Minutes of the Coxhoe Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 11th September 2007 at Coxhoe Village Hall.

 

P Dodsworth in the chair

Present: K Pounder, C Wigham, G Shotton, D Smith, J Taylor, R Mayo, C Thirlaway, B Hepplewhite, J Beecham and S Dunn

 

07.37 Apologies for Absence: County Councillor Morgan

 

07.38 Questions from the Public

There were no members of the public in attendance and no questions had been forwarded.

 

07.39    Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest from Members

 

07.40    Police Report

The Police were not represented at the meeting and the Clerk presented PC Ogilvie’s report for the period 11th July to 11th September 2007.

 

Rowdy Nuisance –    17 reported incidents in Coxhoe – 9 youth related, 2 disputes, 5 disturbances, and 1 community related.

                                    4 reported incidents in Quarrington Hill – 1 neighbour related, 1 youth related, and 2 disputes.

Vehicle Nuisance-     13 reported incidents in Coxhoe – 9 motorbike related, 3 parking related and 1 road related.

                                    11 reported incidents in Quarrington Hill – all motorbike related (1 seizure)

Assault -                     2 reported incidents – assault at Malcolm Avenue, Quarrington Hill on 28/07/07 – known suspect, ongoing enquiry, and 1 facial injury – investigation continuing.

Theft -                         1 reported incident – 18/07/07 theft of motor vehicle at Commercial Road East, Coxhoe.

Burglary -                    2 reported incidents – 13/07/07 theft of fireworks from Bogma Hall Farm, Coxhoe, 18/08/07, commercial burglary at Blackgate East.

Criminal Damage – 6 reported incidents – 15/07/07 – damage to motor vehicle at Ashbourne Drive, Coxhoe, 21/07/07 – damage to motor vehicle at Bogma Avenue, Coxhoe, 22/07/07 – damage to motor vehicle at Garden Terrace, Coxhoe, 28/07/07 – damage to window at The Grove, Coxhoe, 29/07/07 – damage to door at Hawthorn Crescent, Quarrington Hill, 17/08/07 - damage to window at Hawthorn Crescent.

Drugs -                       1 reported incident – 10/08/07 possession of cannabis at Churchyard, Coxhoe (1 arrest).

Other Crime-              No reported incidents

Other Issues -            Councillors expressed concern relating to the accuracy of the report as a number of known incidents appeared to be missing and the fact that there appeared to be a lack of police presence in the villages.

Resolved: (a) that the report be noted, and (b) that the Chairman contact Inspector Dodds relating to the concerns detailed.

 

 

 

 

 

07.41    Points to Note

The Clerk had provided an update from issues raised at last months meeting.

Resolved: the details were noted. Victoria Lloyd to be invited to the November meeting to discuss the rights of way improvement plan.

 

Reports of the Clerk

07.42    Planning applications

The following planning applications had been received:

(i)                 Conversion of garage to habitable accommodation and erection of detached pitched roof garage to front of existing dwelling at 56 Ashbourne Drive, Coxhoe

     (ii)       Demolition of existing workshop building and erection of 1 no. detached bungalow 

     on land to rear of 10 Blackgate West, Coxhoe

Resolved: the applications were noted without objection.

 

07.43 Traffic Management

The Clerk provided an updated report following on from the meeting with Gordon Wingrove

on the 6th September and the issues were discussed at length.

Resolved: the Clerk to contact the County Council for confirmation of (a) what was

happening with the Gem Café project (b) what the Parish Council contribution towards costs

would be (c) limestone links funding savings (d) why no safer routes to school funding used

for Quarrington Hill projects and concerns relating to LTP funding (e) Parish boundary

relating to Quarrington Hill works.

 

07.44 Standing Orders/Quality Council

The Clerk provided an update from the latest mentoring session relating to meeting agendas. The new procedures were discussed.

Resolved: the procedures detailed would be implemented and the Clerk would provide a draft of amended standing orders for the next meeting.

 

07.45 Training

The first Councillor training session had been found to be extremely informative and confirmation was required that further sessions would be held

Resolved: (a) to continue with all training modules (b) to defer September training session until early October (c) to bring forward budget training

 

07.46 External Audit Report

The audit of accounts for 2006/07 had been carried out by BDO Stoy Hayward and there were no matters that came to their attention that required the issue of a separate additional issues arising report and they have signed the accounts as completed satisfactorily. The annual return was presented to the Council.

Resolved: a) the annual return for 2006/07 was approved and accepted by the Council. b) the costs of audit were agreed

 

07.47 Budget and Accounts Update

The latest budget statement had been circulated for discussion.  Valuations were still awaited from the District Valuer relating to Sanderson Street gardens.

Resolved: the details were agreed

 

07.48 Parish Plan/Action Plan

The Clerk provided an update on a meeting with D Marrs, Executive Director, Durham City

Council. The Council were prepared to provide resource to assist in the implementation of the Parish Plan.  An update was provided on the MP’s response relating to housing and bus

services at Quarrington Hill. An update was provided on the current situation relating to a number of Coxhoe Together projects and the play area scheme at Quarrington Hill.

Resolved: (a) the details were noted (b) a meeting be arranged with the MP, Parish Council, Quarrington Hill Village Partnership and City Planners relating to housing issues at Quarrington Hill.

 

Correspondence

07.49 Local Development Framework

Copies of the latest update of the framework relating to heritage were circulated.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.50 Darlington & Durham County Racial Equality Council

A letter from the Equality Council had been circulated previously, and was discussed.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.51 Post Office Closure Programme

The latest update had been circulated. Any consultation would be in June 2008.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.52 Unitary Authorities

The latest update relating to unitary authorities and possible future elections had been circulated.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.53 Code of Conduct

Details relating to predisposition and predetermination had been issued by the County Association and circulated for discussion.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.54 Community Anchors

Details relating to community anchors had been issued by the County Association and circulated for discussion. It was felt that this would be beneficial in conjunction with the Village Hall.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.55 Licensing Act

Details relating to the latest update on the licensing act had been issued by the County Association and circulated for discussion

Resolved: the Clerk to write to the Department of Culture Media and Sport concerning the fact that Parish Councils are not statutory consultees on licensing issues.

 

07.56 Accounts for Payment/Requests for Financial Assistance

a) An application and financial details had been received and circulated, from Quarrington Hill Banner Group requesting financial assistance towards the cost of their banner project. A

 

 

proposal was made to provide a contribution of £100.  A counter proposal was made to provide a contribution of £200 and the matter was discussed at length.

Resolved: On a vote, it was agreed to provide a contribution of £100 under Section 137of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

b) An application and financial details had been received and circulated, from Coxhoe WMC FC Group requesting financial assistance. The matter was discussed at length.

Resolved: that the request was received but on this occasion no funding be provided.

 

c) The Clerk detailed the accounts for payment and the following were approved:

Creditor                                    Reason                                          Amount   Minute

BDO Stoy Hayward  Audit Fees                                                     £470.00    07.46b

N King                        Salary – August                                                               07.18fi

Quarrington Hill

Community Centre    CAB sessions                                                 £30.00

TP Gardens               Grasscutting August                         £360.00          249

Quarrington Hill          Banner Group Donation                               £100.00    07.56a

Community Centre

 

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Signed as a true copy of the meeting ……………………………… Chairman

 

                                                                 ………………………………. Clerk

 

(Pages 18 – 21 inclusive)                     ………………………………. Date