Minutes of a meeting held 10 th February
WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD
TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2004
AT 7.00PM IN THE TOWN HALL
PRESENT: Chairman J. Anderson, Councillors, Gardiner, Thompson
K. Rogers , Mrs. V. M. Welsh, , M. Bell, V.Shuttleworth, Mrs. C. Gatenby
C. Purvis, D. Taylor, Groundwork West Durham
Groundwork Trust, Rural Young Voices Co-ordinator, Catherine Purvis, addressed the council, on her role and hopefully a project to engage young people with adults in workshop sessions. The project would last for one year, and would give an insight to youth work and hopefully would link in with the parish plan findings. Although the project would initially be for one year , support would be at hand for three years. Various sources of funding had been allocated from S.R.B. , European Social Fund ,Countryside Agency and others. The aim was to canvass youth groups and schools, in Wolsingham, also those who only congregate would be canvassed, links with the police was of paramount importance. When a project has been identified and needs funding the co-ordinator would be on hand to help with the application forms.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
K. Charlton, Mrs E. Ridley , D.C.Pattison, P.C. Ian Craggs
2. POLICE REPORT
Inspector Ledger attended the meeting and gave the crime figures for January, there had been 52 calls of which 8 were crimes, 4 damage, 4 theft from motor vehicles, also 5 calls of youth annoyance. The Dale continued to have predominantly low levels of crime apart from the occasional blip. There had been two incidence of smoke bombs being let off , one which was reported , the other had not been reported and could have had serious consequences, Inspector Ledger encouraged people to report all crimes and acts of anti – social behaviour, to prevent a reoccurrence. The anti – social behaviour, currently being experienced in the town were most certainly youths and children from the town, and visits by the police, were being made to both the primary and comprehensive schools. Police surgeries throughout the dale had been poorly attended , with the most (5) attending at Westgate. The mobile police unit would now be used to give a more visual presence and hopefully more people would make use of the service.
Digital radios/ telephones had been deployed within the County Durham force and they were 97% efficient throughout the county, giving the force the capability of communicating wherever they are, leading to a more reactive force. Calls could be mad e direct to the beat officer P.C. Ian Craggs. The licensing laws for public house, clubs, bars & restaurants would no longer be the responsibility of the magistrates courts, these issues would all be dealt with by the local district council, and the police would be members of this board.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
Held 13th January, Signed as a true record.
4. MATTERS ARISING
a) Environment Agency contacted re outflow at parish hall/ Waskerley beck, Where surface drainage is combined with main sewer in flood conditions it is “normal practice” to discharge directly into the river course, when river levels rise to a pre determined height.
As for future housing development issues, regarding drainage/sewerage, advice is taken from Northumbrian Water .
b) Reply from Northumbrian Water reiterated the stance taken from the Environment Agency, council to invite a representative to the next council meeting.
c) Report on Demesne Mill development meeting 3rd February, copy circulated at meeting. The regeneration department at Wear Valley D.C. to be invited to a site meeting to discuss the issue.
d) Meeting Service Standards , report of meeting held 3rd February, copy circulated at meeting. This had been a most worthwhile meeting and lots of issues had been raised and useful contacts made.
5. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
a) County Durham Environment Awards 2003. Nominations for awards, closing date 20th February 2004, noted.
b) Northumbria in Bloom competition, Wolsingham and Thornley to be entered.
c) Bp. Auckland District U-11 Jersey Festival request for donation. Agreed to donate £50 as two members of the squad were from Wolsingham .
d) Request from library to have a loan of “Just Us 2000” for a month. Agreed.
6. YOUTH FACILITIES
7. RECREATION GROUND
a) Playground Annual Inspection ROSPA. As Clr. Thompson was an accredited inspector agreed that Clr. Thompson inspect the equipment and issue a report.
b) A meeting of WRECASS to be held 26th February at 7.30 pm in the pavilion , to have a final look at the plans for the new building.
c) Future purchase of equipment, of a capital nature, to be only a recommendation from any sub committee which must have a quorum, and be ratified, at the full council meeting. Any notice of motion to be proposed and seconded and if any amendments to the motion, to be voted on, by a show of hands.
8. BOWLING GREEN
9. ALLOTMENTS
10. TOWN HALL/MARKET PLACE
a) Durham C.C. Nicola Duckworth , outstanding issues, Ownership, adoption, future maintenance. Letter attached. Agreed for Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clr V. Welsh to meet with Ms. Duckworth.
b) Purchase floor buffing machine. S.M.S. Ltd. Agreed to purchase cost with parts and 12 months warranty £250.
c) Capita , partner in strategic alliance , enhancement plans in front of Baptist Chapel. Three options , council’s views needed before work commences. Site meeting arranged for Friday 13th February with Capita.
11. ANGATE STREET TOILETS
a) P.H.S. annual contract renewal, agreed.
b) Toilet seats gents, & ladies to be replaced and fixed in situ.
12. FOOTPATHS
a) Footpath 51 Demesne Mill request to re-grade hill, Wolsingham Wayfarers. The Parish council raised no objections, advise Mr. Cramb to contact Mr. D. Walton who owns a field at the bottom of the hill.
b) Elaine Field Durham C.C. footpaths officer , meeting Monday 16th February to discuss diversion of footpath 126 to enable Weardale Railway to build a platform, also to invite Ramblers Assoc. and Open Spaces Soc.
c) Proposed diversion Footpath No. 19, request to re-consider objections to diversion?, from Wear Valley D.C., agreed to a site meeting Saturday 14th February with landowner, with delegated authority .
13. NEWSLETTER
14. CLERKS BUSINESS
a. Churchill Insurance claim for incident involving John Deere tractor, snowploughing, collision with private car, at Angate St.
b. Windy Nook household waste recycling Durham C.C., sketch plans submitted for information.
c. Contract renewals: Recreation Ground
Footpaths
Demesne Mill
Angate Street toilets
Closed churchyard
Caretaker
Clerk
To be discussed at a finance meeting to be held 2nd March
15. PLANNING
15.1 The following applications have been approved
a) Two storey extension to rear with conversion of loft space to habitable rooms, 53, Uppertown
b) Proposed amendment to approved plans to form extension for dining room, 10, Demesne Hall
c) Build new garage on drive and convert existing garage to living accommodation, 9 West End
15.2 The following applications have been received:
a) Development of 34 new build homes and conversion of existing school building into 10 apartments. Parish council to raise with Wear Valley D.C. their concerns as to , housing density, insufficient car parking, site access, sewerage & drainage system. As far as car parking the council understand the criteria laid down by central government but feel that Wolsingham should be considered a special case. Several residents have canvassed parish councillors about the access to the site and feel a more appropriate access would be the entrance to Demesne Mill.
b) Renew Front Door – Wood , 17 Angate Street. No objection
c) Bedroom extension, Glencoin, 40, Lydgate Lane . No objection
d) Extension of existing dwelling into redundant granary with lobby extension and conservatory. No objection
e) Re-roofing to garage / garden room 33, West End. No objection
f) Horse Riding Arena, (surface only) Redgate Head. No objection
g) Replace sash windows with UPVC inserts, 30 Meadhope St. No objection
h) Replacement porch & front windows 8 Uppertown . No objection
16. FINANCE
The income and expenditure reports to the end of January were presented and accepted.
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