1 July 2025

Parish Councillors are hereby summoned to a meeting of Neasham Parish Council on Tuesday 1 July 2025, 6:30AM, in Neasham Reading Room to transact the business listed in the agenda below.

Members of the public are entitled to attend Parish Council Meetings as a non-participating attendee (unless confidential matters are under discussion) but may speak only at the invitation of the Chair. Those wishing to speak on any matter during the meeting must give written notice giving brief details to the Clerk or Chair at least two days prior to the meeting.

Agenda

  1. Chair’s welcome and apologies for absence.
  2. Declarations of interest in items on the agenda.
  3. Approval of the minutes of the Ordinary meeting held on 3 June 2025, as previously circulated.
  4. Short presentation by Jamie Grant, Environment Agency Flood Resilience Community Engagement Officer.
  5. Appointment of Asset, Business and Risks Overseers to support the Chair for the year 2025/26.
  6. Vacancy for clerk/responsible financial officer.
    • Update on current position.
    • Approval for G. Crute to update the present approved form of Clerk’s Contract of Employment with any amendments made necessary by decisions at the Council’s Extraordinary Meeting on 27 May or subsequently by the Recruitment Committee with the approval of the Council’s Chair.
  7. PACT Meeting.
    Feedback on the June meeting.
  8. Roads and Footpaths.
    • Feedback on further consideration by Highways on the installation of additional signage at the Dinsdale Park entrance road junction.
    • Survey on suggested locations and preparation of a request to Darlington BC for the installation of dropped kerbs.
  9. Environment Agency Matters.
    D Inch (Catchment Manager) conceded repair is required to the safety fence running along to top of the east bank to Kent Beck and which Neasham PC consider is an urgent safety requirement. The agency are looking to carry out any necessary repairs to the full length of the fence as soon as possible, hopefully in the summer period.
  10. Village Green.
    • Purchase of plants and manure, planting up and maintenance of flower tubs.
    • Replacement of vandalised flower tub.
    • Additional works proposed to existing garden areas.
    • Feedback on the Reading Room “Duck Derby” event on the village green 21 June.
    • Replacement of broken barrier post.
  11. Planning.
    • Applications received since last meeting:-
      25/00534/FUL Erection of attached garage at 2A Dibdale Road, Neasham DL2 1PF
    • Decisions posted since last meeting: -
      None.
  12. Risk Management.
    • Scheduled Inspections due in May/June:- Duck Derby electrics pre- and post use (May/June), General Inspection of Electrics and Pat Testing (May/June).
    • Two defects raised in May/June are outstanding.
    • Test certificate required of power supply to village green junction box. Supply of lock to junction box.
    • Risk management report for Q1 as circulated.
    • The Vice Chair had inspected the defibrillator on 12 June as requested by the Circuit and confirmed that its status was “Ready”, also that the pads were due to be replaced in November.
  13. Finance.
    • Previously approved payments made in June:- K Sandick (£26.89) Assembly Refresh etc, Neasham Nurseries (£403.20) Flowers for village tubs, Clerk (£575.42) Salary Q1, HMRC (£143.86) PAYE.
    • The notice advertising the dates for the accounts being available for public inspection from 9 June to 18 July was posted on 8 July.
    • In response to our request to NS&I to close our account, we have received a letter from them requesting our bank details in order that they can forward the money by BACS payment.
    • Finance Report for 1Q 2025/26 has been circulated.
    • The review of the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders has been deferred until after the Autumn break.
    • Because of disappointing attendance at the CLCA meetings, they are having discussions as to whether they should continue and until that is resolved they will not be invoicing members.
    • The insurance cover renewal is due in September which will be the third and final year of the long term agreement.
  14. Reaching Out, Communications and Events.
    Report on the progress of the publication the proposed village newsletter which it is hoped will be circulated throughout the parish late November or early December.
  15. Ward Councillor Matters.
    Reports from Ward Councillors.
  16. Correspondence (as circulated June). 
    • Various emails from NALC regarding Chief Executive’s Bulletin (12/06,19/06), Events Newsletter (12/06,18/06).
    • Email from RECCC (18/06) – Cyber Threat May Updates.
  17. Other Village Matters.
    • Contact by J Chapple with P Allen regarding representation on the airport committee.
    • G Crute had identified errors on two members Register of Members Interests published on the Darlington BC website, which is in the process of being corrected.
    • Any other matter that members wish to raise (not requiring formal notification).
  18. Date of the next ordinary Parish Meeting is Tuesday 2 September 2025.