THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TRIMDON FOUNDRY PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE, TRIMDON ON TUESDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2013

 

PRESENT:- COUN B D FERGUSON (CHAIR)
Mesdame:- G E Elliott
Messrs:- G Elliott & J France
County Councillor L Hovvels

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

965.   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence had been submitted and accepted from Councillors Mrs L & Mr J Grigg.

966.   CIVIC PRIDE
The Chairman welcomed Mrs P Walker from Durham County Council who had come along to the meeting to speak on the Pride approach to changing attitudes and behaviours with Teams working across the County on matters such as litter, fly tipping, dog fouling, graffiti etc.  It was stressed work was campaign driven and hot spot areas could be identified.  Residents were encouraged to report any problems they had, (03000 261018 – option 2).  Details were given of recent campaigns one of which was a Responsible Dog Ownership campaign with a web page, green dog walkers, free micro chipping, failure to pick up and prosecutions.  Another was a litter from cars campaign wit the issue of fixed penalty notices.  The County Council were happy to work with partners such as the community, the Parish Council to work together.  The Chairman opened the meeting for a question and answer session which included use of the probation service, audit on dog and litter bins, multi agency approach.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Walker for coming along to the meeting.

967.   THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
a copy of which had been circulated to each Member, were approved.

968.   POLICE MATTERS
The Police were not present at the meeting.

969.   PLANNING MATTERS

The County Durham Local Plan
Members had been circulated with details of the last period of consultation to be held on the Local Plan to be in place for the next ten years.  Details of the various meetings and sessions open to the public were circulated and all were encouraged to be involved.  RESOLVED that the Planning Section be requested to host a session in the Community Centre, for both the Parish Council and members of the public to come along.  FURTHER RESOLVED the Parish Council support the contents of the Plan in respect of the site that had been the subject of recent discussions and a petition from residents.

970.   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:-
(i)               
a donation of £100.00 be made to the Butterwick Hospice Care;
(ii)            
The remainder of the correspondence be accepted. 

971.   STANDARD AGENDA ITEMS FOR PROGRESS REPORTS

Drainage issues
It was reported there was water lying across the road next to the Retreat and there were issues all around the village with inadequate drainage.  Rain affected the drainage system which had never been adequately updated to cope with new housing developments in the village.  RESOLVED progress be awaited.

972.   RENAMING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Further consideration was to be given to the suggested renaming of the Parish Council to Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill Parish Council.  The Chairman had submitted a letter objecting to this change.  RESOLVED the name of the Parish Council remain as Trimdon Foundry Parish Council.

973.   PROPOSED PLAY AREA – FEASIBILITY STUDY
RESOLVED i) approval be given for this scheme for a play area in May/Wood Crescent to go ahead;
ii) negotiations be progressed with Home Housing for the site to be leased on a peppercorn type arrangement;
iii) authority be given for outside support from ie Groundwork or Durham County Council to be obtained to support the Parish Council with this work.

974.   REPORTS:-

Member’s Individual Reports

i)       Councillor Mrs G Elliott reported that the gulleys at the end of Windsor Street had not been attended to and were blocked and she had residents contacting her about flooding problems.  RESOLVED this be reported again to Durham County Council.

ii)      Councillor France reported on Councillor J Grigg’s behalf on the following issues; the hedge and verges needed cutting from St Aidans Terrace along Wingate Road to the Garden Society; the pot holes in Windsor Street still needed filling; the footpath at Windsor Street was blacked; the tarmac path outside the Top Shop was being damaged and was broken up due to heavy wagons parking outside the top Shop.  RESOLVED the relevant reports be made to Durham County Council.

iii)     Further to the last meeting, Councillor Mr G Elliott  gave a list of suggested areas for new dog bins as follows:- Springdale, Deaf Hill Terrace, end of Windsor Street, Premier Court, and outside the Colliery Club.  RESOLVED these dog waste bins be requested from Durham County Council.

Flooding on the former railway line footpath was reported as well as it being overgrown.  It was suggested Durham County Council be asked to carry out a land search to determine ownership and also Peterlee College be contacted to see if they could work in partnership with the Parish Council on improving the condition footpaths.  RESOLVED this course of action be followed.          

(iv)    Chairman’s Report
The Chairman, Councillor B D Ferguson, reported on discussions at the recent Health & Safety Seminar hosted by Zurich Municipal and he lighted issues that were considered which included the limited time that authorities had to respond to insurance claims and compliance. NALC were to be responding at a national level and were to be attending a meeting in the region in November.  RESOLVED the contents of the Chairman’s report be noted.

(v)     County Councillor’s Report
County Councillor Hovvels reported that she had been very busy with matters on behalf of the Parish Council.  There had been eighteen notices served in connection with St Aidans and the CAT Team were to offer further support from 4th November through to 29th December to cover three streets.  It was asked if the Parish Council would support environmental projects ie hanging baskets etc and if budget provision could be made, she felt that all parties should work together to make things happen.  County Councillor Hovvels She was doing all she could to support and help make a difference.  She reported on the public bus service with hospital Link and Dial a Ride Service, meeting with Arriva and she assured she would continue to feedback on this.  She suggested in an attempt to claim its own identity the Parish Council should perhaps have its own web site.  The Clerk reported that the Trimdon Times web site supported the Parish Council and worked well keeping, the public advised.  RESOLVED the information given in the report be noted and the Parish Council make provision within its budget for 2014/15 for further environmental improvements in the village.     

(vi)    Resident’s Issues

(a)     Road Crossing at the Top Shop
Residents were concerned at the danger for pedestrians when crossing the road at the Top Shop and asked if a request could be made for a pedestrian crossing or a chicane or some type of road safety improvement to minimise the risk when crossing the road at this point.   RESOLVED such a request be made to Durham County Council.

(b)     Rubbish & Fly Tipping
A local resident reported problems with fly tipping and rubbish being dumped on land in his ownership.  RESOLVED these problems be reported.

(c)      Road cleaners
It was asked that a report be made for the road sweepers to clean the roads and gulleys on Wingate Road.  RESOLVED this request be made.

(d)     Land for sale by Durham County Council
It was asked will any interest in this land be considered closely and was there a possibility of it being returned to grazing land.  This was not known.  RESOLVED further information be awaited on this matter.

(vii) 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:- the Cemetery; Firework Display; Trimdon Gateways Signs – Progress; Phase II memorial Garden Scheme – Progress; the Memorial Service; Deaf Hill – Request for information and history on the name from a person in Canada; Winter Maintenance and Maintenance of Playground Equipment.

RESOLVED:-(i) the Chairman Councillor Ferguson or Councillor Mr G Elliott represent the Parish Council at the memorial service and a wreath be ordered on the Parish Council’s behalf;
(ii)     two grit bins and a dumpy bag of salt be ordered at the price as given;
(iii)    a price be obtained for the playground repair and this be reported to the next meeting for consideration.

975.   FINANCIAL MATTERS

i)       Accounts for Payment
RESOLVED that the action taken in paying accounts with cheque payments totalling £2,243.81 presented at the meeting for approval, be endorsed.
(iii)    Bank Reconciliations
Members were circulated with the Bank Reconciliations for September 2013.  RESOLVED that the reconciliations be accepted.

976.   LIST OF APPROVED CONTRACTORS
As requested Members were circulated with a copy of a list of contractors currently used by the Parish Council.  Members were asked to advise the Clerk of any of persons they may wish to be included on the list.  RESOLVED the information given be noted.

977.   DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed the next meeting be on Tuesday 12th November 2013 at 6.15pm.