MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF SADBERGE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THE 3rd FEBRUARY 2026 COMMENCING
AT 6:00 P.M. IN SADBERGE VILLAGE HALL
Present: COUNCILLORS: L Tate (Chairman), R. Murphy (Vice Chairman) Councillors, D. Elmer, R. Hurst, S. Macrae, M. Schott and W. Taylor
In attendance:
Ward Councillor: D Laing
CLERK: Hayley North
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: 14
01-02/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
NONE
02-02/26 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN MATTERS ON AGENDA
NONE
03-02/26 PUBLIC OPEN SESSION
Request about possible bus service, this will be addressed in item 08-02/26
Private residents petition collected around 300 signatures’; resident advised to contact Ward Cllr Pease and try to have her petition combined with other villages as a 1,000 signatures’ is need to trigger a cabinet debate.
Request for dog waste bin on main village green by the flagpole. DBC has been requested to supply one in the past and request was denied, due to a public bin for all waste been next to the green.
An increase in litter has been noticed near the A66 and near the Homes by Carlton building site on Darlington Road. Clerk to contact the manager of the building site and ask to keep the area clean.
ACTION: Clerk
04-02/26 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the 6th January 2026
The Minutes were agreed to be a true record of the meeting.
05-02/26 MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
Minute Ref :
15-11/24 ROAD SAFETY-CROSS ROADS – Update
Up to date traffic data from the village speed devices shown to Councillors and public. Public speed camera was seen on Norton Road last week. Update on chicane for Middleton Road, this is still in the planning and funding stages.
09-12/25 UPDATE ON PLAYGROUND ALSO PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENT
Public Consultation event was held on Wednesday 21st January 3pm to 8pm. This was well attended. There is another chance for residents to view designs and leave feedback this week. The designs will be on display until 4:30pm on Thursday 05/02/26 in the Village Hall.
06-02/26 CLIMATE CHANGE & BIODIVERSITY GROUP
No response from DBC on the new pond and wildlife area on the old playground site. This pond is to be managed by DBC and the Durham Wildlife Trust.
07-02/26 LETTER FROM DARLINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL ON TRAFFIC PETITION.
Mr. P Ibbetson of Darlington Borough Council has requested that his response to the traffic petition be read out by the Chairman, which it duly was.
Letter confirmed that all traffic data collected by DBC and Highways show that the roads in Sadberge do not need traffic calming measures. DBC will point out to Highways that Sadberge is not a diversion route for the A66. Double yellow lines will be put onto Hillhouse Lane and the weight restriction sign on Hillhouse Lane will be looked at and if possible amended.
08-02/26 RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR BUS SERVICE OR REINSTATEMENT OF TEESFELX
Letters received from Dept of Transport, Tees Valley, and Mr Hewitt DBC.
No plans yet to reinstate the Tees flex or create a bus service to Sadberge.
A request for tender has gone out, but this does not include Sadberge.
SPC will continue to pursue this and any other ways to get a community transport service to the village.
09-02/26 AGREE DATE FOR MEETING WITH MR DEAN SCOTT.
Meeting agreed by Parish Councillors to meet on Wednesday 18th February at 6 pm in the Buck Inn, Sadberge. This is a closed meeting and not open to the public. Clerk to email Mr Scott.
ACTION: Clerk
10-02/26 DEFIB BOX ON VILLAGE HALL NEW SENSOR AND FITTING/GPS TRACKING DEVICES FOR BOTH DEFIB MACHINES/ADDITIONAL DEFIB MACHINCE FOR VILLAGE.
Agreed to fix broken alarm sensor on defib box at Village Hall, clerk to contact supplier. Clerk to look at the Council insurance policy and see if defib replacements are covered. GPS trackers maybe not be needed. No funding available for an additional defib machine as the village does not meet criteria with already having two defib machines.
ACTION: Clerk
11-02/26 GRANT TO E PARKER FOR EASTER EGG HUNT.
Agreed to give grant for materials for the east er Egg Hunt, this being chocolate eggs, printer ink and paper to the value of £78.73.
ACTION: Clerk
12-02/26 OUTCOME OF CPR COURSE
2 sessions were booked and well attended. The Parish Council will investigate having this as an annual event. Item for the January 2027 agenda.
ACTION: Clerk
13-02/26 RESIDENT REQUEST TO TRIM HEDGE ON WALL BY COMMUNITY CAR PARK
Cllr Hurst agreed to do this back in September, but needs to wait until mid-February when the weather is better and timing is right for wildlife.
ACTION: Cllr Hurst
14-02/26 LETTER FROM RESIDENT ON LAND NEAR HILLSIDE TERRACE
Request from resident to turn land near Hillside Terrace with a tree on it, into a car parking area. Parish Council is unable to do this as; this land is owned by the Highway Agency and is not for sale. Clerk to send a letter to the resident with explanation and contact details for the Highways Agency.
ACTION: Clerk
15-02/26 ILLEGAL PARKING AROUND THE TUNS AND MIDDLETON ROAD JUNCTION
Car’s parking blocking pavements and within 10 metres of the junction. PSCO has been notified and will monitor the situation and act if needs be.
16-02/26 PLANNING FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAY 2026
Sadberge Parish Council will seek to engage the services of Mr D Elmer, who is a Chief Pyrotechnician and display Co-ordinator. The event site will be the same as last year. Item to be discussed in further Council meetings.
17-02/26
PLANNING
To comment on applications:-
To view details, go to sadbergeparishcouncil.gov.uk – click link to DBC Planning Portal and input application number.
NEW APPLICATIONS
NONE
AWAITING DECISION
25/00441/FUL
FIELD AT BARMPTON LANE. Erection of bridge over River Skerne and construction of access road between Barmpton Lane and Bishopton Lane. Field at Barmpton Lane, Darlington
NO COMMENT
24/00355/FUL
Erection of 1 No. 1.5 storey three bed residential dwelling with integral garage within existing rear garden, parking provision for 1 No. vehicle and new vehicle and pedestrian access, installation of solar panels to roof, air source heat pump to south elevation and associated works. Newbank, Middleton Road, DL2 1RP
SPC OBJECT. FURTHER OBJECTION TO CHANGE OF PLAN.
25/01227/FUL
THE OLD RECTORY. Conversion and enlargement of the existing detached outbuilding to form annexe accommodation, with a single storey extension to the west elevation, new windows, doors and roof lights together with associated refurbishment works. The Old Rectory, Middleton Road, Sadberge, Darlington, DL2 1RP.
NO COMMENT
DECIDED
25/00207/FUL
NEW PLANS SUBMITTED
LAND AT PROSPECT COTTAGE Demolition of existing timber framed stables and erection of 1 No. two storey dwelling (cantilevered over pond to front) with associated parking, new vehicular entrance, retaining walls and associated works Prospect Cottage, Middelton Road, Sadberge, Darlington DL2 1RR SPC OBJECTION. GRANTED WITH CONDITIONS
25/01364/TCN
SADBERGE STREET WORKS, STOCKTON ROAD. Notification under electronic communications code (Reg 5) of intention to carry out ancillary upgrade works. Stockton Road, Sadberge, Darlington
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT, APPROVED.
18-02/26 SOCIAL MEDIA
Middleton-St-George report about the Tees flex service, article did not include Sadberge.
19-02/26 PAYMENTS
To approve the following payments:
19.1-02/26 Confirmation of Clerk’s salary 28th February paid by standing order
19.2-02/26 Clerk, food for the CPR course and office supplies £7.67
ALL PAYMENTS AGREED
20-02/26 ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Fireworks display for 2026
Food waste talk
21-02/26 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Proposed Tuesday 3rd March 2026
The Chairman closed at meeting 19:15 hrs.
Signed – Chairman of Sadberge Parish Council
Mr Lee Tate ________________________ Date _____________________