Minutes of the Coxhoe Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 10th June 2008 at Coxhoe Village Hall.

 

P Dodsworth in the chair

Present: G Shotton, J Taylor, B Hepplewhite, S Dunn, K Pounder, C Wigham, R Mayo, C Thirlaway and D Smith and County Councillors D Morgan and M Plews.

 

08.35 Apologies for Absence:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

08.36 Questions from the Public

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

 

08.37 Members’ Declarations of Interest

P Dodsworth and S Dunn declared an interest in item 10a (Coxhoe United) on the agenda.

 

08.38 Police Report

PCSO’s Bennett and Parker attended and presented the report, the details of which were noted, for the period 14th June 2008.

Theft -   3 Reported incidents - 22/05/08 (Theft of lead) Church Street, Coxhoe – 26/05/08 (Theft of motor vehicle) School Avenue, Coxhoe – 08/06/08 (Theft of pedal cycle) Coronation Terrace, Coxhoe.

Burglary – 1 Reported incident – 08/05/08 (Dwelling Burglary) Belgrave Court, Coxhoe

Criminal Damage - 2 Reported incidents - 18/05/08 (Damage to motor vehicle) Bogma Avenue, Coxhoe – 31/05/08 (Damage to window) Church Street, Coxhoe.

Anti-Social Behaviour – 6x Reported incidents – Coxhoe (4x Youth related, 2x Dispute related) Vehicle Nuisance - 4x Reported incidents – Coxhoe, (3x Parking related, 1x Road related) 6x Reported incident – Quarrington Hill, (Motorbike related)

Other Issues: 1 warning notice had been issued for a motorbike.  Still targeting youth drinking.  Mobile telephone were suggested for PCSO’s

Resolved:  (i) the details of the report were noted (ii) the Clerk to contact PC Ogilvie regarding use of mobile telephones.

 

08.39 Approval and Signature of Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on the 13th May 2008 were approved by Members and signed by the Chairman and Clerk.

 

08.40 Points of Note

The Clerk had previously circulated an update of issues raised at the last meeting and these were discussed.

Resolved: (i) the details were noted (ii) the details agreed at the special meeting on the 23 May relating to the requirements for a new Clerk and circulation of the advertisement were confirmed (iii) the procedure for the co-option of a new Member of the Council was confirmed.

 

Reports of the Clerk

08.41 Planning Applications

The following planning applications had been received:

(i)      4/08/00423/FPA - St Andrews Methodist Church - Erection of wall, gates and fencing to front

boundary of Church, St Andrews Methodist Church, Church Street, Coxhoe.

(ii)    4/08/00348/FPA - Mr Hall - Erection of detached pitched roof garage at 5 Blackgate West,

Coxhoe.

(iii)   4/08/00432/FPA - Coxhoe Together - Erection of replacement wall with railings and entrance

Gates with pillars to front of existing church at St Marys Church, Church Street, Coxhoe.

(iv)  The text for a potential letter and petition regarding the Premier Waste application discussed

at previous meetings had been previously circulated and discussed.

(v)   A member of City Council Heritage and Design Team had attended the recent Coxhoe

Community Partnership and details of the meeting were discussed.

(vi)  Roberta Blackman Woods had offered to meet with Members and City Planning Officers on

11th July.

(vii)             Details of planning applications at Tursdale, relating to golf projects were circulated for

consideration.

Resolved: (a) there were no objections to items (i), (ii) and (iii). (b) the text for the letter and petition and its circulation was agreed (c) a request be made to City Planning to amend the local development framework with regard to the proposed development (d) a meeting with the MP and Planning Officers was agreed for the 11 July (e) the applications detailed in (vii) were noted (f) a representative of Premier Waste be invited to the next monthly Parish Council meeting

 

08.42 Traffic Management

Minutes of the meeting of the traffic management working party held on 3 June had been previously circulated and were discussed.

Resolved: (i) a letter of thanks to be forwarded to Gordon Wingrove and County Councillor Morgan. (ii) a request for weight restrictions at Quarrington Hill and Coxhoe were confirmed. (iii) to purchase one traffic activated sign for the Coxhoe locations.

 

08.43 Internal Audit Service

The further details requested from Mr Fletcher had been provided and circulated and were discussed.

Resolved: (i) Mr Fletcher be appointed as Internal Auditor for the Council for the following year. (ii) the Clerk to arrange a meeting with Mr Fletcher in the near future.

 

08.43 Quarrington Hill Allotments

A letter had been received from the City Council relating to the possible purchase of the land and was discussed.  A quotation for replacement fencing had been received from Mr Foster.

Resolved: (i) City Councillors Smith and Plews were requested to speak to City Council officers relating to the issue to attempt to resolve the possible purchase (ii) the fencing issue be deferred until the possible purchase had been further resolved.

 

08.44 Ballot Boxes

Details of various ballot boxes had been circulated and were discussed.

Resolved: 2 boxes are purchased from Displaysense Ltd at a cost of £42.90 plus Vat each.

 

08.45 Budget Update

Details of the latest budget position statement had been circulated and were discussed.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

Correspondence

08.46 County Association – Appointment of Independent Members to the Police Authority

Details of vacancies had been circulated and were considered

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

08.47 County Association – Nominations for Executive Committee Members

Details of the request for nominations had been circulated and were considered

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

08.48 Durham County Council – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Details of briefing report 2 had been circulated and were considered.

Resolved: the details were noted and future reports be circulated by the Clerk on receipt.

 

 

 

08.49 Society of Local Clerks – Membership Renewal

The membership of the society was due for renewal on the 1 July and future membership was discussed.

Resolved: (i) Membership of the Society to continue for the new Clerk (ii) the Parish Council to meet the cost of the fees involved.

 

08.50 Coxhoe Community Partnership

R Mayo and B Hepplewhite detailed the up to date position on various schemes. Details of costs for the proposed lighting scheme in St Mary’s churchyard had been circulated and were discussed. The Clerk provided the up to date position on the Coxhoe village entrance signs and the proposed licence from the City Council for land at Four Mile Bridge for a sign had been circulated and was discussed in detail. A letter had been received from Coxhoe Banner Group asking for the Parish Council’s backing for a scheme to site pit head wheel gear in the village.

Resolved: (i) the detailed update was noted (ii) the Parish Council agreed to meet the annual energy and maintenance costs for the churchyard lighting scheme (estimated £400) (iii) agreement was reached in principle on joint funding of any deficit on capital costs for the churchyard lighting scheme (iv) the licence for land at Four Mile Bridge was agreed and duly signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman and payment of the annual licence fee of £25 and legal fees of £75 were agreed (v) the Parish Council to give their backing to the Coxhoe Banner Group project and the Chairman to meet with their Chairman to discuss the issues involved.

 

08.51 Quarrington Hill Village Partnership

Minutes of the Partnership meeting held on the 28 May had been circulated and were discussed.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

08.52 Accounts for Payment/ Requests for Financial Assistance

(a) A request had been received from Coxhoe United for financial assistance towards a fun day to be held in June.  Councillors Dodsworth and Dunn had declared an interest in this matter and took no part in the discussion or decision

Resolved:  It was agreed to provide a contribution of £200.00 under Section 137of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

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

Creditor                                  Reason                                                          Amount          Minute

Total Business Systems         Photocopier Contract                                        £77.55               38

TP Gardens                            Grasscutting Contract                                     £555.00              249

N King                                     May Salary                                                                             07.18fi

N King                                     Reimbursed Admin Costs                                  £9.84            07.18fi

City Of Durham                      Licence and legal fees                                    £100.00           08.50vi

Coxhoe United                        Donation – Section 137                                  £200.00           08.52

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

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

 

(Pages 6 – 8 inclusive)                         ………………………………. Clerk

 

      ………………………………. Date