Minutes of the Coxhoe
Parish Council meeting held on
P Dodsworth in the chair
Present: S Dunn, K
Pounder, J
Taylor, R Mayo, G Shotton and B Hepplewhite.
City Councillor M Plews
07.80 Apologies for Absence: D Smith, C Wigham,
C Thirlaway and County Councillor Morgan
07.81 Questions from the
Public
There was one member of the public in attendance but
no questions were asked or had been forwarded.
07.82Declarations
of Interest
There were no declarations of interest
07.83 Police Report
PC Ogilvie amd Sgt Turner
attended the meeting and presented the report for the period
Assault - 2 reported
incidents domestic related at
enquiry
ongoing, and assault at The Grove, Coxhoe on
ongoing.
Burglary - 1 reported incident24/10/07 commercial burglary at
Hill.
Theft - 3 reported incidents
and charged,
of registration plate Coronation Terrace
Criminal Damage 3 reported incidents 15/10/07 damage to fence at
Cow Close,
Coxhoe,
at Co-operative Terrace
Anti-Social Behaviour 15
reported incidents in Coxhoe, 1 in Quarrington Hill
Slight
increase in anti-social behaviour in Coxhoe. A number of incidents relate to fireworks.
6 youths from village have
been identified as
principal offenders. Working with youth
engagement service. Youths referred for early
intervention. Problems in The Grove are
being investigated
Vehicle Nuisance- 8 reported
incidents in Coxhoe 1 motorbike related and 2 parking
2 reported incidents in
Quarrington Hill both motorbike related. During the
month 8 traffic
warning notices have been issued and there have
been 3 seizures
Other Issues - Councillor Pounder
raised concern relating to the Polices response for information. Sgt Turner detailed the Police position.
There had been a significant
improvement in police presence during October. Gratitude expressed. Police to include an
article in newsletters. A need to publicise
significant results. Concern was
expressed at heavy lorries breaking weight
restrictions. Letter of complaint
relating to non-compliance with traffic restrictions in
Resolved: (a)
an item to be included in the next newsletter, including incident sheet (b) Police to bring to attention of
Maxine Stubbs problems with lorries and abuse of
traffic restrictions in
07.84 Minutes of Last
Meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true
copy, subject to the following addition to minute 07.61 f) GW to draw up plans for
further proposals for Quarrington Hill, depending on results of monitoring
current use g) works at Quarrington
Hill needed to reflect the Parish Plan h)
the balance of LTP funding be transferred to the Parish Council for future
works at Quarrington Hill.
Resolved: the minutes were agreed and signed by
the Chairman
07.85 Points of Note
The Clerk had
previously circulated an update of issues raised at the last meeting and these
were discussed.
Resolved: the details were noted.
Reports of the Clerk
07.86 Planning Applications
The following planning applications had
been received:
(i) Erection of internally illuminated
signage to both side elevations, 1 no. internally illuminated fascia sign, 1
no. externally illuminated entrance sign and 1 no. non-illuminated information
board all to front elevation and 1 no. internally-illuminated freestanding
totem sign to west of existing building Co-op Food Store Petterson Dale Coxhoe.
(ii) Outline application for a mixed use development of 80 residential units and 2400sqm of employment uses, with all detailed matters reserved for future approval. Land At Coxhoe Industrial Estate Coxhoe
(iii) Erection of two storey pitched roof full width extension to rear, and single storey pitched roof extension to front of existing dwelling at no 41 The Avenue Coxhoe.
Resolved: (i) (a) Detailed plans be requested and an interim objection be made (b) request a meeting with representatives from the Co-op (ii) (a) forward a detailed objection to the Planning department (b) advise the school and the medical centre of the application (c) contact the City Council for information on what land they own and what they have sold in Coxhoe (d) provide details of the development in the Chronicle (iii) no objection to this application.
07.87 Traffic Management
The Clerk
detailed the up to date information on all schemes from the County Council
Resolved: (i)
contact County again requesting urgent supply of plans for Quarrington Hill
works (ii) confirm transfer of
budget underspend with the County
07.88
The Clerk
provided the up to date position on improvements requested. A request had been
received from the Probation Service to rent an allotment
Resolved: (i)
Invite allotment holders to short meeting to update them at 6:30pm on 11
December (ii) place order with City Council for removal of possible asbestos
fencing (iii) advise Probation
Service that we will let them allotment in principle
07.89 Parish Report Newsletter
The Clerk had
circulated a draft report for inclusion in the next newsletters
Resolved: the report be included in the next newsletter
subject to additions relating to police action in the villages and the planning
application for the industrial estate.
07.90 Youth Council
Councillor
Hepplewhite updated the meeting on the possibility of forming a youth council
Resolved: interest in project be sought
from the Youth Room
07.91 Quality Council
The Clerk
detailed the latest position on the scheme detailed by NALC and the national
stakeholders
Resolved: The Clerk to prepare a timetable for obtaining quality status
07.92
Training
A number of
Councillors had taken part in the training session on budgets and the feedback
was positive. Details of further
training on Community Engagement had been received.
Resolved: (i) the Councillor training course to continue, with the
next session being Tuesday 27 November. (ii)
Councillors to consider Community Engagement training
07.93 Community Leadership and EDemocracy
Details had been
circulated on a free programme of 3 events on Community Leadership and EDemocracy
Resolved: Individual Councillors to advise the Clerk of any interest in the
seminars
07.94 Budget and Accounts Update
The latest budget
statement had been circulated for discussion.
A meeting of the finance working group had been held and budget
recommendations would be forwarded for consideration at next months
meeting. A quotation had been received
from TP Gardens for grasscutting works in 2008. The Council had previously agreed to consider
an extension from 1 to a 3 year contract if works were satisfactory.
Resolved: (i)
Details of the latest budget position were discussed and noted (ii) the contract for grasscutting be offered to TP Gardens for a further 2 years
on the terms provided
07.95 Parish Plan & Action Plan
The Clerk
provided an up date on responses to request for variations to the bus
service. Councillor Hepplewhite provided
details of the meeting with City and County Council representatives on the
funding and joint working opportunities for Coxhoe centre.
Resolved: (i)
the details were noted (ii) the
Clerk to again contact Cassop cum Quarrington Parish Council asking for their
support re bus services (iii) the
Clerk to arrange a meeting with Arriva
Correspondence
07.96 Standard Board Procedures
Details had been
received from the
Resolved: the details were noted
07.97Statutory Leave
Details had been
received from the
Resolved: The Clerks contract be amended to reflect
the change in holiday entitlement
07.98Traffic Restrictions
A letter had been
received from Mr Turton expressing concern at the
abuse of the no entry traffic restriction in
Resolved: (i) Police
vigilance in the area was requested (ii)
details would be passed on to County Council for consideration
07.99National Tree Week
Grants of up to
£150 per organisation were available for tree planting
Resolved: the Parish Council and Partnerships apply for funding
07.100 Quarrington Hill Community Centre
A letter of
thanks had been received for support given to the Association who had again won
Resolved: Congratulations to the community association on its award
07.101 Code of Conduct
A letter had been
received from the City Council concerning the requirement to publicise the
adoption of the scheme in the local press
Resolved: a joint advert with shared
costs was approved
07.102 Consultation on Budget Proposals
Durham County
Council had provided a consultation document on their budget proposals for
2008/09
Resolved: the document was noted
Other Issues
07.103 Coxhoe Together Update
Councillor
Hepplewhite provided an update on the latest position. A joint meeting of
Coxhoe Together and the Parish Council had taken place the previous week
Resolved: the details were noted
07.104
Minutes of the
recent meeting had been circulated
Resolved: the details were noted
07.105 Open Spaces
Councillor Pounder had attended a recent meeting with the City Council
on an open spaces needs assessment
Resolved: the details were noted
07.106 Salt box
A request had
been received for a salt box in Beechfield Rise. It did not meet the County
Council criteria,
but Councillor Morgan had agreed to arrange the initial installation if the
Parish Council would agree to its replenishment
Resolved: to ask for the box to be installed and agree to its replenishment
07.107
Accounts for Payment/Requests for Financial Assistance
a) A request was received from Victim Support
County Durham for a donation towards the
cost of volunteer travel and telephone expenses
Resolved: the request
was received. No action to be taken.
b) A request was
received from Browns Close Residents Association for a donation towards the
cost of their Christmas festivities
Resolved: It was agreed to provide a contribution of
£60 under Section 137of the Local Government Act 1972.
c) A request was
received from Coxhoe Village Hall Association for a contribution of £19 for a
poppy wreath
Resolved: It was agreed to provide a contribution of £19
under
Section 137of the Local Government Act 1972.
d) The Clerk
detailed the accounts for payment and the following were approved:
Creditor Reason Amount
Minute
Thinford Nurseries Watering
hanging baskets (Sept) £728.50 313
TP Gardens Grasscutting
Oct/Nov £540.00 249
N King Salary
October 07.18fi
N King Reimbursement
Admin costs £47.72 07.18fi
Hall Assoc Poppy
wreath £19.00 07.106c
Coxhoe Village Rent of room CAB £132.00
Hall Assoc
Coxhoe Village Annual licence for room £1000.00 144
Hall Assoc
P
Browns Close Donation £60.00 07.106b
Residents Assoc
07107
In Private
Letters had been received from all current
tenants and these were discussed in detail.
The
Clerk had detailed the legal position.
Resolved: (i) the Chairman and Vice Chairman to meet with some
tenants to discuss the
contents of their responses (ii) the Parish Council to negotiate sale with the tenants upon
the terms agreed
Signed as a true copy of the meeting
Chairman
. Clerk
(Pages 26 30 inclusive)
. Date