Minutes of the Meeting of Trimdon Parish Council held in Trimdon Grange Community Centre on Tuesday 13 June 2017 at 7:00pm.

Present: Councillor John Burton (in the Chair) and Councillors Denise Davison, Eileen Dickinson, Rob Gilbert, Margaret Hughes, Ian Quinn, Bernadette Oliver, Leslie Oliver, David Smith, Keith Thompson and Paul Trippett.

Anne Delandre (Clerk to the Council) was in attendance to record the minutes and County Councillor Peter Brookes was in attendance to report on County Council matters.

PCSO Lisa Hall attended part of the meeting to report on Police matters.

19. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from George Elliott and Margaret Elliott.
Resolved that the above apologies be approved.

20. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest. Resolved that the above be noted.

21. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There were no members of the public in attendance. Resolved that the above be noted.

22. POLICING IN THE PARISH
PCSO Lisa Hall presented the Police Report for the period 9 May 2017 – 11 June 2017.

Trimdon Village, Grange and Colliery – 29 reported crimes
Burglary – 2 incidents
Theft – 4 incidents
Criminal damage – 8 incidents; 5 domestic related
Other – 6 violence related incidents, 6 harassment incidences
Crime – crime has increased by 8% over the same period as last year with a detection rate of
32%

Anti-social behaviour
Trimdon Village – no patterns or hot spots identified and a reduction in incidents on same
period as last year of 7%
Trimdon Grange/Colliery – no patterns and reduction in incidents on same period as last year
of 4%

Resolved that the above report be noted.
PCSO Hall was thanked for her attendance and left the meeting.

23. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON 16 MAY 2017
It was agreed that the minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 16 May 2017 be agreed as a true record.

24. MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 16 MAY 2017
It was noted that the name of Margaret Hughes had been omitted from the attendance list and that the name of Margaret Elliott had incorrectly been recorded as attending the meeting.

Resolved that, with the above amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2017 be approved as a true record, to be signed by the Chairman.

25. UPDATE ON PROGRESS OF RESOLUTIONS FROM THE LAST MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL 0N 16 MAY2017
There were no items for discussion. Resolved that the above be noted.

26. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
There were no planning applications for considered. Resolved that the above be noted.

27. FINANCIAL
Alan Brown (Internal Auditor) attended the meeting to report on the annual internal audit of accounts 2016/2017. A copy of his written report, together with all relevant financial information, had been circulated with the Agenda. Mr Brown confirmed that the accounts were, once again, in good order, with no areas of concern. He commented on the deficit of income over expenditure but was satisfied that the additional expenditure, funded from reserves, had been adequately accounted for.

It was noted by Paul Trippett that the additional expenditure was not unexpected as the Parish Council had committed to spending some of the Parish Council’s reserves on specific initiatives across the parish.

a) The letter from the internal auditor details the Auditor’s Report 2017 had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved that the contents of the Auditor’s Report be noted.

b) Details of the bank reconciliation as at 31 March 2017 had been circulated with the Agenda
Resolved that the bank reconciliation as at 31 March 2017 be noted.

c) A revised income and expenditure for the period ended 31 March 2017 was circulated at the meeting.
Resolved that the revised income and expenditure for the period ended 31 March 2017 be noted.

d) Details of the grants and donations awarded during 2016/2017 were circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved that the grants and donations awarded during 2016/2017 be noted.

e) A copy of the Annual Internal Audit Report 2016/2017 had been circulated with the Agenda. This confirmed that the internal auditor was satisfied that all of the internal control objectives were in place.
Resolved that the Annual Internal Audit Report 2016/2017 be noted.

f) A copy of Section 1 – Annual governance statement 2016/2017 – had been circulated with the Agenda. This statement forms part of the Annual Return to the external auditor and confirms that Trimdon Parish Council has a sound system of internal controls in place.
Resolved that the Annual governance statement 2016/2017 be approved and that the Chairman and Clerk be authorised to sign the statement.

g) A copy of Section 2 – Accounting statements for 2016/2017 – had been circulated with the Agenda. This statement also forms part of the Annual Return to the external auditor and confirms that the accounting statements present fairly the financial position of Trimdon Parish Council.
Resolved that the Accounting statements for 2016/2017 be approved and that the Chairman and Clerk (as the Responsible Financial Officer) be authorised to sign the statement.

Mr Brown was thanked for his attendance and left the meeting.

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 May 2017 and 31 May 2017
Resolved that the schedule of payments be approved.

c) The Clerk submitted the schedule of receipts received between 1 May 2017 and 31 May 2017
Resolved that the schedule of receipts be approved.

d) The Clerk submitted the bank reconciliation statement (Instant Access Account) for the period ended 31 May 2017. 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 May 2017. 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.

28. CLERK’S REPORTS

a) Durham County Council PSPO Park Assessment Outcome – the Clerk confirmed that correspondence has been received from Durham County Council that the public areas at Trimdon Village, Trimdon Colliery and Trimdon Grange Play Parks have been included in Part 1 of the order and it will be an offence to fail to pick up dog foul; allow a dog to stray or fail to place a dog on a lead when directed by an Authorised Officer. In addition, dogs will be ‘banned’ from the fenced-off play areas at Trimdon Colliery and Trimdon Grange Play Parks.
Resolved that the above be noted.

29. CORRESPONDENCE

a) An invitation has been received for the Clerk and Members to attend the SLCC Regional Training Seminar at Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield on 19 July 2017.
Resolved that the Clerk attends on behalf of Trimdon Parish Council.

b) The Clerk confirmed that a letter has been received from CAB County Durham thanking the Parish Council for their financial donation and continuing support with the outreach service at Trimdon Village Hall.
Resolved that the above be noted.

c) The Clerk confirmed that an email has been received from Trimdon Village Hall Association offering sincere thanks to Trimdon Parish Council for their financial donation and continued support of Trimdon Village Hall.
Resolved that the above be noted.

d) The Clerk confirmed that an email has been received from Trimdon Concert Brass Band thanking Trimdon Parish Council for their financial donation.
Resolved that the above be noted.

e) The Clerk confirmed that an email has been received from Trimdon Colliery Community Association thanking the Parish Council for their financial donation.
Resolved that the above be noted.

f) The Clerk confirmed that an email has been received from Trimdon Grange Community Centre thanking the Parish Council for their financial donation and detailing how the donation will be spent.
Resolved that the above be noted.

g) The Clerk confirmed that a request has been received from Trimdon Grange Community Centre for a financial donation of £800 to pay for the installation of 2 new windows in the Community Centre.
Resolved that a donation of £800 under the Local Government Act 1972 s.137 be approved.

h) The Clerk confirmed that an invitation has been received from Haswell and District Mencap Society to attend their 10th Anniversary of the Lisa Dixon Centre.
Resolved that the above be noted.

30. COUNTY COUNCILLOR UPDATE

  • Following the recent local election, Durham County Council has held its Annual General Meeting
  • Bill Kellett has been appointed as Chairman and John Lethbridge as Vice-Chairman of Durham County Council
  • Simon Henig remains as Leader and Alan Napier remains as Deputy Leader (and Portfolio Holder for Finance)
  • The remainder of the Cabinet is as follows
  • Joy Allen – Transformation
  • Jane Brown – Social Inclusion
  • Olwyn Brown – Children & Young People’s Service
  • Lucy Hovvels – Adult & Health Service
  • Ossie Johnson – Tourism, Culture, Leisure & Rural Issues
  • Carl Marshall – Economic Regeneration
  • Kevin Shaw – Strategic Housing & Assets
  • Brian Stephens – Neighbourhoods & Local Partnerships
  • Peter Brookes has been appointed to the Corporate Parenting Panel, Police and Crime Panel and the Fire Authority

 

31. COUNCILLOR MATTERS – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
There were no items for discussion.