Neasham Parish Council

21/069 - WELCOME

J Weighell welcomed Councillors to the meeting.  Apologies for absence were accepted from  C Chou (Working), L Tostevin (Funeral).

21/070 – DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

A previous declaration of interest by E Miller in respect of planning application 20/00967/FUL has been carried forward to the current meeting.

21/071 - MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 6 July 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

21/072– MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING / PROGRESS REPORTS

1. Minute 21/059 – Update on the tug of war event by Tees River Trust in September. M Hannaford reported that a possible change in location had been mentioned, but he had no further news to report. G Crute pointed out that the event had been approved in principle at the July meeting and could proceed subject to compliance with the Conditions set out in the Neasham PC consent letter.
2. Minute 21/059 – Allocation of trees, seat and memorial plaque by Darlington BC. L Tostevin confirmed that Neasham was not eligible, it was only for villages that had any covid related deaths.
3. Minute 21/065 ­– Teesflex bus “drop in” session held 30 July. The Chair had opened up the premises at 10.00am and there had been a good attendance mainly by elderly people who were not able to use the “app” and who wanted re-assurances about use of phones. However, although the service is considered to be a success, one member reported that her experience with the service was not satisfactory with extended periods of delay which resulted in cancellation of the request.
4. Minute 21/066 – Boundary Commission proposal to move Neasham to Stockton West constituency. The clerk had completed the online form setting out Neasham PC concerns to the proposal and suggesting because of a closer affinity with Darlington, that constituency would be more appropriate.

21/073 – PACT REPORT

No meeting was held in July and August. The Chair reported that, last Tuesday, a police car had parked up in the village and the new PCSO had roamed the village chatting to everyone she met, which was re-assuring to the villagers. E Miller reported that several youths with an air rifle had been roaming around the fields, police had been called but it not known what action was taken.

21/074 – ROADS AND FOOTPATHS

The issue of the right of way through the New Lane development. K Sandick had received an email the previous day from the Right of Way Officer advising that she was now back in the office and would attend site shortly to clarify the signage issue. Also the parish council had been informed by a villager that the pedestrian gate to the development was locked overnight.

21/075 – ENVIRONMENT AGENCY MATTERS

There was nothing to report apart from the fact they been on site and strimmed footpaths

21/076 – VILLAGE GREEN

1. Miss Trees had attended site 3 August to carry out work to two trees. G Crute had agreed for Miss Trees to carry out the Autumn works during October. These works include the cutting back of two trees and necessary work to the leylandii hedge and a budget capped at £400 for the work was agreed. G Crute also reported that there are four trees which who growth causes perennial problems and recommended a maintenance cycle of every three to four years. He will report further after his September inspections.
2. Trees made available by Darlington BC to parish councils for planting in agreed areas of the parish. Plan had been sent to Darlington BC showing suggested areas, response still awaited. G Crute commented that if there no trees forthcoming Darlington BC, then it may be possible to obtain some from the Woodland Trust. The clerk to ask Lorraine Tostevin if she could take up the matter with Street Scene.
3. Two commemorative plaques for The Square had been ordered and have been fixed by G Crute.
4. The bench at the east end of Teesway had been relocated to The Square. An offer by Mr and Mrs Dobinson to make a donation of £400 to cover the cost of a new seat was accepted and the seat ordered. The manufacturer of the original Village Green seats had gone out of business and a company called Marmax was selected as an acceptable alternative. Delivery will be in approximately four weeks and it was agreed that Neasham PC will arrange for the fixing of the seat. Mr and Mrs Dobinson will be providing a plaque.
5. The old locking posts to prevent vehicular access to the green are beyond repair and new ones have been manufactured by Roy Laundy who provided the original ones.
6. G Crute had circulated two alternatives for the construction of a raised bed shrubbery area near The Square as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The need for the shrubbery to be in a raised bed arose from the lack of topsoil in the proposed area. Of the two alternatives, it was agreed that for the material used should be Marmax Edging in recycled material and a provisional budget of £2,000 was approved. This was based on current rates and which would be subject to updating closer to the time of ordering. A separate approval will be required for purchase of commemoration and dedication plaques and lectern. It was resolved that the Precept for next year shall include for all these works. It was also resolved to cordon off the area in January 2022 to apply weedkiller in preparation of the development.

21/077 – PLANNING

1. Applications received since last meeting:-
   21/00987/DC – Ingenium Parc, Salters Lane, Darlington – Outline permission for development of commercial/enterprise park (No Comment).
2. Decisions received since last meeting:- 
   None
3. 20/00967/FUL – Skipbridge and Neasham Springs Farms. Following a site visit on the 10 July by members, it was agreed that the Neasham PC response should be no comment. E Miller reported that there had been no further developments, but that Planning were still raising queries.
4. Update on appeal on traveller sites and further unauthorised development. G Crute reported that he had looked up on the portal for any progress and confirmed that the inspections had not taken place and that the appeal on the refusal to the site opposite Eurojag had only been fully lodged in July. It may be that the two appeals could be consolidated and decided at the same time.

21/078 – RISK MANAGEMENT

1. There were no Scheduled Inspections due in July and August.
2. No defects were raised in these two months, one existing defect remains open.
3. A Covid 19 Risk Assessment had been prepared for operations in the pandemic (see item 21/080)

21/079 – FINANCE

1. The balance in the current account stood at £9,418.40 as at 24 August 2021.
2. The previously approved payments made in July and August were made as follows:- £35.18 Chair’s Expenses (Water buggy wheels), £40.00 D Laundy (Lockable posts), £160.00 Miss Trees (Pruning), £223.01 Rustic Stone (Stone Plaque), £60.00 Status Promotions (Memorial Plaque), £5.70 Clerk’s Expenses (Printer Paper), £9.60 AC Media (Domain Registration).
3. A VAT refund Claim for the period 01/10/20 to 30/06/21 in the sum of ££472.54 has been received.
4. Clarification have been requested on the insurance documents and a revised quotation in the sum of £424.76 had been received from CAME and Co. As the option of a 3 year fixed term agreement has been withdrawn, it was agreed to accept the quotation of £424.76 for cover commencing 20th September. Post meeting note, the invoice was paid and policy documents issued 10/09/21.
5. A cheque in the sum of £400.00 has been received from Mr and Mr Dobinson in respect of the seat referred to in paragraph 21/76 above. Neasham PC have ordered and will pay for the seat at a cost of £432. The reclaim of the VAT will reduce to cost to below the donation level, leaving a balance towards the fixing cost.

21/080 – UPDATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DOCUMENTS

1. G Crute reported that the following documents, as circulated, had been updated to reflect what was done now and all were approved.
   • Revised Covid Risk Assessment.
   • Notes for Clerk.
   • Information for Prospective and New Councillors.
2. Updating of the Data Protection procedure, is to be completed prior to the 2022 April review.
3. Reviews of the Asset Register and Inventory are ongoing and awaiting clarification from the insurer.

21/081 – WARD COUNCILLOR MATTERS

There were no matters raised.

21/082 – CORRESPONDENCE

1. All as previously circulated with no issues raised by the members.
2. G Crute requested that we review our position with regards to NALC publications received by email to ensure significant items were properly discussed. It was agreed to place this on the October agenda.

21/083 – OTHER VILLAGE MATTERS

1. An email had been received from a parishioner enquiring when the minutes for the August meeting would be published. The clerk had advised that no meetings are held in January and August.
2. The clerk had responded to the previous email from Doug Oliver (Constituency Officer of Paul Howell). The clerk was instructed to enquire what issues that Mr Howell would wish to discuss in order to establish whether a meeting would be beneficial.
3. The new clerk to the Darlington Association of Parish Councils has indicated resumption of meetings and K Sandick volunteered to represent Neasham.
4. No Airport Consultative Committee meetings have been held in recent months.
5. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons event in June 2022 was discussed. G Crute had a price of £490 plus VAT for the supply of two gas fired beacons. It was agreed not to proceed with this purchase and consideration given to an alternative celebration.
6. G Crute had received an email from the Royal British Legion requesting local councils take packs of poppies to sell to help reduce the £20m shortfall from last year. It was agreed to take an allocation for councillors to sell and consideration also to given to holding a Remembrance Day ceremony.

21/084 – DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next ordinary Parish Council meeting was set at Tuesday 5 October 2021.

The meeting concluded at 8.00pm