Minutes of the Coxhoe
Parish Council meeting held on
S Dunn in the chair
Present: G Shotton, D Smith, J Taylor, R Mayo, C Thirlaway, and K Pounder
Apologies for Absence: P Dodsworth, B Hepplewhite, J Beecham,
and C Wigham
07.22. Minutes
from Meeting held on
Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and
signed as a true record
07.23. Police Report
PCSO’s Wilkinson and Bennett attended and presented
the report, the details of which were noted.
Rowdy Nuisance – 6 reported incidents in Coxhoe – 3 youth related, 1 neighbour
related, 1 disturbance related, and 1 intelligence related.
12
reported incidents in Quarrington Hill – 2 neighbour related, 4 youth related
(formal warnings have been issued), 5 dispute related, 1 noise related.
Vehicle Nuisance- 4 reported incidents in Coxhoe – all parking related.
3
reported incidents in Quarrington Hill – all motorbike related.
Assault - 1
reported incident – assault at
Theft - 2
reported incidents – 20/06/07 shoplifting
Co-op, Coxhoe and
Burglary - No
reported incidents
Criminal Damage – 3 reported incidents –
26/06/07 – damage to motor vehicle at Petterson Dale, Coxhoe, 02/07/07 – damage
motor vehicle at Hawthorn Crescent, Quarrington Hill, 04/07/07 – damage to
motor vehicle at The Avenue, Coxhoe.
Drugs - No
reported incidents
Other Crime- No reported incidents
Other Issues - Since the completion of the Bowburn
Streetsafe initiative, active patrols to address issues raised in relation to
youth nuisance within the villages have taken place. Issues raised concerning
There has been
damage to the nature reserve at Quarrington Hill due to motorbikes. Action would be taken.
Excessive rubbish
being tipped on Red Briar Bank. Police to discuss with Paul Parker.
Damage had
occurred at
07.24.
Points
to Note
The following
details were noted:
a)
A meeting had
taken place with the artist and Durham County Council and four sites had been approved
in principle. Designs were now to be
made and the project was moving forward.
b) Insurance
facilities
The Clerk had
passed on the relevant details to the
07.25. Reports
of the Clerk
The Clerk
reported on the following issues and the details were noted:
a) Traffic
management
Following the
meeting with the County Council, details had now been provided concerning the
Tarka and Avenue schemes and schemes now proposed for Quarrington Hill that
would hopefully be funded by the County Council. The Police had objected to the build out on
the Avenue scheme
Resolved: i) The Clerk to send thanks to the County Council
officers and Councillor Morgan for their help in moving these projects forward
quickly ii) a complaint be sent to the
Police concerning the lateness of their objections on schemes iii) a request be
made that Quarrington Hill representatives be present at any site meeting on
the Quarrington Hill/Cassop proposal iv) a further meeting be held with the
County Council to provide a progress report on the 2nd August. v)
City Councillors requested to consider the funding of estate road humps
b) Training
Details had been
received on the proposed training for Councillors from NEREO. A total cost of £1000 was proposed for
training all Councillors on the 5 modules
Resolved: i) NEREO be asked to provide the relevant training
at the agreed cost, preferably to be held on the 4th Tuesday evening
of each month ii) £1000 be vired from the election expenses budget to meet the
cost of this training.
c) Planning Applications
The following planning applications had
been received and were noted without objection:
i) Erection of detached pitched roof
garage/store to rear of existing dwelling at 8 School
Avenue, Coxhoe;
ii) Erection of single storey pitched roof
extension to rear of existing dwelling at 2 Aged
Miners Homes, Quarrington Hill;
iii) Erection of single storey pitched
roof extension to the rear of existing dwelling at 88
iv) Erection of a conservatory to rear of
existing dwelling at Chandler House,
Terrace, Coxhoe
d) Risk Assessments
The risk assessment working party had met
to investigate the current risk assessments of
the Council. They had also reviewed the effectiveness of
the system of internal audit.
Documents had been prepared and circulated
to Members detailing proposed
assessments, both general and financial
and detailing the proposed role of the internal
auditor.
These documents were discussed at length. The need for a working party
to be set
up to provide a 3 year plan, including
financial implications, to meet the requirements of the
parish plan and to plan the budget process
was discussed
Resolved:
i) the risk assessment analysis was agreed and adopted by the Council and
Members responsibilities were noted ii)
the document on the role of the internal auditor was
adopted iii) a working party was set up on
budgetary planning consisting of Councillors
Dunn, Mayo, Marsden and Pounder, with
input from other Members. iv) attempts be made
to make a reciprocal arrangement with
another Parish Council to cover the Clerks duties
through any lengthy period of absence
e)
Quality Council
The Clerk had enrolled on the CICLA
mentoring course for preparation for quality status
which would start on 17th July
and updated members on the preparedness for achieving this
status in the future.
f)
Maintenance Contract
The Clerk updated the Council on the works
carried out to date and proposals for additional
works were discussed. Complaints were received relating to the
walkway at the old railway
line in Coxhoe being overgrown. This walkway was County Council
responsibility.
Resolved:
i) the Clerk was authorised to agree to additional works as required and
report
back to the Council. ii) the Clerk to
contact Durham County Council relating to the railway
walkway.
g) Budgetary Update
The Clerk circulated an up to date bank
reconciliation and budgetary statement and the
details and its implications were
discussed at length. It was noted that
expected grants and
contributions had now been received. The Clerk provided an update on the possible
sale of
assets and Councillor Smith declared an
interest and left the room at this point and took no
part in the discussion of this item
Resolved: i)
the budgetary process would be discussed in detail after further cost details
were received on traffic management and
the working party had looked at parish plan
implications ii) the Clerk to re-contact
the District Valuer requesting that he carry out the
required works to value the garden land at
The following
correspondence was received and noted.
a) Community
Safety Focus Event
The Local
Strategic Partnership were hosting this event on the 18th July at
Newton Hall community centre
Resolved: this event would be attended by Councillor K Pounder
b) Association
of Parish Councils
The Clerk
circulated copies of the monthly Association news, including details of the
national conference and consultation on planning for a sustainable future.
c) Quarrington Hill Churchyard
Documents had
been received from Mr Jones relating to works that had been carried out at
Quarrington Hill churchyard. These were
discussed by Members.
Resolved: the Clerk to write to Mr Jones advising that the
Parish Council have no responsibility for the churchyard and no powers to
intervene but would pass the matter on to the parochial church council
d)
An invitation had
been received for the Chair to attend a tour of the museum on the 17th
July
e)
A copy of the
annual report had been received and was circulated to Members
f) Community Citizen Award
Details were received
from Durham City Council inviting applications for this award
g) Regional Spatial Strategy
Details were
received on proposed changes to the strategy.
These were discussed and considered to be detrimental to the area
Resolved: a letter of objection to the proposals is forwarded to the relevant
body.
h) Quarrington Hill Bus Service
A request for the
Arriva 55 bus service to divert to include the Gilesgate (Tesco) area had been
refused and the Parish Council were asked to reaffirm the request to the bus
company
Resolved: Members from Quarrington Hill to look at various bus routes and
provide alternatives for the next meeting.
07.28 Accounts
for Payment/Requests for Financial Assistance
a) A request was received from Vitalise for a donation towards the cost
of essential breaks for disabled people and carers
Resolved: the request
was received. No action to be taken.
b) A request had been received from Coxhoe Together to meet the cost of
holding previous meetings in Coxhoe Village Hall. This matter had previously been approved by
the Chairman and Vice Chairman.
Resolved: a donation of
£70 is granted in payment of this account.
c) The Clerk detailed the
accounts for payment and the following were approved:
Creditor Reason Amount
Minute
Coxhoe Village
Hall Assoc Use of hall by Coxhoe Together
70.00 07.28b
Durham City
District CVS Printing - Newsletters 435.00 07.13c
Soc of Local
Council Clerks Clerks Manual 40.95 07.18b
TP Gardens Grasscutting (June) 360.00 249
N King Salary (June) 07.18fi
N King Reimbursement – Admin Costs
51.10 271
Total Business
Systems Photocopier maintenance
70.50 38
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Signed as a true copy of the meeting ………………………………
Chairman
………………………………. Clerk
(Pages 10 – 13 inclusive)
………………………………. Date