Bishopton Parish Council

Transcription

1 Bishopton Parish Council Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 16 th May 2012 at 7.25pm in Bishopton Village Hall. Present: Cllrs: J Robins (Chair), L. MacMahon, M. Moses, J. Robson, I Robins,. Cllr. B. Jones [Darlington Borough Council], D. Thorman Parish Clerk. Apologies for Absence: Cllr. G. Baines 1. Visitors Residents: Mrs. E. Wall, Mrs. P. Wilks, Mr. P Wood, Mr. D. Filby, Ms. A. Holmes, Mr. D. Metcalfe, Ms. A. Grieveson 2. Declarations of Interest in Items on the Agenda None. 3. Previous Minutes The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. They were duly signed by the Chairperson as a true record of the 18 th April 2012 meeting. Mr P. Wood asked if item 10.1 could be brought forward on the agenda and this was accepted Annual Audit Progress Report Mr. P. Wood had arranged an internal audit of the PC s accounts and had prepared the Audit Report for submission to BDO, P60 documents for both Clerks employed during the year and VAT refund claim for submission to HMRC. This documentation was accepted by the meeting and duly signed by the Clerk as Responsible Financial Officer and by the Chairperson. Mr Wood was thanked for his work on behalf of the PC Cllr. B. Jones and Mr. P. Wood left the meeting at 7:35pm 4. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes 4.1 Traffic Control Equipment Andrew Casey of DBC had not responded. The Clerk was asked to write further querying the extent of progress made and asking if Mr. Casey had been able to assess the condition of existing equipment held by DBC and whether or not the PC would need to purchase new. 4.2 Parking o/s Bishopton School It was suggested that the school should approach the new owners of the Livery to see if parents could park there. It was noted that the PCSO had attended the village and that some tickets had been issued for illegal parking. 4.3 Queens Jubilee Cllr. MacMahon had prepared flyers and these were distributed to the Cllrs and the Clerk for delivery. A final meeting had been arranged for Monday 21 st May. Competitions prizes and balloon equipment had been purchased [see item 10] and posters had been prepared. Cllr. MacMahon had submitted revised details of road closures to DBC but had received no response. The Clerk agreed to try to source signs for the closures. It was noted that volunteer assistants and donations of food would be needed. It was suggested that flyers be taken to the school for outlying children to take home. 4.4 Condition of Area in front of the Talbot PH and other Pothole Problems. No reply had been received from Punch Taverns and the Clerk was asked to speak with the Talbot manager to see if he could help facilitate progress. 4.5 Arboricultural Work to Lime Tree o/s No 9 The Green See item Withdrawal of Supported Bus Services by DBC Cllr. Jones had reported at the Annual Parish Meeting that a further set of consultation meetings would take place at the Dolphin Centre on A consultant, JMP, had been employed to look Minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings on 16 th May 2012 Page 1

2 at options including Community Transport. 4.7 Vacancy for Councillor There had been no response but Ms. A. Grieveson [visitor] expressed her interest in the position. The Clerk was asked to write to her requesting a formal application. 4.8 Permanent Structures on Village Green Blue Bell Inn The Clerk had written to Brian Cole, the Regional Surveyor of Greene King Ltd. But no reply had been received. It was agreed to review the matter at the next PC meeting. 4.9 Feedback from Litter Pick & Work Party & Outstanding Village Inspection Items Litter picking and seeding works had been completed as planned. The following items from the inspection, not covered elsewhere on the agenda, were outstanding. ITEM LOCATION NOTES Clerk to arrange top bolt for notice board. 8 Cenotaph Triangle Cllr. J Robins to enquire re volunteer for fence post painting and treatment to seat and notice board. 9 O/S No 33 The Green Cllr. J Robins to enquire re volunteer to apply woodstain treatment to roadside seat 4.10 May Skip Progress Report John Wade had offered to provide a skip free of charge between 18 th and 21 st May. The only restrictions on use were that there should be no paint tins or asbestos. Mrs. P. Wilks [visitor] asked if a third skip could be provided even if it had to be paid for. It was agreed to investigate this possibility Village Street Signs and Footpaths Responses from DBC DBC had been asked to refurbish street signs and were looking into this. They had also been asked if footpath slurry sealing could be carried out this year and had responded that it would possibly be added to the 2013/14 programme. 5. Planning Applications 5.1 Development of Holiday Accommodation Cobby Castle Lane The Clerk reported that objections against this development had been lodged by the PC as follows: Change of use for agricultural to residential Adverse affect on neighbouring properties Access road not good unadopted road already heavily used Land was previously a quarry A previous hedgerow had been removed without permission giving concerns about maintaining what is countryside Mr. D. Metcalfe [visitor], the developer, explained that the land had been redesignated for equestrian purposes. Mrs P. Wilks [visitor] expressed her concerns regarding contaminated quarry infill and the preservation of the village. Visitors Mrs. E. Wall, Mrs. P. Wilks, Mr. D. Filby, Ms. A. Holmes & Mr. D. Metcalfe left the meeting at 8:15pm. 5.2 Development of Existing Bungalow at Glebe Farm, Mill Lane No objections had been raised. 5.3 Wind Turbine at East Farm Cottage, Stillington This was a resubmission of a previous application to which the PC had not objected. 5.4 Appeal against Refusal of Planning Permission Mill Lane It was noted that improvements to the field access associated with this application had been carried out although the appeal had not been heard. Minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings on 16 th May 2012 Page 2

3 6. Matters Raised by Councillors 6.1 Caravan Club Concern had been raised regarding reports that Caravan Club Rallies were to be arranged in the field behind Grange Farm. This had been referred to DBC who had investigated and found the arrangements to be within the requirements of the law. With access to be taken from the Bishopton Redmarshall Road there should be no particular traffic issues in the village. 6.2 Possible Children s Play Area at Village Hall & Re-establishment of Football Field. Mrs. S. Pilkington had requested that the PC write to the new owners of the Livery asking if the football field could be reinstated on the basis that the original Planning Application had an area so designated. The Clerk was asked to arrange this pointing out that use of the field had been stopped due to minor concerns regarding children from outside the village which, it was considered, could have been resolved amicably. During the annual litter pick an area adjacent to the Village Hall had been identified as a possible play area and the VH Association would be looking into this. The Clerk was asked to write to the previous owners of the Livery on behalf of the Youth Club to ascertain the whereabouts of 2 picnic tables, bench seat and waste bin and ask for their return. 7. Village Green 7.1 Report on Village Green Trees from Phil Haynes of DBC A detailed report had been received via which included works to the lime tree referred to in item 4.5. A quotation of had bee provided for largely safety orientated works. However a number of errors had been identified and the suggested works to the lime tree [T2] were not considered adequate. In addition Mr. F. Wall had requested crown lifting to a tree at the east end of the village which was not included on the survey. The Clerk was asked to reply to Phil Haynes covering these issues and asking when the work could be done bearing in mind that to T2 was now quite urgent. 7.2 Estimate for Resetting Edgings between No s 3 & 3A The Green F. Wall had provided an estimate of 170 for this work. It was agreed to accept this. 7.3 Purchase of Plants for Tubs Cllr. MacMahon requested permission to purchase plants for the village tubs and this was agreed. 7.4 Strimming of Village Green In providing the estimate in 7.2 above Mr. F. Wall had raised his concerns regarding the difficulty of strimming beneath the overhanging edge at the Old Vicarage. Cllr MacMahon reported that she had sown grass seed to the bare areas in this location. The Clerk was asked to inform Mr Wall that the PC had been in previous correspondence with the property owners and suggest he omit the area from his strimming operations. 8. Wind Farm Proposals 8.1 Newbiggin Cllr. Jones has reported at the Annual parish meeting there were unresolved issues remaining in connection with Highways, Noise Impacts, Ecology and the proximity to several properties as well as the high level of impact on villages including Bishopton. In view of these issues it was considered that the planning application could not be determined at the time of the meeting. 9. New Residents None. 10. Financial 10.1 Covered earlier 10.2 Budget for 2012/13 The Clerk distributed copies of a spreadsheet he had prepared to assist in budget setting and management. This demonstrated a gradual decline in reserve funds over the previous 5 years which could potentially result in a very low balance at the end of the current year based on the figures he Minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings on 16 th May 2012 Page 3

4 had projected. The budget had included for 4 major projects: Traffic Control Equipment, Tree Pruning, Patching to Village Green Roads and Surface Treatment to Village Green Roads (5 year programme), with a total potential budget for the current year of almost It was agreed that the first 2 of these projects should be the priorities for the year and that other cuts to the listed budgets totaling 820 should be made. The Clerk was asked to make the necessary adjustments and redistribute the spreadsheet. Bearing in mind the loss of the parish grant from April 2013 it was agreed that consideration would need to be given to an increase in precept for future years and that a flyer to this effect would need to be distributed prior to October Invoice for CLCA Membership Fees After some discussion, which highlighted the main value of being a member as free access to professional advice when needed, payment of was proposed by Cllr MacMahon and seconded by Cllr. I. Robins. Payment was agreed by three votes for and one against with one abstention Invoice for Grass Seed from MAS Seeds Ltd. Payment of 52 was proposed by Cllr. J. Robins and seconded by Cllr M. Moses Invoice from F. Wall for Village Green Strimming Payment of 50 was proposed by Cllr. MacMahon and seconded by Cllr. Robson Invoices from Running Imp International Sports Ltd. and Delights.co.uk for Queens Jubilee Payment of and respectively was proposed by Cllr. Robson and seconded by Cllr I Robins Invoice for Various Plants Payment of was proposed by Cllr. Robson and seconded by Cllr. I. Robins Current Financial Position There was in the Current Account and in the Reserve Account [Youth Club]. 11. Correspondence from Resident re Equestrian Centre Events Programme A resident had written expressing concern that the scale of planned events at the centre were possibly a breach of planning consent. This had been referred to DBC who had investigated and, as the events were primarily for people with horses at the stables, could find no issue from PCC re Christmas 2012 and availability of Salvation Army Band The PCC Secretary had expressed concern that the SA could give no commitment on attendance until late summer. Cllr MacMahon pointed out that this was normal practice for them and the Clerk was asked to reply on that basis from Resident regarding Building activities in Town Farm Close A resident had complained regarding the fact that builders had blocked off a long section of footway with debris and stores, potentially damaging the road and path and blocking a drain. The matter had been referred to DBC for action. INCOMING 1. Letter from DBC re Planning Application Cobby Castle Lane, Bishopton Letter from DBC re Planning Application Glebe Farm, Bishopton Letter from Stockton BC re Planning Application for Wind Turbine from CLCA re Planning Appeals from Phil Haynes of DBC re Tree Survey from Carol Carter of DBC re Street name signs from Steve Brannan of DBC re Footpaths in Village from Resident re Grange Farm Livery Events from Dave McGaughey of DBC re Planning Application [Lime Tree] from Christine Briscoe of the PCC re Xmas Minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings on 16 th May 2012 Page 4

5 11. from Cllr. Brian Jones of DBC re Caravan Club Activities from CLCA re E Bulletin & Major Infrastructure Planning from Steve Wragg of DCC re CPRE Press Release on Wind Farms from CLCA re Queens Speech from Resident re Building Works in Town Farm Close from DAPC re Minutes, Police Stakeholder Event & Accessible Transport Study Letter from DBC re Planning Application Stone Riggs, Bishopton OUTGOING 1. to Cllr. Brian Jones of DBC re Planning Application ref Letter to Punch Taverns re Condition of Tarmac area at Talbot PH Letter to Brian Cole of Greene King PLC re Permanent Structures in Village Green to Andrew Casey of DBC re Traffic Control Equipment to Carl Raey of DBC re damaged Sign Post west of Village to John Wade re Provision of Skip Letter to Mary Wood re meeting Room Hire & Precept Contribution to Phil Haynes of DBC re Tree Survey to Carol Carter of DBC re Street name signs to Steve Brannan of DBC re Footpaths in Village to Resident re Grange Farm Livery Events to Dave McGaughey of DBC re Planning Application [Lime Tree] to Christine Briscoe of the PCC re Xmas to Resident re Building Works in Town Farm Close Matters Dealt with During the Month None 13. Date of Next Meeting Wednesday 20 th June 2012 at 7:00pm in the Village Hall. The meeting thanked Cllr. McMahon for her hard work on behalf of the Parish over her 4 years as Chairperson of the Council The meeting closed at 9:25m Signed: Chairperson: Date Minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings on 16 th May 2012 Page 5