CHAIRMANS REPORT MAY 2009.

The new Durham County Council is now our only council and I think I can speak for us all when I say how disappointed we are with what was proposed to be more ‘grass roots' contact but now seems to be hardly any contact at all just what we have with our local County representatives David Boyes and Richard Burnip.  This not only applies to us but to all other parish and town councils in Easington district as well.

We've seen many changes in the past year moving forward into completely unknown territory and still no one knows what role the parish councils will play, very little by the look of things - our one Easington district parish representative on the Area Action Partnership will be a voice in the wilderness.  We were very disappointed to find all of Easington District will only speak with the voice of one AAP when less populated areas have more input.  We couldn't even get into the Shotton Hall meeting arranged for this area but at the last minute two of our councillors were given spare places.  We now have news of a fresh meeting arranged at the Glebe Centre in Murton to which some councillors had an invitation.

We have at last seen movement on the Village Green land transfer.  We started with the old Easington Parish Council (pre 1983) who allowed the Easington District Council to go ahead with alterations with the proviso they would take responsibility of the areas changed.  This has taken so long due to staff changes that now Durham County Council will be the ones to take it over after all these years.  The application was lodged with the Planning Inspectorate and we are just waiting for the legal time period of 20 May after the public notice was printed in the press to move on to the next process.

The Green play area seems very popular, I know it looks nothing when compared to the ex-colliery welfare parks that got large grants and had the appropriate spaces but it is an ancient village green one of the few like it in the country.  The allocation of developer's contributions from Essyn Court to enhance community open space has stated with the Village Inn seating, planters around the village and a new notice board for parish information.  People are already commenting on them, the local police have asked our views on making the village green a no alcohol zone.  Documentation from Durham County Council will harmonise dog-fouling orders across the county.

Burns Architects supervised work on Seaton Holme and work went ahead but as in any old building hidden faults meant the costs escalated but we were delighted when the District of Easington council gave us a grant of almost £14,000 to pay for the extra necessary work.  We will now have regular check-ups on the fabric of the building.  We were disappointed that English Heritage did not approve of a better more economical finish on the outer walls as the lime and tallow we have to use soon looks shabby and flakes off.

The loss of the Discovery Centre opened in 1993 was a great disappointment, especially to those of us who worked for it over the years.  I had worked from the start on the history and bringing the first exhibitors in, getting the old postcards printed and a history book written and it was advertised as the Gateway to East Durham.  Then Mavis came on board organising displays, art exhibitions and weekend events for many years under the auspices of Graeme McCleary.  Finally losing it altogether was a great loss to the village and felt by many who miss the pleasant events at weekends and ongoing exhibitions carried on later by Irene Haddick.  We have had discussions with Niall Benson regarding input from the Heritage Coast scheme with a tourism project to be included in their budget.

The parish council and some residents felt the lack of youth facilities in the village and had been involved in various schemes to get one started over the years.  After an offer from Groundwork who ran youth facilities in other villages to start one we worked with all parties concerned and had a successful outcome and the youth club is now welcoming its first members.  As the church hall had no free nights we offered the church Bingo group free use of Seaton Holme on a Tuesday evening to allow the hall to be used for youth provision.  The Bingo evenings have now been booked twice monthly but under a new organiser as Councillor Smith resigned after many years of running Bingo evenings with the help of a good team, we wish them all every success. They originally started with the Queen's Silver Jubilee when people were raising money for parties and were so popular a group was set up to raise finds for the church.

We were approached by the Horden and Easington Regeneration Partnership whose time will be nearing its end this year if we with Hawthorn parish would be interested in an alteration to the present partnership to help form the Coastal Communities Partnership and wanted ideas for suitable potential projects to attract funding and the input of residents.  We were agreeable to this and have sent a representative to their meetings.

As usual Billy, Peter and Ian produce excellent floral displays and try to keep up with litter removal.  We have purchased new equipment for the cemetery and funerals to give better productivity and replace old items.  Plant'R'Ross generously sponsored the floral container competition and to them all we give our thanks.  This year the Easington Village C of E Primary School took part in the Northumbria in Bloom art exhibition and the winners will go through to the calendar competition.  We look forward to judging the attractive floral containers in our resident's annual competition that helps beautify the village ready for the Northumbria in Bloom judges coming in July.

We have welcomed the help of the police community support officers who regularly attend council meetings and the setting up of the PACT meetings.  We said goodbye to District of Easington councillor Michael Routledge and thanked him for his input and now welcome Richard and David to our meetings who keep us up with County decisions.

As I said last year "We will see many changes in the year ahead, which is a transition period and we are moving forward into completely unknown territory and no one knows what role the parish councils will play." we now know very little, but we will wait and see what happens over this next year.  Thank you all for your input at meetings and we hope to have your representation at our various new projects.

Eileen Hopper

Chairman - Easington Village Parish Council.