Minutes of December 2009 Parish Council Meeting
Held on Wednesday the 16th at 7:15pm in the Village Hall.
Present
- Cllr L MacMahon (Chair)
- Cllr I Ridley
- Cllr P. Wood
- Cllr M Moses
- Cllr P Bence
- Cllr P Slater
- Mr Mike Smith (Clerk)
Visitors:
Mr. Daniel Wells, Resident, Bishopton and Designer/Developer of Bishopton Village Website.
At the start of the meeting, Mr.Daniel Wells was thanked and congratulated by the council for his work on the village website, and the ongoing maintenance. Information about website use and statistics of visitors recorded were submitted by Daniel. Further development of the website was discussed, and will be investigated by Daniel prior to consideration by BPC.
Daniel left the meeting at 7.17pm.
- Apologies
- Cllr B Fieldhouse
- Cllr B Jones - representative for Darlington Borough Council
- Declaration of interest in items on the agenda
- Cllr P Bence declared an interest in Manor Farm development
- Approval of previous minutes
- The minutes of the previous meeting were read, amended, agreed and signed by the Chairperson as a true record of the November 2009 meeting.
- Matters arising from previous minutes
- Football Pitch Facility
Nothing heard from Mr. and Mrs. Brannen. Clerk instructed to write drawing attention to lack of response to previous correspondence, and pointing out that any use of the field other than as a football field for use by the residents would require a submission requesting change of use to the planning department of Darlington BC.
- Manhole cover outside No. 2 High Street.
Carried forward to meeting in April.
- Flooding around village
Work has been done to alleviate flooding at the eastern end of the village, outside the entrance to the Windsurfing Centre and on the Redmarshall Road. Nothing has been reported concerning flooding outside The Garth on Redmarshall Road, nor on the road at the West of the village leading up to the cross roads for the Stillington turn-off. Situation to be monitored.
- Signs at Barclay Springs
Missing sign replaced, but damaged bollards not repaired and no response re our suggestion that signs are inadequate.
- Firewood for pensioners
Two requests were received and firewood duly delivered.
- Hedgerows
Hedgerows for which Darlington BC are responsible were trimmed, but hedgerows at Stillington crossroads (Stockton Boro' Council) remain overgrown.
- Parish Councils response to planning applications.
Resolved at last meeting
- Town Farm Close residents concern over new buildings.
Nothing heard from DBC planning department
- Weight Limit Sign for Mill Lane.
Situation unchanged, sign still awaiting repair
- Traffic through Village
Responses from Darlington BC were negative, and no traffic signs are planned for Bishopton. A traffic survey can only be sited 200 metres from a 30mph sign, so monitoring is restricted to the centre of the village where the previous monitoring took place, and so is unlikely to produce a different result. Copy of email from DBC to be given to Mr. S Aynsley.
- Planning matters
- Field No. 5542, Cobby Castle Lane 09/00649/FUL
No developments since last meeting
- Glebe Farm
Nothing official received at present.
- Hill Top
No developments since last meeting
- Moor House Wind Farm
SPAG is making representations to the planning authority pointing out discrepancies between published policy documents (e.g. Ove Arup report) and plans submitted by the developers (distance to communities, separation from other wind-farm developments, total numbers of turbines, etc.). The BPC deputed Cllr P Wood to draft a letter of objection to the planners to be sent on behalf of the council.
- Matters raised by councillors
- Village Website
See report at beginning of meeting
- Inconsiderate/illegal parking
Drivers parking on corners and junctions are to be asked by councillors to be more considerate to pedestrians.
- Complaint received re planning violation
BPC disregards anonymous letters. All letters to BPC must be signed.
- Tree Felling
Clerk instructed to request quotations from at least three reputable tree surgeons regarding felling/removal of dead/dying sycamore tree adjacent to bus stop at cenotaph.
- Bus Shelter at west end of village
Clerk instructed to write to Streetscene regarding condition.
- Darlington Association of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings
Three councillors attended the meeting. Amongst topics covered, there will be no change to the Parish grant, Streetscene refuse operatives are instructed to pick up any spillage they cause, a free check on smoke alarms is available on request for vulnerable people, and help is available to the Parish Council if councillors decide to place flower tubs in the village.
Finally, if anyone wishes to apply for entry in the competitiion “Northumbria in Bloom”, help is available by application to Carol Carter of DBC Streetscene.
- Cleveland Local Councils Training Event
Despite obtaining a late booking place, no councillor was able to attend, but all relevant information is being sent to Cllr. P. Bence.
- BPC Laptop Computer Maintenance
Authorisation was given for replacement battery to be obtained at lowest cost.
- Village Green
- Grass Cutting options
No quotes for replacement service received as yet. Carried forward to next meeting.
- Tree Maintenance
Nothing has been heard from DBC person regarding general inspection of trees
- Xmas tree and lights
Two sets of lights were purchased. Unfortunately, one set has already been badly damaged by a vehicle, driver unknown.
- Dog Fouling
Nothing to report
- Bishopton Community Group
- Figures were agreed regarding help for Village Hall (see “Financial” below)
- Wind Farm Proposal
- Cllr P Wood reported on the several wind farm proposals in our locality (see 5.5 above for Moor House Proposal). Following discussions, BPC agreed to continue supporting SPAG
- New Residents
- Cllrs were deputed to deliver Welcome Packs to new residents at 5, High Street and 19, Town Farm Close.
- Financial
- Income
A payment of £1.15 was received from the Electric Board for wayleave thru' Bishopton.
- Expenditure
A cheque for £50 was authorised to pay for equipment and services utilised in the development and maintenance of the village website over the past year.
A cheque for £19.32 was authorised to pay for the hosting of the village website.
A cheque for £119.98 was authorised to pay for the purchase of the Xmas Tree lights.
A cheque for £250.00 was authorised to pay for the repair and annual maintenance of the St. Peters church clock..
A cheque for £90.00 was authorised to pay for the purchase of the Xmas Tree from F. Fabi.
It was approved by a majority decision that the invoice for the Village Hall boiler replacement and ancillary work (a sum of £2291 including VAT) is to be paid by BPC (see previous minutes) with a contribution of £493 to be repaid in due course by the Village Hall Committee.
- Percept for 2011
A review of the expected incomes was made by Cllr P Wood, which were a grant of £1111 plus the precept (reduced by BPC from £5125 in year ending 2009 to £4600 in year ending 2010). By a majority vote the BPC decided to leave the precept at £4600 again for year ending 2011.
- Correspondence
- Incoming
TVRCC Rural News
Letter from DBC about Changes to the Statement of Community Involvement in Town and Country Planning.
Letter from DBC Planning regarding meeting of committee to consider application for Erection of Dwelling House at Grange Farm Livery and Riding Centre, Ref. 09/00279/FUL.
Refusal of Planning Permission for Erection of Dwelling House at Grange Farm Livery and Riding Centre, Ref. 09/00279/FUL
Arriva Stakeholder Update – Statistics on Bus Operator Performance.
- Outgoing
Letters to DBC regarding flooding around village.
Letters to DBC regarding traffic thru' village.
Letter to DBC Planning Dept. re buildings at back of Town Farm Close.
Letter to E and K Brannen requesting reply to previous correspondence.
- Next Meeting
Village Hall at 7.00pm on 20th. January, 2010.
Cllr. P. Bence left meeting 8.45pm.
- Manor Farm
No change to situation.
Meeting closed 8.47pm.
