The Annual meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council
was held on Monday, 4th December 2023 at 7.30pm
in Biggin Village Hall

Present:  J Coles, M Heathcote, S Fletcher, D Currington, W Andrews, the clerk, S Hampson and District Councillor, D Chapman.  There were no members of the public in attendance.

Part 1 non-confidential information

23.12.1 Apologies
Apologies had been received in advance from Mrs Coles and Mrs Currington.

23.12.2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting had been displayed on the noticeboard and forwarded to the members and the parish council’s website, in advance of the meeting.

Resolved: To accept the minutes as a true record of proceedings (prop WA, sec SF). Acting Chairman, Mr S Fletcher duly signed the minutes as a true copy of proceedings.

23.12.3 Matters arising and pre-meeting
Mrs Lovatt provided background information on the need to amend arrangements for the recent Remembrance day’s proceedings. Mrs Lovatt will be prepared to make future arrangements for the 2024 service. The clerk advised that a diversion route map will be required for the police in relation to road closures from 2024. Other items to discuss were covered by the agenda.

23.12.4 Public Speaking Procedures Document
The document was available in the meeting.

23.12.5 Public speaking
There was one members of the public in attendance. He had observed that the alternative phone box signs saying parish history were not yet in place. The clerk had advised him, in advance of the meeting, that she had not received the invoice for the village hall hire connected to the defibrillator training. The member of the public advised that he would not be able to obtain a Christmas tree from the previous source for 2024 and an alternative source would have to be found. He further advised that the War Memorial trees had been trimmed again and it may be necessary to remove two trees from the rear.

It was reported that there would be no Christmas carol service at Biggin this year.

Resolved: the clerk to contact the vicar regarding access to the church for the service of the clock and for her to advise the company concerned.

23.12.6 District Councillor
The district councillor was not in attendance.

23.12.7 Planning applications, planning sub-committee, appeals and enforcement
There were no new planning applications to consider.

23.12.8 Telephone box
An invoice had still not been received for the new signs. The contents for the inside of the phone box are now in hand.

23.12.9 Parish Council bank account and signatories
Mrs Lovatt confirmed that she had completed the necessary documentation and was now an authorised signatory, along with Mrs Coles and Mrs Currington. Mr Fletcher was still to complete necessary documentation.

23.12.10 Defibrillators
The clerk reported that unfortunately, Wetton First Responders will be unable to check the defibrillator at Pikehall as it lies outside their geographical area. They could, however, provide instruction on how to check the defibrillator, if required. The First Responders would be able to check the defibrillators in both Biggin and Heathcote. The insurance remains a priority but Pikehall is served by more than one parish council.

Mr Fletcher reported that the installation of the defibrillator at Heathcote is now complete and Heathcote residents have now been advised accordingly. Mr Heathcote had received an enquiry from a resident in Biggin regarding the provision of the Biggin cabinet code, to those trained to use the defibrillator. The clerk queried whether the old cabinet requires an access code. This needs to be checked.

Resolved: To transfer the defibrillator from the cabinet in Biggin to Heathcote and to arrange for the new defibrillator acquired by the primary school to be installed in the Biggin cabinet.

23.12.11 Budget and Precept for 2024-2025
The clerk and Responsible Finance Officer, Mrs Hampson had forwarded the accounts to date and a budget forecast for 2024-2025. So far, there has been very little burial income during the financial year. As discussed at the previous meeting, the estimated total budget for 2024-25 far exceeds last year’s precept value and an increase in the precept will have to take place. The clerk had suggested a precept figure for the next financial year of £9,000 with £500 to be reclaimed by way of reimbursable expenditure from Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) to off set some of the mowing costs for the parish council’s cemetery. The budget for the next financial year will be approximately £14,000 and burial ground income remains unpredictable.

Resolved: To precept for £9,000 for 2024-2025 plus £500 to be reclaimed by way of reimbursable expenditure.