THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING TRIMDON FOUNDRY PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, TRIMDON ON WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH 2013
893. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
894. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
895. POLICE MATTERS
896. PLANNING MATTERS
897. CORRESPONDENCE
898. MEMBER’S INDIVIDUAL REPORTS
899. RESIDENT’S REPORTS
890. RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
901. CLERK’S REPORT
902. FINANCIAL MATTERS
903. YOUTH WORK
903. DATE & TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING
PRESENT:- COUN J GRIGG (CHAIR)
Mesdames:- L Grigg & D Kelly
Messrs:- J France, B D Ferguson & A Jackson
893. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence had been submitted and were accepted on behalf of Councillor N Kell and County Councillor Nicholls.
894. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member, were approved.
895. POLICE MATTERS
The Police were not available at the meeting and it was asked that the issues discussed at this meeting be relayed to them. RESOLVED items be reported to the Police for their attention.
896. PLANNING MATTERS
(a) Local Councils and Calls to Planning Committee
(b) Wind Turbine – Planning Application changes
A Local Member advised he had written to Infinis following their recent letter considered at the last meeting, and to date he had not received a reply. It was concerning that applications for this type of proposal were able to by pass the County Council Planning Section and could go straight to the Minister direct. Members felt this could result in local views not being listened to. County Councillor Nicholls had advised that a petition had been received against the installation of further Wind Turbines in the area. Members spoke on the green initiatives such as clean coal, solar power and gas less schemes and commented on how other countries had been using clean coal for many years. RESOLVED that further details be awaited.
897. CORRESPONDENCE
Consideration was given to a list of correspondence received since the last meeting, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member.
RESOLVED the contents of the list be noted.
898. MEMBER’S INDIVIDUAL REPORTS
(a) Police Response & Feedback
A Local Member expressed his disappointment that a resident had received no feedback form the Police following a recent incident where intelligence had been passed to them to assist in their investigations. On the same evening of this incident there had been several others in the village and it was felt there needed to be an increased Police presence in the village. Another Local member reported his concerns at the increased in anti social behaviour by youths. The increase in lawlessness and the lack of action he felt was nurturing a vigilante attitude towards tackling issues. Members agreed and were very concerned at this. RESOLVED these concerns be expressed to Ron Hogg newly appointed Police Commissioner and he be invited to come along to a future meeting.
(b) Dog Fouling
Members were concerned at the increase in dog fouling and the apparent disregard for others being shown by dog owners. The Parish Council offered dog bags free of charge to residents and were angry that these were not being used and that in particular the route to school was littered with dog mess. RESOLVED a further request be made for this to be patrolled.
(c) Dangerous Condition of the Roads – Luke Street
The pot holes in Luke Street were reported again. RESOLVED these be reported again for attention.
(d) Traffic Monitoring and 20mph Request
Progress with this was requested. Members were terrified that an accident would happen and wanted to avoid this. The Clerk assured that the requests had been made but assured she would follow these up. RESOLVED progress be awaited.
(e) County Councillor’s Report
County Councillor Nicholls gave his apologies but had provided a progress report which included the following items: litter and dog fouling- he had reported for action also; water running on the right of way in the Recreation Area – contacted the appropriate Officer for action; fencing – are all in hand and he had given contributions from his Neighbourhood Budget wherever possible towards the costs of this work; Welfare Reforms – and the concerns that these changes would have on residents; wind turbines as reported previously. RESOLVED the report be accepted.
(f) Chairman’s Report
The Chairman gave his report covering various matters. He advised the fencing had been erected to the rear of the bungalows in Malvern Crescent, although there were still outstanding repairs required throughout the village to fencing along from the Welfare and outside the Fish Shop. He advised that street cleaning and litter picking was needed urgently in the village. Again it was reported there was a lack of progress on the drainage scheme at the recreation area as works were still outstanding from Durham County Council and improved mapping was required before the project could be completed. It was also suggested that the cctv cameras needed to be used to determine the condition of the drains in the area. County Councillor Nicholls had given his support with this issue and it was hoped the works could be completed shortly. He gave an update on the asset transfer for the Community Centre. RESOLVED the items given in the report be reported for action.
899. RESIDENT’S REPORTS
A Local resident attended the meeting and expressed his concerns on the following issues:-
• Vandalism – following a coping stone form his property being put through a car window;
• He asked for the rear yard areas to be cleared at 11 & 17 Luke Street. RESOLVED these be reported for cleaning.
• Parking Opposite the Doctors Surgery
The Chairman advised that this had been discussed previously and had been the subject of a site meeting to try and discuss ways to resolve the traffic congestion and parking problems.
890. RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
IN VIEW OF THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED THE COMMITTEE PASSED THE FORMAL RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE THE PRESS & PUBLIC FROM THE MEETING, PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSIONS TO MEETINGS) ACT 1961 AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION), ACT 1985.
901. CLERK’S REPORT
Consideration was given to the Clerk’s report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and had matters in it relating to:-
a) Cemetery
b) Valuation of the Allotment/Garage Sites
c) Putting the Parish on the Map
RESOLVED that the re naming of the Parish Council to Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill Parish Council, be approved in principle, subject to further details on the cost of such a change be investigated further.
d) Village Clock
e) Street Lights in the Recreation Area
Unfortunately there hade been delays with this work due to the weather but the order was in place.
f) Grit Bins – Cinnamon Drive, Watson Crescent & Next to the School
Details were given of the feedback received for the siting of the new bin at Cinnamon Drive. RESOLVED residents wishes be taken into account and the bin be placed where it would be best used.
g) Changes to the Payroll Services from April 2013
RESOLVED approval be given for the Clerk to transfer the payroll service from DCC to Jacs Accountancy at the cost given.
h) Section 137 Expenditure – Limit for 2013/14
The Department for Communities and Local Government had confirmed the appropriate sum for parish councils in England for the purposes of Section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 for 2013/14 was £6.98 per elector.
RESOLVED the report be accepted.
902. FINANCIAL MATTERS
(i) Accounts for Payment
RESOLVED that the action taken in paying accounts totaling £2,064.39 be endorsed.
(ii) Bank Reconciliations
Members were circulated with the Bank Reconciliation for February 2013. RESOLVED that the reconciliation be accepted.
903. YOUTH WORK
Members were asked to support the Deaf Hill Ward Regeneration Partnership and their work with the youth of the area. Grant funding had been secured once again towards the costs of a Youth Worker for a further 3 years, but there was a shortfall and the Parish Council were asked to consider if they could help subsidise this. RESOLVED the Parish Council continue to support the efforts of the Partnership and should it be necessary they assist with the cots of delivering youth work in the village.
903. DATE & TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED the date and time of the next meeting be Wednesday 17th April at 6.30pm, it being noted that the next meeting after that was Tuesday 7th May 2013.