5 December 2023

Parish Councillors are hereby summoned to a meeting of Neasham Parish Council on Tuesday 5 December 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 7 November 2023, as previously circulated.
  4. Matters arising from the previous meeting.
  5. PACT Meeting.
  6. Roads and footpaths.
    • Progress on the recording the condition of the existing main roads running through the village for future reference in view of anticipated heavy traffic.
    • Update on a complaint from a parishioner regarding the condition of access tracks across the grass verge between the service road and Teesway for which the ownership is unknown.
  7. Environment Agency Matters.
    • Remedial work to Agency stile to footpath off Sockburn Lane was carried out prior to 24/11/23.
    • Curtailment of current mole activity in flood bank.
  8. Village Green.
    • Outstanding works to the Memorial Garden and Millennium Gardens.
    • In view of the passage of time, consideration to be given to use a casual gardener to complete routine maintenance works.
  9. Arrangements. For Forthcoming Village Events.
    • Feedback on the Remembrance Day Service. Two collection boxes were passed around raising £58.20 which is being forward to the RBL.
    • Report on the arrangements for Christmas Carol Event and liaising with the Reading Rooms on the “Santa’s Grotto”. Confirmation of any insurance issues regarding safeguarding issue, the need to keep detailed financial records (quotations, receipts etc) and indication of numbers attending together with photographs.
  10. Planning.
    • Applications received since last meeting:-
      23/00913/FUL 8 The Courtyard, Dinsdale Park – Demolition of porch and carport, alterations to garage to form annex and erection of new garage.
    • Decisions received since last meeting: -
      None.
    • 22/00875/FUL Dinsdale Park Golf Club application. Report on the submission of a letter or formal complaint to Darlington BC regarding the process that resulted in approval of the application.
    • Update on Appeal against enforcement notice for the siting of 4No mobile caravans and associated works at Skipbridge, Neasham Road.
  11. Risk Management.
    • Scheduled inspections due in November were Christmas lights (pre-use), Electrics General Inspection due December.
    • Initial comments from M Hannaford following his acceptance of the Risk Management Overseer role.
  12. Finance.
    • Previously approved payments made in November:- To date no payments have been made, however purchases have been made in connection with the Christmas Event and is anticipated invoices for items (as previously approved) will be received before the meeting.
    • The Local Government pay scales for 2023/24 have been published which apply to the clerk.
    • The budget for 2024/5 has been circulated to the members for approval at the December meeting.
    • Review of the expenditure to date in respect of the Levelling Up Fund second grant. B Crossen to provide costings for purchase of the portable lights for use on the green, for approval.
    • The monies from the Banks Community Fun have been received for expenditure on the Christmas Event.
  13. Reaching Out and Communications.
    • Review of publicity and IT arrangements.
    • Differentiation on social and formal Neasham PC Facebook posts.
  14. Ward Councillor Matters.
  15. Correspondence (as circulated in November).
    • Various emails from NALC regarding Newsletter (07/11, 18/10), Events (21/11), Local Authority Pay Scales 2023/24 (07/11). For information only.
    • An email from North Yorkshire Council regarding Consultation in Draft Statement of Community Involvement (11/11).
    • An email (17/11)) from the RBL thanking Neasham PC for their involvement.
  16. Other village matters.
  17. Date of the next ordinary Parish Meeting has been set as Tuesday 6 February 2024.