4 July 2023

Parish Councillors are hereby summoned to a meeting of Neasham Parish Council on Tuesday 4 July 2023, 6:30PM, 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 6 June 2023, as previously circulated.
  4. Matters arising from the previous meeting.
  5. PACT Meeting.
  6. Roads and footpaths.
    • Feedback on events following Darlington BC refusal to carry out further repairs to the sunk trench surface causing damage to 38 Teesway.
    • Suggestion by a parishioner for the installation of “speed bumps” in a side street in Neasham.  A response had been received from Darlington BC setting out the criteria to be applied when they are considering whether speed bumps are appropriate.
  7. Environment Agency Matters.
    Update on progress of works to be carried out by the Environment Agency.
  8. Village Green.
    • Report on progress of outstanding works to the Memorial and Millennium Garden including installation of baffle to lectern and repairs to raised bed retaining board.
    • Refurbishment works in Kent Bridge area with chemical spray and power washing  of stone and concrete including protection to flower tubs.
    • Replacement of notice boards at village green and Dinsdale Park.
    • Replacement of notice board at Low Dinsdale.
  9. Planning.
    • Applications received since last meeting:-
      None.
    • Decisions received since last meeting: -
      None.
    • Update on planning application by Dinsdale Golf Club and in particular objections to their proposal to import fill material.
  10. Risk Management.
    • Scheduled inspections due in July:- Duck Derby inspect electrics (Pre and Post Use), General inspection of electrics, Old Pumphouse, Verges.
    • All defect notices have been closed. Defects relating public roads have previously been referred to Darlington BC with no further action by Neasham PC.
    • Copy of Risk Management Report 1Q 2023/4 as circulated.
    • Rotation of councillors carrying out the scheduled inspections.
  11. Finance.
    • Previously approved payments made in June:- Eden Landscapes £60.00 (Fix noticeboard and seat), Eden Landscapes £100.00 (Fix Village Green noticeboard), Clerk £15.70 (Stamps and paper), Clerk £504.00 (Salary), HMRC £126,00 (PAYE), Pretty Gardens £105.00 (Bark to Millenium garden).
    • The Clerk’s salary for 2023/4 increases by one point to Spine Point 11 as previously agreed.
    • The Finance Report 1Q 2023/24 has been circulated.
    • Insurance is due for renewal 20 September 2023, clerk currently preparing to obtain 3 quotations. Proposed to obtain quotations from A J Gallacher, Zurich Municipal and BHIB Councils Insurance.   Zurich had already submitted an un-requested price of £264, subject the Neasham being able to conform to certain conditions they have assumed, as yet undefined but which will inevitably increase their premium.
  12. Reaching Out and Communications.
    • Vice Chair proposals for moving forward on reaching out and communications.
    • Items of interest as set out in the Breakdown Communications blog contained in the NALC Newsletter dated 12 April 2023.
  13. Ward Councillor Matters.
  14. Correspondence (all as circulated in June).
    Various emails from NALC regarding Newsletter (07/06, 14/06, 21/06), Chief Executive’s Bulletin (08/06), Request for Assistance in Planning Case Study (15/06). For information only, unless any matters raised by members.
  15. Other village matters.
    • Proposal to invite Paul Howell to attend the September (or other agreed) meeting.
    • Neasham PC attendance at the forthcoming NALC meetings in September, October and November.
    • Feedback on Reading Rooms Duck Club Derby.
    • Receipt of the electronic copy of the documents prepared by the late M Townsend, from the parishioner, awaited.
  16. Date of the next ordinary Parish Meeting has been set as Tuesday 5 September 2023.