A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council was held on Monday, 5 October 2015 at
7.30 pm at Biggin Village Hall.
Present: D Prince (Acting Chair), J Coles, J Griffiths, J Bonsall, S McCurrach and the clerk,
Mrs Hampson. There were 2 members of the public also in attendance.
15.10.1 Apologies
Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mrs J Brindley.
15.10.2 Declaration of personal/prejudicial interest of councillors
The acting chair considered declaring an interest in agenda item 15.10.12 but none of the members present at the meeting declared an interest in any of the agenda items.
15.10.3 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been forwarded to all members in advance of the meeting.>Resolved: The minutes were accepted as a true record of proceedings (Prop JC Sec JB)
15.10.4 Matters arising from pre-meeting
Matters were covered by the agenda.
15.10.5 Public speaking procedures document
The public speaking document was made available for the members of the public in attendance.
15.10.6 Public speaking
One member of the public advised members that the bins ordered by the church have now arrived. She also enquired further about allocation of residents to the housing association flats and the involvement of the MP. She expressed further concern regarding deliberate damage to the former prisoner of war (POW) camp buildings which she considered to be part of the heritage of the village.
The other member of the public in attendance was the builder involved in the renovation of the properties at the former Barlow and Hodgkinson haulage yard/High Peak Harriers. The owner is also his relative. The owner also owns the former POW camp buildings and land. He was aware of the complaints about the state of the POW camp buildings but did not appreciate the importance of the area and considered they maybe beyond repair and unsafe. He offered to liaise with the owner regarding tidying the area as soon as possible but would not be involved in the repairs to asbestos roofs. The other member of the public asked that the builder request the land owner to carry out repairs to the POW camp buildings as they are an unsightly first appearance to visitors approaching the village. Reference was also made to the possible use as industrial units as before and the suggestion that the land owner visit the village.
The builder reported that the land owner was trying to provide affordable, not for profit housing at the former haulage yard. He advised that a formal planning application would be forthcoming following refusal of the Certificate of Lawfulness. He provided his email address.
Resolved: To read, at this point, the concluding communication from the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) that the Certificate of Lawfulness related to High Peak Harriers had been refused as the applicant’s evidence was not sufficiently clear or precise to demonstrate that thee has been a change of use of the application site to a single dwelling house for a period of 4 years prior to the date of the application. In addition, evidence on files and from the parish council contradicts the applicant’s evidence and indicates the site has in fact comprised part of a larger planning unit (mixed use site) that has been in mixed use for commercial officer (ground floor) and residential (first floor) and on this basis it was refused. A new enforcement enquiry has been raised.
15.10.7 PCSO update
The clerk advised that the PCSO who has regularly supported the parish council with police matters is due to retire at the end of the month.
15.10.8 County and District Councillor updates
Neither the County nor District Councillor attended the meeting.
15.10.9 Highway issues and village pavements
The poor condition of the footpath from Cardlemere Lane to Newhaven had been reported to Derbyshire County Council by the clerk; however, a report had not been received in time for the meeting. Mrs Coles advised that Western Power had commenced a tree cutting programme on some parish highway. Trees were reported to be over hanging Porridge Lane, Grange Lane/Liffs Road, Dampy’s Pinch and Harding Gap.
Resolved: The clerk to report the above issues regarding over hanging trees to Derbyshire County Council (DCC).
15.10.10 Planning applications and planning sub-committee
As above, following the parish council’s submission to the Legal Department at Peak District District National Park Authority (PDNPA) regarding High Peak Harriers an 11 page report had been forwarded to the clerk. In conclusion, the applicant’s evidence is not sufficiently clear or precise to demonstrate that there has been a change of use of the application site to a single dwelling house for a period of 4 years prior to the date of the recent application. In addition, evidence of files and from the parish council contradicts the applicant’s evident and indicates the site has in fact comprised part of a larger planning unit (mixed use site) that has been in mixed use for commercial office (ground floor) and residential (first floor). On this basis the certificate of lawfulness has been refused. An enforcement officer has now advised the clerk that a new enforcement enquiry has been created. Issues are being investigated and the parish council will be updated.
The clerk also advised that work on the two affordable houses should not have commenced without the section 106 agreement being signed. The planning officer had visited the site and stopped the work until this was in place. The planning officer has now confirmed to the clerk that the signed section 106 agreement is now in place and work has resumed.
15.10.11 New website and content including the Transparency Code
The clerk advised that she had not received any photographs from the resident to upload on to the website. The website company had uploaded the documents prepared by the clerk just prior to the meeting. The clerk had checked the site and reported that it was very good. She had asked about passwords to enable the councillors to view the site before it goes live but had not received information prior to the meeting. These were provided by the website company and passed to members in the meeting. Members were asked if they wanted their photographs on the new website.
Resolved: Members do not wish their photographs to appear on the website.
Resolved: The website will go live once the pages have been reviewed.
Resolved: Suitable photographs to be uploaded on receipt from another resident.
15.10.12 Cemetery, memorials, wheeled bins and removal of waste
Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) had advised the clerk that the 660 litre bin would be removed and the direct debit adjusted accordingly. DDDC had also confirmed that the church had requested the free bin which they were entitled to and this would be despatched (also see reference in public speaking). The clerk had instructed the tradesman to remove waste from behind the Garden of Remembrance wall.
The clerk had advised the monumental mason referred to in previous minutes that he will no longer be able to practise in the cemetery unless he arranges to alter the headstone he had placed which does not adhere to the approved height. The stone mason in question had spoken to the chairman in advance of the meeting and had discussed lowering the headstone into the ground. He had requested a site meeting.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the monumental mason to arrange a site meeting to ensure the memorial will be modified to comply with the approved height. This maybe achieved by lowering the memorial.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the tradesman to request rubble to also be removed from the bottom left hand side of the parish council cemetery.
Advisory stickers to place on the parish council’s wheeled bins had been obtained by Mrs Coles. (Invoice received).
Resolved: Mrs Griffiths to place stickers on wheeled bins and to seek advice if necessary.
Mrs McCurrach advised that the church wall needs building up. Waste against the boundary wall is contributing to a vermin problem. Dog fouling persists in the cemetery.
15.10.13 Rabbits in the parish council cemetery
Mrs McCurrach confirmed that the source of the rabbits in the cemetery is not from a neighbouring property.
15.10.14 Noticeboard
From the previous meeting, a wall mounted noticeboard and a noticeboard mounted on posts made of artificial or plastic wood were approximately £1200 and £1400 + VAT respectively but would last for many years without maintenance. The clerk had also obtained a quote for a wooden noticeboard. This had been received for two different varieties of wood (£1100 + VAT in sapele and £1377 + VAT in European oak. Mrs Coles had obtained a quote from another joiner and this quote was in the sum of £350. The clerk had contacted the village hall secretary to advise of the quote for the plastic noticeboard and to request consideration of a contribution towards the noticeboard. At the time of the meeting, a response had not been received from the village hall committee.
Resolved: After considerable debate and some difference of opinion that the clerk should instruct the joiner to complete the construction of the new noticeboard, in the sum of £350 but to seek assurance that this timber noticeboard will not swell in adverse weather.
15.10.15 Damaged village seat
It was reported that the village seat on the corner of Drury Lane had been deliberately damaged.
Resolved: The clerk to report the incident to the PCSO
Resolved: The clerk to ask the Chairman’s husband for a professional opinion whether the seat is beyond repair.
Resolved: The item to feature on the next agenda.
15.10.16 Items of account, salaries and HMRC
Cq 846 HMRC Second quarter income tax £203.20
Cq 847 S Hampson October net salary £174.44
Cq 848 S Hampson Reimbursement of expenses £18.96
Cq 849 G Tilson October net salary £96.63
Cq 850 Acres Signs & Graphics Ltd New signs for wheeled bins £24.00 (VAT £4.00)
15.10.17 Correspondence and communication
Included: DALC circulars, Area Forums, changes to the Minor Maintenance Agreement for 2016-17. The clerk advised members of the suggestion from the ambulance service input at a neighbouring parish council meeting regarding the possibility of First Responder scheme in view of poor ambulance response times. Members also raised the appalling state of the public telephone box at the Newhaven and changes to existing signatories.
Mrs Griffiths advised that due to hearing problems, she was considering offering her resignation in December.
Resolved: To place the purchase of a portable hearing loop on the next agenda, as the parish council has a duty to ensure all council members and members of the public can access the discussions of the public parish council meetings.
15.10.18 Items for the next agenda
New bank mandate, public telephone box, village seat, cemetery, Remembrance Day, noticeboard, hearing loop, defibrillator electricity cost.
Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
15.10.19 Date of next meeting
Resolved: The date of the next meeting – 2 November 2015
Part 2 –Confidential Information
There was no confidential information to discuss.
The meeting was declared closed at 9.30 pm
Mrs S Hampson,
Clerk to the parish council
7th October 2015
©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting.