At a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 2nd September 2026
PRESENT:
Cllr M Brewin, Cllr D Craig, Cllrs Mrs S Smart, Cllr Mrs D Sutcliff, Cllr Mrs D Wright, Cllr P Turton,
Cllr Mrs C Burdis
Cllr Miss J Carrick – Chairman
Susan Anderson – Clerk
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Apologies for Absence
Cllr Mrs S Thompson, Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr R Lawrie, Cllr L Blackett, Cllr E Buchanan,
Cllr Mrs A Savory
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To Receive Any Declarations of Interest from Members
None received
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Minutes of the meeting held on 5th August 2026
Minutes were moved as a true and correct record and were signed by the chairman
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Matters Arising
- ASHCROFT PLAYAREA GRASS CUTTING – An explanation email has been sent explaining the
invoice and the grass cutting dates. The email was sent to the councillors. Resolved: The area
will be monitored - LOOSE KERB STONE HIGH STREET, STANHOPE – The footpath has been inspected and the
problem has been identified and has been added onto the current works programme. - FOOTBRIDGE, FROSTERLEY – The footbridge after the first field has been closed due to major
structural defects. There is a diversion plan which uses footpaths to the south. At the minute
there are no timescales to replace the bridge yet. - SLITT WOOD BRIDGES AND THE FOOTBRIDGE BETWEEN BURNFOOT AND THE NORTH BANK
OF THE RIVER – These are with the structures team to investigate - JACOBS LADDER – The PROW officer will take a look at the bushes
- GATE BY RAILWAY LINE BONDISLE – The railway side path is not a PROW and was originally
put in by the Sustainable Travel Team they think, but it is on Railway land. I have written to
the Weardale Railway regarding the gate. A site meeting has been suggested with C Gibbons
from the Weardale Railway, PROW Officer, Cllr Lawrie and the clerk. - BUS CHARGES- The bus fares are capped at £2.50 for any single journey.
1 - COUNCILLOR EMAILS – An email has been sent with a video to help, along with a link to get
the councillors up and running
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Correspondence Received - The Local Network have sent an email that groups can now apply for grant funding .
£1.2m is being made available through the 12 Local Networks (£100,000 per Local
Network). Applicants can apply for between £5000 and £10,000 which can be used to
support local groups and community projects. A discussion took place on the
possibility of getting planters for every village along with some bulbs and plants.
Resolved: It was agreed to apply for £10,000. Clerk to contact A Maddison - I received an email from a resident from Frosterley who came across what appeared
to be human waste and toilet paper under three different trees in Frosterley
churchyard. The church has appeared to be occupied overnight on some weeks as a
light was on and a vehicle parked outside. This was reported to DCC and was
removed. - A tenant from Willard Grove allotments would like permission to replace the shed
that was lost in the fire earlier in the year. The size will be 5 x 3 and will be placed in
the same area as the original was on. Resolved: Agreed - A lady was enquiring about permission to scatter her father’s ashes by
Shittlehopeburn Burn, Stanhope. The area concerned is managed by Stanhope
Fishing Club and they have said there is no problem with her request. - A tenant from Westgate would like permission to put a 6 x 4ft shed on her allotment
and also a small greenhouse no bigger than 6x8ft. Resolved: Agreed - A resident from Westgate has sent a report on Northern Lithium that she has sent to
the planning department. The representation identifies a number of matters which
warrant careful scrutiny, including the North Pennines National Landscape, the
existing rural highway network, agriculture, hydrogeology, residential amenity,
biodiversity, heritage and the effects of the development over its anticipated
operational life. The report has been sent to all of the councillors. A councillor
commented that planning will be going in. - One of our councillors who was Ward Councillor for Rookhope Ward, Brian
Thompson, has recently passed away. He will be missed by many who knew him. Also
another Cllr who was Ward Councillor for Stanhope Rural is also recovering in
hospital. - A resident from Frosterley has sent an email regarding a mirror on the road by Belle
Vue. The request is to have the mirror renewed and the speed limit reduced to
20mph. The resident also sent the email to Cllr Shuttleworth who sent it to the Traffic
Engineer. A reply was sent back to the resident. The decision remains that the posted
speed limit is credible and correct for the location in question. DCC will not re-assess
the speed limit in this location unless there is substantial change to the roadside
environment, or new speed data is obtained through the methods outlined in DCC’s
Speed management Strategy. The traffic mirror will not be renewed as the DfT
research raised concerns about the distorted image given by mirrors which can make
it difficult to judge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles. Also, there are
concerns of the effectiveness of traffic mirrors in certain weather conditions specially
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sunlight and glare. After receiving the reply, the resident is wondering if the Parish
Council has any advice on what to do. Receive and Noted - A resident neighbouring the new cemetery near to the top would like to report that
the trees need trimming back by DCC. They have been done in the past but need
doing again. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
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Planning Applications
DM/26/01777/FPA
Proposed alterations to the cottage and conversion of the barn to additional living accommodation
High Burnt Hills
Lanehead
DM/26/01971/FPA
Restoration of the former cottage, conservation of the existing byre, and the conversion /rebuild o
the former hay barn footprint to form a single three bedroom dwelling with single storey extension.
Construction of a detached garage, off-road parking, EV-charging provision and associated amenity
space. Area identified for ground-mounted solar PV to the south. Retrospective planning permission
is also sought for the access track in its current position as its alignment differs from that approved
under application DM/20/02778/FPA
Agricultural Buildings
To the south of
Chapel House
Wearhead
DM/26/01121/FPA
Proposed single storey rear extension and two storey side extension
13 Hill End
Frosterley
DM/26/01784/FPA
Replacement side extension
4 Weardale House
Stanhope
DM/26/01970/LB
Retrospective application for the addition of 8 new conservation roof windows
St Michael & All Angels Church
Church Lane
Frosterley
DM/26/02068/FPA
Single storey rear extension
17 Coronation Avenue
Stanhope
3
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Finance - The allotments were judged on 11th August for the best flower planter. The judge chose a
winner from each of the sites and then chose an overall winner. She really enjoyed the
judging and felt that if there was a winner from each site then another year there might be
more entries. The results are as follows- Ireshopeburn there were no planters, Westgate
there were two entries and the winner was S Aldred. The second prize one was Highly
Commended from K Turnbull. Crosshill the winner was R & A Hodgson, Willard Grove the
winner was M&S Appleby, Bondisle the winner of the children’s entry was E Craggs grandson
and E Craggs won Bondisle and E Smith was the winner of Stanhope Hall. The overall winner
was S Aldred from Westgate and the childrens planter was E Craggs’s grandson. We need to
decide the prize and something for the judge. Resolved: The overall winner to receive free
rent for the year (£25). The winners from each site £10 voucher from Woodhalls, childs prize
also a £10 voucher for Woodhalls and the judge to receive a £10 voucher for Woodhalls. - The tenants at Stanhope Hall Allotments are very concerned about the number of rats that
are running around. The tenants do have rat traps down but a tenant rang to say that the
rats must be got on top of. So far at least three buckets of blocks containing fifteen have
been put down and have been taken by the rats. A tenant is going to organise a person who
catches rats to come to the site. He is hoping that the Parish Council will reimburse him. The
rat catcher uses licensed poison in boxes and charges about £70. Another email has been
received from a tenant on the same site who has never seen as many rats on the site as this
year. Crops are being devastated by the number of rats which is a worrying health issue. Cllr
Mrs Burdis would like to see a more detailed account of the allotments. Another report can
be sent. Resolved: It was agreed to pay £60 as a one-off payment. Tenants must still put rat
bait down. Allotments to go onto the Agenda for February. Clerk to add onto the Allotment
Rent Notice that any complaints must be in writing. - Stanhope Christmas Lights are looking for a prize, voucher or donation for a grand raffle
which will be drawn on the night of the “switch on”. This will help towards the cost of
electric, PLI insurance, free gifts for every child, free mulled wine, juice, hot drinks, mince
pies and other goodies. So much raised will be donated to local charities. Resolved: Cllr Miss
Carrick mentioned that she will donate something - Mazars have completed their review and have enclosed the certified Annual Governance and
Accountability Return. No matters have come to their attention. - Bank Reconciliation figures were approved
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Accounts for Payment
S Anderson salary
HM Rev
S Anderson expenses
S Anderson Home as Office
R Mews Pest Control
D Wright Allotment Gift Vouchers
£923.35
£117.12
£20.33
£35.00
£60.00
£80.00
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DIRECT DEBITS
Wave – Public Conv Daddry Shield
Wave – Allotments Willard Grove
Wave – Cemetery Stanhope
Bank Charges
N Power Street Lighting
EE
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New Matters for discussion
£95.69
£67.66
£24.00
£9.10
£3322.14
£31.80 - Cllr Mrs Burdis mentioned were the electric car park charging points working in Frosterley
car park. Cllr Brewin said that they are working. - Cllr Mrs Smart mentioned the camping over the stone bridge and that a fire pit was ready to
light when she drove past. This was reported to the Police and Cllr Mrs Savory. The
councillors thought that large boulders might be the answer. This will be looked into at a
later date. - Cllr Mrs Wright would like to report that the parking signs are still on Cowgarth Hill and have
not been removed yet. Resolved: Clerk to contact DCC - Cllr Brewin is having bother getting the water leak repaired at the back of the Village Hall.
Northumbrian Water cannot find the leak. Apparently, the water pressure has to be high to
get up to Hill End. - Cllr Miss Carrick has had a report that the first bridge in the Dene needs repairing. Resolved:
Clerk to report to DCC
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Clerks Business
Nothing to report
Meeting closed at 20.03pm
Date of next meeting is Wednesday 7th October 2026 at Eastgate Village Hall commencing at 7pm.
