Minutes of the Coxhoe
Parish Council meeting held on
P Dodsworth in the chair
Present: G Shotton, D Smith, B Hepplewhite, S Dunn, J Beecham, R Mayo, C Thirlaway, K Pounder and C Wigham
Apologies for Absence : J
07.15. Minutes from Meeting held on
Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and
signed as a true record
07.16. Police Report
PC Ogilvie presented the report, the details of which
were noted.
Rowdy Nuisance 6 reported incidents in Coxhoe 1 youth related, 4 dispute related, 1 noise related.
8
reported incidents in Quarrington Hill 2 neighbour
related, 3 youth related, 3 dispute related
Vehicle Nuisance- 3 reported incidents in Coxhoe 2 motorbike related, 1 parking
1
reported incident in Quarrington Hill motorbike related.
Assault - 1
reported incident assault at The Grove, Coxhoe on
Theft - 4
reported incidents
Burglary - 2
reported incidents 15/05/07 high value commercial burglary The Avenue,
Coxhoe, enquiries ongoing
Criminal Damage 4 reported incidents
02/06/07 damage to door at Co-operative Terrace, Coxhoe, 03/06/07 damage to
window at The Grove, 05/06/07 damage to shrubs at the Sensory Garden, Coxhoe
(CCTV being investigated), 10/06/07 damage to window at Belle Vue one
arrest and charge.
Drugs -
Other Crime- 12/05/07 harassment at
Other Issues - with the completion of the Streetsafe
initiative at Bowburn, there will
now be an increase in resourcing,
with greater visibility from the PCSOs in each
village.
An update was given on the reason for the
objection to the traffic calming measures at the
Tarka Centre and a lengthy discussion followed
on this issue.
Concerns had been raised at the
Neighbourhood Forum relating to youths in Coxhoe
churchyard and the fact that incidents were still
not being reported.
Serious concerns were expressed by Members
relating to speeding traffic at Quarrington
Hill. A number of fixed penalties had been
issued.
Concern was again expressed relating to
lighting at Coxhoe, Coop. The Police were
progressing this matter.
07.17. Points to Note
The following
details were noted:
a) Quarrington
Hill Stones
The stones were
now in place. Details needed to be provided to Durham County Council for
plants/flowers to be planted in front of the stones.
b)
A meeting was to
take place on the 13th June with the artist and Durham County
Council to agree locations for the signs.
c) Hanging
Baskets
It was expected
that the hanging baskets would be in place during the next week.
d) Training
It had been
agreed that a training course would be put on for the benefit of the Parish
Council. Details and costs were to
follow.
07.18. Reports
of the Clerk
The Clerk
reported on the following issues:
a) Traffic
management
An update was
given on the completed schemes. The proposals for the Tarka
Centre had been rejected by the Police and an alternative location was now
proposed by Durham County Council.
Designs for the Quarrington Hill scheme would not now be carried out
until the end of 2007. Formal consultation
on The Avenue scheme would take place in the near future. All Requests for external private funding had
been rejected.
Resolved: a
meeting to be arranged with the County Council as soon as possible to discuss
the Tarka and Quarington
Hill situations. If necessary the Parish Council would look to
obtain funding for the Quarrington Hill scheme themselves in 2008 on
confirmation that this would be repaid by the County Council.
b) Report of the Internal Auditor
The report was
circulated and the recommendations regarding bank accounts, Clerks manual,
agendas, meeting and minutes were discussed by Members
Resolved: the recommendations in the report are
adopted as soon as possible.
c) Code of Conduct
A new model code
of conduct had now been provided nationally and was circulated and discussed.
Resolved: that the model code of conduct is
formally adopted by the Council without alteration
d)
Freedom of Information Act
The Clerk circulated a copy of the model
publication scheme for the act
Resolved: the Clerk to make further checks on the adoption of
the scheme and if no details
were available to adopt the core information
in the core classes only
e)
Planning Applications
The following planning applications had
been received and were noted without objection
i)
Retention of steel container and retention of increased height of bondary wall adjacent to the main building of The Old
Chapel,
ii) Erection of a two storey pitched
roof extension to the front, side and rear of the existing dwelling and
erection of a single storey front extension to East House Farm, Coxhoe
iii) Reserved matters application
for erection of 1 detached two storey dwelling on plot 1 on land rear of Roslyn
House, The Avenue, Coxhoe
iv) Erection of a 2 storey pitched roof
extension with first floor balcony to rear of
v)
Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of a single storey
pitched roof extension to rear of the existing dwelling, 66 Beechfield Rise,
Coxhoe
f) Budget
Update
The Clerk
circulated the latest account and budget details for discussion. He advised that in accordance with the terms
of his contract his salary should move to the next point on the scale with
effect from
Resolved: i) the budget
details were noted ii) the increase in the Clerks salary in accordance with the
national scale was approved iii) a further letter be sent to the Pariochial Church Council requiring payment.
The following
correspondence was received and noted.
a)
Councillor J Taylor
A letter received
from Councillor Taylor relating to the annual general meeting was read out and
discussed.
Resolved: the letter was received and the Chairman
to write a response providing an apology for any embarrassment that may have
been caused by the situation.
b) M J Williams
A letter received
from Mr Williams concerning the planning application re the Old Cinema at
Coxhoe was read out and discussed.
Resolved: to re-iterate the previous comments of the Council on the application.
c) Insurance
Facilities
The
Resolved: The Clerk to provide details of the
Councils insurance cover and express an interest in the scheme.
Details of post
off ice closures were to be announced shortly and any objections would have to
be made quickly.
Resolved: if any local post offices were included in the closure list,
objections be made.
e) Local Government Review
A further leaflet
was provided by Durham County Council.
f) Quality
Council
The Clerk
provided booklets on the scheme for all Members and advised of a mentoring
scheme commencing in July at a cost of £100.
Resolved: the Clerk to enrol on the scheme at the
agreed cost.
07.20. Other
Issues
Councillors
raised a number of other issues and the details were noted.
a) Coxhoe
Together
Councillor
Dodsworth provided a full update on the application for the churchyard heritage
scheme, the village hall improvement scheme, the planters and the master plan.
b)
Councillor Pounder provide an update of the annual report of the
Partnership and detailed the main areas of work relating to traffic management,
provision for children and young people, landscaping, crime in the community
and housing.
c) Parish Plan
Progress on the
implementation and procedures to move the plan forward were discussed.
Resolved: The Parish Council would meet on a quarterly basis with Coxhoe
Together and the Quarrington Hill Village Partnership to discuss the
implementation of the plan. The first
meetings to be 1st
August and 25th July respectively and minutes of the
monthly meetings to be supplied to all Councillors. A three year plan was to be prepared on the
implementation of the parish plan.
d) Jubilee Way Cycle Route
Details of the
proposals were given
Resolved: to provide a letter of support from the scheme
e) Crowtrees Heritage Trail
The organisers
had received an award from Durham County Council for the scheme and were
congratulated.
f) Disused buildings
New powers were
now in place relating to disused buildings
Resolved: details be sought and where relevant action be requested
07.21.
Accounts for Payment/Requests for Financial Assistance
a) A request was received from the Mayor of Durham for a donation towards
his appeal fund
Resolved: a donation of
£50 was agreed
b) The Clerk detailed the
accounts for payment and the following were approved:
Creditor Reason Amount
Minute
G Bestford Internal
Audit Fee 100.00 124
TP Gardens Grasscutting
(May) 360.00 249
F Burn Chairs Honoraria 50.00 07.18f
N King Salary (May) 07.18fi
Soc. Of Local Council Membership Fees 85.00 07.11f
Clerks
City of
Signed as a true copy of the meeting
Chairman
. Clerk
(Pages 6 9 inclusive)
. Date