At a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 1st October 2025
PRESENT: Cllr Mrs D Sucliff, Cllr M Brewin, Cllr P Turton, Cllr E Buchanan, Cllr Mrs S Thompson,
Cllr R Lawrie, Cllr D Craig, Cllr Miss J Carrick – ChairmanSusan Anderson – Clerk
County Councillor Mrs A Savory
Also present – a member of the public
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Apologies for Absence
Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr Mrs D Wright, Cllr Mrs S Smart, Cllr Mrs C Burdis
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To Receive Any Declarations of Interest from Members
Cllr Mrs Savory as she is on the Planning Committee
Cllr P Turton Trustee on the committee to save St Thomas Church Hall
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Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September 2025
Minutes were moved as a true and correct record and were signed by the chairman
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Matters Arising
1.Ashcroft-Stanhope Rural Ward – The Parish Wards would have been created, primarily,
to ensure fair and effective representation of different parts of a parish on the parish
council. Most warding arrangements tend to be long standing and will have been in place
for many years.
In respect of Stanhope Parish, the government’s guidance would apply “that warding may be
appropriate where the parish encompasses a number of villages with separate identities, a village
with a large rural hinterland or where, on the edges of towns, there has been some urban overspill
into the parish”.
A Community Governance Review would be required to change the electoral arrangements for the
parish. This would require public consultation and be able to demonstrate that there is strong local
support to change any existing warding pattern for the parish. Whilst we have powers to instigate a
Community Governance Review, we have never done so. We have always responded to a petition
from local residents – because this would demonstrate a strong desire for arrangements to change. If
a petition was to be raised, it has to be done so in a specific way which DCC can provide further
information if required.
To be valid, a petition must be signed by the following number of local government electors from
the petition area:
Less than 500 electors at least 37.5% of the electors
Between 500-2,499 electors at least 187 of the electors
More than 2,500 electors at least 7.5% of the electors
There would likely be a cost implication to the parish if we were to conduct any form of review and
there are number of factors we must take into account when conducting a review. Resolved: It was
agreed to send the information to the residents that attended the meeting.
2.Burnhope Reservoir – The road has now been inspected and a job has been raised regarding the
potholes.
3.Shittlehopeburn Cottage – The residents’ email was sent to DCC and the Police with their
permission. The email was forwarded onto the Police’s Traffic Management Team.
4.Response to concerns from Mr Hall Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner – Mr Hall would like
to thank the councillors for the invite to attend a meeting. Firstly, no complaints have been received
relating to the parking at Frosterley School. It is acknowledged that it does get busy during school
pick-up and drop-off times. The data has been reviewed and in conclusion there is nothing to note at
school times. There is no current speed data as the road is not on the traffic management radar. On a
large section of the road DCC have provided a number of signs, road narrows, school warning signs,
SLOW road markings and yellow bar markings and a no stopping school area immediately outside the
school gate. The 30mph speed sign at the south end of the school is in poor condition and wrongly
positioned so a request has been put in to DCC for remedial action to rectify this.
The suggestion for a school crossing patrol is not justified but the education side might be
considered. Traffic Management will continue to monitor the situation and periodically visit to
monitor.
The residents in Frosterley have nowhere else to park but it does create natural speeds through the
village.
Upper Weardale patrols will be conducted when resources allow. The area is also given priority for
operation checkpoint.
The complaint regarding a call handler has been highlighted to the Control Room Chief Inspector who
has identified a learning opportunity for the call handler and supervision. Any complaints should be
reported and the date and time noted.
No concerns at Horn Hall around parking and vehicle speeds with nothing recorded on the collision
record. There is no current speed data and Cllr Mrs Savory is looking to have a survey carried out. It is
not a location where physical traffic calming measures would be implemented not least given the
roads B class status.
The Police visit at St Michaels & All Angels at Frosterley is under review and an investigation has
commenced on the damage or destruction of a bat roost.
Mr Hall has stressed that any speeding incidents must be reported to the Police which will then be
logged with the date, time and location, this will provide the data which is needed to show where
there is a problem. Cllr Brewin went to see the Headteacher of Frosterley School. If ever they need
any support with the parking outside of the school, then they will let the Parish Council. Letters are
regularly sent out to parents.
5.Olivers tree services Westgate – Permission has come through for the trees at Westgate to have
the works done. This will be on 14th October.
- Toilet Provision over Christmas in Stanhope – The area where the toilets might be positioned
belongs to the Dales Centre. The Dales Centre have agreed to allow a portable toilet for the two
weeks over Christmas and New Year when the Dales Centre is closed. - Weardale Area Action Partnership – Tracy has left the WAAP and she did a wonderful job
managing many projects and put in a lot of hard work. A thank you is noted in our minutes.
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Correspondence Received - A tenant from Westgate Allotments would like to report that she has had produce taken from
her plot along with some 8ft bamboo canes and some materials to make a frame. Apparently
other tenants have had produce taken. She has contacted some tenants to see if anyone had
seen anything. There is no right of way in the allotments so only tenants should be on the site.
Resolved. Clerk to contact the local Police to see if anything can be done - Wolsingham Wayfarers are looking to work with the Parish Council with some of the rights of
way in our parish. Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned that they are a great asset to have. - The Weardale Museum has sent the Autumn Newsletter which was sent to all of the
councillors. - Mr Barton has emailed to say that he is no longer involved in Weardale Renewable Energy CIC.
- Savills have emailed to advise us that Olivers Trees will be carrying out an inspection on 16th
Oct of the trees on Bondisle Allotment Site. - We have received a complaint regarding the turning point at Crosshill Allotments. A councillor
drove up and got turned and also the chairman and the clerk went up and felt that there is
any amount of room. - ParkThatBike are working with DCC on a project which aims to make cycling easier and more
convenient and to tackle bike theft. Various types of bike racks and secure cycle-store are
offered free of charge. They will be supplied and installed by ParkThatBike with no charge to
the Parish Council. - The Weardale Practice response to contract changes on 1 October
The Government have made amended to the contracts that GP practices in England hold and
it has been widely circulated in the press over the last few days, today and will be for some
time.
The amendment which is grabbing the headlines is that from Wednesday 1 October, “patients
will be able to make unlimited non-urgent consultation requests, medication queries, and
admin enquiries online from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday”
The Weardale Practice, like many other GP practices in England have moved to a total triage
model to request GP appointments, submit medication enquires and other admin type
requests.
Money has been invested in the total triage process to clear the back-log of GP appointments
and the waiting time for doctor appointments. Patients typically had to wait 4 weeks for a GP
appointment and same-day appointments were often pre-booked.
We have a limited capacity of appointments and time, so with the increase in online requests
this will have an effect on other parts of patient services. The government is recommending
that we use waiting lists for doctor appointments.
Moving to the ‘new’ model today would crucify the hard-work and money spent to implement
the new process. Whilst the new booking process has not been popular with all patients – we
would urge that you support the practice to maintain the current model which allows us to
manage the requests and booking of doctor appointments.
Total triage means that a clinician reviews requests for GP appointments and decides the
urgency for the appointment. We consider all requests for GP appointments as potentially
urgent and therefore cannot allow unlimited requests between 8am and 6pm. We are not
changing the number of requests that we make available each day. We will also treat
medication queries as potentially urgent.
The government are now suggesting that we introduce waiting lists for routine GP
appointments. This poses significant patient safety concerns due to the waiting times for
these appointments and the delay to health care interventions such as 2WW wait referrals.
We provide an outcome to 93% of all requests for all online forms on the day and 85% of
appointments have an appointment within 2 weeks.
The Weardale Practice are compliant in regard to the online forms for urgent and non-urgent
requests or queries.
Historically The Weardale Practice, like all other GP practices in County Durham, open
between 8am and 6pm. We will continue to operate during these hours. Unless we change
staff contracts, receive funding for the additional hours and there is supporting public
transport – opening until 6.30pm is not feasible.
I hope that you understand the impact of the new government contractual requirement and
why need to consider all requests for GP appointments and medications queries as urgent
until a clinician has reviewed them.
Our admin\reception teams have been briefed as to the changes that the government are
introducing and I would kindly ask that you respect that they are working within guidelines
outside of their control.
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Planning Matters
DM/25/02350/FPA
Formation of opening in wall into parrock: installation of timber field gate and posts: creation of
dropped kerb (partly retrospective)
Briar Barn
Briar Hill
Ireshopeburn
Cllr Mrs Thompson cannot understand why two openings are needed especially as the proposed one
is right on a corner. Two driveways are not necessary. Resolved: Clerk to object to application
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Finance
- Mazars have completed the review for the year ended 31st March 2025 and have enclosed
the certified Annual Governance and Accountability Return. There are no minor issues
identified. The notice is on the website and in the Notice Board. - Bank reconciliations figures for approval 30th Sept 2025. Resolved: Agreed
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CDALC
Nothing to report
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Accounts for Payment
S Anderson Salary £925.81
HM Rev £82.53
S Anderson Expenses £38.25
S Anderson Home as Office £35.00
Accounts for Receipts
Vodafone £35.12
Direct Debits
Bank Charges £9.10
EE Ltd £30.00
Resolved: Approved
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New Matters for Discussion
- Cllr Brewin mentioned that the builders at Frosterley Church have been rude to people
saying that the path is not a public footpath. Apparently, Cllr Shuttleworth has
correspondence relating to the path. - Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned that planning applications do take time as they are County wide
- Cllr Mrs Savory reported that the traffic inspector was out at Frosterley School and there was
no speeding, everything has a price tag. Horn Hall was also inspected and hopefully
something will be put in place. The Notice Board at Eastgate is on DCC land.
6 - Cllr Mrs Thompson was very impressed with some road markings on the Allendale to
Hexham road. They are yellow and white squares with a white triangle and beige grit which
look like speed bumps but aren’t. - Cllr Miss Carrick would like to report that the water meter at the Village Hall, Eastgate has
been found. - The seat opposite the C0-Op needs repairing as the bolts are sticking up and could be taken
away. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - Light number 68 at Centenary Close is not working. Resolved: Clerk to report
- There are some pot holes in Chapel Street, Stanhope that need repairing. Resolved: Clerk to
report to DCC - A bollard has been hit by the MS Shop and there is concrete all over. Resolved: Clerk to
report to DCC - Cllr Buchanan mentioned that there are some pot holes on the hill out of West Blackdene,
Carroway Bank where it joins the other road. Resolved; Clerk to report to DCC
A member of the public spoke about Frosterley School who is a concerned about speeding traffic.
She had an email from Traffic Assets who seemed positive to have 20mph zone outside of the school
but the scheme would have to be funded. Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned the lengthy process that she
went through at Lydgate Lane. Even if traffic assets do support the scheme, then funding has to be
found and the criteria has to be met. Signage is being looked at for the school. The member of the
public would like to try and get funding through what was the AAP and the County Councillors.
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Clerks Business - GDPR – The Information Data Protection Policy has been sent to all councillors which is to be
reviewed. No information must be sent to anyone asking for personal details such as their
email address, address and telephone number. All councillors to confirm that they have read
the Information Data Protection Policy.
Meeting closed at 7.55pm
