Minutes of June 2010 Parish Council Meeting

Held on Wednesday the 16th at 7:00pm in the Village Hall.

Present Visitors:
None
  1. Apologies
    1. Cllr B Fieldhouse
    2. Cllr B Jones - representative for Darlington Borough Council

  2. Declaration of interest in items on the agenda
    3. Cllr P Bence declared an interest in Manor Farm development. Discussion took place regarding clarification of the current situation for Cllr P Bence with regard to BPC’s discussions with the Developer about the Village Green. The consensus was that, having a declared prejudicial interest in the development, Cllr. P Bence could only be provided with the same information as any other resident, i.e. as per the minutes of the Bishopton Parish Council meetings.

  3. Approval of previous minutes
    1. The minutes of the previous meeting were read, amended, agreed and signed by the Chairperson as a true record of the May meeting.

  4. Matters arising from previous minutes
    1. Tree felling and Tree Preservation Order
      2. BC responded to Cllr L McMahon, and Mr. Downey, DBC Corporate Complaints Officer, telephoned Cllr L McMahon to discuss the complaint. A letter was received from Mr. Downey, and the complaints procedure is ongoing with a view to the removal of the TPO.
    2. Speed Watch
      3. Four speed watches were undertaken in Bishopton by our local police officer and an accompanying councillor, 2 at East end of village and 2 at West end. Between 80 and 120 vehicles were monitored on each occasion, of which 8 to 10 vehicles were recorded at speeds of 35mph or over at the east end of the village despite high-visibility clothing being worn both by the monitoring officer and Parish Councillors G Baines (twice) and L  McMahon, and Ward Councillor B Jones, accompanying him. Due to a vehicle being parked on the road at the west end of the village, traffic necessarily slowed down and none exceeded 35 mph. Warning letters were sent to the speeders. During the meeting, Cllr M. Moses volunteered as an additional speed watch BPC monitor.
    3. PACT Meeting
      4. Meeting took place at Sadberge on 15/06/2010. Results of speed watch at Sadberge revealed higher rate of speeding than at Bishopton. Crimes reported in Bishopton included the theft of a pick-up vehicle from the High Street at 2.15pm on Tuesday 8th. June, 2010, and also a Renault Megane had tyres slashed and the back window broken. Anyone knowing anything about these crimes please contact PC Julian Brown. Next PACT meeting at Bishopton on Wednesday 11th August 2010, when matters relevant to Bishopton will be reported and discussed. Cllr L McMahon to prepare a flyer for distribution advising residents.
    4. Annual Report
      5. The BPC Annual Report to be put on village website.

  5. Planning matters
    1. Planning permission is sought for development of 11-17 High Street, ref. 10/00314/FUL.
      2. The clerk had been instructed to write requesting a delay in the return-by date for comments prior to the meeting, and BPC’s response was to be formulated over the next 24 hours following discussions at the meeting. The response was to express support for redevelopment of the properties, but re-iterate that no access across village green land can ever be sanctioned and therefore BPC would have to object to the plans as they were. Meanwhile, BPC strongly requested of DBC that any changes to the plans or resubmissions must be reported to the BPC with ADEQUATE time allowed for a response to be discussed in BPC meetings prior to the return date of BPC comments, observations and/or objections.
    2. Grange Farm
      3. Notice of an appeal regarding DBC refusal of planning permission for construction of a dwelling at Grange Farm Equestrian Centre was received, and a letter was to be submitted by BPC to the Planning Inspectorate along the lines of our original objections.

  6. Matters raised by councillors
    7. None

  7. Village Green
    1. Strimming/Grass Cutting and Turfing of Village Green
      2. Cllr L McMahon is monitoring the frequency of grass cutting of the village green, which seems to be every four weeks. The re-turfing of salt-affected areas has been done outside the church, but not in other designated areas. Clerk instructed to write to R. Wall declining further turfing due to expiry of suitable weather time slot, and requesting invoice for work done.
    2. Village Green Policy Document
      3. N. Cookson of DBC responded via Cllr B Jones. There are a number of errors in the document and quotes from old statutes, requiring either a reworking of the document (difficult) or the creation of a new one. Suggests alternative of a summary of law and practice, requiring approximately a half day of legal resource, provided gratis if done to DBC convenience. Cllr L McMahon to email with thanks.
    3. Posts around Village War Memorial
      4. The maintenance of the posts has been completed.
    4. Parking on Village Green
      5. The council authorised Cllr G Baines to proceed with the purchase of four signs of agreed content complete with mountings and fittings, as per quotation received.
    5. Further repairs
      6. BPC instructed the clerk to obtain quotations as per plans to be prepared by Cllr I Ridley for the repair of the lay by at the west end of the village and footpath in front of Town Farm Barn.
    6. Village Road Signs
      7. Clerk instructed to email Cllr B Jones to ascertain who should be approached regarding repair/refurbishment/painting of village road signs, and to then write requesting same.

  8. Wind Farm Proposal
    9. Re Moor House application, DBC are holding a special full day meeting in July 2010, date to be advised.
    The West Newbiggin plan has now been reduced to three turbines.
    A document was received from Durham CC detailing all wind farm developments in the county.

  9. New Residents
    10. No new residents. Manor Farm tenants have left.

  10. Financial
    11. The annual audit has been completed, and the documents may be viewed in the village notice board or by arrangement with Cllr P Wood. There was one item brought to the notice of the BPC, addressing the incorrect use of Free Resource under article 137 to assist the Village Hall finances re repairs etc., when article 133 providing for maintenance of buildings used by the public should have been used.
    1. Income
      2. None
    2. Expenditure
      3. A cheque for £141 was authorised for audit fees.
      A cheque for £45 to F Wall was authorised for payment of strimming the village green.
      A cheque for £18.96 was authorised for purchase of Hammerite paint re posts round memorial.
      A cheque for £184.54 was authorised for BPC group insurance via DBC

  11. Correspondence
    1. Incoming
      2. Arriva Durham and Darlington Bus Update
      DAPCPM Notice of AGM to take place on 30th June 2010
      DBC "How do you travel to Bishopton/Redmarshall CE Primary School?" Document
      Letter from DBC acknowledging letter from BPC 2/6/2010 regarding grass cutting
      DBC Standards Committee hearing result for Complaint DBC 24-2010
      DBC Letter notifying planning appeal hearing regarding Grange Farm dwelling (279/FUL)
      DBC Letter promising investigation into complaint re TPO (reply to BPC letter 2/6/2010)
      Darlington Partnership Board Minutes 10/3/2010 and 5/5/2010
      Darlington Planning Forum minutes 18/2/2010
      DAPCPM meeting minutes 16/2/2010
      Document from Durham CC detailing all energy projects in the county.
    2. Outgoing
      3. Letter to C G Robinson requesting meeting re manor Farm
      Letter to DBC re furthering complaint re TPO
      Letter to Streetscene regarding grass cutting at eastern end of village.

  12. Next Meeting
    13. Village Hall at 7.00pm on 21st July, 2010.

    Cllr Bence left the meeting 8.36pm.

  13. Manor Farm
    14. The builders will complete restoration of village green as agreed.

    Meeting closed 8.50pm.

Further Planning Matters
The Moor House application is likely to be heard in Darlington town hall towards the end of August.
The East and West Newbiggen site has been reduced to 3 or 4 turbines but is looking less and less likely to go ahead. 
An application has recently been submitted by 'Wind Prospect' to Durham County Council for 3 turbines at Foxton Lane. 
Also, a Planning Appeal has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate against a decision by Darlington Borough Council who refused an application for planning permission for the erection of a dwelling house at Grange Farm Livery and Riding Centre, Church View, Bishopton.
Two planning applications have been submitted in respect of amendments to previous planning applications and Listed Building Consent for Manor Farm. See 10/00434/FUL and 10/00433/LBC on the Darlington Borough Council website.
A planning application has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for the erection of part two storey, part single storey rear extensions, and formation of vehicular access and car parking spaces at 11-17, High Street, Bishopton. 10/00314/FUL refers.

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