A meeting of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council was held on Monday, 5th December 2016 2016 at Biggin Village Hall.
Present: Mr D Prince, Mrs S McCurrach, Mrs J Coles, Mrs J Bonsall, Mrs J Griffiths, the clerk, Mrs S Hampson, County Councillor S Spencer and 3 members of the public.
Part 1 non-confidential information
16.12.1 Apologies
Apologies – Mrs J Brindley.
16.12.2 Declaration of personal/prejudicial interest of councillors
There was no need by any member present to complete an entry in the register.
16.12.3 Minutes of the previous ordinary meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been displayed on the noticeboard and on the parish council’s website and forwarded to members in advance of the meeting.
Resolved: to approve the minutes as a true record of proceedings (Prop JB Sec JG)
16.12.4 Matters arising from pre-meeting
It was reported that Remembrance Day proceedings had proceeded smoothly and in a very safe manner following the official road closure. Members were still not aware of the person responsible for erecting unofficial road closure notices.
16.12.5 Public speaking procedures document
Members of the public in attendance declined to read the document as they were regular attenders and familiar with its content.
16.12.6 Public speaking
One of the members of the public requested that the parish council minutes be displayed sooner. The clerk advised that the display of the minutes and agendas complied with the minimum notice period. Further information from the public included more dog fouling notices required, especially for the cemetery and churchyard area; permission for a water butt in the churchyard; issues with new large advertising signs for Carriages Restaurant near the A515
Resolved: to order more dog fouling notices for the churchyard and cemetery area
Resolved: to inform Derbyshire County Council (DCC) and Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) of issues with the advertising signs for Carriages Restaurant.
Resolved: the purchase of a water butt for the churchyard will be the responsibility of the parochial church council.
16.12.7 PCSO updates
The police constable presently responsible for the parish is off duty at the moment; however, one of the PCSOs from Ashbourne police station had advised the clerk that he had forwarded concerns about speeding motorists to the CREST team. The parish council can now register concerns directly with CREST.
It was reported that an orange/red BMW regularly drives at speed through Biggin around 7.30 am.
Resolved: to advise the PCSO of the above speeding vehicle and to request a visit from the police around this time of day.
16.12.8 County Councillor and District Councillor
County Councillor S Spencer was in attendance. He had kindly walked the village pavements prior to the meting and whilst he shared some of the members’ concerns about required repairs and the incorrect camber of the section of the pavement opposite the village hall, he believed it unlikely that the camber of the pavement would be corrected by DCC partly due to prioritisation of capital funding.
Resolved: Councillor Spencer will continue to pursue the request to repair the village pavements.
Councillor Spencer also provided an update on community transport issues.
16.12.9 Highway issues including Cardlemere Lane
The clerk had contacted Derbyshire County Council (DCC) regarding the possibility of an unsuitable for motor vehicles sign at the end of Cardlemere Lane at Pikehall; however a response had not been received in time for the meeting, The highway information sign has now been reinstated near the Ivy House.
A recent event at the village hall had resulted in parking issues in the village due to some motorists ignoring the instructions of the marshals involved.
Water continues to collect and present a potential hazard at Washmere Corner.
Resolved: The clerk to report this issues again to DCC.
16.12.10 Planning applications including planning sub-committee
New planning applications had been received for Sycamore House, main Street, Biggin and a caravan site for 5 pitches at Chapel Farm, Heathcote.
Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) had contacted the parish council in July 2015 regarding the parish council’s opinion on the possible caravan site at Heathcote. At this time, the parish council provided an opinion supporting this proposal. The planning officer concerned has now left the employment of the PDNPA. Members considered the formal planning application. An email had been received from a resident in Heathcote who also operates a caravan site in Heathcote suggesting that the parish council had not provided an impartial opinion prior to the formal planning application. Members of the parish council considered the planning application details carefully.
Resolved: to approve the caravan site for 5 pitches at Chapel Farm, Heathcote.
Following PDNPA’s enforcement officer’s visit to Sycamore House a formal planning application had been received. This was discussed by members as this proposal represented a substantial increase in size but was not overdevelopment.
Resolved: to support the application at Sycamore House.
16.12.11 Heathcote Mere, seats, plinth
Following the previous meeting, Mrs Coles had seen an example of an information plinth near Taddington. The clerk had also received a letter from the local Ranger advising that contact had been made with the ponds’ officer at PDNPA. The Ranger would also like to meet with members of the parish council to discuss the matter further.
Resolved: The clerk to advise that some members of the parish council will meet at the site.
Resolved: Councillor Spencer to pledge £500 from the Community Leadership towards the cost of an information plinth at Heathcote (This sum would have to be spent by May 2017).
Mrs Coles had advised the clerk that one of the new no parking advisory signs had been stolen from the seats at Heathcote. Due to the small cost involved, the clerk had advised Mrs Coles to obtain a replacement. The missing slab from one of the seats has been deposited in the mere.
16.12.12 Items of account, salaries, HMRC
| Cq 932 | S Hampson | December Internet Provision | £10.00 |
| Cq 933 | S Hampson | December Premises Allowance | £18.00 |
| Cq 934 | S Hampson | December Clerk’s Salary | £177.51 |
| Cq 935 | S Hampson | Reimbursement of Expenses | £13.28 |
| Cq 936 | G Tilson | December Net Salary | £96.63 |
| Cq 937 | HMRC Quarter 3 | Income Tax | £205.80 |
| Cq 938 | S Hampson | January Net Salary | £177.51 |
| Cq 939 | G Tilson | January Net Salary | £96.63 |
| Cq 940 | S Hampson | January Premises Allowance | £18.00 |
| Cq 941 | S Hampson | January Internet Provision | £10.00 |
| Cq 943 | J Griffiths | Reimb. for Remembrance Day | |
| Cq 944 | J Griffiths | Reimb. for difib electricity supply | £137.00 |
| Cq 945 | Shelter Maintenance | Bus shelter cleaning | £20.40 |
| Cq 946 | Acres Signs | Replacement sign Heathcote Mere | £34.56+(VAT) |
16.12.13 Village pavements
The clerk read an unsatisfactory response from DCC regarding village pavements and footpaths. It is unlikely that the pavement which has the incorrect camber will be resurfaced to correct this problem. The response also referred to cutting back vegetation in the summer on the footpaths and that monitoring will continue to take place. (Also see item 16.12.8)
16.12.14 Cemetery
Members reported that, at present, the condition of the cemetery and mowing seems fine.
16.12.15 Street lighting
After the November meeting, the clerk had contacted DCC to report the faulty street lighting column 46471 opposite the school and to request that DCC contact Western Power again regarding the clearance of vegetation from around the lamp on Main Street. DCC had copied the clerk into an email advising Western Power of the need to attend to the vegetation. Prior to the December meeting the clerk had contacted DCC again for an update but had not received confirmation that the fault had been repaired or the vegetation cleared. Members of the parish council and the public confirmed that neither request had been actioned.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the Street Lighting department again regarding the street light repair and the vegetation obscuring the other light.
16.12.16 Hearing loop
Following the clerk’s enquiries the company representative had forward a detailed response. The cost will be £485 and this is a reduced price. Any number of people can be trained to use the item. Responses had been received from the company to queries raised after the November meeting.
Resolved: The parish council to meet the installation cost of £485 to install the hearing loop in the main body of Biggin Village Hall and for some members of Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council and Biggin Village Hall committee to receive training in its use.
Resolved: The clerk to contact the village hall committee regarding the installation and training.
16.12.17 Budget items and Precept for 2017-18
The clerk had produced a budget forecast and accounts to date for members to enable a discussion to take place regarding next year’s requirements for expenditure.
Resolved: To precept for the same amount as the previous financial year of £4,000. (There will be no grant available from DDDC this year).
Resolved: The clerk to continue to claim £500 from DDDC by way of reimbursable expenditure to offset mowing costs.
16.12.18 Defibrillator
Members discussed again the need to replace the adult and paediatric paddles for the defibrillator. DDDC had advised that some faulty defibrillators had been recalled; however, the parish council’s model is not affected by the recall.
Resolved: Mrs Griffiths advised the clerk of the model numbers to enable the clerk to order replacement paddles.
Resolved: Mrs Coles to obtain a quote for further training/retraining in the use of a defibrillator for members of the parish.
16.12.19 Parish Grit Bins
The clerk asked members to check the stocks of grit in the grit bins and to advise the clerk in order that new supplies can be ordered.
Resolved: to authorise the clerk that if necessary, prior to the next meeting in February, she can order the necessary quantities of grit to ensure the parish council grit bins remain stocked.
16.12.20 Correspondence and electronic communication
Included: BT superfast broadband approach to the primary school which may involve match funding. DALC Circulars, DDDC area forums, Christmas refuse collections. The area known as Ruby Wood was reported to have a number of mole hills and lacks waste bins. Other communication covered by agenda items. The village hall meeting room is frequently cluttered and requires clearing prior to parish council meetings.
Resolved: the clerk to contact one of the local rangers regarding Ruby Wood.
Resolved: the member of the public (also a village hall committee member) in attendance to advise the village hall committee of the need to ensure the meeting room is cleared prior to each parish council meeting as a hire cost for the meeting room is paid by the parish council.
16.12.21 Items for next agenda
Heathcote Mere, Defibrillator and training, Hearing Loop, Street Lighting, grit bins, broadband, new burial book. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
16.12.22 Date of next meeting
6th February 2017
The meeting was declared closed at 9.30 pm following exchange of seasonal greetings.
Mrs S Hampson, Clerk
8th December 2016
©Hartington Nether Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting