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ANNUAL REPORT 2008/2009

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

I was delighted to be elected as Chairman for 2008/09. I have enjoyed the role and was especially honoured that the Council elected me as Chairman for a second time.

This has been an extra-ordinary year for the Parish Council. Not only has the Council been awarded Quality Status which indicates Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council is an effectively managed Council which listens to its community, but also the Council has worked closely with other Parish Councils and Durham County Council as part of the creation of the new unitary authority for County Durham.

This has resulted in many changes, including the introduction of 14 Area Action Partnerships throughout the Durham County area. The Parish Council will form part of the Mid Durham Rural West Area Action Partnership and the Council will strive to listen to the views of the people of Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council and convey these views to the Area Action Partnership.

I would finally like to express my thanks to the Members and staff for their support and hard work during my year as Chairman. The following report gives an indication of the Parish Council's achievements over the past year.

W. Dowsey
Chairman

LIST OF MEMBERS

Council Offices situated at 6 Goatbeck Terrace, Langley Moor, Durham DH7 8JJ
Office Hours Monday - Friday 9.30 am to 11.30 am

Tel/ Fax 0191 3789947        Email: info@brandonandbyshottles.co.uk

STAFF

• Mrs Susan Carmedy  -  Clerk to the Council
• Mrs Susan Howe        -  Administrative Assistant
• Mrs Pauline Bartle      -  Cleaner

Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council serves a population of approximately 18,500 and had an electorate of 13,732 in December 2008. The Council encompasses the following 6 villages:

All 21 Council seats are elected.

The Parish Council meetings are held 3rd Friday of the month (excluding August) in the Council offices, commencing at 6.30 pm.

Agendas are posted on the Parish Council notice-boards outside the Council Offices and at Esh Winning and Meadowfield, and also in Brandon and Esh Winning Libraries. Minutes of the meetings are available at Brandon and Esh Winning Libraries, Brandon Community Hall and on the Parish Council website.

The Parish Council is responsible for 16 allotment/grazing sites and 3 garage sites at the following locations.

Garage Sites

Commercial Street, Langley Grove and Brandon Road, Esh Winning.

The Council leases land at Waterhouses Play Area, the former play area at Cherry Park, Brandon from Durham County Council and land to the rear of Coronation Homes, Esh Winning from Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and maintains the grassed areas in these locations.

The Parish Council has responsibility for the village greens at Brandon, Browney and Ushaw Moor, provides public seats, maintains 3 War Memorials at Brandon Village, New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor and provides floral containers throughout the Parish. We organise an annual Painting Competition for primary schools within the parish and support local community groups and organisations.

The Council has worked in partnership with Durham County Council and Durham City Council to provide services such as the Community Highways Worker and bus shelters.

REVIEW OF 2008/09

1.  ALLOTMENTS

Approximately £10,430 has been spent on the maintenance of the Parish Council's 16 allotment/ grazing sites, including fencing, clearance, water consumption and repairs.

2.  GRASSCUTTING

The Parish Council has spent £4,600 grasscutting maintenance at the following sites:

• Village Greens
• Brandon Carrside Youth Club
• Brandon Community Hall
• St Andrew's Church, Brandon
• Waterhouses Play Area
• Land at Cherry Park, Brandon
• New Brancepeth Village Hall
• Rear Aged Miners Homes, Esh Winning
• Vacant Plots at Alder Park allotments
• Path at Durham Road allotments, Esh Winning

3.  FLORAL CONTAINERS

The Council has provided over 100 floral containers throughout the Parish with both winter and summer bedding including watering. Flowerbeds beneath the village nameplate signs in Broompark, Ushaw Moor, Esh Winning and Meadowfield have also been maintained. The Council also provided bulbs for Silver Trees Primary, Sure Start, St. Joseph's R.C. Primary and Durham Community Business College in Ushaw Moor.

4.  COMMUNITY HIGHWAYS WORKER

The Community Highways Worker initiative with Durham County Council has continued for another year and has proved successful with the Parish Council contributing £14,821 towards this. Paul has once again done an excellent job and has made a real difference to environmental standards on adopted highways throughout the parish.

5.  PLANNING APPLICATIONS

As a statutory consultee, the Parish Council has been consulted on numerous planning applications during the past year and conveyed comments of support or opposition to Durham City Council.

6.  POPPY APPEAL

The Parish Council has continued its support for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Members of the Council attended Remembrance Services held throughout the Parish area.

7.  SCHOOL'S PAINTING COMPETITION

The Schools' Painting Competition was once again a popular event for all Primary Schools within the Parish. Twelve Primary Schools including nursery and pre-school groups entered the Competition. The entries were judged in the Schools by local Ward Members and the overall winners from each age group were judged by the Mayor of Durham in the Council Offices. The standard of entries was once again outstanding and the Mayor selected the following children as overall winners:

The Council provided book tokens to the value of £1,221 for prizes. In addition the overall winners were presented with a trophy by the Chairman of the Council.

8.  PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

The Parish Council successfully applied to Durham County Council for a grant to maintain many of the Public Rights of Way throughout the Parish. The Council received the grant through the Parish Paths Partnership scheme.

9.  CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

The Council once again provided funding of £1,800 to the CAB to enable the continuation of the Outreach Service in the villages throughout the Parish. The following locations have benefited from the service:

10.  NEWSLETTERS

The Council continues to produce quarterly newsletters which are distributed to several premises throughout the Parish. Copies of the newsletter are also available on the website.

11.  CHAIRMAN'S CHARITY

The Chairman's Charity evening which was held on 28th February 2009 in St. Joseph's Parish Centre, Ushaw Moor was a great success and raised £1369 for Age Concern and The 2-4 Club

12.  DURHAM MINERS GALA

Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council supports Durham Miners Association by contributing to publication of the Durham Miners Gala Brochure.

13.  TRAFFIC ISSUES

The Council listens to the concerns of residents with regard to traffic issues affecting the Parish, particularly speeding traffic. Consequently, the Council has liaised with Durham County Council and the Police to try to address these issues.

14.  BUS SHELTERS

In partnership with local City Councillors a bus shelter was erected at The Morley Wood, Brandon.

15.  PARISH SEATS

The Orchards, Extra Care Home

The Parish Council has provided 2 seats for use by the residents of the Extra Care Home.

Ushaw Moor Cricket Club

The Council provided a seat at Ushaw Moor Cricket Club in memory of Peter Metcalfe, a dedicated community worker.

Ushaw Moor Picnic Area

The seat at the picnic area was replaced following damage by car.

Family Centre, Langley Moor

The Parish Council supported the opening of the Langley Moor and Meadowfield Family Centre which has proved an asset to the local villages. The Council provided outdoor picnic furniture for the centre.

16.  CHRISTMAS LIGHTS - USHAW MOOR

The Council supported Ushaw Moor Together with a donation of £300 towards Christmas lights for the centre of the village.

17.  SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS

Income

Expenditure

19.   SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The Parish Council has strong links to its local community and has supported numerous local community groups and organisations with projects or special events including the following:

• Brandon United Football Club
• Brandon Cricket Club
• Silver Courts Over 60's
• 5th Durham Scouts
• St. Patrick's School Breakfast Club
• Deric Youth Bus
• Lourdes Pilgrimage
• Deerness Valley Gym Club
• Ushaw Moor Cricket Club F.C.
• Esh Winning Library Easter Egg Competition
• County Durham Society for the Blind & Partially Sighted
• County Durham School Benevolent Fund
• Hunters Gate Residents Association

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