. ALLOTMENTS

10. TOWN HALL/MARKET PLACE
a. Clr. Mrs. Welsh reported on a scheme to enhance the number of parking spaces in the market place area. This was in fact one of the options put forward by the Parish Council before the enhancement scheme had started , but Durham C.C. had revised the plans and we now have their version in situ.
b. Prices for a new curtain for the stage had been obtained by Clr. Anderson and the final price of £949.74 was found to be prohibitive. Clr. Anderson would make a couple of improvements himself to the existing curtain rail, to make it more workable.
11. ANGATE STREET TOILETS
The repairs had not been carried out as yet , the contractor to be asked to do the work as soon as possible. Clr. Thompson to action
12. FOOTPATHS

13. NEWSLETTER
There would be no newsletter for January.
14. CLERKS BUSINESS

15. PLANNING
15.1 The following applications have been approved
a) Mounting of satellite dish, 26, West End
b) Alterations to dwellings Low Fawnlees Farm
c) Extend boundary wall & create opening to rear, 2A East End
d) Double garage , 3, Elm Park Tce., Tow Law

15.2 The following applications have been received:
Clr. M. Bell declared an interest in the first item of planning and left the meeting.
a) Two storey extension to rear with conversion of loft space, 53, Uppertown,
The council heard submissions from three adjacent house owners on this proposed development and after due consideration agreed with the complainants and would write to Wear Valley D.C. objecting to the proposal
Clr. M. Bell rejoined the meeting.
b) Stabling & ménage Bracken Hill Farm, Thornley
c) Proposed amendment to approved plans to form Dining room, Demesne Hall Rectory Lane
d) Extension to provide disabled toilet and shower, Wolsingham Primary School