November 2024 DRAFT Minutes
Minutes of the Dunston Parish Council Meeting - Monday 11th November 2024
Present: Cllrs McLuckie, Duncan, Armstrong, Lamyman, Pellew, Phillipson, Treece. LCC Cllr Kendrick, two members of the public and Clerk to the council.
Public session
LCC Cllr Kendrick reported that the proposed parking restrictions in the village had been approved and would be implemented soon. He agreed to chase up the inoperative street light above the bus stop by the village hall. He also reported that Highways are monitoring the damaged road bridge (a repair to be scheduled) and the destroyed footbridge is to be replaced in due course. Cllr Kendrick also agreed to raise a query about the partial resurfacing of Dunston Heath Road with Highways.
Cllr Kendrick was informed that the Section 19 flood report had been discovered on the LCC web-site and, apart from questions about whether low bridges had contributed to the scale of the flooding and suggesting that the Beck be de-silted, contained no new recommendations.
The Dunston Emergency Plan has been approved by LCC but needs to be tested in due course. A member of the public queried one of the emergency contact numbers but the Chairman assured the room that the number in question had been supplied to the PC by the LCC Emergency Team.
A redacted version of the Dunston Emergency Plan has been published on the website.
At 1920 Cllr Kendrick left the building.
Council Session
24144 Apologies received from Cllr Rankin.
24145 The minutes from the October meeting were approved and signed by the Chair.
24146 The proposed dredging of the Beck had been completed but a small amount of debris remained to be cleared from the bank. GA BL RM
24147 It was suggested that LCC should be encouraged to remind residents with the waterway as part of their boundary of their rights and responsibilities with regard to the waterway. RM
24148 It was resolved to remind Open Reach of the planning requirement to put the repaired telephone cable the requisite depth under the Beck. RM TB
24149 The current grounds maintenance contract expires 1 April 2025 and quotes for a new contract need to be sought. The budget of £5000 per annum was agreed as a basis for negotiations. PD TB
24150 The Dunston Christmas event is to take place on 21st December in the Village Hall. It will start with carol singing round the Christmas tree at 1600. A budget of £50 was agreed for a Santa costume and £300 was agreed towards the cost of the function. PD TB
24151 The church clock face is in need of repainting – not regilding as stated in previous minutes (24136 9th Sep 24) but the work has now been postponed until spring next year.
24152 It was resolved to accept the quotation from Bass Electrical to replace the emergency lighting and fire exit boxes in the village hall. SR
24153 It was agreed that the smoke detectors in the village hall, as part of the safety of the building and its occupants, should be replaced as required by the latest fire safety check. SR
24154 The long term storage of sandbags in the Potato Store might need to be renegotiated as there could be a change of user of that building in early 2025. RM TB
24155 The VH accounts for the year should be reviewed by the PC. SR
24156 The financial position at the end of September was presented to the PC and it was confirmed that there were sufficient funds to complete the car park project and have £10,000 available for the potential roof repair to the VH. TB
24157 Lloyds bank have given notice of a change to their terms and conditions which will result in charges being incurred to maintain the accounts. It was resolved to try to move the bank accounts to the Coop bank, which currently does not charge any fees. TB
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Monday 13th January 2025 at 1900 in the Lamyman room in the Dunston Village Hall.