Minutes of the Coxhoe Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 11th March 2008 at Coxhoe Village Hall.

 

S Dunn in the chair

Present:  K Pounder, C Wigham, R Mayo, J Taylor, G Shotton and B Hepplewhite and County Councillor D Morgan.

 

07.178 Apologies for Absence: P Dodsworth, D Smith, J Beecham, C Thirlaway and City Councillor M Plews

 

07.179 Questions from the Public

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

 

07.180 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest from Members on any of the agenda items.

 

07.181 Police Report

There was no Police presence at the meeting and the Clerk presented the report for the period 11th February 2008 to 11 March 2008.

Theft -   1 Reported incident - 13/02/08 (Attempted theft from Shop) Church St, Coxhoe.

Criminal Damage - 4x Reported incidents - 11/02/08 (Damage to a hedge), Leisure Centre, Coxhoe.- 18/02/08 (Damage to a window), Church St, Coxhoe. -  04/03/08 (Damage to a window), Grove Cottages, Coxhoe. - 04/03/08 (Damage to a window), Steetley Tce, Quarrington Hill. -09/03/08 (Damage to a motor vehicle), The Grove, Coxhoe (1x Arrested). - 09/03/08 (Damage to a motor vehicle), Blackgate East, Coxhoe.

Anti-Social Behaviour –    5x Reported incidents – Coxhoe (4x Youth related, and 1x Dispute related) 1x Reported incidents – Quarrington Hill (Dispute related)  

Vehicle Nuisance- 1x Reported incidents – Coxhoe, (Motorbike related) 3x Reported incidents – Quarrington Hill, (Motorbike related)

Other Issues: 1x Reported incident - 06/03/08 (Public Order Offence), Front Street, Coxhoe.  1 x Arrested / Enquiry ongoing.

Resolved:  the details were noted

 

07.182 Civil Parking Enforcement

The meeting was attended by Dave Lewin and Sarah Thompson from Durham County

Council and they gave a comprehensive presentation on the new procedures for civil

parking enforcement and answered Members questions on the matter.

Resolved: the details were noted

 

07.183 Revised Code of Conduct

The meeting was attended by Clare Greenlay, City Council Monitoring Officer and Basil

Ingleby, chair of the local standards committee and they gave a comprehensive

presentation on the revised code of conduct and the changing role of the standards

committee and answered Members queries on the matter

Resolved: the details were noted

 

07.184 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

07.185 Planning Applications

The following planning application had been received:

(i)Erection of detached, flat roofed double garage in rear garden 4 Blackgate West, Coxhoe

(ii) the Clerk circulated detailed plans received from the City Council on the erection of 14 no. 2 storey dwellings on former omnibus depot and welfare club at Front Street, Quarrington Hill that had been discussed at the February 2008 meeting of the Council.

Resolved: there were no objections to either of these items

 

07.186 Traffic Management

An up to date report from Gordon Wingrove on the progress on the projects had been circulated previously and was discussed in details.  A response on vehicle activated signs was awaited. County Councillor Morgan advised that works on the Quarrington Hill/Cassop boundary would contribute to a wider scheme.

Resolved: (i) the Clerk to contact Gordon Wingrove/Dave Battensby on the speed activated signs (ii) the Clerk to arrange a meeting at Varitec and various Members agreed to attend the presentation.

 

07.187 Sanderson Street Gardens

An amended valuation from the Valuation Officer was discussed.  A meeting would be held with interested tenants on the 18 March. The City Council had agreed to act on behalf of the Council in the legal aspects of the sale. The offer had been accepted by the tenant of no. 4 plot.

Resolved: (i) the amended valuation was noted for use in negotiations (ii) the legal details were noted (iii) the offer for no.4 be accepted and proceeded with at the relevant time (iv) invoices for the annual rental be deferred during negotiations.

 

07.188 Quality Parish Council

An offer had been received from Lesley Swinbank from NALC to provide a presentation on the quality parish council scheme and an update was provided on proposed changes to the scheme.  It was confirmed that the final Councillor’s training session would be held on 29 April

Resolved: (i) a request be made for a presentation on the scheme (ii) the proposed changes to the scheme were noted (iii) confirmation of the 29 April for the final training session was agreed.

 

07.189 Insurance Cover

Details of renewed insurance cover had been circulated and a detailed risk assessment was carried out.

Resolved: to continue with the current insurance cover except for the banner that was now insured elsewhere.

 

07.190 Parish Plan

Details of the open day to take place on Coxhoe Regeneration on the 14 and 15 March were discussed.  Details of the response to the letter to retailers about bus service no 55 were discussed. 

Resolved: the details were noted:

 

07.191 Budget Update

Details of the up to date budget position had been circulated previously and were discussed

in detail.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

Correspondence

07.192 Forthcoming Election

Details had been circulated on the forthcoming election of the new unitary authority.

Resolved:  the details were noted.

 

07.193 Local Government Review

Details from the County Association of the latest update on the local government review had been circulated.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.194 Strengthening Local Communities

Details from the County Association on recommendations from the Commission for Rural Communities had been circulated.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.195 Post Office Closure Programme

Details from the County Association of proposed closures in the south of Durham had been circulated.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

Other Issues

07.196 Coxhoe Together

Councillors Mayo and Hepplewhite provided a verbal update on the progress of various schemes and possible funding opportunities.

Resolved: the details were noted.

 

07.197 Quarrington Hill Village Partnership

Councillor Pounder provided a verbal update on youth activities and the play park.

Resolved:  the details were noted.

 

07.198 Accounts for Payment/ Requests for Financial Assistance

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

Creditor                                    Reason                                          Amount         Minute

NEREO                                  Councillor’s Training         £1175.00           07.25b

NEREO                                  Mentoring Sessions                        £117.50            07.19f

Valuation Office Agency       Valuation Report                             £352.50            07.148(i)

N King                                    February Salary                                                         07.18fi

N King                                    Reimbursed Admin Costs                 £8.64            07.18fi

……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

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

 

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

 

(Pages 43 – 45 inclusive)                     ………………………………. Date