Minutes of the PC Meeting 15th November 2022

Present: Cllrs Irwin (Chairman), Barnes, Dodds, Fryer, Kirby, Patterson, Strike, Rutland and Watson.

Also in attendance: J McGeeney Town Clerk and J Stevely, Admin Assistant, R Bradford, S Cooney (SBC)

Housekeeping: The Chairman advised those present of the emergency escape procedures and outlined the Town Council’s protocol on public participation.  It was requested mobile phones be switched to silent.  If a call was received and had to be taken Members were politely requested to leave the room.

Notice of Meeting: Public Notice has been given in accordance Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Chairman noted the Notice of the Meeting had been published on the Town Council’s website and on the notice board at the Ingleby Barwick Community Hall, Beckfields and the Rings Community Hub.

Apologies for Absence: Cllrs Brown, Emmerson and Turnbull.

Declaration of Interests: Cllr Watson declared as her role as a Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Ward Councillor and as the owner of Fix-It DIY.  Cllr Strike declared a personal/non-prejudicial interest in all items involving his role as a Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Ward Councillor, Chairman of the Ingleby Barwick Community Partnership and Cllr Fryer declared as an employee of Ingleby Manor School.

Public Participation Part 1 - None

Community Safety – Richard Bradford was in attendance and introduced Sharon Cooney, the new Community Safety Manager for Stockton Borough Council. Sharon gave Councillors some background information as to her previous roles. She was a former Police Officer working as District Commander for Stockton and Hartlepool Blue Light team and had also previously worked for eight months at Hambleton District Council. She is a resident of Ingleby Barwick and has been in post for seven weeks. Cllr Fryer requested a ‘soft copy’ of the figures as they are difficult to read on paper print outs. Discussion took place and Cllr Watson highlighted that there are still issues around Sandgate Shops. R Bradford confirmed that those type of areas i.e. shops are magnets for anti-social behaviour. However, the Enforcement Team is working with Neighbourhood Police on a daily basis. Cllr Strike asked whether CCTV was picking up and was informed by Sharon that they were using both CCTV and calls to ascertain crime.

Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 18th October 2022. PROPOSED by Cllr Barnes and SECONDED by Cllr Fryer.  RESOLVED - the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 18th October 2022 be accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting subject to the following amendment where Cllr Kirby declared a non-prejudicial interest in Item 10 – Ingleby Barwick Community Hall, in her role as a member of one of the user groups.

Clerk and Chairman’s Report:
- Community Newsletter - The Town Clerk presented a draft copy of text to Councillors and explained there would be photographs to be inserted. She requested that any comments/changes should be sent to her by no later than Thursday 24th November in order for it to be designed and sent to print.
- St Francis of Assisi Church Christmas Tree Festival - The dressing of the Christmas Tree would take place on Thursday 24 and on Friday evening between 6.00pm and 8.00pm Councillors were offered a private invitation to view the tree before being revealed to the public. The Town Clerk was offered ten tickets to be given out on a first come first served basis.
- Remembrance Sunday – The Clerk informed Councillors the service was well attended and the wreaths will be collected in January by the Town Clerk to be stored at the Hub for a period of four weeks and, if not collected, to be sympathetically disposed of. Cllr Kirby noted the painted stones would also be collected by the Town Council. Cllr Strike suggested we send a birthday card to a veteran who lives in the nearby care home who will be celebrating his 100th birthday.
- Warm Spaces and Fire Safety – As a designated Warm Spaces location, there had been a visit from the Chief Fire Officer. As yet, no residents had used the Hub for this purpose.  
Five Year Council Plan - Terms of Reference were put forward for consideration and creation of Working Group. PROPOSED by Cllr Irwin and SECONDED by Cllr Strike. It was suggested at least five Councillors form a Working Group – preferably those who would be seeking re-election next year. Meetings would be held at least quarterly. It was decided to propose a Chair and Vice Chair. PROPOSED by Cllr Watson and SECONDED by Cllr Rutland that Cllr Irwin be appointed Chairman. PROPOSED by Cllr Fryer and SECONDED BY Cllr Watson that Cllr Watson be appointed Vice Chair. Members would consist of Cllrs Irwin, Barnes, Fryer, Patterson, Strike and Watson.

Cornerhouse Youth Project – Service Level Agreement – The Town Clerk presented the new Service Level Agreement which would take the project up until the end of March 2023. PROPOSED by Cllr Irwin and SECONDED by Cllr Kirby. UNANIMOUS the Service Level Agreement be accepted.

Committee Minutes and Committee Update Reports:
1. Finance Committee held on 7th November 2022 - PROPOSED by Councillor Rutland and SECONDED by Cllr Kirby.
2. Policy Committee – held on 8th November 2022 - PROPOSED by Cllr Patterson and SECONDED by Cllr Watson.
3. Hub and Town Maintenance Committee – held on 7th November 2022 – PROPOSED by Cllr Irwin and SECONDED by Cllr Strike. The Town Clerk explained the Town Council could look at a plaque to be affixed to the existing railings or a lecturn to be erected at the site. John Angus from Stockton Borough Council would be sourcing costs for extending the current Memorial Stone area and will be coming back to the Town Council with costs for both tarmac and resin grounding as well as moving the current waste bin. Discussion also took place on the viability of the current Christmas tree and its progress. It was decided to wait another year to see how it grows before making any decisions as to its future.
4. Events Committee – Held on 10th November 2022 – Cllr Strike gave an overview of the meetings and minutes of the Events Committee PROPOSED by Cllr Strike and SECONDED BY Cllr Rutland.

Town Council Policies –
- Zero Tolerance Policy . The Town Clerk gave an overview of the Policy. PROPOSED by Cllr Irwin and SECONDED by Cllr Kirby.
- Financial Regulations – The Town Clerk gave an overview of the Policy. PROPOSED BY Cllr Irwin and SECONDED by Cllr Patterson.

Borough Councillors’ Reports – A written report was received from both the East and West Wards -

EAST WARD
1. Beckfields Green Development
  Following on from the public consultation on the proposals for a perimeter path and seating area on Beckfields Green, East Ward Councillors met with Officers on site to discuss a solution for the issues raised by respondents. It was agreed to draw up a revised plan which will be published on SBC’s website before commencement of the project.
2. ASB Issues
  Cllr Alan Watson was contacted by a resident in Knebworth Court regarding youths throwing stones at his property from the cycle path. The issue was reported to Enforcement, patrols were arranged, and the Case Officer is to arrange a home visit.
3. Community Speedwatch
  Cllr Sally Ann Watson arranged a Community Speedwatch event with our PCSO’s on Middle Road in Lowfields recently. Within the hour we had two vehicles which were a cause for concern and their vehicle registration numbers will be run through the system and potentially warning letters sent.
4. Myton Underpass
  Following the receipt of photographs supplied by Cllr James Irwin, Care for your area were contacted to arrange for the underpass to be cleaned of graffiti. Action was taken by both Cllrs Strike and Sally Ann Watson. As always, CFYA responded immediately.
5. Overgrown Trees
  As reported last month, Cllr Ted Strike requested that the trees along the footpath between Greys Court underpass and Myton Way underpass were cut back as they were not only blocking the light on the footpath but were affecting the effectiveness of the CCTV located in Broomhill near the Myton Way underpass. Cllr Strike is pleased to report that the work was undertaken by the horticultural team extremely promptly.
  Cllr Sally Ann Watson was contacted by a resident in Ashridge Close regarding a tree overhanging his garden. A site meeting has been arranged with the Arborist.
6. Partridge Close
  Issues at an empty property on Partridge Close were reported back in August 2022 by Cllr Sally Ann Watson. As a result, a site visit was conducted by the Enforcement Case Officer and eventually an abandoned vehicle, in state of disrepair, was removed under relevant powers within SBC’s remit, as it posed a danger to community safety. Further issues regarding the property itself have been referred to Private Sector Housing to review.
WEST WARD
1. The Muddies Update IBIS have had several emails and messages regarding access and the recent mud on the nearby roads. We have spoken to the site manager and improvements and a plan are to be put in place. The site manager is meeting with IBIS week commencing 13th November and we will be getting a weekly update that we will pass onto our residents.
2. Christmas Tree Festival St Francis of Assisi Church.
3. IBIS are sponsoring a tree and we are happy that Barley Fields School will be decorating the tree.
4. New Park Rear of All Saints School & Romano Park Upgrade. The new park will have green spaces pathways and additional shrubbery and potentially a designated dog walking area.
5. Romano Park upgrade is due to begin in the new year.
6. SBC tree surgeon and team have been out to several areas and homeowners with some issues with roots and overgrown trees and hedgegrowth.

Finance - The Town Clerk presented the Town Council’s financial transactions for the General Account from 1st to 31st October 2022 and the Hub Account from 1st to 31st October 2022.  In addition, the Town Council’s Bank Reconciliations from 1st to 31st October 2022.  RESOLVED that all the financial transaction and bank reconciliation statements be APPROVED.

Planning Applications - Details of the Planning Applications up to week ending 30th October 2022 were presented to Cllrs and duly noted.

Matters of Concern to Councillors - Cllr Strike highlighted how he would like to see the creation of a Town Youth Council which he hoped would be launched in May 2023 and be part of the Five Year Plan.
Cllr Watson had attended some training on establishments becoming Dementia Friendly which she found very interesting and suggested The Hub become accredited as being Dementia Friendly and several councillors said they would be interested on attending the training.

Date of Next Town Council Meeting - The next Town Council meeting will be held at 7.00pm on Tuesday 20th December 2022 at The Rings Community Hub.

Public Participation Part 2 - None.

The Chairman thanked all for the attendance and participation and closed the meeting.

The meeting ended at 8.25pm