News

Please see link below to the vacancy notice of Parish Councillor, Sunderland Bridge Ward.

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Croxdale and Hett Parish Council is inviting quotations regarding the newly combined contract effective from 1 April 2024 in relation to Cemetery Maintenance and Grass Cutting Services at our Cemeteries located at Croxdale and Hett.

Please see the Works Notice below for further information; if you would like a Tender Information Pack, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Please see link below to the vacancy notice of Parish Councillor, Sunderland Bridge Ward.

The Parish Council's audit for the period 2021/22 has now been concluded by the External Auditor. Please see completion notice for further information. There were no recommendations for improvements with regard to next year's audit (2022/23).

Free youth activity sessions are taking place at Croxdale Community Centre over the school holidays - please see attached leaflet for further information.

Hett residents will be aware of the Planning Application DM/21/02990/FPA in relation to Hett Moor Solar Project. Pre-consultation was undertaken in 2020 with Lightsource BP with the formal consultation period now closed. The Parish Council is still in discussions with Lightsource BP prior to the planning application being determined by Planning Committee in 2022.

Lightsource BP has provided view point photomontages from the southern edge of Hett Village. Please see links below. The Parish Council is hoping to arrange an informal drop-in session at Hett Village Hall with representatives of Lightsource BP and Parish Councillors in the near future in order for residents to raise any queries or concerns. Once confirmed, further information will be provided.

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Please see notice of vacancy for Parish Councillor x2 from Durham County Council

Due to the impact of Coronavirus over 5.5 million people are claiming Universal Credit. Many of them are new to claiming Universal Credit having been negatively impacted by Coronavirus.

Parish Councils are encouraged to share the following guide on their website and/or social media to help local people navigate claiming Universal Credit. Here’s the Universal Credit guide https://www.jobcentrenearme.com/universal-credit/

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Croxdale and Hett PC is conducting a project to assess the management of the village green to the North of Hett Village Hall as a wildlife meadow. During the next year the site will be managed as a hay meadow. The grass will be allowed to grow long over the first part of the year and then will be cut and bailed in mid-August. This type of management serves to protect the flowering and reproductive cycles of wild flowers and gradually depletes the fertility of the soil, resulting in increase if floral diversity.

The long term future of the site is yet to be determined and may include additional planting, improved access (a footpath) as well as maintenance and drainage works. Over the coming months we would be grateful of your comments and aspirations for the site. Please contact the Parish Clerk (croxdaleandhettpc@gmail.com).

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Please see attached Notice of Election for Croxdale and Hett for the Election on 6 May 2021.

A defibrillator has been fitted at Front Street East, Croxdale, thanks to funding from Croxdale Residents Association.  It is located on the wall of the corner shop and will be maintained by Croxdale and Hett Parish Council.  Thank you to the shop owner, Mr Tattersdill, for agreeing to the location (outside of his property) for the benefit of Croxdale residents.

Due to Covid, training cannot be arranged, For further information on CPR and defibrillator awareness, please visit - https://youtu.be/1v_tM6eUGaU

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The Parish Council invites tenders for the grass cutting contract at Croxdale and Hett Cemeteries. Please see link below to the information pack. Deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 22 March 2021.

New housing measures came into force in England, Scotland and Wales on 14 December 2020.

It is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenza pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and it does not affect the consumption of poultry products including eggs.

Government Chief Veterinary Officers are encouraging bird keepers to enforce new housing measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and where necessary put up additional housing.

These housing measures build on the strengthened biosecurity regulations that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) on 11 November. The AIPZ means that all poultry and captive bird keepers need to take extra precautions, such as cleaning and disinfecting equipment, clothing and vehicles, limiting access to non-essential people on their sites, and workers changing clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures.

The restrictions will be applied across the whole of Great Britain. A joint statement from Great Britain’s three Chief Veterinary Officers said:

We have taken swift action to limit the spread of the disease and are now planning to introduce a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers to keep their birds housed or otherwise separate from wild birds.

Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from 14 December onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

Poultry and captive bird keepers are advised to be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seek prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns. They can help prevent avian flu by maintaining good biosecurity on their premises, including:

·        housing or netting all poultry and captive birds

·        cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing

·        reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and using effective vermin control

·        thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing at the end of a production cycle

·        keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all points where people should use it, such as entrances and before entering poultry and captive bird housing or enclosures

·        minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

The new housing measures will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to protect flocks. The introduction of the these new measures follows a number of confirmed cases of avian influenza in the UK.

In each case Defra has acted quickly to cull affected birds and to introduce movement restrictions to limit the risk of the disease spreading.

Bird flu is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence.

The Parish Council invites tenders and quotes for the cemetery maintenance contract at Croxdale and Hett Cemeteries.  For an information pack, please contact the Parish Clerk.  You can download the document below

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU regulation that establishes a new framework for handling and protecting the personal data of EU citizens. ( This will still apply after Brexit).
It introduces new obligations and liabilities for all organisations – including Parish Councils, that handle personal data and new rights for individuals in respect of their personal data. The new regulations will come into force on 25 May 2018.  For Croxdale and Hett Parish Council itself, as a corporate body, it is the formal Data Controller and as such must meet its obligations.

Information held by Croxdale and Hett Parish Council

A data audit of all personal data has been carried out.  This includes:

• What is held
• Where it came from
• Who it is shared with
• The legal basis for holding it
• Whether consent is necessary
• How it is protected

In particular, Croxdale and Hett Parish Council looks to minimise this risk by looking to ensure personal information is:

• Accurate and up to date
• Relevant
• Not kept too long
• Not disclosed to those who the person it relates to does not wish to have
• Not used in ways that are unacceptable to or unexpectedly by the person it is about
• Kept securely

Individual Rights

Croxdale and Hett Parish Council has reviewed and amended all of its policies and procedures in order that they cover all the rights which individuals have including:

• Data Protection Policy

Communicating Privacy Information

Croxdale and Hett Parish Council has reviewed all of their Privacy Notices and Privacy Impact Information including:-

• ‍Privacy Notice

Subject Access Requests / Consents / Data Breaches

Croxdale and Hett Parish Council has updated its procedures in respect of handling requests and providing information.

• ‍Consent Form

Children

Croxdale and Hett Parish Council does not hold any information / data on any child.

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Community Speed Watch is a scheme to encourage people to reduce speeding. This scheme enables volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speed and poor driving.  Please see link to poster for further details.

Croxdale and Hett Parish Council in conjunction with Spennymoor Youth and Community Association, Croxdale WMC, Spennymoor AAP and County Councillors Dunn and McKeon, have formed a new youth club which commenced on 7 March 2019 for 10 to 15 year olds. The group takes place on Thursday evenings (term-time only) at Croxdale WMC from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. Parents will be required to complete a registration and contact form at the first session. If you have any queries, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Working with Croxdale Residents’ Association, the Parish Council has formed a Working Group in relation to installing a new war memorial at Croxdale.  Terms of Reference of the Working Group can be found here.  If residents are interested in being a member of the Working Group, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Monthly meetings of the Parish Council have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.  During this period, urgent decisions will be taken by the Parish Clerk in conjunction with the Chairman and other Parish Councillors.

As of 13 May 2020, the ‘Coronavirus Act 2020’ allows local councils to hold their regular meetings online.  Over the coming weeks and months, monthly meetings may be held virtually online via ‘Zoom’, depending on timescales and guidance on holding public meetings in person, can resume.

Please see below the scheme of works document in relation to painting of the cemetery gates  at Croxdale and Hett.  Closing date for quotations from interested parties is Friday 17 July 2020.