Minutes of the Meeting of Trimdon Parish Council held in Trimdon Grange Community Centre on Tuesday 14 April 2015 at 7:00pm.
Present: Councillor John Burton (in the Chair) and Councillors Sheila Appleton, Denise Davison, Eileen Dickinson, Bernadette Oliver, George Elliott Snr., Ian Quinn, Keith Thompson and Paul Trippett.
Anne Delandre (Clerk to the Council) was in attendance to record the minutes; County Councillor Peter Brookes was in attendance to report on Durham County Council issues and Sergeant Alex Clarke, Durham Constabulary, was in attendance for part of the meeting.
130. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
Resolved that the above be noted.
131. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Margaret Hughes, George Elliott, Margaret Elliott and Julie Thompson.
Resolved that the above apologies be accepted.
132. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There were no members of the public in attendance.
Resolved that the above be noted.
133. POLICING IN THE PARISH
Sergeant Alex Clarke, Durham Constabulary, attended the meeting and reported the crime figures for the period 10 March 2015 – 14 April 2015.
TRIMDON VILLAGE
Burglary (other) – 2 incidences
Theft of Motor Vehicle – 1 incident
Assault – 1 incidence
Other – 1 incident
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB):
All ASB 103 incidences (up 28% on 2014)
Youth ASB 65 incidences (up 35% on 2014)
TRIMDON GRANGE/COLLIERY
Burglary (dwelling) – 1 incident
Criminal damage – 2 incidences
Assault – 1 incident
Theft – 1 incident
Theft of Motor Vehicle – 1 incident
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB):
All ASB 74 incidences (down 5% on 2014)
Youth ASB 27 incidences (up 80% on 2014)
In both areas the detection/solved rate for crime stands at 33% with one out of every three crimes being solved – the investigation of crime by Durham Police has been recognised by the HMIC and is the only police force to receive a grading of ‘Outstanding’.
Sergeant Clarke advised that the Response Team was being located from Darlington to Bishop Auckland, but that this should not affect service delivery.
Resolved that the above report be noted.
Sergeant Clarke was thanked for his attendance and left the meeting.
134. MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 10 MARCH 2015
Resolved that the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on 10 March 2015 (previously circulated) be accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
135. UPDATE ON PROGRESS OF RESOLUTIONS FROM THE LAST MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ON 10 MARCH 2015
The Clerk reported that Lee Potts has been appointed as the Seasonal Gardener.
Resolved that the above be noted.
136. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
DM/15/00508/VOC
Land adjacent to 25 Front Street South Trimdon Village
Variation of condition 2 of planning approval 7/2011/0138/DM relating to an amended site layout.
Resolved that no comment be made on the above planning application
137. FINANCIAL
a) Details of expenditure requiring payment by cheque were submitted.
Resolved that the payments be approved.
b) The Clerk submitted the schedule of payments made between 1 March 2015 and 31 March 2015.
Resolved that the schedule of payments be approved.
c) The Clerk submitted the schedule of receipts received between 1 March 2015 and 31 March 2015.
Resolved that the schedule of receipts be approved.
d) The Clerk submitted the bank reconciliation statement (Instant Access Account) for the period ended 31 March 2015. This was cross referenced with the Bank Statement.
Resolved that the bank reconciliation statement (Instant Access Account) be approved and the Chairman sign the Bank Statement as confirmation of the balance.
e) The Clerk submitted the bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) for the period ended 31 March 2015. This was cross referenced with the Bank Statement.
Resolved that the bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) be approved and the Chairman sign the Bank Statement as confirmation of the balance.
f) The Clerk submitted the year end summary for the Current Bank Account
Resolved that the summary be approved.
g) The Clerk submitted the year end summary for the Instant Access Account
Resolved that the year end summary for the Instant Access Account be approved.
h) The Clerk requested to include additional suppliers to the list of payments made by internet banking.
Resolved that the request be approved.
138. CLERK’S REPORTS
a) Report on Annual Investment Strategy 2015-2016
The Clerk submitted a report on the Annual Investment Strategy 2015-2016 recommending how the Parish Council’s surplus funds should be invested.
Resolved that the Annual investment Strategy 2015-2016 be approved.
b) Report on approval of Grants for 2015-2016
The Clerk submitted a report requesting approval to award a number of grants for local community associations and other institutions.
Resolved;
That the Great North Air Ambulance be granted £500 under the Local Government Act 1972 s1.37
That Trimdon Concert Brass Band be granted £1,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 s1.37
That Trimdon Community College Association be granted £20,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 s.133
That Trimdon Grange Community Centre be granted £4,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 s.133
That Trimdon Colliery Community Association be granted £1,000 under the Local Government Act 1972 s.133
That Trimdon Village Hall Association Citizens Advice Bureau be granted the funding to run the weekly CAB sessions under the Local Government Act 1972 s.142
That Trimdon United Juniors be granted £100 under the Local Government Act 1972 s.137
c) Request for Clerk to attend DCC Human Resources Training
The Clerk requested authority to attend a DCC Human Resources Training Course at a cost of £30.
Resolved that the Clerk be authorised to attend the training course.
d) 70th Anniversary VE Day Beacons: 8 May 2015
The Clerk advised that there will be a Beacon Ceremony across the country at 21:30pm on 8 May 2015 to mark the 70th Anniversary of VE Day. Parish Councils are asked if they would also like to mark the occasion.
Resolved that the above be noted.
e) Durham County Council Initiative: Suicide Safer Communities
County Councillor Peter Brookes advised that he had recently received a presentation at an AAP meeting on the high incidents of suicide in Durham county. A Suicide Prevention Partnership has been established and it is hoped that local people will become volunteers.
Resolved that the above be noted.
139. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
a) National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Spring 2015 Magazine
b) Safer Homes Collaborative Working: Making County Durham a Safer Place to Live
c) Local Council Working Group 27 February 2015: Key Points
Resolved that the above information be noted.
140. COUNTY COUNCILLOR UPDATE
- Labour Group meeting to assess budgets. Anticipating £120M cuts to 2019/2020 dependent upon election
- Housing owned by the former district councils of Easington, Durham City and Wear Valley have transferred to a new housing company – Durham Housing Group
- DCC looking at former stables at top of Watch Bank – DCC to pull down and charge the owners
- Trimdon Village Hall requires £4K to repair floor – to enquire whether they have sufficient in reserves to fund this
- Railings on Church Street now painted
- As part of the Durham Brass Band Festival it is hoped to host an event at the Community College
- Bishop Auckland Food Festival – outreach scheme to attend schools to teach children to cook
- Sedgefield Community Chest/Windfarm Funding – funding available. Peter Brookes to provide criteria for application
141. COUNCILLOR MATTERS – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
• Footpath at the top of the Watch Bank is in a very poor condition. Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk to carry out a site visit.
• Revised Garden Waste Collection – stickers and new bins not yet delivered. Peter Brookes to look into this.
Resolved that the above be noted.
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