Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Trimdon Parish Council held in Trimdon Community College, Trimdon Village on Tuesday 30 March 2021 at 4:00pm.

Present: Councillor John Burton (in the Chair) and Councillors Eileen Dickinson, Margaret Hughes, Les Oliver, Ian Quinn, David Smith, Denise Davison, and Paul Trippett.
Joseph Hobson (Clerk to the Council) was in attendance to record the minutes.

36. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Rob Gilbert, George Elliott, Margaret Elliott and Bernadette Oliver
Resolved that the above apologies be approved

37. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Resolved
that there were no declarations of interest.

38. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Two members of the public were present and made a request for a memorial stone of a relative to be placed at the head of the grave and not the foot of the grave.
Resolved that the wishes of the family would be respected as the grave was one of only two in the row and no memorials at the time had been placed. However, the policy of laying out the cemetery with back-to-back memorials was reaffirmed and that the Council’s information for relatives be amended accordingly.

39. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR PETER BROOKES
Councillor Brookes reported that the neighbourhood budget had purchased new play equipment for the village hall and supported the food bank. It was further reported that the village hall has been painted. The Chairman thanked Councillor Brookes on behalf of the Council for his excellent public service during his term of office as a Durham County Councillor.
Resolved that the above be noted.

40. MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETNG HELD ON 15 DECEMBER 2020
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 15 December 2020 had been circulated with the agenda.
Resolved that the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 15 December be approved and signed by the Chairman.

41. UPDATE ON PROGRESS OF RESOLOUTIONS OF THE ORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 15 DECEMBER 2020
The clerk reported that the bank had lost the application for a debit card for the current account and therefore no card has been issued.
Resolved that a new application be signed by three signatories and resubmitted.

42. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

     

DM/20/03653/FPA

Meadow Cottage
Northlands Park
Trimdon Grange
Trimdon Station
TS29 6ED

Single storey rear extension

DM/20/03579/FPA

2A Lawson Street
Trimdon Colliery
Trimdon Station
TS29 6AQ

Change of use from betting office to 1 bedroom flat, erection of pitched roof, replacement windows/doors and rendering of building

DM/21/00246/FPA

53 Front Street North
Trimdon
Trimdon Station
TS29 6PG

Two storey rear extension and detached garage on land to rear

DM/21/00323/FPA

Land To The North Of 53
Front Street North
Trimdon
TS29 6PG

Erection of 1 no. dwelling house

 

Resolved that no comment be made in respect of any of the above planning applications.

43. FINANCIAL

a) The Clerk gave an update on expenditure approved by the Chairman under Section 4.1 of the Financial Regulations.
Resolved that the payments be approved.

b) The Clerk gave a verbal report of expenditure requiring payment by cheque/BACS
Resolved that the payments be approved.

c) The Clerk presented a schedule of payments made between 1 February 2021 and 28 February 2021.
Resolved that the schedule of payments be approved.

d) A schedule of receipts received between 1 February 2021 and 28 February 2021 was presented by the Clerk.
Resolved that the schedule of receipts be approved.

e) The bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) 28 February 2021 cross reference with the bank statement was presented by the Clerk.
Resolved that the bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) 28 February 2021 be approved and the bank statement be signed by the Chairman.

f) Bank reconciliation statement (Instant Access Account) 28 February 2021 was presented by the Clerk.
Resolved that the bank reconciliation statement (Current Bank Account) 28 February 2021 be approved.

g) The Clerk presented the Q3 VAT return report.
Resolved that the Q3 VAT return be noted.

h) The Q3 payments over £500 was presented.
Resolved that the Q3 payments over £500 be noted and published on the Council’s website.

44. CLERK’S REPORTS

a) The Clerk presented a report on the review of burial fees, which requested that a charge of £125.00 be made for each grave cut. The Council currently pays for an external provider to undertake the digging of graves at a cost to the Council of £125.00.
Resolved that the report be noted and that the new charge for grave digging be approved.

b) A review of Financial Regulations circulated with the minutes was undertaken.
Resolved that the Financial Regulations be approved.

c) The Clerk presented a verbal report on the state of the three allotment sites and sought approval to maintain rents at £30.00 per annum. It was further reported that the Council had to purchase seven skips at a cost of £312.00 per skip to remove rubbish from two of the sites.
Resolved that the rents be maintained at £30.00 per annum for the financial year 2021/2022 and that the cost of the skips be approved.

d) The Annual Investment Strategy, which was circulated with the agenda, was reviewed.
Resolved that the Annual Investment Strategy be approved.

45. CORRESPONDENCE

a) A quotation from CE & CM Walker for grass cutting services in 2021/2022 at £560.00 per cut was received.
Resolved that the quotation from CE & CM Walker be approved.

b) An email from Durham CC to review the MUGA lease was received.
Resolved that a sub committee be formed to review the lease.

c) An email from J McManners regarding reducing the speed limit on the B1278 was received.
Resolved that the Clerk would write to Durham County Council in support of J McManners request to have the speed on the B1278 reduced.

d) An Email from D Walton regarding parking and road safety at Bank Top Terrace was presented. The Chairman, Councillor Trippett and the Clerk had undertaken a site visit prior to the meeting. The cost of providing car parking spaces would be significant. The land is also part of the Green and therefore the Council would be required to set aside additional land to make up for any area used for parking.
Resolved that the request to provide additional parking spaces be refused.

e) An email from J Thomas regarding damage to the fence near the schools’ entrance and quad bikes using the breach to access Parish land adjacent to Bluebell Meadow Primary School was received. In consultation with the Chairman, the Clerk had arranged for the fence to be repaired as a gesture of good will. The fence, however, is not on Parish land but on land maintained by Durham County Council. The Clerk has spoken with Durham County Council and made this matter known to them in case of any future damage to the fence.
Resolved that the Council does not accept liability for future maintenance of the fence, which is not on Parish land.

46. COUNCILLOR MATTERS

a) The Clerk reported that Purdah for the local elections commenced Thursday 25 March 2021.
Resolved that the above be noted.

47. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

Resolved that the next meeting will be at 7:00 pm Tuesday 27 April 2021.

 

 

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