Minutes Wednesday 8th September 2004

Parish Plan Committee minutes Wednesday 8th September 2004, 7pm Town Hall

Present: K.L. Rogers, K. Rogers, R.Hopkinson, D. Pattison, E. Bloomfield, M. Shepheard, F. Shepheard, J. Lambard, M. Lambard, E. Ridley, S. Hunt, S. Foster (Durham County Council), J. Corby (Wear Valley District Council).
Apologies: D. Gascoigne, C. Graham (Durham County Council), C. Purvis (Groundwork West Durham).

1. Ken Rogers introduced Steve Foster (D.C.C.) and J. Corby (W.V.D.C.). Both indicated that the councils were very willing to help, within the limited manpower resources available. They will liaise, give advice and attend meetings where possible. J. Corby suggested that material collected by Val Robson and other agencies could be made available to the Committee. Groundwork West Durham have agreed to provide project support, within clear guidelines given from the Parish Plan Steering Committee.

2. Having analysed the results of the questionnaire, the Committee will now prepare and publish the Plan in draft form. The Committee will establish that the draft is acceptable, then finalise the document by March 2005, ready to become part of the planning process. The Parish Plan should go beyond being just a report on the results of the questionnaire. It should be simple and useful to the community. It should put forward policies, rather than identify all possible solutions to problems.

3. The Committee will set up three working parties (Young Persons’ Issues; Parking & Transport; Amenity & Street Condition), each of which will produce individual sections of the Plan.

4. The Parish Council is fully supportive of the Parish Plan. The Steering Committee leads the process of producing the Plan and reports to the Parish Council. The Parish Council shares the general concern over the three main issues (see 3. above).

5. Finance is available to ‘buy in’ advice such as traffic/parking surveys from outside agencies. The timescale for completion could be negotiated, but the Committee should aim for completion in March.

6. The working parties will be made up as follows: Young Persons’ Issues – M. Lambard, S. Hunt, M. Bell, Groundwork West Durham, K.L. Rogers (Chair). Parking, transport – F. Shepheard, E. Bloomfield, J. Lambard, C. Graham (D.C.C.), R. Hopkinson (Chair). Amenity, street condition – M. Shepheard, E. Ridley, D. Gascoigne, D. Pattison (Chair). K. Smith

7. Next meeting: Wednesday, 29th September, at 7pm in the Town Hall, Wolsingham. Working parties will work on individual sections of the Plan at the meeting, then report back to everyone else. Individual groups may organise their own meetings at other times.

Christine Graham – 0191 383 3394 (County Hall)
Steve Foster – 01388 602028 (office)