Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Trimdon Parish Council held in Trimdon Grange Community Centre on Thursday 8 May 2018 at 7:00pm.
Present: Councillor John Burton (in the Chair) and Councillors Denise Davison, Eileen Dickinson, Margaret Hughes, Bernadette Oliver, Les Oliver, 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.
6. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from George Elliott, Margaret Elliott, Ian Quinn, David Smith and Keith Thompson.
Resolved that the above apologies be approved.
7. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
John Burton declared a Registerable Interest in Item 14(c) – Request from St Mary Magdalene Church for financial contribution towards restoration of cemetery wall.
Resolved that the above be noted.
8. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
There was one member of the public in attendance. She raised concerns regarding traffic speeding on the road as vehicles pass the Doctor’s Surgery at Trimdon Colliery and the potential for a road traffic accident as children regularly run onto the road when they are leaving the Play Park located behind the Surgery.
Resolved that the Clerk writes to Durham County Council Highways Department asking if they will consider installing ‘traffic calming’ measures in this location.
9. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR PETER BROOKES
County Councillor Peter Brookes reported on the following items:
• He recently attended (with other County Councillors) a moving ceremony at Wheatley Hill commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the pit, where a sculpture – The Last Shift – by local artist, Ray Lonsdale, was unveiled.
• Credit Union launched at TCC – a number of Credit Unions in County Durham have now merged in order to become more sustainable.
• DCC Planning staff have served an injunction on the owners of a caravan site on the ‘Watch Bank’ to ensure that they do not locate more caravans than they have planning permission for.
• Productive meeting held with County Councillors and Trimdon PC to take a more strategic view on the award of grants and donations in future years.
Resolved that the above be noted.
10. MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 10 APRIL 2018
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 10 April 2018 had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 10 Approval 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman.
11. UPDATE ON PROGRESS OF RESOLUTIONS FROM THE LAST MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL 0N 10 APRIL 2018
• Replacement Fencing, Harwood Court, Trimdon Grange – a site visit has now been carried out by the Chairman and the Clerk and the Chairman recommended that the new fencing be installed.
Resolved that the quotation from Peart Fencing Limited be accepted.
• GDPR – the Clerk advised that the Government has now proposed as amendment to the Data Protection Bill exempting all town, parish and community councils from the requirement to appoint a Data Protection Officer. She is currently negotiating with InnovTech for a revised quotation in light of the above.
Resolved that the above be noted.
12. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The following planning applications were listed for consideration.
DM/18/00825/FPA
Site West of Beech Grove, Trimdon Grange
6 no. dwellings
Resolved that a letter of support be submitted in respect of the above planning application as this development will improve the environment in Trimdon Grange.
DM/18/00989/FPA
38 Northside Buildings, Trimdon Grange
Two storey side and single storey front extensions
Resolved that no comment be forwarded in respect of the above planning application
13. FINANCIAL
a) The Report of the Internal Auditor for the audit of accounts 2017/2018 had been circulated with the Agenda. Alan Brown (Alan Brown & Co Accountants) was in attendance to answer any queries regarding the internal audit.
Resolved that the above be noted.
b) A copy of the signed Annual Internal Audit Report 2017/2018 had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved that the above be noted.
c) A copy of the Annual Governance Statement 2017/2018 had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved That the Annual Governance Statement 2017/2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman and Clerk.
d) A copy of the signed Accounting Statements 2017/2018 had been circulated with the Agenda. The Clerk drew attention to the fact that Box 6 had been re-stated to reflect the fact that last year’s Annual Return did not add up by £1 (as identified in the external audit as a minor issue)
Resolved that the Accounting Statements 2017/2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman.
e) The Clerk detailed expenditure requiring payment by cheque.
Resolved that the payments be approved.
f) The Clerk submitted the schedule of payments made between 1 April 2018 and 30 April 2018.
Resolved that the schedule of payments be approved.
g) The Clerk submitted the schedule of receipts received between 1 April 2018 and 30 April 2018.
Resolved that the above be noted.
h) The Clerk advised that she was unable to provide the bank reconciliation statement (Instant Access Account) as the authority will have either income or expenditure in excess of £200,000 for three consecutive years is currently transferring from accounts based on Receipts and Payment to Income and Expenditure and is awaiting Rialtas Business Solutions to complete the necessary migration of data.
Resolved that the above be noted.
i) The Clerk advised that she was unable to provide the bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) as the authority will have either income or expenditure in excess of £200,000 for three consecutive years is currently transferring from accounts based on Receipts and Payment to Income and Expenditure and is awaiting Rialtas Business Solutions to complete the necessary migration of data.
Resolved that the above be noted.
14. CLERK’S REPORTS
a) A Report on the review of the Parish Clerk’s salary had been circulated with the Agenda. The Clerk was asked to leave the meeting whilst the item was discussed.
Resolved
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the Parish Clerk be awarded SCP 38 on the NJC pay scales, backdated to 1 April 2018.
b) A Report on the Review of Security at Skerne Play Park had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the local resident be advised that the Parish Council wishes to dispense with his service at the end of August 2018.
3. That the Parish Council Grounds Staff take over the responsibility for the security of Skerne Play Park.
c) A request has been received from St Mary Magdalene Church for a contribution of £1,450 towards the cost of repairs to the cemetery wall at East End Cemetery, Trimdon Village.
Resolved that the request for contribution of £1,450 be granted.
d) Quotations have been received from Kompan for a number of items to undertake repairs to all three Play Parks throughout the parish. In addition, a quotation has been received for the replacement of the plastic slide on the Multiplay at Trimdon Colliery Play Park, which has been subject to repeated vandalism, to be replaced with a metal slide.
Resolved
1. That the quotation for the items to undertake repairs to all three Play Parks be accepted.
2. That the quotation to replace the plastic slide with a metal slide on the Multiplay at Trimdon Colliery Play Park be accepted.
15. CORRESPONDENCE
a) A copy of the National Association of Local Council Magazine: Spring 2018 had been circulated with the Agenda.
Resolved that the above be noted.
16. COUNCILLOR MATTERS – FOR INFORMATION ONLY
There were no items for discussion.
Resolved that the above be noted.
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