Evenwood and Barony Parish Council

The Parish is situated in the lower Gaunless Valley areas of County Durham. It covers the villages and hamlets of Evenwood, Evenwood Gate, Ramshaw, Lands, Windmill, Morley and parts of Toft Hill and Etherley. We have approximately 1,848 residents with the main population centre being in the village of Evenwood. The Barony is an historic term to cover the areas of the other villages the council serves.

NOTICE OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next meeting of the parish council will be held in the Cornerstone Christian Centre, Swan Street, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland, DL14 9RN, commencing at 7:00 p.m. on

Tuesday, 9th December, 2025

All members of the Parish Council are summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving the business to be transacted at the meeting as set out hereunder.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
A period of 15 minutes is allocated at the beginning of each meeting for members of the public to raise questions or concerns relating to the Parish Council’s roles and responsibilities. They are welcome to remain after this period but will not be able to join in the discussions unless invited by the Chairman.

    AGENDA    
        
1.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence and approve reasons for non-attendance.
        
2.    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 
To receive any declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) or Personal Interest (PI) in any item included on the agenda.
        
3.    MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve as a correct record and authorise the signing of the minutes of the parish council meeting held on Tuesday 11th November 2025.   
        
4.    MATTERS ARISING
To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous council meeting.   
        
5.    VACANCIES
To receive any expressions of interest in filling five vacancies for the following parish wards by co-option: Evenwood (2); Lands (3); Witton (1).   
        
6.    DEVONSHIRE PLACE
To discuss a resident’s concerns relating to land at Devonshire Place.   
        
7.    CLERK’S REPORT
To receive a verbal update from the Parish Clerk on correspondence and any matters as may require action.
        
8.    FINANCIAL MATTERS  
a)    To receive a schedule of monthly expenditure and approve payment of invoices.    
b)    To consider any applications for donations (up to £200.00) or grants (over £200.00).    
        
9.    REPORTS   
a)    To consider any reports from parish councillors and from the Chairman on meetings attended on behalf of the Parish Council or any matters which required urgent action.    
b)    To consider a report from the Emergency Plan Working Group [Cllr. Pettit].    
c)    To consider a report from the Allotments Working Group, including a proposal  for digital allotment plans for each of the three allotment sites [Cllr. Spraggon].    
        
10.    JUBILEE ALLOTMENTS
To approve a management agreement relating to Jubilee Allotment Association.  
        
11.    DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL (DCC)
To receive a report from the Evenwood ward councillor on issues relating to DCC.    
        
12.    PLANNING
To consider any valid planning applications received as may require attention.    
        
13.    ACTION LOG
To review the action log recording agreed tasks (a standing item), including an update on the installation of a defibrillator and solar powered cabinet at Ramshaw.  
        
14.    SUMMER EVENT
To discuss a proposal for a Summer event in 2026 [Cllr. Spraggon].    
        
15.    ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
To invite any items from members for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting, relating to the Parish Council’s roles and responsibilities.    
        
16.    NEXT MEETING
To confirm the date and venue of the next meeting: Tuesday 13th January 2026 in the Cornerstone Christian Centre, Swan Street, Evenwood.    
        
17.    EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
The Council will be invited to pass a resolution that under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, the public and the press shall be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item of business on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, e.g. legal proceedings preparation or advice.    
        
18.    ITEM REQUESTED BY A MEMBER
To review the Parish Council’s policy on malicious communications [Cllr. Marshall].