Stanley Town Council budget setting 2018/19

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The Town Council set its budget for the forthcoming financial year at last Tuesday’s full council meeting. The Council voted to increase the parish precept (which is the part of the Council tax which funds the Council) by 2.95%.

This means that for a Band A property, the parish precept will increase from £59.92 to £61.69 per year. The Band D rate will go from £89.88 to £92.53.

The Council plans to re-introduce an enhanced warden service for Stanley in 2018 to tackle dirty yards, dog fouling and litter around the area, provide more support for local community groups and village halls, whilst continuing to provide funding for the Stanley advice centre, free high quality events throughout the year, youth services and a range of Civic Pride initiatives. The majority of new services will be funded by reducing the subsidy of the Civic Hall.

Proposing the budget increase, Cllr David Marshall said “If no increase is provided, then the ability to provide the improvement in the service we are planning would not be possible”

Full details of the budget can be found here: 2018-19 Budget (Approved)

Video footage of the Council meeting (and all other meetings) can be found on our youtube channel. Tuesday’s meeting is linked below. The budget discussion starts 15 minutes into the meeting.

Projects & Initiatives Agenda 12th December 2017

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There is a full agenda to be considered at next week’s meeting. Items to be discussed:

Derelict Buildings & land; Environmental Cleanup team; Christmas Events review; Christmas lights; Police Cars; Road Safety; Comms Strategy.

The meeting will be held at the Civic Hall at 6.30 pm and is open to members of the public.

Papers:

‘-Projects and Initiatives Agenda 12.12.17

ATTACHMENT A – 14.11.17 Projects and Initiatives Minutes

Securing the future, remembering the past – Pine St Improvements

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A regeneration project that captures the history of its residents has been completed in South Moor.

Due to issues with flooding across the South Moor Terraces in Stanley, the Wear Rivers Trust, in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, Stanley Town Council, Durham County Council, Groundwork North East and contractors Seymour Civil Engineering have installed a sustainable urban drainage system, a natural approach to managing drainage and recycling water.

To do this, rain garden planters were fitted between the pavement, providing homes for five trees, each commemorating one year of fighting in the First World War.

Along with additional foliage, the trees, positioned along the length of Pine Street, act as markers within the Twizell Heritage Trail, a route which tells the story of South Moor’s origins shortly before the First World War and how the miners shaped the community. Each tree will be marked with a World War one battle insignia, remembering the hundreds of miners who lost their lives.

The project also saw the pathways fitted with block paving designed in the style of old fashioned film reel to commemorate the important role that local cinemas played in war time communications.

During both World Wars, the community surrounding Stanley depended upon the five cinemas in the area for updates from the frontline.

Town Mayor Bala Nair said: “It’s fantastic to see a project that the Town Council has invested in come to fruition. The new scheme has given Pine St a big facelift but it will also have a positive impact in reducing the incidence of flooding in South Moor, which has been a problem for years”

Adrian Cantle-Jones, the Durham County Council Project Manager, said: “South Moor residents are delighted with the wonderful improvements to Pine Street and the wider Twizzel Burn and South Moor Heritage Trail. The South Moor Partnership is looking forward to continuing the regeneration of the South Moor Terraces and Twizzel Burn Catchment”.

Keith Love from Seymour Civil Engineering, said: “As a company, we are really proud to have been a part of a project that has not only contributed to environmental improvement and flood alleviation, but has commemorated Stanley’s heritage.

Stanley Town Council invested £60,000 in the Pine St scheme, the improvements in Memorial park including the new bridges in the woods and contributes to the maintenance of the heritage trail, keeping the path clear for people to enjoy.

Council Papers for September 20th Uploaded

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The paper’s for next Tuesday’s meeting of Stanley Town Council have been published.  The meeting will be held at the Civic Hall in Front Street, Stanley at 6.30 pm and the Public are welcome to attend and participate.

Items to be considered will be:

Funding request for Fireworks

Proposals for funding the PACT House

Funding for Front Street Improvements

Civic Hall Coffee Shop

OAPs Christmas Dinner

We hope to see you there. The papers for the meeting are attached below.

Agenda 20th September 16

Background Documents

Item 4 Public Questions

Items 5 & 6 Minutes

Item 7 Funding Request

Items 8 & 9 Finance

Item 13 Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop Appendix (Excel spreadsheet)

Photograph: Simon Green from the Beamish Museum Leek Show

Twizell Burn Project

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Members of Stanley Town Council voted to support a project initiated by the Wear Rivers Trust, Nothumbrian Water and Durham County Council to improve the area around the Twizell Burn watercourse in Stanley.  The Twizell starts it’s course around the Morrison Busty and has suffered from poor water quality, drainage and poor amenity along it’s course. Large areas along the course of the burn have been prone to flooding for many years.  There is a large project supported by partner agencies to solve the problems that the Twizell has and to improve the recreation value for residents.  At last Tuesday’s meeting, Councillors decided to support this project by:

  • Funding new paths in Memorial Park
  • Funding new paths along South Stanley Nature Reserve and Langley View
  • Funding a sustainable drainage scheme in Pine Street, South Moor as part of the Heritage Trail

The Town Council has already stated it will support proposals for the Heritage Trail in South Moor remembering men of the town who died in the First World War by maintaining the signage after it is installed. The parts of the scheme that the Town Council is funding will allow more people to enjoy walks along the banks of the Twizell and will improve the look and feel of Pine Street whilst reducing the flood risk for residents of South Moor.

Powerpoint Slides on Proposal

Funding Application and Background Information