1 April 2025

Parish Councillors are hereby summoned to a meeting of Neasham Parish Council on Tuesday 4 March 2025, 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 4 March 2025, as previously circulated.
  4. Vacancy on Parish Council.
    Welcome to J Chapple as new member of the Parish Council and the signing of Acceptance of Office. A hard copy (and memory stick) of the Good Councillors Guide published by NALC is available for new Councillors to read.
  5. PACT Meeting.
    Feedback on the meeting of 27/03/25. The following meeting is at Middleton SG CC on 23/04/25.
  6. Roads and Footpaths.
    • Re-instating road markings within the parish boundary generally.
    • Request to Highways for the installation of additional warning signs and traffic mirror to the junction at the entrance road to Dinsdale Park.
  7. Environment Agency Matters.
    • EA work in the Kent Beck area for which they had issued an entry notice.
    • Letter from the Agency clarifying their position on moles in the flood bank and also the sluice outlets.
    • Confirmation that the Agency intend,  later in the year, to carry out vegetation clearance to the flood bank at the rear of some dwellings on Teesway and wish to liaise with the residents affected.
       
  8. Village Green.
    • Report on proposed work to existing garden areas.
    • Purchase of plants and manure, planting up and maintenance.
    • Update on Reading Room event on village green 21 June.
    • Approval of Neasham PC proposals for VE Day 80 anniversary celebrations on 8 May as set out in the G Crute email 24/03/25 (as circulated).
    • Updating of Land Registry records in respect of the village green.
    • Approval of Neasham PC proposal and costings for J Weighell memorial as set out in the G Crute email (as circulated).
    • Volunteer required for maintenance of defibrillator and floatation device.
    • Report from M Hannaford on contact from Tees River Trust.
       
  9. Planning.
    • Applications received since last meeting:-
      None
    • Decisions posted since last meeting: -
      None.
    • Letter (13/03/25) received from Darlington BC regarding their Local Plan and requesting suggestions of sites for inclusion. In addition update on any steps being taken by Darlington BC in submission of a Regeneration Plan to the MHCLG.
  10. Risk Management.
    • Scheduled Inspections due in March:- Trees (consolidated with deferred 2024 inspection), Village Green (Revised arrangements).
    • One defect raised in March, blocked grille to sewer outlet sluice, referred to Environment Agency and closed.
    • Testing of power supply to village green junction box.
  11. Finance.
    • Previously approved payments made in March:- Clerk £18.30 (Memory stick & paper), G Crute £130.37 (2 Years expenses), RBL £278.96 (Tommy Silhouette & VE day flag etc), AC Media £70.00 (Advice in 2024), Clerk £575.28 (Quarterly salary), HMRC £144.00 (PAYE), ICO £47.00 (Data protection).
    • Further letter on complaint sent to NS&I regarding change of address not having been actioned and also revised forms for completion.
       
  12. Reaching Out, Communications and Events.
    Vice Chair’s proposals for improving reaching out via Facebook.
  13. Ward Councillor Matters.
    Reports from Ward Councillors.
  14. Correspondence (as circulated in March).  
    • Various emails from NALC regarding Chief Executive’s Bulletin (27/02, 06/03, 13/03, 20,03, 27/03), Events Newsletter (04/03, 11/03, 18/03).
    • Email from RECCC (19/02) – Cyber Threat February Updates.
  15. Other Village Matters.
    • Members are reminded that Reading Room AGM is on Thursday 10 April 2025 when a photograph of John Weighell will be unveiled.
    • Date of the Parish Assembly to be agreed.
  16. Date of the Annual Meeting has been set as Tuesday 6 May 2025 to be followed immediately by the next ordinary parish meeting.